Let Us Never Forget

It is hard to believe that 23 years have passed in just two weeks since the horrific events regarding September 11, 2001, came into our living rooms. All this while we watched the early morning news and were stunned to witness first-hand the barbaric and cowardly attacks upon our way of life, and those of all free-thinking men and women of the world community. 

It’s also amazing to think that many of the young people walking around the streets of our communities have no memory of that day besides the articles they will read in publications and documentaries they see on television. 

For some, this became a wake-up call as to how the world has changed from the days our parents went to war against another evil that sought world domination at any cost. This as a madman rolled through Europe before America and their Allies joined forces to stop his terrible onslaught against innocent men, women, and children, as he sought dominance over them.  

Like many of you, I grew up during a time when at least once a week we would have to crouch under our desks with our hands clasped behind our heads in an effort to ward off the attacks by Russian atomic bombs. It actually never really served a purpose other than giving us a feeling that we were doing something for the cause during the Cold War. 

Today we live in an era where there are no frontlines, no soldiers in uniforms, or nations that have chosen to declare war. Instead, we live in a time where ideology and hatred of a free people drive those who would martyr themselves, as they seek to be responsible for horrendous and unspeakable acts of terror, perpetrated on even the most innocent in our society in an attempt to drive us into submission or to cower in fear in the darkness. 

We need to only see the terrible loss of life in the Middle East as evil once again attempts to eliminate the survivors and those descendants of a people who were almost wiped from the face of the earth during World War II. So many innocent victims from both sides have lost their lives and their homes during this last year. 

Because we are Americans, the only darkness we should fear is that which we bring upon ourselves by a failure not to stand up for what we believe in. A failure to defend the basic pillars which this nation was built upon: a foundation that guarantees basic human rights for all. 

America did not fall with those buildings that fateful day in September 23 years ago as our enemies had hoped. America instead stood up as a people and took the time to grieve for those innocent victims and those heroes who valiantly tried to save those they could before giving their own lives in the best traditions of their professions.  

Through bold leadership and the courage of our young men and women in uniform we went on the march to bring those to justice that had sought to bring our proud nation to its knees and failed. Although we have accomplished much in the war on terror our work here is not done.  

Even though twenty-three years have passed, the call for vigilance still should ring loudly in the ears of all Americans and free people of the world. We must never lose sight of the reality of the world we live in today and its threats.  

The pride in our national heritage, the first responders, and our men and women in uniform should not be something only brought about due to a tragic incident and reflected upon on September 11th or any of our other national holidays such as Memorial Day or Veterans Day. The pride we hold for our flag and its heritage after 9-11 and the terrible tragedy during the Boston Marathon in 2013 should be displayed every day. 

We are Americans; a nation and people which acts as a beacon of freedom and justice to all the world. We are not perfect, but we’ll stand by our principles and our contributions to make this a better place for all by the white crosses that represent our commitment on shore and lands around the globe. 

People are not pushing off our shores in old rowboats or rafts in search of freedom or opportunity; they come here instead because they know these are the fields from which dreams are grown. They come here like my grandparents from Greece, Ireland, and Belgium because they believed in the dream and worked hard to make theirs come true and create a wonderful home for all to envy. 

In two weeks, we will lay wreaths in New York City, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in a small field in Stony Creek, Pennsylvania. I hope you’ll fly your flag at home in remembrance of those fallen heroes of that tragic day. 

God Bless the United States of America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms.