Like every American alive on 9/11, I remember the day’s events like it was yesterday.
My husband, Patrick, called and told me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center, where the company he worked for was headquartered. We were living in Cleveland at the time. Neither of us knew what was happening. I frantically tried to find the floor plan of his company’s office in New York, assuming all along that it was a horrible accident, a commuter plane in the wrong place. Then the second plane hit. It became immediately and horrifyingly clear that we were under attack. Meanwhile, Flight 93 passed through the airspace near my husband’s Cleveland building, forcing them into a rushed and terrified evacuation. We had no idea what was happening. We assumed that all of America was under attack.
My husband and I were fortunate because we were many states away from where the planes struck. When the dust settled, nearly 3,000 innocent Americans died, including hundreds of my husband’s colleagues in New York and far too many heroic first responders who gave their lives trying to save others. That day changed our country forever. There was America before 9/11, and America after 9/11.
Think of how our country has changed. Terrorism became a frightening reality overnight as the scale and scope of our enemies and their allied groups became disturbingly clear. Now, the threat of terrorism is something we still live with every day. From the inception of two major overseas wars all the way to major changes in how we board and travel and secure our homeland, our society experienced direct and tangible change after the horrific events of that infamous day.
There’s something else that comes to my mind when I consider 9/11: the sense of unity that appeared nationwide, as Americans came together in a way we haven’t seen since. Just minutes after the attacks, Americans across the country rushed to give blood in hopes that they might help survivors; so many people offered their help that they overwhelmed the system. Charitable giving exploded as foundations, businesses, and families gave what they could in the hope of alleviating the difficulties brought on by the attacks. Candlelight vigils sprung up in every city across America. Flags waved proudly. That moment in time left us with indelible images of American decency and strength, like President George W. Bush standing atop rubble, arm-in-arm with a heroic fireman, speaking through a bullhorn to provide a message of prayer, hope, and national unity to these tired, but unrelenting workers. Our nation heard and lifted up the stories of brave first responders who rushed into the flames to save innocent people, often delivering them to safety before turning back into danger with a complete and utter selflessness.
In our nation’s darkest moments, we saw its brightest qualities. We saw sympathy and generosity and bravery. We saw unity. We saw America for what it is: a nation of compassionate people, who even as they reeled in horror and shock, sprang into action to support each other with whatever they had.
America is -- and always will be -- the shining city on the hill, a worldwide example of freedom, prosperity, and goodness. That vaunted status makes us a target for those who seek to undermine our nation’s strength. On 9/11, those enemies attacked us. They were able to knock buildings down, crash planes into fields, and brutally kill thousands. We will always mourn those we lost on 9/11, and we will never forget them. We continue to pray that their families and loved ones are able to find peace.
And yet those terrorists failed in their larger goal: they failed to break our country’s spirit. In the days following 9/11, America showed its enemies that our strength lies in our people and in the love they have for each other and for this great country.