“With almost no time to decide, [your loved ones] gave the entire country an incalculable gift. They saved the Capitol from attack. They saved God knows how many lives. They saved the terrorists from claiming the symbolic victory of smashing the center of American government. … They allowed us to survive as a country that could fight terror and still maintain liberty and still welcome people from all over the world from every religion and race and culture as long as they shared our values, because ordinary people given no time at all to decide did the right thing.”
—President Bill Clinton in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in 2011
If you haven’t been to the Flight 93 Memorial near Shanksvile, PA, it is awe inspiring. Click here to read about it.
On the twentieth anniversary of this horrible day, I encourage you to do something meaningful. Take a moment to learn about a victim, perform a random act of kindness., or thank a first responder. Talk to a young person about why this day is important because we now have a generation of kids and young adults who don’t remember 2001 and they don’t know.
Try to remember the weeks following 9/11 when we all were united by our patriotic spirit and try to act more like that.
The courage of those people still brings a lump to my throat. Thanks for sharing this Brandi, i didn’t know this memorial existed.
Their bravery is astounding. Unimaginable.
For many years, the memorial consisted of an open field, chain link fence and guard shack once used by a local coal mine. People visited to pray, leave flowers and stuffed animals or to just stand in silence. The completed memorial is moving and well worth a visit. So sad but well done.
Lets hope this never happens again.
Agreed.