Never Forget: The Lesson of September 11

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Official release

Source material from Mississippi State Treasury. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

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Never Forget: The Lesson of September 11

I was on my way to a U.S. history class the morning of September 11, 2001. I can’t remember which period of history we were supposed to cover that day, but what I do remember is realizing, even then, that we were living through a moment that would be written into American history books forever.

Like so many reading this today, the images from that morning are burned into my memory: a tower struck, a plane sunken into a Pennsylvania field, dust clouding New York City streets, the Pentagon smoldering, two towers erased from the skyline – and a creeping realization that our country was, in fact, under attack.

Nearly 3,000 innocent people were killed that day in New York City, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93. That loss is enormous.

But in the face of such devastation, stories of courage emerged. Firefighters climbed up narrow stairwells as office workers rushed down. Police officers and first responders ran into a cloud of the unknown – ashes and dirt polluting to their lungs. Passengers on Flight 93 fought for control of the plane, knowing it could (and did) cost them their lives.

In the months and years that followed, thousands more answered the call. Young Americans left their families, put careers and college plans on hold, and volunteered to serve our country. Some returned with invisible scars; others never made it home.

Twenty-five years later, these stories matter more than ever.

An entire generation of Americans is growing up with no immediate memory of September 11. To them, it is something they learn about in U.S. history class. Yes, they recognize the photographs, but they did not experience the shock of that morning or the days that followed. It is up to us to make sure they understand both.

The next generation must know of the lives that were taken and the families who never saw their loved ones come home. They should know about the first responders who went into those buildings and the service members who spent the next two decades defending our country.

And they should learn what our country was like when we all woke up on September 12. Americans donated their blood. Churches were filled with people praying. Flags appeared on front porches and storefronts. Neighbors checked in on neighbors. For a time, the things that divided us seemed a lot less important than the values we shared.

We were Americans, and we were in it together.

Twenty-five years ago, I was headed to a history class. That morning, history came to all of us. As we remember September 11, may we honor those we lost, thank those who served, and make sure the next generation understands the price that has been paid for the freedoms we enjoy today.

May we never forget.

Release text attributed to Mississippi State Treasury. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.