On this solemn day, we pause to remember September 11, 2001 – a day etched into our hearts forever. We remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Each name represents a family forever changed, a story cut short, a loss that is still deeply felt.
Yet out of that unimaginable darkness, light shone through the courage of first responders. Firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and ordinary citizens ran toward danger, giving everything – sometimes their lives – to save others. Their sacrifice reminds us what true heroism looks like.
Today, we honor the victims by lifting up their memory. We honor the first responders by standing in gratitude for their service and resilience. And we honor one another by choosing hope over despair.
May we never forget the cost of freedom. May we always remember the bravery that rose from the ashes. And may we live each day worthy of those who gave everything on September 11.