A symbol: The piece of steel from ground zero a chance to make sure memory endures

There are not many first responders, firefighters and military personnel who will forget what happened in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

Many of them lost "family" when the heroes rushed in to save those trapped in the Twin Towers.

Others remember those who gave their lives on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan in the war that followed.

So, the piece of steel from ground zero that has found a home at the Rosewood Volunteer Fire Department will simply be a memorial of sorts -- a chance to honor those who served their communities and their country.

But for the rest of us, the new memorial will be a reminder -- a chance to remember that what happened that day more than a decade ago took the lives of thousands and left a mark on this country's history.

As the years pass, some of the pain from that fateful day will dull and the details will become less and less familiar.

But it is critical that this nation never forgets, not only the victims, but what happens when terrorists are not stopped cold.

The piece of steel is a testament to the strength of this nation -- and to those who fight for it every day.

It is a sign that even in the face of horrific destruction, we persevere. And it is a chance to keep a promise never to forget those we lost.

Published in Editorials on October 13, 2011 10:46 AM