Still strong: Sept. 11 memories should stay in our minds today

It was 12 years ago: Should we still take the time every year to remember?

The sirens, the disaster, the death, the victims, the horror and the disbelief that any human being could do something like that to another -- all of those are still fresh for many, still hard.

The victims' families will never forget. Nor will the men and women who watched their fellow first responders die in a cloud of dust and the crush of buildings many thought no one could ever topple.

And neither should we.

Sept. 11 was a coming of age of sorts for this nation. First, because we realized in an instant that no matter how many oceans surround us, we are never completely safe. And second, because we were reminded again of just how strong we are.

We should remember the more than 3,000 people who died in New York, Washington and while fighting to save their fellow citizens in the skies over Shanksville, Pa.

We should tell their stories to our children -- both as victims and as heroes. We should remind our young people of the many people who lost their lives that fateful day because they were fighting to save someone else's -- and the nation who rallied to take care of its neighbors.

We should remember the families, too. The children left without parents and the parents left without children. They paid a heavy price that day. They should be in our prayers every Sept. 11.

So, yes, even though it has been 12 years, we do need to take the time to remember Sept. 11. We need to listen to the bells toll and to watch as flags are unfurled and names read.

We need to remember just how much we have to be grateful for and how much we have to protect.

That is our job -- and their legacy.

Published in Editorials on September 11, 2013 11:03 AM