By Mark Obenshain
At 9:37 a.m., twelve years ago today, American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. New York's Twin Towers crumbled, as public safety personnel and citizens risked all to find survivors. A fourth plane was brought down in a field in Pennsylvania. Many lost their lives. On that day, we called loved ones who were away, held our children and family members a little tighter and struggled to understand just what had happened.
Time has passed. We have rebuilt. Osama Bin Laden is dead. We have buried loved ones and welcomed new family members into this world. Yet every year, those of us who lived through the tragedy of September 11, 2001 will continue to pause on this day and reflect. We remember the terror that was brought to our shores, but we also carry once more with us the spirit of citizens coming together, helping one another and renewing our common bonds in the aftermath of the attacks.
And on this day, we also pause in thanks of those to whom the fight to protect Americans from acts of terror and other threats to the safety and freedom we enjoy is not a distant memory, but a duty which they have sworn to go about every day. Many lives were lost this day, twelve years ago, and many more have been lost since then in the defense of freedom. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. Nor will we forget what binds Americans together and what makes our nation great.
On this day, let us set our sights on those ideals that set America apart in the world. Freedom. Liberty. Justice for all. Let us as Americans continue to fight for these principles and strive to better embody them in our daily lives. May God continue to bless the United States of America.
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