Remembering September 11: We Will Never Forget
We remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken from us on September 11, 2001.
We remember the mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues who never returned home that day.
We remember the passengers and crews aboard the aircraft. We remember those who were working in the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger while others were trying to escape. And we remember the extraordinary courage of the passengers and crew of Flight 93.
Behind every name is a person. Behind every person is a family. And behind every family is a story that September 11 changed forever.
We must never forget them.
More than two decades have passed, but the passage of time does not diminish our responsibility to remember. September 11 is not simply a date in our nation's history. It is a solemn reminder of lives lost, families forever changed, tremendous acts of courage, and a nation that came together in grief and resolve.
We honor the firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, military members, aviation professionals, volunteers, and ordinary citizens who responded with extraordinary bravery and compassion.
We also remember those who survived but carried the physical and emotional consequences of that day with them, as well as the first responders and recovery workers whose service and sacrifice continued long after September 11.
Their courage deserves our gratitude.
Their sacrifice deserves our respect.
And those we lost deserve to be remembered.
As a community connected to aviation, September 11 also holds a particularly solemn meaning. The events of that day forever changed aviation in America and reminded us of the tremendous responsibility involved in protecting our airports, our aircraft, our airspace, and everyone who depends upon them.
Today, countless men and women work every day to keep our airports and skies safe. Supporting them, respecting security procedures, remaining aware of our surroundings, and reporting legitimate concerns are small but meaningful ways each of us can contribute.
The message “If You See Something, Say Something®” remains important. Vigilance is not about fear. It is about looking out for one another and recognizing that the safety of our airports and communities is a responsibility we all share.
But on this day, above everything else, we remember.
We remember those whose lives ended far too soon.
We remember the families who were left behind.
We remember the courage of those who answered the call to help.
We remember the heroes whose final acts were acts of service, sacrifice, and love for others.
In remembrance of all those we lost on September 11, 2001.
We remember. We honor. We will never forget.
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