Maintaining memories of 911 heroes

This September 11^th marks the 11^th anniversary of the tragic and terrifying terrorist attack on American soil. This infamous date gives us pause to ponder the horrific loss our nation suffered.

The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center toppled in New York City. The Pentagon took a tremendous hit. And a plane filled with valiant and persistent passengers crashed in a Pennsylvania farm field, instead of at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The internet, TV networks, radios, and other communications channels trumpeted reminders of this mind-blowing and disastrous date in American history.

Like so many fellow Americans, I read this morning’s many poignant posts and forwarded lots of touching and inspiring photographs and quotes. I stopped to pray again for the families who lost loved ones on that dreadful day.

And I thanked God that we live in a nation where we generally feel safe. We go about our daily business unimpeded. Despots do not threaten our faith, our professions, or even our lifestyles.

Still, we complain. We mope. We gripe about imperfections in our land.

Some of these rumblings may actually lead to positive changes, particularly in an election year, when candidates of every stripe and their followers consider real issues that affect us all.

Amid these considerations, I stepped out to log a few miles in my running shoes. Then I saw this.

Perhaps I need not mention that the homeowner that assembled this visual tribute today frequently displays political placards supporting candidates and causes with which I tend to disagree rather strongly.

But today that does not matter. Not one bit.

Take a closer look. 

OK, the folks in the photo are not real. But they certainly remind us of the most genuine among us all.

We remember. Surely, we remember. And, although our country is far from perfect, we may indeed be grateful that we live in such a land. Certainly, our fallen finest deserve another “Thank you” and a solemn salute.

Image/s:

Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson

Nickers and Ink Creative Communications

Related Items:

• 9/11: 3 Reflections on a National Tragedy - What do you remember about September 11, 2001,  and its aftermath? Where were you when the airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers? How did this terrorist-driven tragedy affect your life and the lives of so many of us?
• Burning in Our Hearts – We will not forget the courage and sacrifice of the firefighters and other rescuers who lost their lives in the tragic terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City. This rhymed poem offers a tribute to the fallen.
• 10 Individuals Reflect on 9/11 - How did folks feel when terrorists hit the U.S. on September 11, 2001? Ten diverse people (including an airline employee and an FDNY deputy chief's daughter), answered these questions: Where were you on September 11? How did the tragic events impact you?

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