The 25th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, is a day that reminds us of our vulnerability while illuminating the strength, unity, and resilience that define the American spirit. In fact, if we pause to remember the lessons we learned from that day and its aftermath, we might have an opportunity to influence the country we live in today.
Just as there are several sets of generations who have forgotten the meaning of V-E Day (Victory in Europe) or V-J Day (Victory in Japan) from World War II, an entire generation has grown up with no living memory of September 11, 2001. This is not surprising because, after all, we live our lives in the present moment. We might use this day to pause to consider the profound dichotomy that 9/11 offers us: a moment to reflect on what binds us together rather than what divides us. On this day, there should be no political parties, no ideologies—only Americans, united in remembrance and reflection. It is our duty to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the families forever changed, and the countless heroes who responded with courage and compassion.
On September 11, 2001, many—now a quarter of a century older—of us sat stunned, huddled by our radios or in front of television screens, listening to news of the unimaginable. The Pentagon and World Trade Center in New York City had been attacked, and a fourth airplane—headed perhaps for the White House or a nuclear power plant—crashed in a Pennsylvania field. On that day—and the days that followed—we truly believed that nothing in our lifetimes would ever equal this disruption to our world…and we would never forget what happened on that day. With the passage of time, it is easy to let memory fade into history. But we need to remember that because we Americans are not immune to national catastrophes (recession, pandemic, contested presidential elections).
And while we struggle to comprehend the impact that these more recent national events can have on our lives in 2026, we should not lose sight of the collective shock, trauma, and outrage we felt on September 11, 2001. That was a day intended to shame our country and bring it to its knees. Instead, it has become a day to celebrate the indomitable American spirit, a day of heroism of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
So, as we pause to remember 9/11/01, a quarter of a century later, let us do so in a spirit that links the past with the present. To rise above today’s challenges, we need those same personal and collective resources that we dug down deep to find in ourselves in 2001. That may be sharing a moment of silence or participating in a National Day of Service.
But I’d like to suggest we go deeper. In the days that followed 9/11/01, we were like different people: more thoughtful and kind to family, friends, and colleagues. We were a little nicer, a little more patient, a little more compassionate with each other. We gave blood, raised money, collected food…but even more than that…on a very human level, we opened doors for people we didn’t know; we let them go ahead of us in line; we smiled more and swore less; for a while, we grew closer to our families and friends; we hugged our children; we said “please and thank you,” and “I love you,” and really meant it. We learned to take our daily troubles and our individual concerns just a little less seriously.
In general, we were just a little softer around the edges because we were so very aware of the fragility of life. (And that may be an experience we need to reawaken.) We counted ourselves blessed to be living in America where national tragedy of significant scope rarely occurs, but when it does, it has yet to fail to evoke from us the best of what it means to be an American. That is a legacy to enshrine today, something that perhaps our country can use this day to recommit to.
We should honor the 25th anniversary of this day with purpose, to pay tribute to those who were lost and demonstrate the enduring spirit of community that rose at that time from the ashes of tragedy, and, we hope, can be rekindled once again.
Rather than the divisive political discourse which dominates the news media today, the real measure of America in the days that followed September 11, 2001, was one of courage, grit, recommitment…and, dare I say, civility. These qualities have indeed been the real measure of America at times when our country has been most challenged in the past. Even if we stray from them as we have of late, they represent who we really are; we just need an occasional reminder to remember how to rediscover—and then apply—them.
Let us honor this day not only in remembrance, but in action!
