Twenty-five years ago, Tennesseans, Nashville residents and millions of Americans awoke to the news that "America was under attack." East Coast residents learned it almost instantly.
The World Trade Center in New York City was ablaze and suddenly a second plane struck the adjacent tower. Now both buildings were hit and burning. Later those buildings collapsed.
Reports that another commercial aircraft had struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, soon followed, leaving a massive hole and fire in what is known as the “B Wing.” The plane burst into flames and heavily damaged the building, killing and injuring hundreds.
Next came reports that passengers aboard another hijacked airliner fought back. Those passengers were brave enough to crash the cockpit
and force the plane down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Later we learned that one of the passengers used the phrase “Let’s roll” before charging the flight deck door. Investigators believed the aircraft was headed toward either the White House or the U.S. Capitol.
A nation in shock
In the aftermath of that day Americans were in shock and disbelief. Roads were empty that evening. Every flight in and around the U.S. was grounded. The only aircraft in the skies were National Guard fighters tasked with defending American skies.
In the days ahead, death tolls from all three sites would amount to a staggering 2,977. Most were civilians. Military and civil service workers made up the balance of those killed when 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners.
Those of us who were alive that day remember where we were when we learned of the attacks.
We won’t forget what we saw or heard, images burned into our memories forever.
Remembering a united America
The other thing that stands out is the unity of America and our fellow citizens immediately after the attacks. Democrats and Republicans in office in Washington, D.C. stood in unity on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. It was a welcome sight, one we haven’t witnessed since.
When President George W. Bush addressed the nation it was an address most American adults watched on television or heard on radio. At that moment we were united. Most Americans made a personal pledge “ to never forget.”
Have we kept our promise?
But have we kept that promise?
For the most part patriotic Americans have indeed kept the memory of that horrible day alive. In places across the nation citizens will gather to remember all the innocent victims of the most evil terrorist attack ever on American soil.
Over the past 24 years we have seen countless vigils and remembrances across the nation. This year we will see even more. We look for our churches, faith leaders, and national, state, county and city officials to join with law enforcement, the fire service and our military to honor all who died and the families they left behind.
The cost of the wars that followed
We must also remember those patriots who lost lives and limbs in our nation's global war on terror. They answered the call, rose to the occasion and all who served paid a price with their lives fighting to keep terror and terrorism out of the country.
More than 7,000 died and more than 53,000 were wounded, primarily from the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. We mourn with those families and salute the sacrifices of them all.
This 9/11, we urge you to attend a special service or salute in a location near you. Let’s share the stories of heroes and sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001 and remember the loved ones we lost. Let’s keep the promise and “never forget.”
Tom Freeman is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard. He chaired the Commission on Military and Defense Services, served as a senior member of the Guard's Strategic Planning Council and, on Sept. 11, 2001, was an executive at one of the nation's largest law enforcement agencies. He is co-founder of Honor Our Veterans, a privately funded advocacy organization for veterans, dependents and military personnel.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What America should remember on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 | Opinion
