Remembering the Greatest Loss

Friday marks the 14th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks that shook this country to its core on a beautiful Tuesday morning. That morning, four commercial airliners were hijacked and suicide attacks were carried out against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

While our own memories of September 11, 2001 are important, we must never, ever forget the lives lost that day and on the battlefields in country's around this world as soldiers fight to defend our freedoms and bring to justice those whose actions have cost us so much. More than 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., including more than 400 police officers and firefighters. Thousands of our countries bravest have lost their lives in the battles fought since that day. Their families included small children and children that had not-yet been born who have since grown up in a post-9/11 world. Tragically, a world without their parent, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, grandparent or other loved one.

As our country took on a different approach to security, and even our response to terrorism around the world, these families were forced, and are forced to continue on without the love, support and input of the people they lost. Many survivors lost numerous friends and family.

The loss experienced that day is staggering. Media has reported that 1,609 lost a spouse or significant other that day; 3,051 children lost a parent; 1, 402 employees died in Tower One; 614 employees died in Tower 2; and 1,717 families never got the remains of their loved ones. These numbers speak to the country’s grief, but most importantly the grief families and friends faced. Fourteen years later, there are no words to express the true amount of pain and suffering our nation and these brave survivors have managed to overcome.

The fires that resulted from this tragedy burned for 99 days, and in the years that followed, 1.8 million pounds of debris was removed. While the ramifications of this event will last for years to come, and families will mourn their losses, history has shown, our country and leadership responded swiftly. In true American fashion we rallied and have become a more unified country. There is truly no greater place than America and the response of everyday citizens proved that. Reports show $1.4 billion was donated to 9/11 charities, 36,000 units of blood were donated to the New York Blood Center; an estimated $500 million was raised for funds dedicated to the fallen members of the New York City Fire Department and the New York City Police Department. A mere 26 days following the attacks the United States began bombing Afghanistan.

This year, and every year, I encourage you to focus on the thousands of lives lost that day and in the battles that followed. Pause for a moment on Friday and offer a prayer for those who lost their lives, and those they left behind.  Count your blessings and give thanks that you live in this country; a country that rose from the ashes to rebuild a stronger, more unified America.