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Friday, September 11, 2020 marked the passage of 19 years since this nation’s peace and calm were shattered by coordinated terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C.

Sept. 11 in any given year past 2001 has become a day to remember those who were murdered by the terrorists and a day to remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their own lives to help others – whether they were New York City firefighters and police officers or military warriors from communities throughout our great nation sent to foreign soil to wage war on terrorism.

Nineteen years ago, not many of us would have come together in prayer for this country…held onto another’s hand in hope of peace…shared in public the tears for fear for our fellow citizens.

It took just one 15-minute moment in time on Sept. 11, 2011 for this nation to come to the chilling realization that tomorrow may not come.

We hugged our children more and made sure our family members knew we were thinking of them…that we cared for them…that we loved them.

The events of nearly 20 years ago had such an effect on us all that we simply cried out loud for answers to what was going on and why. What may very well forever be the most catastrophic moment in time came as more than just a catastrophe – it came as a wake-up call to a nation that had, for all practical reasoning, gone to sleep.

We had turned a blind eye towards those who were filled with hatred for the red-white-and-blue. Although some of those terror groups had previously attempted, and failed, to reek havoc on our way of life, we never thought they try something of the magnitude that played out horrifically before our very eyes on Sept. 11, 2001.

We were all jarred back to reality on that fateful day. Now, nearly two full decades later, we refuse to forget the events of that day….the burning – then crumbling – twin towers; mountains of rubble; notes, flowers, and photo remembrances of those who perished; and the Pentagon in our nation’s capitol severely damaged.

The bittersweet part of this yearly remembrance deals with our freedom. We want it and need it, but only when it is threatened do we really seem to appreciate it.

We need to celebrate freedom each and every day and take a knee in thankful prayer for those brave men and women in uniform that ensure it continues.

– The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald