Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the horrible attacksthat occurred in New York and Washington DC. These attacks, theworst on American soil, left some 3,000 people dead. Among thosedead included mothers, fathers, businessmen and women, firemen andpolice officers, Republicans and Democrats and people from alldifferent races. The terrorists that conducted these attacks madeno distinction on whom they killed.
The last three years have taken their toll on America's nationaldefense, with the creation of a Homeland Security Cabinet post, andan investigation by The National Commission on Terrorist AttacksUpon the United States. This commission released their final reporton the attacks of 9/11 in late July of this year. The report tellswhy the terrorists were able to see their plan through. It pointsout kinks in America's intelligence agencies, with virtually nointer-agency cooperation, and asks for a complete reformatting inthe intelligence agencies.
This book is not going to be the focus of my piece today,though. I am not writing a review on the book, what I am asking ofyou is to remember those who lost their lives on this horrid day inAmerican history - and to show the respect for those who tried tosave the lives of anyone who may have still been trapped in therubble of the once-gargantuan buildings and the ones who still risktheir lives everyday, whether it is by running into a burningbuilding, stopping an armed robbery or fighting for freedomoverseas.
The story of September 11, 2001 will live on with those of uswho watched the news unfold firsthand. It will be what people ofour generation tell our grandchildren about. It will take on thesame power that the assignation of JFK or the Space ShuttleChallenger disaster has had over previous generations. We will allremember where we were and what we were doing on the fatefulmorning when the news came that America had been attacked.
The tragedy of this day should not be forgotten. Although it isonly three years later, there are many that have forgotten themagnitude of 9/11. Many have forgotten the pain that was feltthroughout the country on that day, the pain that will cut thosethat lost their loved ones and those that refused to leave the siteafter many hours of sifting through the rubble, trying to find somethread of life in the depths of steel and concrete.
Although many of us that were here in the Midwest may not havebeen directly affected by the attacks, we still felt the pain ofloss. We still honored our police and fire departments for theirefforts. We were proud of our loved ones who went out and foughtfor the country. We should still feel that pain; we should stillhonor those who put their lives on the line everyday, either byfighting fires in our town or fighting for freedom across oceansand desserts. That day should never be forgotten.
Write to Steve at
smbristow@bsu.edu
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