Title: Remembering 9/11: Honoring the Lives Lost and the Sacred Ground We Stand On
On September 11th, 2001, a day forever etched in our collective memory, the lives of thousands were tragically cut short in a devastating act of terror. Today, we gather once again to remember and honor the victims of 9/11, paying tribute to the sacred ground where the Twin Towers once stood tall.
At Ground Zero, amid moments of silence, grieving family members took turns reading aloud the names of their loved ones who perished that fateful day. Each name represented a life filled with dreams, aspirations, and love. The list encompassed people from diverse walks of life – waiters, firefighters, accountants, police officers, lawyers, soldiers, and investment bankers. Some names were mispronounced, but their memory remained intact in the hearts of those who held them dear.
The names of the fallen were not only etched in the reflecting pools that now grace the site where the Twin Towers once soared; they were also etched in the hearts of the grieving relatives who endured immeasurable pain. For those who lost someone on 9/11, the weight of that day still rests heavily upon them. It is a permanent presence, an everlasting reminder of the immense loss that was incurred.
Edward Edelman, as he arrived to honor his brother-in-law Daniel McGinley, remarked, You find a way to go forward. But that day is always happening for you. The wounds may never fully heal, but through remembrance and honoring their memories, we can embrace the spirit of resilience that defines us as a nation.
Reading aloud the names of those who perished on 9/11 is an act of profound honor and remembrance. Gabrielle Gabrielli, who lost her uncle and godfather, Richard Gabrielle, expressed, We have to keep the memory of everybody who died alive. This is their legacy. This is the final resting place. It’s sacred. Today, we gather on this hallowed ground to pay our respects and ensure that the memory of those lost lives on, forever etched in our collective consciousness.
Dignitaries including Vice President Kamala Harris, Mayor Adams, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Governor Hochul joined us in this solemn tribute. President Biden, having just returned from a summit in Vietnam, commemorated the anniversary in Alaska, becoming the first U.S. President to do so in a western state. Through the years, each president has visited the attack sites, with some commemorations taking place on the White House lawn. President Obama once recognized the military with a visit to Fort Meade in Maryland.
Meanwhile, First Lady Jill Biden made her way to the Pentagon to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial. Over the building, a giant American flag was unfurled by workers, symbolizing the strength and unity of a nation that perseveres in the face of tragedy. Vice President Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, attended a ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where heroic passengers attempted to regain control of their hijacked plane.
As we pause to remember the lives lost on 9/11, let us not forget the importance of unity, resilience, and remembrance. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the strength that binds us together as one nation, forever honoring the legacy of those who perished on that fateful September morning. May their spirits find solace in the sacred ground we stand on, reminding us to cherish and protect the precious gifts of freedom, love, and unity that define us as a people.
