Eighteen years of sorrow hasn’t waned

As I arrived at work early Wednesday morning this week, the sun shone brightly, causing reflection off the two Imperial Volunteer Fire Department units parked outside across the street from our office.
And just like every Sept. 11, the sorrow and memories come front and center again as we remember those horrific terrorist attacks 18 years ago.
When I first turned on the television Wednesday morning at home,  there were reruns of the news coverage from that crisp Sept. 11 morning in New York when the first tower was hit. Not fully awake yet, I actually thought something had just happened. Then as those pictures of the smoldering first tower came on screen, it was like Sept. 11, 2001 was happening all over again and I was watching it in real time.
Wow. How many other events in your life can you recall with such clarity where you were when you first heard the news of an event such as these attacks?
Not many I would guess.
So, at this time of year, as we remember those who died (it takes about 3 hours to read all of their names as occurs every year in memorial ceremonies), we also recognize all of those first responders who continue to answer the call to emergency incidents. This newspaper does that every year—recognizing ALL of our local responders with a full page sponsored message. We need to remember to thank them EVERY day.
When you consider that more than one-fourth of the U.S. population wasn’t even alive 18 years ago on 9/11, it’s important to make sure the story of that event, and this country’s response, is learned accurately by our young people and never forgotten.
I was happy to hear that in New York, legislation has been passed that requires the teaching of the events on Sept. 11, 2001 in their schools. That is important, along with all accurate accounting of our history.
This country continues to battle terrorism throughout the world and within our own borders. Those who choose to do us harm must see that any effort to scare us into changing the way we live or derail our resolve in keeping America safe are futile.