Twenty-five years have passed since September 11, 2001, an iconic day that changed our nation and the world.
My mother, who will celebrate her 99th birthday in November, remembers how she first heard about another defining moment in American history: December 7, 1941, the “date which will live in infamy,” when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
The world has changed tremendously during her lifetime. She grew up during the Great Depression, wrote letters to American servicemen during World War II, witnessed the Korean Conflict, and had a son join the Army during the Vietnam War. She also experienced extraordinary advances in technology. As a switchboard operator, she once connected calls by physically plugging cords into a board at a time when relatively few people had telephone service. Today, nearly everyone carries a device that can instantly connect with people around the world.
I, too, remember a day when the world changed.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, I rode a school bus with one of our drivers. After returning, I stopped by Miss Hufford’s office. There, I watched the tragedy unfold in New York City as planes hit both of the World Trade Center Towers, towers I had once visited.
Like millions of Americans, I struggled to comprehend what I was seeing. I mourned the lost lives and the potential, both young and old, that was taken from the world that day. As an educator, I also immediately thought about the children under our school roof. What would this mean for them? What kind of future would they inherit?
In the days that followed, I witnessed something else: people and communities coming together. We recognized the enormity of our loss and the complexities of the future before us. Despite the uncertainty, Americans focused on the greater good and held on to the hope that something better could emerge from the darkness.
Today, many of the students who fill our classrooms, and even some of their teachers, were not yet born on September 11, 2001. They know only a world shaped by its aftermath. For them, September 11 is history, not a memory.
That makes it even more important for those of us who remember to share its lessons.
As we mark the 25th anniversary, I hope we will pause not only to reflect on where we have been, but also to consider where we are going. Our children need adults focused on their futures, not only at school, but also at home, at play, or simply spending time with friends.
The familiar saying that “it takes a village” remains true. Each of us has a role in building the kind of community and future our children deserve.
Be kind. Be thoughtful. Be helpful. Give your best. Look for opportunities to support someone who may be struggling. Choose to bring people together rather than pull them apart.
To everyone who helps make our community better each day, thank you. Your efforts matter, even when they seem small or go unnoticed.
Twenty-five years after September 11, we remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the courage demonstrated by so many. We also remember how people set aside their differences and came together with compassion, determination, and hope.
Each of us can make a difference.
Together, we can.
By Dr. James W. Hanna