Reflections on 9/11

I spent some time this morning reflecting on 9/11. Twenty-four years feels like a long time. As I think about the day, I remember that morning quite vividly. Admittedly, the days after a bit of a blur, but that morning stands out in my memory.

In 2001, I was 25 years old. I was the Office Coordinator of the UMBC Upward Bound program. That Tuesday morning began as any other morning of September 11. (I’m slightly amazed that I remember that it was a Tuesday.) At the time, I also had a friend staying with me who was on medical leave from the army and was approaching the end of her service. As I came downstairs, on my way out the door I noticed her watching a cable news channel and that a large building looked to be smoking. And then I read the news ticker. At that point, there was only speculation that it was some unfortunate, freak accident. I sat down to watch the coverage and about 2 minutes later, the second tower was hit. At that point, it seemed pretty clear it was no accident.

Some of you were not alive when this occurred and others were too young to remember the actual event. It changed the lives of many, especially those who survived and those who lost friends and loved ones. It also drove many to commit to defend our country and potentially make the ultimate sacrifice for the ideals of freedom.

Today, that freedom feels precarious. The phrase “never forget” is synonymous with several tragedies in history. But I fear that while the events aren’t forgotten, the circumstances and conditions that proceeded them are being purposely edited in such a way that history is doomed to repeat itself from misinformation alone.

For me, remembering 9/11 is not just about honoring the lives lost that day but also recommitting to the work of building a society that values truth, compassion, and shared humanity. I think about how quickly ordinary routines were disrupted that morning and how long it took for us, as a nation, to find our footing again. My hope is that in remembering, we choose to see each other more clearly, and resolve to act in ways that prevent division and violence from taking root.

As we pause each year on this date, I remind myself that memory is not passive. To “never forget” means to pay attention, to stand for integrity and justice, and to do the work of holding space for both grief and hope.