Remembering 9/11: A Personal Reflection from the On-Ramp of History
It was an ordinary morning on September 11, 2001. I was on the on-ramp to the 605 freeway, preparing for a long commute to teach a class of new paramedics. My mind was focused on the day ahead, but then a breaking news report cut through the usual chatter of the talk radio station I was listening to. “A plane has hit the World Trade Center in New York City,” the announcer said.
At first, I thought it must have been a small aircraft. Accidents like this had happened before. But as the reports continued to flood in, it became clear that this was no accident. They said it was a large aircraft—a commercial jetliner—and moments later, the second plane hit.
My heart sank. In that instant, I knew we were at war. The gravity of the situation hit me like a tidal wave, and I felt a deep dread. My mind raced to the men I had served with in the military, those who had made a career defending our nation. I knew they were about to head into harm’s way. This wasn’t just a tragedy; it was an act of war, and it was clear that the world would never be the same again.
Later that day, I learned that my niece, a medic on Long Island, had responded to the scene. In the heart of the devastation, she was there witnessing the unimaginable. The fire department I had once served with, the Slingerlands Fire Protection District, was responding alongside countless others. I personally knew many of the men and women on the front lines that day. Their courage and sacrifice became part of the collective story of that tragic event.
Twenty-three years later, we continue to remember the sacrifices made by firefighters, police officers, and public works teams and the thousands of innocent lives lost and shattered that day. We recognize the first responders who ran into danger without hesitation, many of whom paid the ultimate price. And we remember the civilians whose ordinary lives were violently disrupted by an extraordinary act of terror.
September 11, 2001, was the day American innocence was lost. It was the day our nation was forced to confront an unimaginable evil. But in the aftermath, we also saw the best of humanity—strangers helping strangers, communities coming together, and an enduring resilience that defined the American spirit.
As emergency managers, first responders, and members of the public safety community, we honor those who gave their lives on that day and carry forward the lessons learned from the darkest chapter in our history. We continue to prepare, respond, and protect because we know that the sacrifices of those who came before us demand nothing less.
We remember. We will never forget.