09/11/2026
I distinctly remember September 11, 2001. I was just one year out of Virginia Tech, living in Texas, and preparing to move back to the Washington, D.C. area to start a new job. I was supposed to fly home on September 12.
Of course, that flight never happened. Instead, I made the long drive home. When I arrived in the D.C. area, the Pentagon was still smoldering, and there was an eerie feeling everywhere—one that is difficult to describe and something I will never forget.
Today, I can’t help but think about all of the first responders who answered the call that morning, having no idea what they were walking into or that, for some, they were walking toward their fate. Their courage and sacrifice—and the lives of every person we lost that day—should never be forgotten.
As the years continue to pass, I hope we continue to tell the story of September 11 to our children and future generations. They need to understand what happened that day, the sacrifices that were made, and the incredible courage shown by so many ordinary Americans in extraordinary circumstances.
May we always remember September 11, 2001, honor those we lost, and never forget that freedom is never free.
🇺🇸 Never Forget. 🇺🇸
