09/11/2026
As we take a moment of silence to remember the lives lost on this day 25 years ago, let us also reflect on what we truly mean when we say the words “Never Forget”. There was an enduring heartache that resulted from that day, that has truly not faded a quarter century later. Heartache on personal levels, spiritual levels, and of course at national and global levels.
As my own children step into being bigger kids, one of whom is the age his mother was that day, I find myself wanting to ensure that those who weren’t yet born on September 11th, 2001 understand something: That along with the indescribable heartache that day, also came a monumental level of human connection and displays of love and empathy that we don’t often see in everyday life.
Mentioning this has possibly become a bit of a cliche to those of us who did live through that time, but to those who didn’t, it may be a bit too abstract to understand without having an adult really dive deep into explaining that part. We have to be sure that along with remembering the lives lost that day, we also make sure that we never let fade the memory of people coming together across the imaginary lines of division that we so often draw between ourselves to be there for one another as humans.
When you hear the phrase “Never Forget”, what does it mean to you? I’d like to share these thoughts with my kids and I hope you will as well.
