9/11

This might be a little different blog than normal, as I am not updating you on street improvements or other items happening in the city; but I do believe that this topic is as relevant to our community as any is. I hope we all took a few minutes yesterday to reflect upon and stand in memoria of the events that occurred ten years ago, on September 11, 2001. No doubt we all remember where we were and what we were doing. For me, it was living in another community. I was delivering my kids to school and in an uncharacteristic way, turned on the car radio that morning. Like many of you I was pretty well numb as the days events unfolded.

The memories of 9/11 are forever seared into our memories. From burning towers and collapsing structures, to the site of emergency personnel entering buildings and never returning. I remember the pictures of average citizen heroes reaching out to help people they didn’t even know. We were stunned at the gaping hole in the pentagon, moved by the crater in Pennsylvania and inspired by the cheering of the crowds as the emergency and heavy equipment rolled into New York. It was a time of varied emotions.

I never knew anyone personally who lost their life in those events that September, but in the last ten years it is hard to find anyone who has not been affected by that day. For me, it was watching a brother-in-law enter the war-zone in Afghanistan. He was later injured in a road-side bomb but was one of the fortunate ones who came home.

Those who perpetrated the attacks on that beautiful fall day wanted to break our spirit and destroy our way of life. They wanted to replace our sense of community and association with a state of chaos and disconnection. I think you will agree with me, that on the days following 9/11 just the opposite happened. We all pulled closer together, took more time to appreciate our relationships and drew strength from one another.

I love the concept of community. The idea where we collectively come together for the common good. Certainly one of the enduring messages we should take from 9/11 is how important it is to remain connected with one another and how important it is to strengthen the relationships we share with one another as a community, a state, and as a nation.