Labrador Letter: Remembering September 11

Twenty-five years ago today, America changed forever.

I can still remember that morning. When I arrived at work, people were gathered around the television, watching in shock and disbelief. As I joined them, the second plane struck the South Tower. In that instant, we understood that our nation was under attack and that America would never be the same.

Every American who remembers that day has a similar story. We remember where we were when we heard the news. We remember who we were with, what we were doing, and how quickly an ordinary morning turned into one of the darkest days in American history.

We watched terrified people jump. We watched firefighters and police officers run toward the buildings while everyone else was trying to get away. And then we watched the towers come down.

We watched the Pentagon burn, and we learned about the passengers and crew on Flight 93 who fought back against the terrorists and gave their lives to keep that plane from reaching its target. Those images never left us.

But neither did what came afterward. In the days and weeks following the attacks, Americans came together in a way many had never seen. Political differences seemed to fade into the background. American flags flew from homes and cars. We thanked police officers, firefighters, and members of the military. For a time, the things that divided us seemed much smaller than the things we shared. We remembered that we were Americans first, before any other label was applied.

Twenty-five years later, it is also worth remembering how much September 11 changed our country. It changed the way Americans traveled, the way we thought about security, and the relationship between citizens and government. New laws were passed and new surveillance capabilities were created as our government sought to prevent another attack. Those changes raised difficult questions about how a free society protects itself while preserving the rights and liberties that define the country.