How does a nation commemorate a surprise attack on its own soil by invaders who wished to take down our country decisively? What has history shown? I was thinking of 9/11/21. I also thought of times like the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the overwhelming power of the British during our War for Independence, which began on April 19, 1775.
Courage in Crisis: Remembering 9/11
At the remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor 25 years later, Americans observed a day of reflection with various civic activities. A proclamation declared December 7, 1966, as Pearl Harbor Day.
George Washington and the Continental Army had to retreat to New Jersey, then Pennsylvania, after the British captured Fort Lee on November 20, 1776.
What I found interesting is that Commanders-in-Chief used a quote from Thomas Paine on both occasions. I think this quote serves as a great tribute to those who did not shrink back in the face of a terrorist attack or enemies in war on 9/11. Instead, they ran toward the danger to do as much as they could in service to their fellow Americans. As they died, others stepped up to the hard conflict to serve their country.
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
The Lasting Impact of 9/11: Memory, Loss, and Resolve
May God grant peace and comfort as we remember the victims, the fallen, the many children who lost one or both parents, loved ones left with a forever hole in their hearts, the neighbors in the affected cities, the irreplaceable talents and gifts of the deceased lost that day and in the days and years following, the lost innocence, the fatigue of war.
The Enduring American Spirit: Our Duty After Tragedy
Pause today. Remember the fallen. Honor the first responders, families, and all who carried the burden forward. May the American spirit never be quenched by those who seek to conquer us. May we impart to the next generation that same American spirit that seeks the best for our nation.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship 🇺🇸
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