Never Forget

Never Forget – Dayton Photographer Alex Sablan (click image to see full photo)

A barren void in the sky is finally being filled in the skyline of Lower Manhattan.  Nineteen extremists punched a hole in the skyline of New York City and after eleven years Americans are still trying to fill it.   The attack killed nearly 3,000 civilians in the United States and in an attempt to punish the group responsible for that attack,  nearly 2,000 U.S. troops have died in the Afghanistan war and almost 4,500 in Iraq ( CBS News ).

Today is September 11, 2012. It pains me when I hear that many Americans were lost that on September 11th…no one was lost that day, they were taken from us. Never forget the pain you felt that morning.  Never forget the empathy you felt that day.  Never forget the images and most of all never forget those that were taken that day.

9/11 Memorial at the Greene Towne Center 2011 – Dayton Photographer Alex Sablan (click image to see full photo)

Two tall pillars of finance used to stand proudly overlooking the rest of the Financial District, the morning of September 11th, 2001, those pillars collapsed. In the following years, an evil man’s dream of crushing the infidel would soon come to fruition. America would be rocked to the core, emotionally and financially. The costs of 9/11 are still affecting all of us, we are still paying a high price today. The cost we have spent to protect Americans from future attacks, eliminate the leader of those attacks, and weed out those peoples who harbor and aid the organization that killed nearly 10,000 Americans is constantly growing.

As you go through your daily routine today, think about what you did that day. Think about what you did the next morning, now remember that almost 2,000 people never experienced that next morning. Never forget.

Remembrance – Dayton Photographer Alex Sablan (click image to see full photo)

Eleven years after the tragedy, we are still rebuilding.

When you hear the attack ads for the upcoming election and all the negativity spewing from the campaign ads, remember that this economy is not the result of what any one candidate has done. The effects we are dealing with are in direct relation to the events of 9/11. The deficit grows daily. Part of the growth of the deficit is from the added expense of adding security. Part of it is from the added expense of staying ahead of the Taliban. And of course part of it is still coming from the losses the world suffered from this devastating attack.

We have built monuments all across the country. We have built a museum at the foot of the towers. We are building a new building towering over Ground Zero. We are rebuilding an economy. The one thing we will never be able to rebuild is the piece of mind that those 19 men took from us that day. So please, Never Forget.

Beavercreek Popcorn Festival – Dayton Photographer Alex Sablan (click image to see full version)

Please take the time to remember and revisit by watching or rewatching the following videos.

Joe McNally’s Faces of Ground Zero – Some videos from the exhibition by Joe McNally Exhibitions. You can read more at the website and donate to the cause here.

A Conversation with Photographers who Captured 9/11 and It’s Effects – Charlie Rose speaks with several professional photographers who were witnesses to the tragedy.

Bearing Witness – Jay Maisel’s Account of 9/11 and how it changed him.

Still Killing – Allan Tannenbaum’s photo essay on the after effect’s that still plague first responders of 9/11

George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview: President Bush Looks Back – President Bush recalls the events surrounding the fateful morning of September 11th, 2001..

9/11 – The Firemen’s Story: Escape from the North Tower – Rescue workers struggle to help people exit the north tower seconds before it too collapses.

Never Forget

Good evening.

Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge — huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil — the very worst of human nature — and we responded with the best of America. With the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government’s emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it’s prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington D.C. to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.

The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.

Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a Power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night. And God bless America.