In recent weeks we have felt anger, despair and incredulity over political leaders who make promises they do not keep. While it probably doesn’t surprise anyone that politicians tell us what they think we want to hear only to act in conflict with those promises, there are some vows and oaths that Americans find sacred.

The oath first responders gave to our nation on September 11 to leave no one behind, to rescue and recover anyone attacked is one of those sacred promises for which the rest of us are forever indebted. The words of honor to leave no person or fellow warfighter behind and fight for freedom for all, is the sacred promise our military men and women make and uphold every day (when not impeded by politicians and bureaucrats.)

Amazingly, many young adults today either were not yet born or just children when my generation’s Pearl Harbor happened – 9/11. All adults over age 40 remember where they were when the Twin Towers were attacked. I was in Chicago with work colleagues preparing for a sales meeting. We all watched the TV news in horror as the second plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center in New York. Then the Pentagon seemed to explode on one side of its powerful five-sided building. And finally, the tragic crash of United 93 where everyday brave men and women became the first corps of resistance in the war on terror.  

We knew terrorism had come to our shores instead of some far-off land. It landed on us with the roar of the towers disintegrating before our eyes – our “safe spaces” – which in those days meant our homes, our workplaces, our streets – would never be the same. And it was personal for many of us. As we sat transfixed by the news, we realized one of my work colleagues with us had a fiancé in Tower 2. I will never forget her cries, almost guttural, from the depth of her soul, as she collapsed on the floor like a rag doll almost synchronized with the fall of the second tower. His remains have never been found.

I will never forget that day. Nor the three-day road trip home with another colleague as our only thought was “we have to get home to our families” when all U.S. air flight was grounded indefinitely. Along famous Route 66 every car and van had American flags flying from the windows. We screamed “God Bless the USA” out the windows to release our grief and try to anchor ourselves to the hope we will survive this.

That is the lesson from this tragedy. No matter how hard we are hit, we get off the mat. No matter how much they shake our faith, we still believe. No matter how much they try to divide us, we come together even stronger. One of my favorite movies, “Love Actually” captures how I am feeling today – 20 years later – on this significant Patriot Day:

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion is that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”

–“Love Actually”

It is for this reason that I am dedicated to writing about the everyday heroes of 9/11. The first responders and their family and professional caregivers. The military men and women who protect our freedoms.

On 9/11, caregivers were created as many beyond the 3,000 who lost their lives that day face chronic and fatal health issues. Two articles I have written for PBS Next Avenue are below. The aftermath of 9/11 is still with us even 20 years later. I was honored to talk to these heroes and their family caregivers and the health care workers and organizations supporting them.

These articles are part of my sacred promise, “We Never Will Forget.”

Caring for 9/11’s Rescue Workers 15 Years Later (PBS 9.11.16)

New Studies Find 9/11 First Responders Have Increased Dementia Risk (9.11.20)

©2021 Sherri Snelling