Today, as you obviously know, is the 25th anniversary of the 9.11 terrorist attacks.
Today, like clockwork, is my least-favorite spot on the calendar.
And as a native New Yorker, and as a guy who lived closely through it, I want to ask a favor to all my California peeps …
Talk about 9.11. Tell your kids. Tell your nieces and nephews. Tell your cousins. Obviously, not if they’re too young. But if they’re in their teens—tell them. Tell them about the heroism. Tell them about the heartbreak. Tell them about a uniquely united America. Tell that that life is finite, and must be appreciated.
Tell them about the four planes; about the terrorists. Tell them about flyers; about the smoke and fire. Tell them about people who saw their lives extinguished. Tell them about George W. Bush and Rudy Giuliani and tell them about the members of Congress—left and right—standing before the U.S. Capitol and, as one body, singing, “God Bless America.”
Tell them about Todd Beamer and Mychal Judge; about Tyler Ugolyn and Vernon Cherry.
Tell them America can be united and can be embracing and can be special. Even if it seems distant and faded.
Tell them about September 11, 2001.
Tell them all of it.
Lest we forget.
This is extremely important for your California audience to hear. Although many of us had tragic connections to the flights and New York, many more did not, and I think sometimes we think that talking about it sounds performative if it wasn’t something we lived. Of course all Americans experienced 9/11, but not with the specificity that you’re talking about. But what you ask, to remember the names and tell the stories, is something we have to do, out of respect and to keep these people living in all of our memories.
Remember them always…