You know what’s crazy? I’ll tell you what’s crazy?
Remembering 9/11.
We just experienced the 14th anniversary a few days ago.
The imagery is still powerful. Jets crashing. Fire balls smoldering. Towers crashing. Dust cascading.
There were ambulances and sirens and screams of anguish.
There was so much to remember, so much to be thankful for, so much to learn from.
It’s said that if we don’t remember the past we are doomed to repeat it.
That’s why celebrating September 11th is vital.
It is our past and it represents our future.
September 11th ceremonies from sea to shining sea were poignant and powerful.
These gatherings celebrated the heroes, the 1st responders, the police officers and the firefighters.
These men and women selflessly, heroically rushed into searing madness.
Many survived. So many others did not.
Many cities celebrated 9/11 last week. I was proud to be an American. I was proud to see so many communities take a minute to reflect.
I saw American flags and fire trucks, and I heard the chiming of bells for those lost.
It was grand.
But today, I had a visceral experience, that made that morning 14 years ago come back to life.
It is called the Stephen Tiller Tunnels 2 Towers Foundation.
It is a mobile museum, filled with September 11th artifacts, photographs, videos.
It drives around the country and it illuminates and inspires and makes people remember.
Today it was parked at the state fairgrounds.
“We must never forget!”
I have often heard this slogan, I understand this slogan.
But today it had more clarity for me.
“We must never forget.”
I thought I got it.
I didn’t, till today.
Today I stood in this sacred museum, full of fiery symbolism and dramatic heroism and I was over come.
I was humbled by the magnitude of the day, the atrocity of the moment and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I spoke with a retired FDNY Battalion chief who stood on the rubble, minutes after the 2nd tower fell.
He told me how a 110 story building turned into a 12 story pile of rubble. He told me how he lost 20 firefighters from his company in this tragedy. He told me that he was in utter disbelief.
He also told me about a hero’s hero. He told me about Stephen Siller.
Stephen Siller was a firefighter. He was a loving husband to Sally and father to five young children, ages 1 to 10.
As a plaque in the museum says; “The FDNY firefighter had just finished his shift, and was on his way to meet his 3 brothers to play golf, when he heard what was happening at the world trade center. Eventually, brave Stephen would strap up to 70 pounds of firefighting gear on his back and rushed on foot through gridlocked traffic and a blocked off Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center.
He joined his fellow firefighters after running almost 3 miles. He would eventually perish.
“He made a good choice,” the retired battalion chief says. “He was special,” he added.
He will go on to tell me that this trailer is important because school children are not taught about 9/11 in school.
Some remember, some have no clue.
Why is the 9/11 trailer so vital?
Because people outside the North East tend to forget, to think it was a regional issue, he will say.
“We have to learn from the past so we don’t repeat it,” he will tell me.
I look around the trailer and the imagery of death and destruction and heroism and pride fill my eyes.
I am reminded where I was when the plane hit the towers.
I thought I remembered.
Now I know I remember.
Now I know I will never forget.
Life’s Crazy™