Seventeen years have passed since this nation’s peace and calm were shattered by coordinated terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C.

Sept. 11 in any given year past 2001 has become a day to remember those who were murdered by the terrorists and a day to remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their own lives to help others – whether they were New York City firefighters and police officers or military warriors from communities throughout our great nation sent to foreign soil to wage war on terrorism.

Seventeen years ago, not many of us would have come together in prayer for this country…held onto another’s hand in hope of peace…shared in public the tears for fear for our fellow citizens.

It took just one 15-minute moment in time on Sept. 11, 2011 for this nation to come to the chilling realization that tomorrow may not come.

We hugged our children more and made sure our family members knew we were thinking of them…that we cared for them…that we loved them.

The events of 17 years ago had such an effect on us all that we simply cried out loud for answers to what was going on and why. What may very well forever be the most catastrophic moment in time came as more than just a catastrophe – it came as a wake-up call to a nation that had, for all practical reasoning, gone to sleep.

We were all jarred back to reality on that fateful day. And even with the passage of time, 17 years later we refuse to forget the events that unfolded before our eyes on that day.

The bittersweet part of this yearly remembrance deals with our freedom. We want it and need it, but only when it is threatened do we really seem to appreciate it.

While we need to celebrate our precious freedom each and every day, please take just a moment today to do exactly that. And while you are at it, whisper a prayer in memory of those who lost their lives on that tragic morning 17 years ago as well as one for the brave men and women who answer our calls for help today.

– The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald