By Ray Cardello for September 11, 2023, Season 21 / Post 48

I wrote this as a Letter to the Editor in 2006, and now, 17 years later, its meaning still holds true. Our lives since 9/11 have yet to return to normal as some of our liberties have not been restored. There is not a student in K-16 that was alive on that beautiful September morning, so it is imperative to keep the story alive.

Five years ago today, we were a unified country in a way never seen since we came together to free the world from Germany and Japan. As the Twin Towers came crashing down and the hole was cut into the Pentagon wall. As those brave, innocent travelers brought down Flight 93 in a field in Pennsylvania instead of its supposed destination, the White House. As people in the Middle East celebrated in the death of nearly three thousand folks just like us that had done nothing that beautiful fall day but go about their normal lives, we Americans came together with a bond that not many could explain but that we all felt. We were sad. We were shocked, We were angry and confused but we were united in our resolve to let the world know, to let the terrorists that wanted us all dead to know, that we Americans still stood together in our need to live as the most powerful and free country in the world.

During the time following September 11, 2001, the American Flag could be seen everywhere. It flew from homes and offices. It flew from factories and apartments. It flew from car windows and the backs of motorcycles. Red White and Blue was a symbol of our unity and it could be seen everywhere you traveled across this incredible nation we all love so much. We raised the flag proudly to show the world that we could be bruised and knocked to our knees but we would never stay down. That we could take their best shot, even on our own soil, but we would never give up the fight. We were all united in our pride to be Americans and displaying the flag was our way of showing that pride.

Five long years have passed. The flags have disappeared from the homes. They are not seen as often flapping in the wind from a car antenna. They are not seen in the storefront window. The pride is not so obvious as it was just five years ago. We need to remember what made us angry that crystal clear September morn. We need to remember what the terrorists from another land tried to take from us. We need to remind our children why it is so important to be proud of our American life and to simply be an American. Bring out the flags and raise them once again. Show the world that we are still united in our fight. Bring out the flags and let us never forget.