Abby Hagen, 15, of Mars Area School District, places flags as part of the school's JROTC 9-11 memorial on Thursday. Julia Maruca/Butler Eagle

Today is the anniversary of one of the worst events to take place in our country throughout its comparatively brief history.

On Friday, stories were circulating in the newsroom about the whereabouts of reporters and staff the day of the attacks. Some of us were at the office and some of us were too young to work then, but we all can still remember the shock and horror on the faces of everyone watching as the Twin Towers fell on television.

Those who were adults at the time describe the mass chaos that ensued as the news swept across the country like an annihilating wildfire. We can hardly bring ourselves to think about the people in those buildings and planes, what they must have been thinking and feeling, or the devastation to their families.

September 11, 2001, forged us anew as a nation. Individually, pain is one of the most defining aspects of being human. It has the ability to reroute lives and force impossible choices. We all experienced this phenomenon collectively back then.

Which brings us to a grim sort of beauty: out of the ashes of the pain and rage Americans felt, a spirit of overwhelming unity grew.

According to a 2021 study at Pew Research Center, patriotic sentiment surged in the aftermath of 9/11. After the U.S. and its allies launched airstrikes against Taliban and al-Qaida forces in early October 2001, 79% of adults said they had displayed an American flag. A year later, a 62% majority said they often had felt patriotic as a result of the 9/11 attacks.

In a world that is more divided now than ever before, we have a duty to those who lost their lives to recall that unity now and pull strength from it.

Few things weave us together like grief; it’s a potent mix of emotions. However, a simple change in focus can prove effective as well.

Instead of concentrating on differences, remember that we are all Americans who want the best for our country. Remember that the issues on which we disagree are never simple ones.

Remember to keep an open mind, because closing ourselves off to the unique and disparate ideas and methods of other people will only drive the wedge between us deeper.

Keep those who died that day and their families in your hearts and minds, along with a renewed patriotism borne from their loss.

–CM