Dear Editor:

On this anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 more, please pause and take a moment to Honor Our Heroes.

Having lost a dear friend in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, I was incredibly angered by U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi’s reference to that horrendous act of terrorism as an “incident”. That anger was compounded when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo commented on America’s greatness by stating, America “was never that great”. Those comments speak for themselves, and my anger now has turned to sadness at the depths politicians will sink to further their causes. America is the greatest country on earth, and both Pelosi and Cuomo are privileged recipients of what this country has to offer.

Much of that greatness stems from our Heroes. September 11 was so filled with acts of selfless Heroism, it is impossible to count them. From police and fire personnel running toward the danger to save others, to the passengers on United Flight 93 overpowering cowardly terrorists to keep the plane from crashing into its intended target presumed to be the White House. Passengers knew they would die, but they died fighting. Seventeen years later, the Flight 93 National Memorial will put in place its final phase to honor those killed. The 93-foot-tall tower is being installed near the park’s entrance and will feature 40 tubular metal wind chimes, one each for the 33 passengers and seven crew members who died. Designed to serve as a visual and audible reminder of the heroism of those on board, each chime will have a different tone, or voice.

One of the simplest and most poignant ways to Honor Our Heroes is to say “thank you” when you see a uniformed or veteran member of the military – when you see a state trooper, police officer, fire fighter or paramedic. I do – at every opportunity and every day of the year. These humble human beings frequently thank me, some with a tear in their eye, saying “it is a privilege and thank you for caring”.

Terrorists could not silence the 40 voices of the passengers and crew of Flight 93. Please pause and take a moment to Honor Our Heroes by voicing your gratitude.

Jacqueline Fries

Palmer