'Let's roll'

Today is the anniversary of one of the defining moments in United States history. For our “Greatest Generation,” it’s Dec. 7, 1941. For the Baby Boomers, it’s Nov. 22, 1963. Then there’s Sept. 11, 2001.

For most, all we need are the dates. Those numbers are all that are required to know the first example was the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the second the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Today, Sept. 11, 2011, is the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93, acts of terrorism that claimed nearly 3,000 American lives and brought full-circle a prophecy played out decades before after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve,” Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamota said after the attack that brought the United States into World War II in the Pacific. Like the Japanese nearly 60 years before, the al-Qaida-led attacks did the same. Not only did the despicable and cowardly attacks on innocent civilians awaken our sleeping military power, it rekindled an intense patriotism that has not waned in the decade since. An attack that hoped to strike at the heart of America’s commerce and instill fear and crush the American spirit accomplished the opposite.

In many ways, that Tuesday morning 10 years ago was America’s darkest hour. We were no longer untouchable on our own soil. We all are targets for our enemies, not just our trained military forces. We were robbed of our innocence that day, an innocence that mandated that home is a safe haven.

In many more ways, however, Sept. 11, 2001, was also our finest hour. As reports of the human toll rolled in, so did the stories of the triumph of the human spirit and the selfless sacrifices of our heroic emergency responders.

Today we remember those who were killed at the Pentagon, on Flight 93 and in the towers. We also remember the 346 firefighters and 72 police officers who ran into burning, crumbling buildings and willing gave their lives to save thousands who would have otherwise perished at the World Trade Center.

We also remember one of our own, 1982 Wasilla High School graduate ET1 Ronald J. Hemenway, who was stationed at the Pentagon that day working for the Chief of Naval Operations. He was among the people inside the Pentagon who died when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the building, killing 125 people inside the Pentagon and all 64 on the plane. Hemenway is one of five persons there whose remains were never found. While we remember the ultimate sacrifice this son of Wasilla paid defending his country on the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, we’re proud and resolve that he will never be forgotten.

Among the local activities marking the anniversary of the attacks is a Battlefield Cross Memorial dedication at 3 p.m., at Wasilla High School. A 46-inch bronze memorial will be dedicated, a reminder of the terrible price paid that day and an example to current and future generations of Valley students to strive for the excellence Hemenway embodied.

Ten years removed from the worst act of terrorism ever on American soil, the sleeping giant of our pride and patriotism is still wide awake. We honor heroes like Hemenway, those firefighters, police officers and the 44 on board Flight 93 that fateful morning who thwarted what was to be another in the coordinated airline attacks by forcing the plane to crash in a field in Pennsylvania.

Now that 10 years have passed, where do we go from here? How does America continue to fight terrorism and those who threaten our freedom? The solution is simple, and is found in the final words and actions of Todd Beamer and the Flight 93 passengers who overtook the terrorists on the plane.

“Let’s roll.”