09/12/2026
Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which rocked our nation to the core and which fundamentally altered the course of history. Every year, on this day, it is so important to take a moment to reflect on the 3,000 casualties of that day and the many more who have been lost in the years that followed.
I was nine when the towers fell, and my mom was pregnant with my sister. I will never forget the fear that my family felt, and that was felt by families all across our nation and the world. My thoughts and reflections are with those families who have experienced loss associated with the events of 9/11 – whether on the day, due to health impacts or injuries sustained in the immediate aftermath, or in the many years of war that came after.
It's odd to think that these events, which were so real to me, have become a page in history that an entire generation now only knows through stories or textbooks. One thing that is hard to describe is the collective desire to come together in the immediate aftermath, and the inspiring acts of courage and service that many communities undertook to rebuild. That resilience and care for our fellow Americans is what sticks with me most, and stands as an enduring testament to what we are capable of as a nation when we work hard and work together toward a common good. May we continue to honor those lost, and never forget that even in our darkest moments as a country, we can still find light.
