We need to remember!

  • Published
  • By Sarah Anne Carter
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  We have had three years to forget.

To forget the children who died sitting beside their parents on an airplane.

To forget the woman who died in an office with a view of New York City.

To forget the man in uniform who died walking the halls of the military's headquarters.

We should never forget, but with each passing day we tend to go about our daily tasks that revolve around work, family and the complexities of life and don't think about it. We can go throughout a whole day, week and maybe even a month without even thinking about that day.

But, we need to remember.

We need to remember that family is important. The more than 3,000 people who lost their lives in the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, had people who cared about them and whose lives are now affected by their loss.

Don't take a single day for granted. Go home tonight and let the people you love know you love them. Remember no American woke up that morning knowing his or her life was ending that day.

We need to remember that danger is everywhere. Every single person has a duty now to be aware of his or her surroundings and report any suspicious activity. The world has always been a dangerous place, but we have now seen through our own eyes the type of horror that some people are willing to inflict on innocent people.

We have a responsibility to each other to create as safe a world as we can, not just for us, but for the children who deserve the same chance of innocence that we had growing up. Remember to keep your eyes open wherever you are.

We need to remember that the mission is important. Each person associated with the military -- active-duty, civilian, contractor, retiree and family member -- knows probably better than anyone that the world is very different than it was three years ago. Our work and lives revolve around a mission that is vital for the security of our nation and world.

We make sacrifices every day to ensure that mission is completed. Remember why we have a vital mission.

Whether it is a photo you keep at your desk or on your refrigerator, a bumper sticker of the American flag, a pin you wear on your lapel or purse, make sure you have something somewhere that helps you remember why life is different than it was three years ago. For the sake of those who lost their lives that day, let us never forget!