Where Were You on Sept. 11, 2001?

This week, our nation recognizes the 25th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil. These 9/11 attacks saw 2,977 victims lose their lives between the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
Decades and wars later, we remember that day with unusual clarity. From watching the breaking news of the first tower being hit to watching live as the second was struck, those images are seared into the minds of many.
Where were you on 9/11?
I was at work. I was the Information Technology Director for Ahead Human Resources in Louisville. I remember my boss’s assistant telling us her husband called and said to turn on the TV, so we all clamored to our small breakroom and flipped on the 13” television to the Today Show, just in time to watch the second tower get hit.
The days, weeks, months, and years following saw our nation united like never before. Though mistakes were made, and wars happened that maybe shouldn’t have, ultimately, our armed forces eliminated the person responsible for the attack. The relief that day was palpable. We thought we were safe.
Since those days, we haven’t seen the same types of attacks, but we see a nation now divided deeper than ever, with no finish line in sight. How did we get here?
The better question I pose is: without the tragedy of a day like 9/11, how do we get back to that nation that came together and celebrated our unity and pride? How do we find that common ground to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated, regardless of their personal lives, which have no bearing on anyone but themselves? How do we find the common good again?
I hope we find the answer sooner rather than later.