We Will Not Forget

I have seen the t-shirts around.  I am hearing discussions in my various networks.  I heard a special announcement in the church I attended last Sunday.  Special gatherings and memorial services are being planned all over the country.  It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since September 11, 2001.  

“Nine Eleven” has become a part of our country’s vernacular.  It truly has become a day that will live in infamy.  I remember telling my church family about two weeks after the event that I believed that September 11, 2011 would be for this generation what December 7, 1941 was for the previous generation.  Eyes were rolled and heads were shaken by those whose lives and perspectives had been forever altered by Pearl Harbor, but I think the ensuing years have given some validity to my words.  

Since we are now at the ten year mark, it has become apparent that there is a felt need for a commemoration of some kind and there seems to be a struggle in how to do it. Churches are working through the plans for their second patriotic service in two months’ time, since many of them had special services around July 4.  Elementary schools are trying to figure out how to commemorate an event that occurred before most of their students were born.  And if even half of what I am hearing is true about the planned Ground Zero gathering, there will be no shortage of controversy to deal with afterwards.

When I saw the “We will not forget” t-shirts a few days ago, I was struck with my own risky thought.  What is it exactly that we are not supposed to forget?  

Honestly, there are some things about that day and the days following that I would give anything to forget.  I wish I could erase my mental pictures and videos of planes crashing into buildings, people jumping out of windows, buildings collapsing.  I wish I could forget the political opportunism of those who use tragedy to further their own political agenda.  I wish I could forget the ugliness of those who have portrayed all Muslims as anti-American followers of Osama bin Laden and all persons of Middle Eastern descent as potential terrorists.  As a Baptist, I don’t want to be identified with that nut-job from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS.  And I suspect that many Muslims feel the same way about being painted with the same broad brush. 

So, what do I want to be sure I never forget?  

I want never to forget how our leaders initially set aside political differences and came together in solidarity.  For a few precious hours, we were not Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, or whatever … we were Americans.  Making sure our commemorations include the words, “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” would help us remember.

I want never to forget that there are heroes who risk their lives every day to protect us. Firefighters are being called out daily (lately close enough that we can actually smell the smoke).  Law enforcement and emergency medical personnel are every bit as vital to our daily lives as those first responders who were called to Ground Zero.  And certainly we don’t want to forget the members of our military in harm’s way throughout the world.  Making sure that our commemorations include recognition of these heroes would help us remember.

I want to be sure that I never forget that our security is not ultimately in our hands.  Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  Not every commemoration will be in a setting where that can be acknowledged out loud.  But those of us who know how much our lives matters to Him can make our daily lives a reaffirmation of that reality.

May we never, ever forget.