Twenty years later, the horrors of that infamous day seem all too easy to recall. Despite the evil that replayed continuously on the television, it would be a dishonor to the thousands of heroes who became frontline defenders of America that day, to not remember the heroes. 

2,996 Americans lost their lives on 9/11. In spite of this evil, countless Americans responded to the fire and violence by running into harms way to save others. Every year I focus on the images of firefighters and police officers climbing up flights of stairs, or everyday citizens carrying one another to safety, rather than focus on the images of death and evil. 

September 11th was a day for heroes and patriots. These are the ones we recall when the words, "never forget" are repeated every year. It is through their sacrifice that others lived. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

September 12th was a day that I believe is needed more than ever in America. It was a day of unity, patriotism, and healing. I remember the fervor with which American flags rippled across the Republic, and the promise that we would get through this evil together. There were no political parties that day, no bitterness and distrust of one another. There was a desire to stand with and for each other, a lesson and memory that we need now.

Before our politics we are Americans. We owe it to the memory of those fallen to build an America worthy of their sacrifice. We are capable of it, and we will not let them down. Thank you to our heroic first responders, to the heroes, and their families. 

Never forget.