September 11

"Tribute in Light" from the US Air Force
“Tribute in Light” from the US Air Force

The September 11 attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,996 people, including the 19 hijackers and 2,977 victims. The victims included 246 on the four planes, 2,606 in New York City in the World Trade Center towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon. Nearly all of the victims were civilians. 55 military personnel were among those killed at the Pentagon. One was an employee of my company.

Make a few minutes today to remember those lost directly, and as a result of the subsequent actions. Thousands more Americans were killed in Afghanistan to attack the perpetrators of this criminal act.

Make a few more minutes to think about how our country has eroded some of it’s citizens’ civil liberties as a response to the threats, real or perceived, that may come. The NSA spying scandal, the TSA procedures at the airport, the militarization of our police forces, any many other negatives have spilled into America culture as a result of those September 11 attacks.