Throughout history, the American spirit and our will to prevail have always triumphed over tragedy. In times of our country’s very worst calamities, either man-made or otherwise, Americans have come together to lend a hand to our fellow citizens.
This sense of community was powerful in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. On that day 10 years ago, every single American was a New Yorker, a Pentagon employee, an airline captain or flight attendant. I’ll never forget the pain I experienced seeing that second plane collide with the World Trade Center tower. Like so many others across the country and around the world, I was riveted to the television.
As a nation, we collectively felt the pain of so many innocent lives lost. Over the course of the following days and weeks, we settled into a sense of vulnerability not felt since Pearl Harbor or Oklahoma City.
However, we did not give up. You could see that spirit of resilience swelling up right here in Denver. We knew that as Americans, we simply could not give up or give in.
So we set off to heal, to rebuild, and to make ourselves stronger. Yes, we had to change the way we govern, the way we conduct business, and even the way we live to a certain extent. I, for one, am extremely grateful to the men and women who risk their lives day in and day out to protect our freedoms.
These changes haven’t always been easy. But they were necessary. And 10 years later, we can be proud of the steps we’ve taken and our continued commitment to one another. In a post- 9/11 world, I can still very comfortably tell my children that we live in the safest country in the world.
As I think about what has stood out most prominently for me over the past decade, it clearly is how we responded as a nation. It made me proud to be an American. Our pain and hurt slowly returned to pride and perseverance. And I didn’t need to leave Colorado to see it, either. From our nonprofits to our National Guard, Coloradans joined in the rescue and recovery effort, and our state has continued to send troops to protect our country.
Ten years later, it’s as important as ever that we pay our respects as a nation and as a community to the lives lost, and to say “thank you.” It is for this reason that the city of Denver and the state of Colorado will be memorializing the events of 9/11, paying our respects to those who died, and celebrating the courage America showed in how it responded.
As mayor, I’m calling on all Coloradans to join Gov. John Hickenlooper and me at 1 p.m. Sunday in Civic Center to mark the 10th anniversary during a Colorado Remembers 9/11 event. This will not only be a celebration of our nation’s will to prevail, but also a sacred and somber memorial service and time for reflection.
In order to move forward, we must never forget.
Michael B. Hancock is mayor of Denver.
