9/11 victims and first responders honored at Memorial Park
Citizens of Colorado Springs, first responders, military personnel, and special guests gathered for the 9/11 Day of Remembrance and Community Commemoration at Memorial Park Wednesday morning.
Cadet First Class Hanna Born was one of the morning’s speakers.
Born was just 3 years old when she was sitting in the Pentagon daycare center with her sister when the building was attacked. She remembers every last detail.
” I still remember the fire alarms sounding, the kids crying, and the utter confusion as everyone desperately tried to figure out what had happened. But I also remember the feeling of relief I felt when Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen suddenly rushed into the daycare center to help the workers lead and carry us to safety, ” said Born.
As a toddler, Born found her meaning in life. She knew she had a duty to become one of the brave souls that helped her and her sister. She says she was able to see the light on our country’s darkest day.
” When the world witnessed the worst of humanity, I witnessed first hand how the best of humanity can still shine through, ” she said.
Retired Air Force General Richard Meyers said the tragedy altered the world everyone knew.
” It really changed national security dynamics, ” he said.
Both Born and Meyers agree that 18 years later — when there are now people who can drive, vote and serve without having witnessed the devastation of 9/11 brought — these memorials are more important than ever.
” Young people need to understand that, ” said Meyers. ” To know, now we’re here, 2019, and we’re trying to make decisions going forward. But if you don’t understand where we’ve been, I don’t think you’re going to have very good judgment. ”
Born says it’s important that we know how lucky we are, as Americans, but it’s also important that we keep our vulnerabilities at the forefront of our minds.
” Although we are privileged to feel safe on our homeland, we can’t take it for granted, because that sense of security can be shattered in an instant, ” said Born.
The anniversary marks 18 years since al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked planes and attacked the twin towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia. Terrorists also hijacked a plane that was headed toward Washington D.C., which was overtaken by passengers and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
9/11 was the deadliest terrorist attack in human history and the single deadliest incident for first responders in the United States, with nearly 3,000 victims.
KRDO Only 2019
