[September 11, 2024] We pledge to remember and honor those lost on September 11, 2001 – those killed in the unprovoked attacks on our soil by Islamic terrorists twenty-three years ago. The wave of patriotic sentiment that emerged was unprecedented, and never before has anyone born after WWII experienced such an outpouring of goodwill from all Americans.
However, we can predict with clarity two things about today’s remembrance of that grim occasion. The first is that we will see a large amount of editorializing with lengthy articles and photographs. Second, we will be sure to not see what 9/11 means for Americans.
This is the 23rd anniversary since American lives changed forever in what should be our generation’s day of infamy, and it also marks the third anniversary of 13 young troops killed in our nation’s disastrous and inglorious retreat from Afghanistan. What this means for us is that there is no getting away from the reality that many in the world cannot tolerate a free America.
My uncle Douglas James Satterfield (after whom I was named) kept an old, stained piece of paper attached to a photograph of his WWII buddies with the words “Remember Pearl Harbor” written in pencil. He fought in the European Theater, where he was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge while repelling an attack on his unit. No one would have any doubts as to what these words meant for him or any American.
But “Remember 9/11” is fraught with vagueness and uneasiness. Photographs taken that day will flash in our minds, but there is little comparable clarity or meaning to these words, “Remember 9/11.” As commanding as September 11th was in its immediate effects, the reality of that day has quickly faded.
Much of the reasons stem from the debate over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As well, many believe that America is somehow to blame for the attacks and, surprisingly, that we deserved it. Some will say that we are a nation that hates Muslims because we see them as somehow morally and religiously inferior. As Reverend Wright said only a few days after the attack, “America’s chickens are coming home to roost.”
That there is no real consensus on the meaning of 9/11 has to be a worrying sign about us as a people. True enough, much of it has to do with our increasingly bitter and divisive national politics and the conflating of our daily lives into advantages to either the Democrat or Republican parties. One could have thought in the days immediately following September 11th that the event would have pushed the country into a long-lasting unity. If you thought this, you would be wrong.
The first thing we must do in remembering the attacks on 9/11 is the act of honoring our fallen and committing to remembering them. Remembrance of September 11th should be a part of our collective culture, and rightly so. It should not be seen only through the eyes of those who were there at ground zero but for all Americans.
The second thing we must do is to memorialize that day in concrete ways: local, small-town events, ceremonies, parades, decorating of the graves of first responders, the creation of parks and statues, speeches, and the lighting of an eternal flame that tells us in vivid visual ways that “We Remember 9/11.”
If Americans don’t pull themselves out of our funk and get on with ensuring we remain a strong, free, and inviting culture, we will lose our way. And then America will no longer be special, and the American Spirit will die.
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Gen. Satterfield, thank you for doing your part in the war on terror. We should all recognize that the core of the terror is the “religion” of Islam. Many will be peaceful but many will also become radicalized murderers. They will get to meet Satan in the afterlife and burn in Hell for eternity.
Well written. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield.
Yep, and this is why I always read his blog. And, we always gain something from it. I suggest also reading his series on “Letters to My Granddaughter” because these letters explain a lot about where Gen. Satterfield is coming from. And that perspective is very useful in reading his articles. It doesn’t take long to read them because of the entertainment value but also because the letters draw you in.
Stand strong America. Reject those who would want to go soft on Evil and do not walk their path.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;” – Psalms 1:1
We stand with America. Canada has your back.
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Thx Ron. The civilized world vs. the barbarians. Our soft political leaders don’t see it that way because they are too WOKE. But the real people who go to work every day and take care of their families and help out their neighborhoods do see it and don’t appreciate pandering to extremists. Like Gen. Satterfield wrote, we are a divided nation and the events of 9/11 surely helped propel that division and we are thus less likely to remember those things like the tragedy of that day and push it into ancient history. That alone is sad and shows our weakness. But we also showed we can be strong with the right kind of leaders who demand responsibility from us.
Well said, Scotty. It’s the laziness that bugs me the most and the inability to recognize evil when it shows itself. Much like the anti-Israeli “protests” on our anti-Semitic college campuses today, we are just to lazy to do anything about that evil, so we say they are just peacefully “protesting” when that is clearly not the case. We need a new president who can be strong for America and Kamala Harris is NOT that person. She is WOKE to the hilt.
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REMEMBER 9-11 forever.
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Ron …. sir, thank you and your countrymen for what you also do. Today, both our nations have terrible, corrupt, stupid, and lazy leaders at the top. We need to replace them now if we are to remain countries that excel and remain relevant.
REMEMBER 9/11.
I told my boss at work last week that I was taking the day off to attend a number of ceremonies and gathering on this special day. I didn’t care whether he approved it or not. —- he did.
…. And who was responsible? Not America as Rev. “I’m a dumbass” Wright claimed. “Based on the evidence, authorities in the United States quickly asserted that Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda organization were solely responsible for the attacks, and other suspects were ruled out. The Government of the United Kingdom reached the same conclusion. Although he denied involvement in the attacks at first, Osama bin Laden claimed full responsibility in a 2004 video. See Wikipedia page on that video: 2004 Osama bin Laden video – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Osama_bin_Laden_video
Appreciate the info.
Almost 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, including the 19 al Qaeda terrorists. The shocking events of September 11 were televised globally and left much of the world reeling in horror. The administration of President George W. Bush responded by declaring a “war on terrorism,” including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the invasion of Afghanistan and later the country of Iraq.
We all remember where we were and what we were doing when these attacks happened. I was getting a haircut and watching the barbershop television 💈 which was running the local news. I went directly home to my family and made sure all were safe. We didn’t know if more attacks were coming.
Looks like my area is going to have some great weather today and that means the turnout for our 9-11 ceremony will be high. That is a good thing. Why? Although it does show we can be fickle about the weather, a good turnout means there is still a spirit of patriotism that runs deep in my community, and YES, I also believe it runs deep in the good ole’ USA. Thank you Gen. Satterfield for you also remembering 9/11.
Yes, and pray for those innocents who were lost that day. We still feel the impact of that day.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Excellent piece Gen. Satterfield. We all should take a moment today to stand up and remember that terrible day, but also remember that we stood strong and can do it again with the right leadership by our good citizens. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Another masterful stroke by Gen. Satterfield to write about one of the most important dates in American history, and one that draws upon our emotions and challenges us to be the beacon of light for civilization. When we were attacked by the barbarians, we stood united and showed how our nation was better than others. Gen. Satterfield notes that we have forgotten much and those days of unity are largely gone. Let us hope we can regain where we were during that struggle.
Well said, sir. Thank you for complimenting Gen. Satterfield on his annual 9-11 article as he recognizes and honors those lost on that terrible day 23 years ago, but also remembers those who were there and made a difference as they put their lives in danger to help their fellow humans. 👍
Nailed it. Thanks!!!!! Praying for those who were killed on 9/11 and for all lost in the war against the “barbarians.” 🙏
Remember 9/11 ……….. 🇺🇸
Great comments. I’ll be out at our town’s small gathering to give tribute to those Americans and non-Americans who were here and were killed. The Muslim terrorists are the epitome of evil and we all should see evil for what it is. Many in America have failed to “see” terror for what it is and we should always stand against it. That is how we can define ourselves and, as Gen. Satterfield says, that is how we can follow the narrow path of good. For those new to this blog, I recommend reading Gen. Satterfield’s book “55 Rules for a Good Life” and you will be able to see what he means by staying on the right and proper path.
Jerome, you da man.