Parker: September 11: We Remember. We Honor. We Never Forget.

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Twenty-five years ago, America awoke to a beautiful September morning that would forever change our nation. For those of us who remember every detail of that day, the imagery became a part of our souls.

I was on an American Airlines flight destined for Pittsburgh on a business trip.  I kissed Beth and our baby daughter, Lauren, goodbye and left on what we all believed was an ordinary day.  Crossing over the Tennessee airspace, the pilot came on and announced our airplane is operating fine, there are no mechanical issues, but by the order of decree from the President of the United States every plane over the US skies is ordered to land immediately. And the microphone clicked off. 

The following silence was deafening. Our plane turned around at an eerie speed and returned to DFW.  And we knew something was horrifically happening in our country – but the magnitude was impossible to comprehend in that moment. 

On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 innocent lives were taken in an act of unimaginable evil. Families lost husbands and wives, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. Police officers, firefighters, first responders, and ordinary Americans ran toward danger when every instinct told them to run away.

Their courage revealed something powerful about the character of our nation.

In the hours and days that followed, Americans did not ask about political parties or differences. We stood together. Flags appeared on homes and businesses. Churches filled with prayer. Neighbors cared for neighbors. Strangers became friends.

For a moment, we were reminded that what unites us as Americans is far greater than what divides us.

Today, a quarter-century later, that lesson carries renewed urgency.

An entire generation has now grown up without any personal memory of September 11. It is our responsibility to ensure they understand not only what happened that day, but what followed: extraordinary courage, selfless service, national unity, and an unwavering determination to defend the freedoms that define America.

We must tell them about the passengers of Flight 93 who fought back. The firefighters who climbed the stairs as others fled to safety. The police officers and first responders who ran toward danger. The service members who stepped forward to defend our nation. And we must never forget the thousands of Americans who, in the years since, have suffered - and too many who have died - from toxic exposure and the lasting devastation of September 11.

We must also remember the families whose lives were forever changed.

September 11 reminds us that freedom is precious, America is worth defending, and our strength has always come from a people willing to stand together when it matters most.

As we mark 25 years, may we honor those we lost not simply with our words, but by living with the same courage, service, faith, and love of country that Americans demonstrated in our darkest hour.

May God continue to comfort the families who carry the wounds of that day. May He protect those who stand watch over our nation today. And may He continue to bless the United States of America.

We remember. We honor. And we will never forget.