Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: Remembering 9/11, 25 Years Later
25 years ago the United States was attacked. Radical Islamic terrorists murdered nearly 3,000 Americans. We lost mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, daughters and sons. Many were heroes who risked their lives to save others. Each year on Patriot Day we recommit to honoring their memories.
No one old enough to remember that day will ever forget it. I was working for my family business on September 11, 2001. Those days, I arrived at the office around 7:00 AM. I remember working at my desk when one of my coworkers came in and told me a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. I assumed it was a small private plane. Minutes later, that same coworker came in and said a second plane had hit the other tower. Then, less than an hour later, the Pentagon was attacked. I, like the rest of America, knew that something unprecedented and awful was unfolding. We just didn’t know what.
It was surreal to watch the Twin Towers collapse live on television. My coworkers and I stood there. We watched in disbelief as smoke and dust engulfed where the towers used to be. We saw the pictures of first responders covered in dust.
Like many Americans, we stood there confused and did not know what to expect. Many were waiting to hear from friends and family. While we were fortunate that none of our coworkers were lost, many of us knew people in the industry who were. Others were sending loved ones to join the recovery efforts, including Nebraska Task Force 1. It deployed to the Pentagon on 9/11.
The images of that day are forever ingrained in my memory. Even worse, though, are the nearly 3,000 American lives that were stolen. This includes Nebraskans Julie Geis of Beaver Crossing, Monte Hord of Central City, Jennifer Dorsey Howley of Lincoln, and Jerrold Paskins, originally from Omaha. All four were working at the World Trade Center when it was attacked. We also lost Captain Larry Getzfred of Elgin. He was killed while serving as the senior watch officer in the Pentagon’s Navy Command Center.
We also remember the amazing display of American courage and bravery demonstrated on that terrible day. Firefighters heroically ran into the burning towers and up stairways to perform rescues. First responders from around the country descended on New York City and the Pentagon. They selflessly tended to the wounded, even as they struggled to breathe themselves due to the clouds of dust and ash. Passengers on Flight 93 sacrificed their lives to prevent hijackers from flying the plane into the U.S. Capitol. These stories of courage have become part of our collective memory. They have inspired a generation of Americans. Their legacy continues.
In the wake of 9/11, New York City undertook the work of searching for survivors and identifying the remains of victims. New York had its own teams dedicated to conducting search and rescue operations for collapsed buildings. However, these teams had been activated on the morning of 9/11. The vast majority of their members perished during the collapse of the Twin Towers. To aid the response, the Federal Emergency Management Agency activated 25 of its 28 national Urban Search and Rescue task forces. Again, Nebraska Task Force 1 answered the call. It deployed on September 21st to Ground Zero.
Even two weeks after the attacks, Ground Zero was still smoldering, with pockets of earth at temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees. Clouds of dust and smoke rose from the massive pile of rubble. The instability of the debris at Ground Zero and the localized, superheated temperatures made for a dangerous mission. In addition to being hard work physically, the effort was psychologically difficult. Task Force 1 honorably represented Nebraska. We’re grateful for the mission they performed in NYC and earlier at the Pentagon.
On this anniversary of 9/11, we also remember all of the brave women and men who gave their lives in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. This includes Marine Corporal Daegan Page. Daegan was a 23-year-old Millard South graduate who died defending freedom in Kabul. Daegan’s sacrifice and the dedicated service of heroes like him have prevented terrorists from perpetrating additional attacks on the United States.
Our greatness as a nation depends on our character and willingness to pull together to overcome challenges. After 9/11, Americans came together as one to grieve, heal, and respond to our enemies. Today, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, let’s remember that “united we stand.” Let’s renew our commitment to seek patriotic unity. Let’s reach out to our neighbors to reestablish friendships and community. May God bless those grieving today and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
My team and I are here to serve you. Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224. You can also view my website at https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact.