09/11/2026
Twenty-five years ago, September 11, 2001 changed our nation forever.
Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the families whose lives were forever changed, and the first responders, service members, and ordinary Americans who answered unimaginable tragedy with extraordinary courage.
Many of us also remember the days that followed—the flags on front porches, neighbors checking on neighbors, strangers helping strangers, and a powerful sense that our differences suddenly seemed smaller than what we shared.
But twenty-five years gives us the perspective to remember the whole story.
That period of unity was not experienced equally by everyone. Fear and grief also gave way to suspicion, prejudice, and violence against Muslim Americans and others who were perceived to be Muslim. Even as our country demonstrated remarkable compassion and solidarity, some of our neighbors experienced isolation and fear.
There is a lesson in both.
Times of profound change reveal who we are. They can pull people together, but fear and uncertainty can also divide us. Leadership in those moments requires more than bringing people together—it requires ensuring that the circle of belonging is wide enough to include everyone.
Twenty-five years later, may we remember September 11 with reverence. May we remember the courage and compassion that followed it without overlooking the people who experienced those days differently. And may we carry forward the very best of what we learned: to serve one another, to choose compassion over fear, and to recognize our shared humanity even when the world feels uncertain.
We remember those we lost.
We honor those who served.
And we keep learning from what came after.
