Sammi Ruzzo ’28
As we settle back into the school year, our main priorities and tasks at hand relate to getting back into an academic rhythm, turning in our assignments, and trying to stay afloat. To most, September seems like a time of anxiety and stress, where our own problems cloud over anything that happens around us in the world. As life continuously gets busier, it seems that we have stopped reflecting on the date that has left an indelible mark on our country: September 11, 2001. The fateful day that sparked tragedy, shock, and an unexpected force of unity has been honored and reflected upon for over two decades.
In the St. Mark’s community, none of the students is old enough to have been alive on this day. None of us is truly able to understand the weight that this day holds for our country, as the pivotal moment changed the history of the United States forever. However, if the average St. Marker asks their parents or even their grandparents about their memory of this day, the chances are, they will remember exactly where they were. Many were in a pure state of shock, watching the World Trade Center, once standing tall in the bustling New York City, crumble in front of their eyes, transforming into nothing but debris. On this tragic day, 2976 people were killed, and countless more were injured. Today, when people visit the 9/11 memorial, their names are listed more like a cold statistical number rather than actual human beings whose lives were taken.
As the years go on, the sentiment of this day seems to be fading. Of course, this is natural to the way of life; people tend to forget as time passes. But this day can teach us a few things about unity. After 9/11, this country discovered a new form of togetherness. A majority of American adults collectively experienced fear, anger, and depression all in one. Beyond this, Americans felt patriotism, the purest form of pride there is. 9/11 transcended political division for a short period of time. The date seems like the only event that can truly unite Americans, regardless of beliefs or values.
The unity that September 11th brought 25 years ago heavily contrasts the political climate of our country today. In the last decade or so, American politics and government have been on a heater, constantly under a microscope, being picked at and torn apart. Political violence has ramped up, becoming a norm in our society. With events such as the assassination attempts on President Trump and the death of political commentator Charlie Kirk, violence has become one main way to settle differences of opinion. On September 11, violence was the enemy, with everyone united under the belief that no fellow American should lose their life. When the incredibly courageous first responders charged into the burning Twin Towers, they tried to save anyone possible. They did not care what political beliefs they held or if they disagreed with their own beliefs. They cared about saving lives. That statement in itself is the most American sentiment there is. This country was built on the principles of looking out for each other, a nation where all beliefs are allowed, and everyone is equally American. The core of America is still with us, but it has been harder to see throughout these past years.
As we reflect on our September at St. Mark’s, we should also reflect on one of the darkest days in American history, September 11, 2001. This tragic day truly puts into perspective the tainted history of our country, but it also exemplifies what makes our country so great. The response to 9/11 was absolutely fierce and patriotic, qualities that have become gray areas in our American society today. The beauty of the American spirit should be remembered because, after all, forgetting 9/11 is forgetting what it means to be an American.