Day of Remembrance

Today we remember Sept. 11th, 2001, a day etched in the memories of those who bore witness. It left us saddened and stunned, changing our perspective on the world around us.

Yet there is an entire generation of children and young adults for whom this day is a story or distant history. It did not alter their views of the world; they simply came of age in a world that had grappled with this horrific event.

We saw the worst in people that day, but we also saw the best. First responders selflessly put themselves in harm's way to aid and protect others, in some instances sacrificing their own lives in the process.

Our nation and our agency both have a rich history of showing up in times of need, and 9/11 underscores our role in the world's emergency response community. Our interagency incident management teams responded to the crises in New York and Virginia, and as recovery efforts got underway, our teams provided support and training for responders, and our own well-tested systems for emergency response were adopted by agencies around the world.

That nature provides solace is well-documented, and in 2002, Congress asked the Forest Service to create the Living Memorials Project to create lasting, living memorials for the victims of 9/11. This project recognizes the gardens, forests, or trees that were planted in remembrance of the victims of terrorism and their families, communities, and the nation.

I am always proud of our agency's service to our nation, but especially so on this National Day of Service and Remembrance. On this day, take time to remember the victims of 9/11.

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