It's on this day that we remember the lost voices of those that passed on 9/11. We use this day to remember those acts of heroism by everyday ordinary people and how strangers became family through the bonds of trauma. We remember the loss of people like a 3 year old girl onboard a flight, a group of people trying to take back their plane, and first responders who died of medical complications years after running into ruins. Their voices may be lost to us, but their memory never will.
And I do want to cycle back to the people I mentioned. I’ve watched people sit on a 3 year old’s grave marker like a bench and take selfies. I have been through the Flight 93 Memorial and heard the audio recordings of peoples last words. But what kills me most is that today those First Responders will be called heroes while congress still pushes to make sure their medical bills aren’t covered by the US Government. I know people are tired of hearing about this day 21 years later but we need to use this day to respect those that gave up their lives to prevent more death.
I’m not talking about nationalism or patriotism. I’m talking about the people on United 93 who tried to get the plane back under their control. I’m talking about the First Responders who became an after thought by their own government that kept using their sacrifices to push their political agendas. People need to keep talking about 9/11 until some form of restitution is paid to the families of the First Responders that had to pay for their own medical bills out of pocket; the medical bills caused by the fact that congress dragged their butts on ensuring their healthcare.
