We Cannot Forget 9/11, and We Will Not

September 11, 2001 is one of those dates that make everyone remember exactly where they were, and we must always remember.

Sometimes it's hard to believe the airliners, with terrorists at the controls, struck the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon twelve years ago. But then again, I remember exactly where I was when I heard President Kennedy had been killed, and that's nearly 50 years ago.

Are we safer now? I'd like to think so, but you and I are not the final authority at that one.

But while we are more aware of our safety and security in so many ways, we still cannot be lulled into a false sense of security.

And we can't forget: some 3,000 innocent people who were going about their daily lives died that day. And the wars that have followed have taken many, many more lives.

I've written before about my cousin's stepson, David Branning, who was a young Marine when he was killed in the assault on Fallujah.

He was a bright young man, the kind you would want your son to be. And he was just one of the men and women who are missed just as keenly today as when they gave their lives to defend us.

We owe it to them to remember, and to remain vigilant.