“Never Forget” seems to be getting difficult for us, as a people, for an event now 16 years passed. We just don’t talk about it the same way. We should, but we don’t. The incredible emotions of anger, fear, confusion, and even love for our fellow citizens has faded. We certainly haven’t forgotten, but we have definitely begun to move on. And it is to be expected. As much as it pains us to say or hear, September 11th at some point will fade into our history as a historical day devoid of emotion and relegated to a date of an important event that ushered in a new era in our history. A footnote, if you will.

But not for me, not for my family. And I challenge you to join me in talking to your children about that day. Talk to them about your perspective as it was happening, the emotions you felt and why. Talk about the innocent lives lost in those cowardly attacks. Talk about our brothers and sisters who took the fight abroad against these people in the many years since. Talk about the ultimate sacrifice so many of them made in that fight. And, most importantly, talk about what it means to be an American.

September 11th provides us a great opportunity to teach our children what it means to be an American and a patriot, in whatever form your family chooses. Not just to blindly recite a pledge in the morning, but to truly understand what it means to be an American.

I challenge you to take on this responsibility and talk to your children. Our country is constantly struggling politically, religiously, and ideologically, but that one terrible day it all stopped. Perhaps just for a moment, but it stopped and we were all united. We were angry, afraid, and confused…but we were also united in love for our each other and for our country. And today, of all days, we should be united in love, if only for a moment, and it starts with our children.