9/11/2012, A Day Like Any Other

September 11, 2011 was the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks, but now we have reached the eleventh anniversary. Honestly, the anniversary year is an arbitrary date. The events of that day have no less effect today as they did September 12th, 2001, or any other date for that matter. We choose dates out of convenience, not out of true respect of the events of that day. Did the tenth anniversary mean more than today's? Does time heal all wounds? No, not even close. We have had casualties since then, and we will continue to have casualties from the subsequent war on terror.

A few hours after the attacks we knew our country was at war, even though war was not declared until October 7th, 2001. Eleven years later, we have men and women returning to their families in coffins shrouded in American flags. Our military is still fighting the same fight, and we are seeing our service members return home with both physical and mental injuries. 

Just a generation ago, we would have seen many of the seriously wounded confined to nursing homes. Thankfully today, technology and strong support networks have made it possible for men and women to rejoin the communities they left, even if they are not whole. Many communities have joined together to welcome home and care for their hometown heroes. Twelve days ago, quadruple amputee Taylor Morris was able to walk down Main Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa to a cheering crowd. Store owners closed their shops and schools let out to welcome him home. This kind of support has become commonplace in America. Events like this are not only for the seriously wounded, but also units returning home.

It didn't happen yesterday, or even a decade ago, but we are still living with the effects of 9/11. We can not put a counter on this tragedy. We must never forget the loss we saw that day, and we must never forget the men and women that are serving and have served in the post-9/11 world. In the years to follow we will still feel loss, and our service members will continue to bear the brunt of the legacy of 9/11. We must be ready for them, and be willing to support them as much as they sacrificed for us.