Remembering September 11: 25 Years Later

As we mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, I find myself once again reflecting on a day that forever reshaped our nation, our community, and each of our lives.

Losing someone you love changes you in ways that never fade. Their absence leaves a void that cannot truly be filled. You feel it in life’s greatest milestones and in the quiet moments of ordinary days. For the families who lost loved ones on 9/11, that pain is intensified by the cruel and senseless nature of the attacks.

That morning, 19 al‑Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes and carried out a series of coordinated attacks that murdered nearly 3,000 innocent people—parents, children, friends, and neighbors. Among them were members of our own Rockland County community. And the tragedy did not end on that day; we have now lost more people to 9/11‑related illnesses and cancers than were killed in the attacks themselves.

On behalf of the people of Rockland, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who continue to grieve, to the residents of New York State, and to our nation as a whole. The wounds of that day will never fully heal, but they remind us of the responsibility we carry: to honor those we lost by preserving their memory and upholding the values they embodied.

The terrorists who attacked us sought not only to destroy buildings, but to break our spirit. They failed. In the face of unthinkable heartbreak, we rose stronger, united by courage, generosity, and resolve. That resilience is a testament to who we are as Americans.

It is essential that we keep the memory of September 11 alive—not just as history, but as a living lesson. We must teach future generations about the courage, sacrifice, and unity that defined our response to tragedy. By doing so, we honor the lives lost and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals they represent: freedom, democracy, and justice.

Even in those darkest hours, the light of hope and humanity broke through. It is that light we must continue to carry forward.

May we never forget.