How quickly we forget.
Today is Sept. 11 - the 14th anniversary of the morning in 2001 when terrorists hijacked four U.S. jetliners to attack Americans on their own soil.
The attacks marked a transcendent moment in U.S. history. No one watching the events unfold on that morning can forget the confusion and horror as the twin towers of New York City's World Trade Center began to burn and, within two hours, collapse.
Two of the planes, respectively, struck the two towers. Another jetliner crashed into and damaged the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a fourth crashed in rural Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to subdue the terrorists.
The attacked killed 2,996 people, including the 19 hijackers, and caused an estimated $10 billion in property and infrastructure damage.
In response to the attacks, the United States launched its War on Terror, sending troops to destroy al Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan and to eliminate suspected weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Although the toll of U.S. lives, casualties and costs associated with the War on Terror has diminished over the years, it continues.
Sadly, our collective memory of Sept. 11 also has diminished.
After the attacks, security measures spread throughout the nation, including added security at our own state Capitol and other government buildings. Today, those measures largely have disappeared.
This year, the lone anniversary event locally will be a prayer service at noon at the Capitol.
Statewide, Gov. Jay Nixon continues the tradition of ordering flags on government buildings to be flown at half-staff. "I ask Missourians to take time on Friday," he said, "to remember those who lost their lives on that day, and to honor those in uniform who willingly put themselves in harm's way on our behalf."
We acknowledge the truth contained in the adage about time healing wounds. But we also remember the truth in the maxim about learning from history.
We must continue to remember, and learn from, the evils experienced that day and our responses following Sept. 11, 2001.