Remembering 9/11: A Reflection on Unity, Strength, and the Lessons We Learned
It’s hard to believe that 23 years have passed since the morning of September 11, 2001. For many of us, the memories are as vivid as if they happened yesterday. I remember exactly where I was that day—sitting in my office, discussing our excitement for the upcoming Women of Color STEM Conference in October. It was going to be one of our biggest events ever, with record sales and attendance. At that moment, life was moving forward with optimism and progress.
But then the world changed in an instant.
The first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Like many, my initial thought was that it must have been a tragic accident. In the back of my mind, I recalled the air traffic controllers who were fired during President Reagan's union-breaking move years earlier, wondering if a lack of experienced personnel had caused this horrible mistake. But as more reports came in and the second plane hit the South Tower, it became clear: this was no accident. America was under attack.
As the day unfolded, I found myself calling friends and colleagues, especially those at the Pentagon and others I knew working in high-risk areas. The sense of uncertainty was overwhelming. But in the midst of this tragedy, something remarkable happened. America didn’t fall apart—we came together.
I witnessed firsthand how the very best of our nation emerged in those difficult days that followed. We weren’t angry. We were resolute, united in grief and in our commitment to stand tall. We saw incredible acts of courage from first responders, ordinary citizens, and leaders alike. And President George W. Bush, in that moment of crisis, showed true leadership. He didn’t target any culture or religion. Instead, he sought to bring the nation together, reminding us of what binds us rather than what divides us.
That unity is something I hold dear to this day. I still have a letter from President Bush framed in both my home and office—congratulating me on the success of the Black Engineer of the Year Conference. It’s a personal memento, but it represents so much more. It’s a reminder of a time when we weren’t Democrats or Republicans. We were Americans, united in our resolve and determination to move forward, together.
As we reflect on 9/11, it’s important to remember the profound lessons we learned during those dark hours. We were reminded of the importance of love over hate. In the aftermath of the attacks, it wasn’t anger or division that got us through—it was love. Love for our fellow Americans, love for those who risked their lives to save others, and love for a nation that, in its darkest moment, found the strength to rise again.
Let us never forget the lives lost, the courage shown, and how we stood shoulder to shoulder as one nation, with the world by our side. And let us always remember the most important lesson from that day: that in the face of unimaginable hate, it was love and unity that ultimately carried us through.
In these times, we could all benefit from a little more of that spirit. The strength of our nation doesn’t come from our divisions—it comes from our shared values, our collective resilience, and our ability to come together, especially in moments of crisis. That is the true legacy of 9/11.