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Dear Chicago,
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum estimates that nearly one-third of Americans are now too young to remember September 11, 2001.
For those who do remember, 25 years have not erased that horrific morning and the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost in New York, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93.
Behind those numbers were parents, children, spouses, friends, and families whose lives were forever changed.
At the World Trade Center, 441 first responders from the FDNY, NYPD, and Port Authority Police made the ultimate sacrifice.
Their courage inspired others to serve. In the days that followed, Chicago firefighters, police officers, and volunteers traveled to New York to help search the debris and recover those who were lost.
The effects of that service continue today. Thousands of first responders, survivors, and recovery workers have suffered from cancers and respiratory illnesses linked to their exposure at Ground Zero. Here in Chicago, some of those who answered the call still face health consequences 25 years later.
Inscribed at the 9/11 Memorial are the words of Virgil: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”
On this 25th anniversary, we must ensure that it is more than a phrase. We must remember the lives behind the names, honor those who gave everything, and teach future generations about the courage and selflessness shown that day.
Today, we remember every innocent life lost, every first responder who made the ultimate sacrifice, and every family that has carried that loss for 25 years.
We Will Never Forget,
Matthew J. O'Shea
Alderman, 19th Ward
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