Editorial
May we always remember those who sacrificed their lives on 9/11
A crystal-clear blue sky greeted early-morning commuters in New York City.
Clear, cool sunny weather with low humidity is how workers in Washington, D.C., began their day.
Residents near Shanksville and in southwestern Pennsylvania witnessed a warm, exceptionally clear and nearly cloudless morning, providing what many meteorologists noted as ideal, calm conditions for flying.
What began as a near-perfect morning on the East Coast on Sept. 11, 2001, quickly shifted into what would become known as one of the darkest and most tragic days on American soil.
Today, Sept. 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of a day where the heinous acts of al Qaeda terrorists turned a beautiful, sun-splashed morning into a day of infamy. As a result, nearly 3,000 souls perished.
After two planes that morning crashed into the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City within minutes of each other, another jet barreled into the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C. Shortly thereafter, terrorists on a fourth hijacked plane—United Flight 93—likely heading to the U.S. Capitol or the White House, were overtaken by heroic passengers, resulting in the plane crashing in an open field near Shanksville, Pa.
It was evident America was under attack.
How would our country and its people respond to this tragedy of tragedies?
Heroism can be defined as the quality of exhibiting exceptional courage, bravery and selflessness, often by putting others first or facing extreme danger for the common good. We saw plenty of heroism on Sept. 11, 2001, and in its aftermath.
The passengers and crew aboard United Flight 93 were among the first to put bravery into action, overtaking the hijackers on their plane, which was en route from Newark, N.J., to San Francisco. Their aircraft crashed near rural Shanksville. All aboard died, including passenger Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas and her unborn child. (See related story on page 9.)
The heroic actions didn’t end there. There were the first responders—firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and countless others—who rushed into harm’s way to do all they could to assist those in need. Many of them died that day, and others died years later from 9/11-related illnesses. Their extraordinary bravery and courage must never be forgotten.
Many found solace in their faith. Houses of worship of various faith traditions were packed in the days and early weeks after 9/11. People turned to our Creator and sought the comfort of faith communities as they tried to better grasp why such an act of evil occurred.
In a reflection he shared with The Criterion in 2021 on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Archbishop Charles C. Thompson remembered the response of faith by so many during that challenging time.
The archbishop noted “… that the events of Sept. 11, 2001, caused people to re-evaluate what was most important in their lives; namely, God, family and friends. It also caused people to feel more vulnerable which, consequently, rapidly increased security measures in travel and a variety of ways. Our world was changed, and our way of living was altered.”
Moving forward, he wrote, would require an unwavering faith. “The key to surviving any crisis, like 9/11, is not to lose hope. As people of faith, our hope is in God. Jesus Christ is our hope and salvation.”
While some may have realized that truth in the early months and years after 9/11, others since have put faith on a backburner and no longer prioritize it in their lives. Faith must be at the heart of who we are as disciples of Christ.
As we mark 25 years since that fateful September day, we pray we remain Christ-centered and rooted in prayer.
May we always honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 and beyond.
And despite the ongoing chaos and conflict we see around the globe, may we always strive to be people of peace.
—Mike Krokos