Honoring the Spirit of 9/11: A Legacy of Unity, Love, and Patriotism

I like to say that everyone remembers 9/11, but that is no longer the case. College graduates today were not alive when the Twin Towers fell. They have only stories, songs, and videos, much like our generation has for Pearl Harbor.

When the towers fell, I was asleep on my couch and was awakened by dozens of messages—from my military leadership to family. Confusion, rage, sadness, and more overwhelmed me as I watched. I was now glued to the television. The Pentagon was hit. My God, our planes and our fellow Americans were being used to attack us. Then came word of another flight, Flight 93.

The flight had changed course not far from the Ravenna Arsenal, where my battalion often trains. I had joined the Ohio Army National Guard knowing, but not really thinking about, this possibility. On 9/11, it became real.

For a moment, 9/11 changed everything. America came together. We united. It is as poignant as the Twin Towers being hit. We were all united behind a cause, and patriotism was everywhere. Flags were sold out. Everyone loved and supported each other.

During my time working for Congressional Member’s, I started interviewing service academy candidates, they would talk about how 9/11 inspired them. They would share their families' and schools' reactions. Slowly, that faded until we reached the candidates who no longer had a cognitive memory of 9/11, culminating in those who compared 9/11 to other historical events they were not alive for.

That’s when the realization came that 9/11 was no longer something we all lived through but, for many, a historical event. The candidates weren’t alive to speak about the unity. Most historical accounts forget to mention all the displays of love.

The love and patriotism are what I never want to forget about 9/11. I’d much rather we set aside the heinous acts and talk about love and support. I work with Operation Flags of Freedom to spread patriotism throughout Northeast Ohio and put up a couple hundred flags in my neighborhood every 4th of July.

I try to hold the spirit of 9/11 every day. Through serving area military and veterans, I foster and share the community’s love and support for our veterans. It’s a conscious choice to be the conduit of the community’s love and support. I try to facilitate that 9/11 response every day.

— Bryan Bowman
Quality Assurance Specialist