Remembering 9/11: a call to pass on lessons of service
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Tom Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania and first Secretary of Homeland Security, reflected on the events of September 11, 2001, and the impact they had on his life and the nation.
He described witnessing the aftermath of United Airlines Flight 93’s crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the subsequent call from President George W. Bush to lead the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.
Ridge accepted this role motivated by the heroism displayed by passengers on Flight 93, firefighters at the World Trade Center, and first responders across the country. He expressed concern that as time passes, a growing number of Americans, nearly 100 million, have no direct memory of the attacks, risking a diminished understanding of their significance.
Ridge believes the 25th anniversary of 9/11 should be marked by a national commitment to educating future generations about the events and the American response, especially in light of new security threats like cyberweapons and AI-engineered biological agents. Ridge urged parents, schools, and young people to actively engage with the history of 9/11 through storytelling, visits to memorials, and educational programs offered by organizations like the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the Friends of Flight 93.
He framed this as a generational duty to meet the challenges of the present and preserve the values of freedom and resilience demonstrated after the attacks.
