Council Corner: Ward 3, Josh Cramer

Heroes. We were reminded of their importance last Wednesday (Sept. 11) as we stopped to remember fallen heroes on the 23rd Anniversary of the terror attacks against America on September 11, 2001. It is common these days—rightly so—to include many professions among our heroes.

Health and education professionals, workers keeping supply chains running, and emergency management officials kept our nation moving forward during and since the pandemic. But on 9/11, we remember the heroes who did not wake up that blue-skied morning thinking it was their last day.

We remember the more than 3,000 souls of those killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and those who helped take down a plane in a common field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Now, we also remember more than twice that total of heroes who worked at or near Ground Zero during the rescue, recovery, and cleanup who have died from cancer and various illnesses directly attributable to their time working there, along with a similar number of American Service members killed during the Global War on Terrorism.

Among them all, we remember the 1,700 souls who perished at the World Trade Center with their remains never found, and their families who never received closure. We still remember all these heroes. And we will always pray for their eternal rest.