Each year on this date, I reflect on the horror that struck this Nation in 2001. The vicious attacks of that day are seared into my memory. On that quiet and sunny Tuesday, I was serving at the White House as a spokesman in the Office of Media Affairs. The day began normally, but it wasn’t long before we all knew our jobs, the presidency of George W. Bush and our country would be forever changed.

In recent years, to reflect on the magnitude of the attacks, I’ve watched MSNBC’s rebroadcast of the NBC coverage from September 11, 2001. Of course, we all now know that terrorists armed with boxcutters hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 (flown into 1 WTC – North Tower at 8:46 a.m.), United Airlines Flight 175 (flown into 2 WTC – South Tower at 9:03 a.m.), American Airlines Flight 77 (flown into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.) and United Airlines Flight 93 (patriots revolted against the terrorists, bringing down the plane in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m. after a 6 minute fight). But, watching the coverage from that day and listening to the reaction of Matt Lauer and Katie Couric provides a stark reminder of just how unfathomable, horrifying and devastating the attacks were to our country.

As a way to remember some of the men killed in the 9/11 attacks, my fraternity – Phi Delta Theta – used the pages of its magazine – The Scroll – to commemorate the lives of the Phi Delts who lost their lives on that fateful day. They also asked several Phi Delts to talk about their 9/11 experiences. Accounts from a World Trade Center worker, a volunteer fireman who assisted the rescue efforts and my recollections from being at the White House appear on pages 7 and 8 of this pdf –

In Honor of Our Brother

I believe the ensuing emotions are well-encapsulated by this video of President Bush speaking to rescue workers at the ruins of the World Trade Center on Friday, September 14, 2001. Let us never forget.

UPDATE: This video captures the spirit of New York and the resolve of America. Hat tip to David Almacy, Kaylan Lehotsky and Jeanie Mamo for sharing the clip, which is taken from HBO’s “Nine Innings from Ground Zero.”