Tuesday, September 11, 2001-We Will Never Forget

9/11: 25 Years Later, We Still Remember

Twenty-five years ago, on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, our nation experienced a tragedy that forever changed America.

Nearly 3,000 lives were lost. Families lost mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends, and loved ones. First responders ran toward danger while others desperately tried to escape it. Ordinary people demonstrated extraordinary courage in circumstances most of us could never imagine.

And yet, Twenty-five years later, we still remember.

We remember the smells from the burning buildings, the screams and cries that filled the then polluted air. But remembering September 11 should involve more than recalling what happened on that terrible morning. It should also cause us to reflect on who we became in the days that followed.

For a moment, differences seemed smaller. Neighbors checked on neighbors. Communities gathered together. Houses of worship opened their doors. First responders were recognized for their sacrifice. Americans from different backgrounds stood beside one another in grief and solidarity.

That spirit of community is something worth remembering, too.

What Does Community Look Like 25 Years Later?

As I look at our communities today, including the communities throughout Florida House District 94, I believe there is an important question before us:

How do we take care of one another?

Our challenges today are different from those America faced on September 11, 2001, but the need for strong communities remains. Families need neighborhoods where they can feel safe.Our teachers, paraprofessionals, school employees, and students need schools that provide the resources they need to succeed.

Working families need to be able to afford housing, groceries, transportation, childcare, healthcare, and the basic necessities of everyday life. Our seniors deserve dignity and security.Our first responders deserve appreciation and the resources necessary to serve our communities.

Our young people need opportunities, mentorship, education, and a reason to believe that their future can be brighter than their present circumstances.

And perhaps most importantly, people need to know that their voices matter.

Leadership Begins With Listening

As a member of this community and a Intended 2028 candidate for the Florida House of Representatives in District 94, I continue to believe that public service must begin long before an election.

It begins with listening to the people of the community not as voters, BUT AS PEOPLE!

It begins with showing up. Making time to attend as many community and county meetings as possible.

It begins with learning what families are experiencing rather than assuming we already know. Taking time to actually hear them and not use them as polticial points.

And it means recognizing that behind every policy discussion are real people living real lives and living with the consequences of those decisions.

September 11 reminds us how quickly life can change. We don't have the luxury of worrying about if this benefits blacks or whites, hispanics or asians. We are all suffering and must rise together to defeat the oligarcy that is in power at this present moment.

It also reminds us that when circumstances become difficult, communities are strongest when people refuse to abandon one another.

Twenty-five years later, we honor those who were lost.

We honor the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, military personnel, emergency workers, volunteers, and everyday citizens whose courage became part of our nation's history.We remember the families who have carried the weight of September 11 for a quarter century.

And as we remember the past, may we also accept responsibility for the communities we are building for the future.

May we listen more.

May we serve more.

May we care for our neighbors more.

May we never forget September 11, 2001.

Twenty-five years later, we still remember.

— Bobby Williams Jr.

Intended 2028 Candidate for Florida House District 94