09/11/2026
September 11 — We Will Never Forget (Wear RED today in memory)
On September 11, 2001, I was home with my two-month-old son, Tommy, while my daughter, Autumn, was at preschool. I turned on the news and watched in horror, along with the rest of our nation, as the towers fell and we realized America was under attack.
Twenty-five years later, I still remember the fear, heartbreak and disbelief of that day.
I will forever be in awe of the firefighters, police officers, paramedics and first responders who ran toward danger, putting their own lives on the line to save people they had never met. We remember those who never came home, the families forever changed, and the heroes who answered the call.
As I reflect now, I can’t help but think about the paths my children have chosen. Tommy was just a baby in my arms that morning, and today he serves our country as a United States Marine. Autumn was a little girl at preschool, and she grew up to pursue a career in emergency and crisis management, dedicating herself to helping communities prepare for and respond when crisis strikes.
Neither of them could possibly have understood what was happening that day, yet both grew up choosing lives centered around service, preparedness and protecting others. As their mom, that carries a meaning I could never have imagined on September 11, 2001.
This year, September 11 also falls on RED Friday. Remember Everyone Deployed. It feels especially meaningful to honor the heroes we lost on 9/11 while remembering the men and women who are deployed around the world today, away from their families, standing watch and continuing the mission of protecting our country.
So today, I will Remember Everyone Deployed, honor our first responders, remember those we lost, and never forget the sacrifices that have been made in the years since that September morning.
I am incredibly proud to be an American. I am incredibly proud of our first responders, and I have a profound appreciation for the men and women of our military who continue to serve and protect our country.
🇺🇸 We remember. We honor. We will never forget.
❤️ RED Friday — Remember Everyone Deployed.
