We Remember: The 9/11 Legacy Foundation’s Mission to Keep History Alive

Commentary

In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, America came together in a way the world had never seen before. In the face of unimaginable tragedy, there was unity, resilience, and a shared determination to rebuild and remember. The phrase “Never Forget” became a national rallying cry. But over two decades later, we must confront a stark reality: we are forgetting.

That is why the 9/11 Legacy Foundation was created—to ensure that future generations understand the significance of that day, honor the victims and heroes, and carry forward the lessons we learned in its aftermath. Today, more than 100 million Americans were either too young to remember or were not yet born when the Twin Towers fell, the Pentagon was struck, and the heroes of Flight 93 sacrificed their lives. This means an entire generation is growing up without firsthand knowledge of the attack that shaped the modern world, leaving them disconnected from the events and the unity that transpired in its aftermath. And without proactive efforts to educate them, history risks fading into a distant memory, distorted by misinformation and apathy.

The signs of collective amnesia are everywhere. A viral TikTok trend which reached 14 million views last year showcased young people expressing sympathy—or even admiration—for Osama bin Laden’s sentiments expressed in his 2002 “Letter to America.” The letter, in which bin Laden justifies the attacks and uses anti-Semitic rhetoric, was uncritically embraced by some who lacked appropriate historical context.

A recent Daily Mail poll underscored this alarming trend, revealing that one in five Gen Z’ers expressed a positive view of bin Laden—a staggering and deeply troubling shift in perception. This is not just about ignorance; it is about an active reshaping of history, one where the clear moral lines of 9/11 are blurred.

We cannot afford to let 9/11 slip into history as just another event in a textbook—the event provides too much context for many ways Americans approach present day life. The call to action must shift from Never Forget—a phrase that assumes collective memory will persist—to We Remember, an intentional commitment to education, awareness, and storytelling.

A 2019 report by Time highlighted a major gap in how 9/11 is taught in schools with just 26 states including it in their high school curricula. As a result, younger Americans lack the foundational knowledge that previous generations took for granted.

We must change that. State legislatures should require schools to teach about 9/11 in a way that is factual, comprehensive, and engaging. Museums, memorials, and documentaries must continue to evolve their outreach to ensure history is accessible to younger audiences. Survivors, first responders, and military veterans should have platforms to share their stories. The 9/11 Legacy Foundation is committed to ensuring these efforts happen—not just as an exercise in history, but as a civic responsibility.

The urgency of this mission is heightened by what lies ahead. The year 2026 marks the 250th birthday of the United States, a monumental moment in our nation’s history. But it is also the 25th anniversary of 9/11, an opportunity to reflect on how that day reshaped America.

As we prepare to commemorate these milestones, we must acknowledge another stark truth: America has not been this divided since the Civil War. Political polarization, social unrest, and cultural fragmentation have eroded the sense of unity we once took for granted. Yet, for a brief moment in 2001, those differences didn’t matter. The days, weeks, and months following the terrorist attacks saw Americans come together as one. There was no left or right—only country.

That unity was not born out of fear; it was born out of shared purpose. First responders ran into collapsing buildings to save strangers. Communities across the nation, like Akron, Ohio, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, rallied to support victims. Americans of all backgrounds stood side by side, waving flags not as a political statement, but as a symbol of collective resilience.

We cannot wait for another tragedy to remind us of what unites us; as Americans we understand that we have adversaries who seek to do us real harm and we are best positioned to confront them when united. As 2026 approaches, the opportunity to honor our history and reaffirm our national values has never been greater. The 9/11 Legacy Foundation is working to ensure that the legacy of those who were lost, those who served, and those who continue to protect our country is not only remembered but passed onto future generations.

History is not just something we study—it is something we carry. If we allow 9/11 to fade into a historical footnote, if we fail to challenge misinformation, if we do not teach our children why We Remember, then we dishonor the sacrifices of that day.

The 9/11 Legacy Foundation stands as a guardian of that memory, but it cannot do this alone. Every American has a role to play, whether by sharing stories, advocating for education, supporting organizations committed to remembrance, or simply taking the time to learn.

We must be vigilant in ensuring that the next generation understands what happened on 9/11—not as a distant tragedy, but as a defining moment in our nation’s history. Only then can we truly say: We Remember.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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