Running Toward the Roar

The Musings of Augustus Merriweather

My dear friends and fellow patriots,

As the crisp September air rustles through the Georgia pines, we find ourselves once again at that solemn mile marker in our nation’s history. Today, September 11, 2024, marks 23 years since that fateful morning when the very fabric of our great nation was tested in fire and ash. I pray you’ll join me in a moment of reflection, not just on the tragedy that befell us, but on the indomitable spirit that rose from the rubble.

🚒 Into the Inferno: The Courage of First Responders 🚑

On that terrible Tuesday in 2001, as most fled the chaos erupting in Lower Manhattan, at the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania, there were those extraordinary souls who did the unthinkable – they ran toward the danger. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and countless unnamed heroes charged headlong into a maelstrom of destruction that most of us can scarcely imagine.

I’m reminded of the words of John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” These brave men and women embodied this scripture in the most literal sense, many making the ultimate sacrifice in their attempts to save others.

The great Southern writer William Faulkner once said, “I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail.” On 9/11, our first responders did more than endure – they prevailed against unimaginable odds, their courage a beacon in our darkest hour.

🦅 The American Spirit: Unbroken and Unbowed 🦅

Now, my friends, let us turn our gaze to the broader perspective of the American spirit that was so vividly displayed in the aftermath of that terrible day. From the ashes of destruction rose a phoenix of unity, compassion, and resolute determination that reminded the world of what it truly means to be American.

I’m put in mind of a line from T.S. Eliot’s Little Gidding: “We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.” In many ways, the tragedy of 9/11 brought us back to the core values upon which this great nation was founded – freedom, unity, and an unyielding spirit in the face of adversity.

🕯️ Remembrance and Resilience: The Twin Towers of Our National Character 🗽

As we stand here, 23 years removed from that terrible morning, it behooves us to consider how we honor the memory of those we lost and the sacrifice of those who gave their all.

1. Never Forget: We must keep alive the memory of both the tragedy and the triumph of the human spirit that followed. As George Santayana wisely noted, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

2. Unity in Diversity: In the days following 9/11, we saw Americans of all backgrounds come together in a remarkable display of national unity. Let us recapture that spirit of “E Pluribus Unum” – out of many, one.

3. Cultivate Courage: While we pray we never face such a test again, we can honor our fallen heroes by cultivating courage in our daily lives. C.S. Lewis put it well, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” Patriotism is not just flag-waving, but active participation in the ideals that make our nation great.

🌅 Dawn After Darkness: The Enduring Light of Hope 🕯️

My friends, as we remember the events of 9/11, let us not be consumed by sorrow, but inspired by the incredible resilience and unity that emerged from that dark day. The American spirit, like the mythical phoenix, has a remarkable ability to rise from the ashes, stronger and more resolute than before.

As we close our reflection on this solemn day, let us carry forward the legacy of those brave souls who “ran toward the roar” on September 11, 2001. May their courage inspire us to face our own challenges with resolve, to treat each day as a gift, and to continually work towards a more perfect union.

In the words of the great hymn writer Isaac Watts, “Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come.” May this be our comfort and our rallying cry as we move forward, ever grateful for the sacrifices of the past and ever hopeful for the promise of our shared future.

Until we meet again, may God bless you, and may God bless America.

Yours in solemn remembrance and patriotic resolve,

Augustus B. Merriweather III