Decade of Security

The 10 years since the tragedy of the Sept. 11 attacks seem to have swept by like the winds rushing down the Oklahoma plains. Do you remember where you were that day?

There are a couple of events in my life that I remember as clearly as though they were yesterday. I was late for work on Sept. 11, 2001, thanks to the traffic in downtown Dallas. I was driving my red Mitsubishi Eclipse, thinking that my clutch would eventually burn out with all the downshifting I was doing. I was listening to the news sparingly, not quite comprehending what was being said.

All the talk about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center reminded me of an event nearly 48 years before.

I was 8 years old, at recess during the noon hour. I was playing basketball with classmates when I saw the older girls in the school crying as they walked down the sidewalk from the home economics cottage. I didn’t really pay attention because I was throwing the basketball back into play, and I figured that girls always cried anyway.

Soon enough, all the students were called back into classes, then released for the day. President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas—which was then a faraway locale to me, a proud Wyomingite.

None of this really made any sense to an 8-yearold. Kennedy seemed like a nice man, and, after all, he had recently visited the University of Wyoming, so there must have been something extraordinary about him. I know my sisters thought he was okay. Many years later, the terrorist actions on Sept. 11 also didn’t seem to make any sense. If the bombing of the twin towers was supposed to frighten Americans, it didn’t work. We became only more galvanized as a freedom-loving people.

Because of the cowardly actions of Sept. 11, Americans, for the most part, have come to understand the role that security now plays in their lives. Security has become a vital part of freedom. But by the same token, security has diminished some of the freedoms we generally took for granted.

Now is not the time to loosen the security that binds us as a nation.

When Navy SEALs were successful in killing Osama bin Laden, they also found a cache of intelligence that broadened our understanding of al Qaeda, its terror network and the exploits it was planning.

Apparently, plans for the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks included an assault on U.S. railways. Some of that evidence was found in bin Ladin’s Pakistani hideout, though none of the intelligence yielded information about an immediate threat. Homeland Security officials have said that bin Ladin continued to plot about targets, and he communicated his ideas to other senior al Qaeda leaders. Though he no longer plays the planning and inspirational role he once did for the al Qaeda faithful, terror attacks are still likely.

Since the bin Ladin compound was raided, more officers have been dispatched to airports and at the borders. Although there are no national threat alerts, security forces remain at a heightened state.

There are many events planned this month to commemorate the Sept. 11 attacks. Unfortunately, the warship New York will not be in port for the ceremonies, which has plenty of people upset. They should keep in mind, though, that she is a Navy vessel that has a wartime mission to fulfill and is busy ensuring the world is a safer and more secure place.

You might recall that the New York was built with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center in its bow. Five days before it was commissioned on Manhattan’s West Side on Nov. 7, 2009, it stopped across from Ground Zero, dipped its flag and delivered a 21- gun salute. Members of FDNY, NYPD, Port Authority Police and families of Sept. 11 victims and veterans stood and saluted in return.

New Yorkers plan to inaugurate the 9/11 memorial, symbolizing hope and renewal, this Sept. 11. Part of the memorial will consist of two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools, both within the shadows of what were the twin towers.

Also included is a museum designed as a sequential historical narrative of experiences. It will honor the nearly 3,000 victims of the attack and celebrate those who risked their lives to save others. Built on the foundations of the original World Trade Center towers, the museum includes exhibition space that narrates the events of Sept. 11, 2001, through artifacts, oral histories and multimedia displays.

No matter where you are on Sept. 11 this year, pause and offer your thoughts and prayers to those innocent victims who perished 10 years ago; remember their families, that they might have continued peace and comfort. As Americans, we should always remember those who willingly put themselves in harm’s way on our behalf. We are the benefactors of a volunteer military that stands between the freedoms we love and cherish and the suicide mentality that terrorists harbor.

From sea to shining sea, America is the beautiful land we love. Putting our pride aside, we should humbly acknowledge that our liberty and security come from One higher in power, One dedicated to the freedom of men and women worldwide.

This article originally appeared in the September 2011 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.