Remembering 9/11

Most people don’t fly an American flag in their yards. I never understood that. I learned early on that having a flag on one’s house is a duty and responsibility. My parents taught me that.

This ideal has been part of my life since childhood and reinforced 17 years ago, following the tragic events of 9/11. It is an honor to be a patriot.

People in my neighborhood ask about flying a flag every day, and why I do it. People will ask today why my flag is at half-staff. Today is the 17th anniversary of 9/11. It is a day worth remembering and pondering the rights and privileges that we enjoy in this county.

My next door neighbor now flies a flag; I’m hoping that patriotism is contagious.

Now, 17 years later, those hundreds of people who perished in the World Trade Center buildings sacrificed all they had. A call to arms was issued shortly after this horrific event, and soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen answered that call. More than 4,440 have sacrificed all; more than 31,950 have been injured, and have sacrificed.

On the hallowed grounds in Pennsylvania, 44 people sacrificed their lives in order to protect others from a likely target in Washington, D.C.

Vice President Mike Pence remembered that sacrifice of those taken at the Pentagon attack on 9/11 by saying, "We will never forget what took place in this place on that fateful morning," Pence said at the Pentagon 9/11 memorial, saying he came to the ceremony to "pay a debt of honor and remembrance."

Pence said that 17 years after the attacks, the nation has remained empowered in its defense of freedom. "We must learn the lessons of 9/11 and remain ever vigilant in the defense of our nation and our people."

He added that terrorists on that day "sought to take the lives of our people and crumbled buildings, they hoped to break our spirit and they failed. The American people showed on that day and every day since, we will not be intimidated. Our spirit cannot be broken."

Some Americans have the wrong idea of what sacrifice truly means. It does mean standing for something, but something that really matters. Sacrifice is not a selfish display in corporate America but rather giving one’s all for the betterment of our friends and neighbors.

May we long remember the lives of those taken in sacrifice on 9/11.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Report: Cybercriminals Abandon Tech Tricks for Personalized Email Deception Tactics

    VIPRE Security Group, a cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection company, has released its email threat landscape report for Q2 2025. Through an examination of worldwide real-world data, this report sounds the alarm on the most significant email security trends observed in the second quarter of 2025, enabling organizations to develop effective email security defenses for the remainder of the year. Read Now

  • AI-Generated Code Poses Major Security Risks in Nearly Half of All Development Tasks

    Veracode, a provider of application risk management, recently unveiled its 2025 GenAI Code Security Report, revealing critical security flaws in AI-generated code. The study analyzed 80 curated coding tasks across more than 100 large language models (LLMs), revealing that while AI produces functional code, it introduces security vulnerabilities in 45 percent of cases. Read Now

  • Unlocking the Possibilities

    Security needs continue to evolve and end users are under pressure to address emerging risks and safety concerns. For many, that focus starts with upgrading perimeter openings and layering technologies—beginning at the door. Read Now

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • 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.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.