Remember, reflect, get involved to defeat terrorism

One family was at Disney World, watching Good Morning America while waiting to board their plane. "We saw the second plane hit live on TV," the Facebook post continued. The writer doesn't explain how she and her family eventually got home.

We asked readers on our Facebook page, "Where were you on September 11, 2001? How did you hear about the attacks? How has your life changed since then?"

Another reader said they were in Omaha, getting ready to put someone -- a daughter? -- on the plane. "I was so thankful that I had chosen a mid-day flight instead of an early flight for her!"

One woman was in the hospital. "I had just had a baby and was waiting for the doctor to come in and check on us!" That baby is now 10 years old, and knows the terror attacks like most of us know Dec. 7, 1941 -- through the recollection of parents or programs on the History Channel.

"I was on my way to my pre-calc class, my senior year in high school. My class was second period, and I remember walking by a first period class, as the room was surrounded by people watching. They turned the television on in most of my classes for us to watch."

Another man was celebrating his birthday, and worked in Council Bluffs near the Omaha airport. "It was eerily quiet with the planes being grounded!"

Those stories and more are in a special edition, "Why We Remember," inserted in today's newspaper.

Many of us felt a new unity with New York City, far away in culture and geography, but close in human experience. We had a too-brief blush of patriotic fervor, followed by a far-too long involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention the long hunt for Osama bin Laden.

We hope you will take time to read today's special section, reflect on the meaning of that day's events and get involved in public life to finally and decisively defeat those who would do our country harm.