Today marks 25 years since Sept. 11, 2001 – a day forever etched into our collective memory.

For those of us who lived through that morning, it can seem both a lifetime ago and only yesterday. We remember where we were. We remember the disbelief, the fear and the profound sadness as nearly 3,000 lives were lost in New York, at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. We remember the families whose lives changed in an instant, and we remember the first responders, health care professionals, volunteers and ordinary citizens who ran toward danger to help others.

But the story of Sept. 11 did not end on that day.

Over the past quarter century, we have come to understand more fully the enormous and enduring human toll of 9/11. Thousands of survivors, first responders, rescue and recovery workers and members of the surrounding communities have lived with the physical and emotional consequences of that day and its aftermath. Some have lost their lives years later from illnesses related to their exposure. Their stories, too, are part of what we remember today.

As physicians and members of the cardiovascular community, we understand something about the long arc of illness, recovery and healing. We know that wounds are not always visible, that the consequences of a single event may unfold over decades, and that caring for people means remaining beside them long after the immediate crisis has passed.

Sept. 11 also reminds us of something else: the extraordinary capacity of human beings to care for one another. Amid unimaginable devastation, we witnessed courage, compassion, service and sacrifice. Strangers helped strangers. Health care professionals worked without hesitation. Communities came together. In one of our nation's darkest hours, humanity revealed some of its brightest qualities.

Twenty-five years later, an entire generation has now grown up without a personal memory of that day. It is therefore our responsibility not to simply say "Never Forget," but to explain what must never be forgotten: the lives that were lost, the families who continue to carry that loss, the responders and survivors who continue to bear its consequences, and the spirit of service and humanity that emerged in its aftermath.

On behalf of the ACC, we ask our cardiovascular community to take a moment to remember those who perished, honor those who rushed in to save others, and stand with those who continue to live with the consequences of Sept. 11. Let us also recommit ourselves to the values that define our profession at its very best – compassion, courage, service and an unwavering commitment to human life.

Twenty-five years later, we remember – and we will never forget.

Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC
ACC President

Cathleen C. Gates
ACC CEO

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team

Keywords: September 11 Terrorist Attacks, History, Leadership