To the editor:

9-11 was Patriot Day. And, though a somber feeling fills the air on this National Day of Remembrance, we cannot mourn the deaths of the Americans who perished at the hands of terrorists, without celebrating their lives.

A patriot is described as a person who loves, supports and defends his or her country and its interest with devotion.

On Sept. 11, 2001, each and every freedom loving American rediscovered their devotion to country as the world watched in disbelief as the chaos unfolded from the skyline of New York and Somerset County, Pennsylvania … to the symbol of our nation’s military strength… the Pentagon.

There is no doubt that the memory of the 2,998 Americans that perished as a result of the attacks on that fateful day will remain etched in our minds.

From the horrific events of that day, we stood significantly as a people and as a nation, refusing to succumb to fear or despair, it truly became one of America’s “Finest Hours.” Just as the images and stories of sorrow and fear have left their indelible mark in our lives, the heroic acts of that day remain just as enduring.

As rescue personnel and citizens alike banded together – in some cases sacrificing their own lives to help strangers, it became clear that this tragic event would only strengthen our love for America and our respect for the principals upon which this great country was founded.

In the wake of the savage attacks, our flag, our nation, stood tall.