What to remember...

While doing an audio lecture today over disaster response, part of the considerations it lists for structure collapse and earthquake is the dust produced by buildings as the concrete pulverizes in the collapse.  Being a paramedic and a firefighter of my age and tenure this invariably brought to mind September 11, 2001.  Remember the 343 and remember 9/11 are the rally calls for this date in history.  Because that is how many firefighters died in the attempt to rescue as many as possible on that day, before the towers collapsed.  The fact of the matter is, on that day, a great many more brave souls perished, and not just firefighters medics and police officers, but brave men and women who recognized the need to help the overwhelmed first responders.  To add to that is the number of men and women who died in the coming days, months, and years from the dust, created by the collapsing buildings that was inhaled.  And this includes all as well, not just 343.  Thousands died as a result of that tragic day.  But what do you remember?  When you say remember 9/11 or the 343?   I wonder what firefighters and medics and cops are remembering when they champion their stickers and banners and flags.  Please, don't get me wrong the day should be remembered, but what should we remember?  Should we remember how the nation was polarized and brought together as one for a few months, or should we remember the anger, or the fear, or the massive senseless loss of life, or maybe that we were attacked, how about that responders died?  I don't think that these things are what we should remember.  What I chose to remember when I think of 9/11 or 343 is the love and compassion and bravery of ALL that perished in the attempt to save just one more life, and the bravery and courage it took to look up at those smoking, crumbling towers and think "Oh my god this is bad, we have to get those people out."  Before running in and up those stairs.  I don't want to remember the terrorist.  I don't want to remember the death.  I don't want to remember the anger or fear.  That gives those evil men's actions strength, that lets them win. 

I want to remember the unconditional love of fellow man, of all walks, that bred the courage necessary to be willing to risk and give up everything.