Governor Scott: Never Forget 9/11 and the Hope That Followed

Yesterday, Governor Phil Scott of Vermont issued a solemn reflection marking the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that shook the United States on September 11, 2001. His words, though brief in the official press release, carried a weight that spoke to the passage of time, the importance of remembrance, and the enduring lessons of unity.

The Governor began by acknowledging what is perhaps one of the starkest realities about this anniversary: an entire generation has now grown up with no memory of that day. “Twenty-four years ago, the September 11 terrorist attack shook the world,” Scott stated. “Although many of us clearly remember that day, we now have an entire generation with no memory of that Tuesday morning.”

For those who lived through it, the images remain vivid. Scott evoked the confusion and disbelief as Americans watched the towers collapse live on television, the fear that spread when news broke of the Pentagon attack, and the shock when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a Pennsylvania field. These were not just moments in history; they were wounds on the national psyche.

He reminded Vermonters—and all Americans—of the solemn silence that overtook the nation on the evening of September 11, when families gathered around their televisions, slowly realizing that thousands who went to work that morning would never come home. That silence was pierced only by grief and the growing awareness of the sacrifices made by firefighters, police officers, and first responders who ran toward danger while others fled.

Scott’s message also pointed to something too often forgotten in today’s polarized political climate: the unity that followed. “In the days and weeks that followed, our nation came together in a show of unity and patriotism that feels almost inconceivable by today’s standards,” he said. “Yet, it is still one of the clearest examples of what we are capable of when we come together as Americans.”

That unity took many forms—flags flown proudly from porches and pickup trucks, neighbors checking on neighbors, strangers offering kindness in grocery store lines, and millions donating blood, food, and supplies. Partisan divides fell away, replaced with a shared sense of identity and resilience. For a brief but powerful time, Americans remembered what it meant to stand together in the face of tragedy.

Governor Scott urged Vermonters not only to remember the events of September 11 but to also recall who we became on September 12. “As we mark the events of September 11, 2001, and honor those who lost their lives that day, let’s also remember who we were on September 12, and never forget the hope that grew out of darkness, or the unlimited capacity for good, when America is at its best,” he said.

His words serve as both a commemoration and a challenge. In an era where division often dominates headlines and social media feeds, Scott’s statement asked people to look back to a moment when grief created unity rather than animosity. The Governor’s call echoes what many Americans feel each year on this date: that while the attacks revealed the nation’s vulnerability, the aftermath showed its strength.

Twenty-four years later, the memory of 9/11 remains a touchstone for how Americans measure resilience, patriotism, and sacrifice. The anniversary is not only about mourning the nearly 3,000 lives lost but also about remembering the lessons learned in the aftermath—that unity is possible, even in the darkest of times.

Governor Scott’s reflection reminds us that the choice lies with each generation to keep that spirit alive. Though a younger generation may not remember the horror firsthand, they can learn from the example of how the country responded—with compassion, solidarity, and determination. As time passes and living memory fades, those lessons become even more important to carry forward.

The Governor’s statement is a reminder that anniversaries are not only about the past but about the present and the future. September 11 will always be a day of grief, but it can also continue to be a day of unity—if Americans choose to remember not just the tragedy but also the best of what followed.