Tomorrow is September 11. The 9/11 anniversary is not a trending topic (today) on Twitter and it has received little mention in the media. Wow.
Since our blog’s inception a few years ago, we always make an effort to acknowledge 9/11. We do this because we feel strongly about reinforcing the memory of those people killed by the jihadist terrorists. And we feel strongly about the way our lives have been changed by the events that took place eleven Septembers ago. We’re in the travel business and we travel often. We LOVE to travel but like many travelers, we are sometimes subjected to intrusive and offensive pat-downs. Of course nobody is keen on public undressing and certainly nobody appreciates the sometimes snarly attitudes of various TSA personnel ~ but this is the world that we live in as a result of 9/11/01.
Meta point – Plain and simple: We will always remember and our spirit as Americans and travelers will never be dampened.
Footnote: “9/11 Day” is the international non-profit movement to observe September 11 every year as a day of charitable service and doing good deeds. This observance was created soon after 9/11 to provide a positive way to forever remember and pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, honor those that rose in service in response to the attacks, and remind people of the importance of working more closely together in peace to improve our world. Today millions participate annually by taking time out on 9/11 to help others in need, in their own way.
Click here to learn more and to become involved: http://www.911day.org
If you are reading this within 10 days of 9/11/11 and you put a TV on at this moment there is most certainly a tribute or a documentary or maybe even a news fill about 9/11/01. To some of us it’s unsettling to watch. To some of us it’s unsettling to even think about the anniversary of one of the most horrific days in American history. But how many of us really remain committed to the promise “never forget”?
The majority of Trase Miller employees will never forget. Though we are probably not all that unique from ordinary American’s, we reflect on 9/11 with a certain perspective. We are unique in that the vast majority of our employees have been HERE for 10+ years. We remember the panicked calls from stranded passengers. We remember panicked calls from families of travelers that day.
And we remember the layoffs. Many good people lost their jobs here at Trase Miller in Tulsa because of the 9/11 attacks and killings. That’s at a local level. But on a macro level think about it. The 9/11 economic (ongoing) impact is staggering. It has been estimated by Mueller and Stewart (“Terror, Security and Money” – Thank you Wall Street Journal) at $330 billion + $360 billion in incremental homeland security spending + 1.3 trillion in war costs in Afghanistan and Iraq. Wow.
The people most affected by 9/11 are people who lost their loved ones (Nearly 3,000 on 9/11 and more than 6,200 US troops). They will never forget. The brave public servants and volunteer heroes that rescued over 25,000 citizens on 9/11 will also never forget to be sure. And the men and women that serve and protect our country as a result of the 9/11 attacks/murders are in harm’s way every day. How can they ever forget?
Speaking of volunteers and anniversaries - - - Trase Miller is a company culture of caring and this year marks the Tulsa Area United Way's 20th Annual Day of Caring. It is a day dedicated to volunteerism. The Tulsa Area United Way's 20th Annual Day of Caring is one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. During this day, more than 4,100 volunteers log more than 30,000 hours of work on 360 projects across the Tulsa area. Many Trase Miller employees will be there and this is our 15th year of participation.
Volunteers: We appreciate YOU. Brave protectors of our liberty: We appreciate YOU. Those innocent people that lost their lives to the jihadist fanatics: We appreciate YOU and the ultimate SACRIFICE that was made without choice.