10 ways to honor 9-11

By Kevin Henry, Editor

Like you, I remember September 11, 2001, very well. It's one of those moments in all of our lives when we will remember exactly what we were doing and who we were with when we first heard that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.

As we approach the 10-year anniversary of that world-changing day, I have thought a lot about what could be done to mark the anniversary on DentistryIQ.com. What story could we write that would be meaningful? What angle could we find in the dental industry that would make an impact on our readers? I remembered the interview I did with Dr. Angelo Longo in 2002 for the one-year anniversary of 9-11. It is the interview that has impacted me the most of any interview I have ever conducted. To hear a New York City dentist tell of not only losing his practice, but losing a part of "his city" brought not only tears to his eyes, but mine as well. You can read my interview with Dr. Longo by clicking here.

But what else could be done to commemorate 9-11? I spent some of today listening to Toby Keith belting out "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" and searching online for images and sound bites of 9-11. During my searching, I came across some of the flight recorder transcripts from United flight 93 that crashed in a Pennsylvania field on September 11. I started reading it and thinking about the battle that happened on that airplane in the moments before it plunged to the earth. Ordinary people did extraordinary things that day on that plane, giving all Americans some light and hope on one of our country's darkest days. Two simple words became a battle cry: Let's roll.

Maybe it's not a matter of remembering 9-11 on 9-11. Hopefully the events of that day are something you haven't forgotten and never will. Maybe the true thing to do to commemorate the day is to emulate the passengers of United 93 and take action rather than shed tears.

With that thought, here are 10 ways you and I can honor those who perished on 9-11 ...

1. Fly your flag every day, not just on the Fourth of July or in the days leading up to this anniversary.

2. Pay attention during the National Anthem the next time it's played at a sporting event you attend. Sing the words loud enough that someone else can hear you.

3. Think about the words to the Pledge of Allegiance the next time you recite it. Think about the pledge you're making with those words.

4. Say thank you to the next U.S. soldier you see in uniform. He or she is fighting for your freedom.

5. Say thank you to the next veteran you see for his or her service.

6. Show your appreciation for your local police officers and firefighters just as much as you did in the hours after the Twin Towers fell. They will still run toward things that you and I will run away from.

7. Find something, somewhere that speaks to you and volunteer some of your time to make a difference in someone's life.

8. Make a donation to the United 93 memorial that is still being built in the Shanksville, Pa., field where the plane went down.

9. Breathe a little deeper when you get in the security line at the airport. Those TSA agents are the first line of defense in protecting all of us when we fly.

10. Take a CPR course and be prepared to be a hero if you're ever needed.

How America responded in the moments after September 11 is what we all remember, but it's how each of us responded on September 12 and beyond that makes this country the great nation it is today.

Pause to remember 9-11, then roll up your sleeves and make a difference to honor those lost on that day.

Let's roll.