America is 250 years old. 9/11 was 25 years ago. Ten percent of our history has come and gone since that terrible day. A generation. 90 million Americans have been born since. Twenty-five percent of our people weren’t even alive when the world stopped turning. They do not remember because they cannot. So today we remember, those of us who can. We tell the story so those born too late to remember may know. We call to mind the lessons, many of which have already been lost to time and decay, to conspiracy theories and cynicism peddled for money and fame and power: That ignoring the world does not mean the world ignores us. That competition between civilizations does not end simply because we claim the board is settled. That peace is not the norm, but the exception, and is purchased only by strength and will. And that a nation that sneers at its own mission and mythology will not long remain a nation at all. That the barbarians are always at the gate—and inside it. We mourn the unimaginable loss of that day, when our sleeping nation was jolted awake for a moment, only to doze again. We pray that our eyes might one day remain open.