A year had passed when the world I knew had been altered forever.

As I look back, I remember the horror and the tears.

I also remember the heroes - ordinary people who stepped up to the plate to lend a helping hand.

And I remember "one nation" reaching out to one another, standing side by side, closing-in to protect what we hold dear.

The events of September 11 was a like a Pandora's box - once opened, it brought out all the evils in the world, but it also brought us hope.

September 11 is our new day of infamy, and will probably go down in history as one of the worst man-made disaster.

But that day also made us "one nation, indivisible." There were no Southerners nor Northerners, no whites, blacks nor browns, even green nor blue.

September 11, 2001 made us all Americans!

Today, let us spend a moment of silence to mourn for those who were lost.

Let us remember the heroes of that day and beyond.

Because although it was a very sad day, it also brought the best in a lot of people, and ordinary people became heroes.

We cannot bring back those who are gone, but we can make them live in our hearts forever.