Few events burn marks into our memories so deeply that we not only remember the event, but also the circumstances and details surrounding it.

For most Americans except those too young to be fully cognizant of what was happening at the time, 11 years ago this morning marked a life-marking moment in our lives and our nation’s history.

Most of us remember exactly where we were when news came that our country was under attack by terrorists.

None of us will ever forget the unreal images of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on our country. The surreal events broadcast nearly as they unfolded, with each moment seemingly worse than the one just passed.

The cold chill that comes with uncertainty and fear quickly steeled our nation in a way that most of us never have seen before or perhaps ever will see again.

Terrorists temporarily brought America to its knees with their surprise attack on civilians.

But it must disgust the terrorists remaining — the ones we haven’t killed yet — to know that all of their planning, all of their hatred was for nothing.

America stood tall in the days after 9/11.

The sea of red, white and blue that washed over our country in the days and weeks after the attacks moved many of us to tears. We long for the patriotism felt in the days after 9/11.

It was briefly one of the most patriotic periods in our history.

As we pause today to pray for the victims, let us also commit to never forget their lives, and let us use their tragic deaths as a reminder for the need to continue the mission of eliminating the terrorists from our planet.