After a day of somber memories of Sept. 11, 2001, many of us simply want to not think about the tragedy any more.

Perhaps the easiest thing &8212; the most comfortable thing &8212; to do is simply look away. Even after five years, the memories are painful.

Many people had the same feelings in the days after the original attacks and the 24-hour coverage that bombarded us all.

But today, one day after our nation marked five years since terrorists attacked innocent civilians on American soil, we must resist the urge to look away.

Sept. 11 was a tragic wake-up call, but a wake-up call nonetheless. The moment the weight of what was happened sunk into our collective psyche was the moment our country was reunified.

Perhaps not since World War II was the nation as &8220;together&8221; as it was in the days, weeks and months after the 2001 attacks.

Patriotism soared.

Flags were everywhere and the world again saw how powerful the American spirit could be when challenged. The world saw how truly united we were, despite years of appearing apart.

Today, as we inch further away from that fateful day and into the future, we must strive to remember Sept. 11, 2001, each day. But our memories should not all be mournful. Let us remember the good that came out of it &8212; the way the tragedy brought us all together as Americans.