Pause for a minute and the sinking feeling can return in an instant.

Concentrate and the utter feelings of terror and helplessness jolt across the six years of time.

Close your eyes and the horrific images are still fresh in the memory banks.

Airplanes that look like children’s toys disappear into the side of the skyscraper. Then, an explosion erupts.

Minutes later, the terrifying scene is replayed.

Smoke is seen billowing from the Pentagon.

“What on earth is happening?” we each seem to be asking.

Sept. 11, 2001, the date will be a painful reminder that we’re not safe from terrorist attacks.

The memories from that date are seared in our minds forever with the deadly concoction of hatred and jet fuel.

Today, as we mark the sixth anniversary of the attacks and the loss of thousands of innocent lives, we’ll all relive the day and ask each other questions.

Where were you?

Who were you with?

How did you hear?

What did you think?

We ask questions about such tragedies as a way of attempting to understand why it happened, to begin to cope.

But rather than looking back in awe, let’s look back and remember the heroes of 9-11, the victims and the hundreds of police and firefighters who gave their lives that day.

As we pause today, let’s not dwell on the evildoers who created the terror, let’s pray to God for strength that we’ll be ready should evil face our nation again.