Like most Americans, I will never forget where I was the morning of September 11, 2001. I was a sophomore in high school, in trigonometry class, when another student ran in to tell us a plane had hit a tower at the World Trade Center. The sky that day was so blue. So very blue.

I remember feeling queasy, tangibly unsafe for the first time. Despite the horrors of that day, I will never forget the way our country pulled together. I will never forget the strength, dignity and courage of American rescue workers, firefighters, police officers, politicians, teachers, parents, friends. America is special – for our unwavering beliefs, freedom, character. Nothing (not even a cowardly terrorist attack on one of our most prized cities) will ever, ever change that. God bless America.