A special DAR Today Podcast remembrance honoring the families, first responders, service members, veterans, military families, and all Americans who carry the memory of September 11, 2001. We Remember: A September 11th Reflection In this special bonus episode of the DAR Today Podcast, released in solemn remembrance of September 11, 2001, True Lewis; National Chair & Host pauses to honor a day that forever changed our nation and the generations who carry its memory. This episode invites Daughters in every chapter to remember the families, friends, first responders, military members, veterans, and communities forever touched by September 11th., 2001. It also reflects on the role of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in preserving memory, educating future generations, honoring service, and carrying forward hope. This remembrance reminds us that patriotism is not only found in celebration, but also in quiet reverence, faithful service, and the promise that we will never forget.
— We Remember: A September 11th Reflection
DAR Today Podcast Special Bonus Episode
In this special September 11th remembrance episode, True Lewis; National Chair & Host offers a solemn and heartfelt reflection on the anniversary of September 11, 2001 — a day forever carried in the memory of our nation.
This episode honors the lives lost in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the passengers and crew of Flight 93 demonstrated extraordinary courage.
As Daughters of the American Revolution, remembrance is part of our sacred responsibility. Through historic preservation, education, patriotism, and service, DAR members help ensure that the stories of sacrifice, courage, unity, and love are carried forward for future generations.
This episode invites every Daughter, chapter, and listener to pause, reflect, and remember where they were, who they carry in their hearts, and how we can continue to honor the families, first responders, service members, veterans, military families, and communities forever shaped by September 11th.
May this moment remind us that patriotism is found not only in celebration, but also in quiet reverence, compassionate service, and the promise that we will never forget.
All music is copyright free and provided by Envato.
Twenty five years ago our nation paused beneath a clear blue September sky as the events of one ordinary morning forever changed the course of American history. Today we pause once again, not simply to remember where we were that day, but to honor those we lost, those who answered the call to serve, and the families who continue to carry September eleventh in their hearts.
Welcome to this special edition of the DAR Today Podcast. I'm True Lewis, National Chair and Host, and on behalf of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, thank you for joining us on this solemn day of remembrance. As daughters, our service to the nation is rooted in preserving history, honoring sacrifice, educating our future generations and inspiring patriotism.
The promise of never forget is more than a phrase, it is a responsibility that we all carry forward from one generation to the next. Joining us for this special reflection, and I'm so glad to be welcoming her, Sally Holcombe, National Vice Chair of the Commemorative Events Committee, and she's in concert with National Chair Mrs. Peggy Scully.
Sally is serving as our guest and guide as we commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary of September eleventh, two thousand one, and she will help us reflect upon the history, the lives forever changed, and the responsibility we as daughters carry to ensure that future generations understand why this day must never be forgotten. We will also consider how remembrance can move beyond words and become meaningful service within our chapters, states, and communities. And here is some of our beginning conversation with Sally about who she is and what she does in DAR. I organized a chapter in South Lake Tahoe in 2018. And so I'm a I'm an honorary regent of Ann Lauk's chapter, I'm a past regent of Lake Tahoe chapter, or the organizing regent.
I'm a past state officer twice over in California. I've been I've been a lot of different things, means of service in California. You have done a lot in DAR, and we're just so proud of you as a member and all the talents and just volunteer everything that you have given to the society. We're just honored to have you here. I know you're here on behalf of your commemorative events committee.
Along with our national chair. I'm just grateful that Mrs. Scully agreed to you all coming on. I wanted to talk about as our nation marks their 25th anniversary since 9-11, September 11th, what would you like every DAR daughter to remember and carry forward from this anniversary? This anniversary is occurring in the middle of our nation's 250th anniversary.
And at the start of our DAR National Month of Service, and it could be pretty easy for its significance to be lost in all of the celebration and service activities that are and will be happening. However, we will not forget, and that's the reason I'm here today. Actually your question takes me back years to conversations that I had with my father and my in-laws.
During World War II or before World War II, my dad was already in military service. He was a captain in the army, and he was attached to the British Army and attending Britain's radar school at the time that Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese on December seventh, nineteen forty-one. And my husband's parents were both Navy officers. My father-in-law was a lieutenant on a submarine in the Pacific Theater.
And my mother-in-law was a Navy nurse at a field hospital in Brisbane, Australia. And that's where they met. And both of them responded to the call to service right after the Japanese attack. So my mother-in-law was from a little town in Ohio, had never even been on a train, and all of a sudden she's on a ship headed to Australia. So big changes in their lives as young people. And all three talked about their feelings at the time that the attack.
The disbelief, the shock, the horror, and ultimately, ultimately their resolve to do something. So I see similarities between their responses to December seventh, nineteen forty one, and our responses to September eleventh, two thousand one, with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and Flight 93 that came down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Yes, I get that that we been there before, we know how to commemorate and remember what happened previously. And that kind of got us through 9-11 as well because of those events previously. So as a country, we know how to come together and deal with those moments and times of anguish and hurt and pain and anger and and just sorrow. So that was a very interesting and good story and about your family history as well and how we as a country come forward and how we carry this anniversary forward. I would like, since the question asked what would you like people to remember? I would like to say that we need to remember that we are a strong nation. So supporting our military and our civilian defense personnel and their families is an important part, I think, of protecting our nation from harm.
I also realize that many heroes lost their lives on September 11th, 2001, in service to other people. We lost 2,977 military and law enforcement personnel, firefighters and civilians on the ground, passengers and crew members aboard those flights, who bring the total to 2,996. And the exact number of countries with citizens lost currently stands at 102 with more possible because they're still trying to recover and identify remains to this day. We need to remember them with service and and remembrance.
And so in their names, it's only right that we continue to reclaim. And finally, I think, as I mentioned before, we need to remember the way in which our people came together in the aftermath of 9-11. To me, this is the essence of the American spirit, the American way. We've done it before. And as you said, we can do it again if we have to. That's what I'd like people to remember. Thank you so much. So we want to talk about our chapters and what are some ways that they can participate in September 11th or service activities, even if you know they're limited funds or individual daughters you know, especially what we learned at the 135th Continental Congress this year in America 250, because we're in our season of 2026. I know that when I heard President General speaking, it was going to be a month-long service that coincides with our 11th of October day of service, starting with Patriot Day. So were there any suggestions on programs or activities that would be especially appropriate?
For schools, veterans, or first responders, our military families, I'm here at Fort Knox, or just our local communities. Yeah. Okay. Well, this DAR month of service that was announced at Continental Congress really gives our chapters and state societies an extended opportunity to serve. So chapters are encouraged to begin their month of service with a specific 9 and 11 day service project if possible.
And I've got a copy of one document that's on the Daughters Online community, the Commemorative Events Library. It's titled The 25th Anniversary of 9-11 and it contains an adult reading list. It's a resource list, a nonfiction book list that's appropriate for children and young adults, a list of online resources, and a list of commemoration ideas. But this is what you download if you go out onto the DOC Commemorative Events Library, it's out there for you. Another resource, of course, was mentioned and honored at Continental Congress, and that was the 911 Day Foundation with their URL at 9 forward slash 11day.org. And this organization is supported by our National Society. And chapters are encouraged to review its list of service activities. Did you know? Ladies, that a DAR 911 commemorative pin can be purchased and worn on your official ribbon. A lot of us purchased those while we were in preparation for Continental Congress and picked them up there, but they're still available through the DAR Insignia store. And there's also the DAR 911 flag that was created, I believe, for the 10th anniversary and is still available through the DAR store under chapter supplies.
Top of my personal list, chapters are coming up with ways to recognize law enforcement and firefighting agencies in their communities. Service opportunities that really cost very little and mean a lot. I mean, cookies and donuts, anyone, you know, along with a banking poster. I can personally testify law enforcement love their donuts. Also, has anyone out there ever thought of becoming a police volunteer in a department that has a volunteer program because many police departments do have civilians volunteering on their sites. I feel anytime we let law enforcement and firefighting agencies know our appreciation for their service, by extension, I believe we are honoring and remembering those who lost their lives in service on 9-11. So that's a very important means of commemoration.
Chapters can request 9-11 proclamations from their city councils, receive them at council meetings and post them in prominent locations within their communities. We post ours up in my little chapter in South Lake Tahoe in the public library display case. That's one way. Or you can you can request permission to post them in the reception area in your city hall. Those are just a couple of suggestions.
The DAR flag or 9-11 flag that I mentioned earlier can be donated to law enforcement agencies and firefighting agencies for their own annual commemorations. They can use them within their own facilities on 9-11 going forward. And chapters can have commemorative programs during which members share their experiences that happened on 9-11. So those are just a few ways that don't cost a lot of money because that is important. But yet are still meaningful. Yes, they were very meaningful. And some of those I didn't have any idea about, but these are some great suggestions. And to our daughters, we're going to put some of the links there in our episode summary. So when you get done listening to this, you can go to some of the links to get some of these, especially your 9/11 DAR pin because I know I got in the fast lane. I pre-ordered that before I got to Congress and I have mine now. Those were some great suggestions, and I really appreciated that. It's a lot of these were things that I hadn't thought of. So this is going to be very informative to our daughters, especially. So I know that we talk about
Our children, because of our society, we're always looking towards our future generation and our children of the American Revolution and just all the children in our society from the East Coast all the way to the West. So many of the babies, the children or young adults now, they weren't born on September 11th, 2001. We want to know why it is important for them to learn about that day and how we can teach its history in a meaningful way, even you know, even if it's age appropriate, because I'm still trying to figure out how to talk to my seven and six year old grandchildren, even though my oldest one is 18. It's easier now to talk to her. So what would be a few things that you could tell us about that's important for them to learn about this, even if they weren't here when that happened? Well, the age appropriate thing is is primary.
There are certainly things that you would talk with a teenager about 9-11 that you wouldn't discuss with a six or seven-year-old. But we are called to remember that it is possible for our nation to be under attack. And perhaps that's more of a bit of information for a teenager. There's an example. And if we can remember those we lost and learn.
From the experience of 9-11. We always hear it's important to remember history so that we learn from it. We also need to emphasize appreciation and respect for those who gave and lost so much on that day. So, for those reasons, it's important for younger individuals who were not here when 9-11 happened to understand the significance of the attack. Asking those who personally experienced the attack to speak to high school classes, let's say, can broaden student understanding of what actually happened and the emotions felt by everyone on nine eleven are what I think are universal reactions to disastrous events. Asking those who were not yet born to think about some serious national event that has influenced their lives, to recall their reactions to that event, maybe can help them understand what it was like for us to experience nine eleven.
And also around this country, because there were people at 9-11 who died who were from all over. There are 9-11 memorials all over this country and in other nations around the world as well. So visiting a local memorial as a group out in, for instance, a CAR society, a JAC Club, or Scout Troops, or some other youth group, and sharing the significance of 9-11 at that memorial might also in increase awareness of what happened on 911 for for those who were not alive at the time. Yes, that's beautiful. Because we, you know, we're we're so involved with our youth when it comes to the daughters of the American Revolution. And like you said, you want it to be age appropriate because I remember when I was younger and there were these big events that were, you know, sorrowful and tragic at the time.
I remember what my parents would tell me. And then as I got older and how I understood, but they were always walking me in the walk with what was appropriate for what that big accident happened. How would we go about that with the kids? So I really appreciate you answering that for us. thank you. Yes. So Sally, I kind of wanted to ask you this because when we come back to these events.
I know where I was at during this time when this when this happened. And I wanted to ask you and to make sure that you were comfortable sharing where you were on September 11, 2001, and what you remember most about that day. I know it's a personal question, but I think our daughters and the public would appreciate that as well. Well, thank you for that, actually. I know that anyone who was old enough to understand what happened on on that day will never forget what they saw and heard that day. And my husband Jerry and I are very fortunate that our family wasn't one of the thousands of families all over the world who lost a loved one that day. However, as you say on a personal note, we are a law enforcement family. So I know I had mentioned that to you at some time before and we were affected in a small way. Our son has an almost 30-year law enforcement career. First as a police officer and detective in a neighboring city. His wife, our daughter-in-law, is a deputy district attorney. And my husband and I have been volunteers at our police department and for probably almost 15 years. It's our way of giving back and supporting his mission and my daughter-in-law's mission of service.
And Jerry and I both remember where we were and what we were doing when we realized what was happening that morning. at the time, our son was a single parent with a four-year-old daughter, and he was on duty and just getting off night patrol. He hadn't been an officer all that long. And so when you're a rookie, you get all the graveyard and night duty. And so there he was. So our granddaughter was overnight with us when the news about 9-11 came across. And we were in shock, of course, in disbelief as we watched all these events unfold and our granddaughter could tell that something wasn't right. She could see that we were not acting completely the way we usually do. So it was very hard to watch what was happening on TV. But trying to keep an even keel for her sake, so as not to, you know, frighten her. We'd been getting her ready for preschool that morning, but in the end we just elected not to take her. Yeah. And I remember her dad, my son, was on additional duty all that day until the next night shift because all police departments across the nation were on alert. So they called in everybody.
I remember the moment when President Bush was informed by his aide that the attacks were taking place. He was reading to elementary school students. And the composure that he had to maintain in front of those children while he was responding to this news as commander in chief was absolutely remarkable. Yes, it was. I remember that's when we kind of got an idea of too afterwards how we're fast forwarding, but how at that moment how he was receiving it and we were able to get a glimpse back that whole day of how you know the events unfolded for him. I talked to Mrs. Scully and I know that she wasn't able to be here today and there was a particular message that she wanted to convey as well to our daughters and chapters and listeners during this 25th anniversary remembrance. So I kind of wanted to read her personal message to all of us for this milestone anniversary.
Mrs. Scully says, We will never forget the horror that unfolded that day and the tragic loss of so many innocent lives. But we must also remember the strength of the American people in the aftermath of the tragedy, our resilience in the face of evil, and how we rally to help both neighbor and stranger. When future generations view images of the Twin Towers in rubble or visit the memorial benches at the Pentagon or the empty field in Shanksville, I want them to also see how America met the challenge and share the spirit that united people that day and in the years that followed.
So, Sally, thank you for sharing everything. I wanted to see if you had any last things to say, to share. It's like it's like our heads were in the same place. I kind of would like to say that because we serve, it's what we do so well through our service that we remember those who never came home because of 9 11 and through our service, we show their families that we care and we haven't forgot. Through our service, we teach those who were not yet born the importance of remembering who those who perished and through our service, we highlight our national strength that happens when we come together to do good. So I've just to add that on to her remarks. Thank you for that.
And I want to thank you again for helping us approach this solemn 25th anniversary with understanding and purpose. And may we continue again to speak the names of those who were lost, honor those who answered the call, support the families who still carry their absence, and teach the next generation why September 11th must never be forgotten. Thank you, Sally, for joining us. Thank you so much for having me.
As we conclude today's special episode, we extend our sincere thanks to National Vice Chair Sally Holcombe and our National Chair, Mrs. Peggy Scully, for sharing their reflections and helping us remember the enduring importance of September eleventh. This twenty fifth anniversary reminds us that remembrance is more than looking back.
It is carrying forward the values of courage, service, and unity that defined our nation in its darkest hours. We invite you to join the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in honoring Patriot Day through remembrance, education, and service in your own community.
Thank you to President General, Mrs. Storage, and our Liaison, Curator General, Mrs. Renee Pace, and for their continued support here and to my beloved National Vice Chairs on this committee who make this possible.
Please join DAR if you would like to become a daughter or would like to learn more about our organization, please go to DAR.org and join us because we are Today's DAR. Thank you for listening to the DAR Today Podcast.
But before we leave you, we would like to share a personal reflection entitled Look to the Sky.
Twenty five years later, we still look to the sky. We all looked up to the sky that day. The sky as the shared witness. Every American looked up that day. That morning the sky was blue, so blue we remember it still. Not just as weather, not as morning light, but as the color of a day before the world changed. We looked up. Some looked up from city streets where paper fell like sorrow and sirens split the air. Some looked up from classrooms, kitchens, offices, military installations, airports, firehouses, farms, and quiet little towns.
Where the news came in and nobody quite knew how to breathe. Some looked up in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania where a field and Shanksville became sacred ground because ordinary people met terror with courage. Strangers became neighbors, neighbors became family, hands held hands, flags appeared on porches and in windows candles burned, prayers were whispered.
And still we look up with hope. We look up, for the sky above us is still wide enough for memory, still bright enough for hope, and still calling each of us to carry our torch forward. As Daughters, we Illuminate our Legacy by remembering the fallen, honoring those who served.
Supporting those who continue to bear the burden of service and inspiring our future generations to cherish the freedoms entrusted to them.
So on September 11th this year, a little girl from Pennsylvania is looking up. A military family on our Army base right now is looking up. A Gold Star family who lost their loved ones in Iraq or Afghanistan is looking up. Families in New York and at the Pentagon are looking up, and now as Daughters looking up with remembrance and purpose. May we never forget, may we carry the torch faithfully, and may we always look up.