September 11th, 2001 is one of the most unforgettable days in American history.  Not to take anything away from the heroes who fought for our freedoms leading up to 9/11 but this one has more of a special meaning to the current generation because it was an attack on our sovereign United States, something we hadn’t experienced to this magnitude since December 7th, 1941.  Any American who was born prior to 9/11 and some born the months after have all been affected in one way or another by the heinous attacks that took place on what started out as a beautiful Tuesday morning.  As people commuted into and around New York City heading to work or school, or boarded Flight 93 to California, or settled into their offices at the Pentagon. There were no real concerns among anybody.  It was your typical fall morning that quickly turned into one of the worst tragedies our country had ever experienced. Still to this day you can ask anybody where they were that day when they heard the terrible news of what was happening.  Whether you were at work, school, or home the news of these attacks put all of our lives on hold keeping us glued to the television praying for not only our loved ones who were involved but also for the safety of all our fellow Americans.  So many emotions pass through your mind and understandably so. You were sad for the 3000+ lives that were taken, you were afraid to hear the news about your friends or family members that were involved, and you were angry already thinking about the revenge we needed to take on the monster’s that planned and executed this attack.  

The days after 9/11, you still found yourself diligently watching the television in total shock of the destruction that took place. You were trying to catch a glimpse of your friend or family member that was working at ground zero in NYC, The Pentagon or the crash site in Pennsylvania who were members of the brave fire department, police department, or rescue teams searching for survivors. I remember visiting ground zero 2 weeks after the attacks and was completely taken back by the destruction that laid in the streets.  Seeing it on television was bad but actually seeing first hand the aftermath of what was some of the most profound and beautiful buildings in NYC lay in ruins left me and hundreds of others completely speechless. Nineteen years later I can still close my eyes and see the once beautiful architectural facade of what was the World Trade Center piled up in a smoke filled mountain of rubble. I can still smell and will never forget the raw stench of burnt concrete, steel, & death that being sifted through. It was something that will stay with me until the day I die.  

In such a dark and gloomy time you desperately tried to look for any positives although it was damn near impossible. On September 14th, then President George W. Bush visited ground zero in NYC and gave what is known as his “Bullhorn Address”.  As rescue works were yelling toward him he said, “I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” Words that still do this day send chills down your spine and give you goosebumps as it was one of the first symbols of the joy people had felt in days. As the searches and hope continued you couldn’t help but be proud of unity that took place all over the world.  People were coming together regardless of their political beliefs, political parties, ethnicity or religions.  None of that mattered anymore.  The important thing was that we are all Americans and nobody could do something like this and get away with it.  

In all honesty, it is tough to even relive this day by telling this story. You can’t help but feel the pain and anguish that all Americans lived through. You will although always have a sense of pride in how this horrific day was handled.  All of our local LEO’s, fire departments, & first responder’s banded together and ran toward these burning buildings and crash sites in an attempt to save as many lives as they could. Many lives were saved as a result but it also took the lives of hundreds of these first responders. We will always be thankful for their heroism and sacrifice. We will always keep that sense of pride close to our hearts knowing that these brave men and women put their lives on the line to save countless others.  

As we enter into the the 19th anniversary of these attacks and think about where we are as a country today, you have to ask yourselves the question, Have we forgotten about 9/11?  Cities are burning around this country and rioter’s continue to attack anyone in their path. That love and respect everyone had for all of our first responders has been completely forgotten about.  These heroes are now looked at as if they are the enemy.  Why is there so much division between us?  Did forget what it felt like to have our hearts ripped out of our chests by terrorists on 9/11?  We need to figure out a way to come together again and fight for the same cause.  We cannot fight for political gain, or fight over the color of our skin, or what religion we believe in.  At the end of the day we all bleed the same color and live in The United States of America.  Our focus should be on fighting together not fighting each other.

Regardless of all that may be going on in the country today, it does not take away from the remembrance that millions of Americans still have each and every year.  Some may have forgotten but most do and always will remember 9/11.  

We at Luckyshot USA would like to take this opportunity to give our condolences to the victims' families and know that they will never be forgotten about.  We’d also like to say thank you to all the brave men and women who were part of these search and rescue teams.  It is because of your bravery that more lives were not lost.  Let's raise a glass and make a toast,  here is to all that have been taken but will never be forgotten, Thank you!

Go to www.luckyshotusa.com and get your Land of the Brave Home of the Free Whiskey Glass or choose from a large variety of our other designs.