Kristina Tanasichuk
Twenty-five years have passed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
For many Americans—and virtually every student in our classrooms today—9/11 is history, not memory. They have grown up with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, airport screening, and countless other security measures as simply “the way things are.” Many do not understand the scope of the DHS mission.
Even fewer understand the “why?”
We’re losing the plot on the threat our nation faced and why we built the institutions meant to meet it.
“Homeland security” did not emerge by accident. It was a purposeful shift of our thinking — in response to a new and malicious threat — around the defense of our citizens and nation. It was built by dedicated public servants, first responders, military leaders, law enforcement professionals, intelligence officers, policymakers, and private sector partners who came together after the worst terrorist attack on American soil.
If we fail to preserve those stories, we risk losing not only our history, but the hard-earned lessons that continue to protect our nation.
That is why Homeland Security Today created the America After 9/11 Project.
We believe there is no substitute for hearing directly from the people who built America’s homeland security enterprise—why they made the decisions they did, what they learned, and what they want the next generation to understand. Their experiences provide context that no textbook can.
Our hope is simple: educate as many students and future leaders as possible so they understand not only what happened on September 11, but why America responded as it did—and why those lessons remain relevant today.
The best way to ensure we never relive the horror of 9/11 is to make sure the next generation understands it.
Thank you for listening. Thank you for seeking to understand the effort that it takes to secure America. Thank you for honoring the victims by becoming part of the reason we never experience another 9/11.
