Kristina Tanasichuk founded the Government Technology & Services Coalition in 2011 after several small business CEOs approached her about how they could band together to face an increasingly competitive Federal market. She has grown the Coalition to over 230 companies and is responsible for the growth, content, strategy and day to day operations of the Coalition. In 2017, Tanasichuk bought Homeland Security Today magazine and media platform and as Executive Editor, quickly transformed the publication into the “must-read” source of information for the homeland security community. Tanasichuk began her career in homeland security shortly after September 11, 2001 while at the American Public Works Association where she managed homeland security and emergency management issues before Congress and the Administration. She worked on first responder issues, critical infrastructure protection, water, transportation, utility and public building security. Prior to that she worked on critical infrastructure and electric utility deregulation and domestic energy issues for a boutique lobbying firm and as professional staff for the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce, Tom Bliley. Tanasichuk has also worked at the American Enterprise Institute, several Washington, D.C. associations representing both the public and private sectors, and the White House under President George H.W. Bush.
Today as our nation commemorates the tragic events of September 11th, Homeland Security Today reached out to you — our readers and supporters — to write letters of counsel to the next generation. Some of the best in our community responded to remind, share, and describe how the day impacted them professionally and personally.
We now live in a time where our upcoming generations have no personal recollection or experience with 9/11, no “I was at work or school when…” moment about that fateful day. We felt it imperative to continue our mission to #NEVERFORGET by focusing on this changing reality.
This year I had the opportunity to visit the Kobarid museum documenting WWI in Soca, Slovenia. When I walked through the museum doors, I can honeslty say WWI was not top of mind. While the History channel and others are “on fire” with stories of Hitler, Hitler, and Hitler, WWI is often barely on the radar. It certainly wasn’t on mine.
But I was in for a moving and heart wrenching epiphany. In light of the impending 9/11 anniversary, but also because of what we are all watching around the world, I was brought to tears realizing how people continue the butchery that many of my generation believed was of a bygone era.
Is history doomed to repeat itself?
In 1905, writer and philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” And as I walked this small museum in a nation that has only been independent since 1991, I saw the toll of war, and this nation’s attempt to help the world remember their 300,000 dead from the Isonzo front. Afterwards, we travelled to Redipuglia, the last resting place of the remains of 100,187 Italians – nearly 60% unknown – from the same front.
I had never heard of the Slovenian front or the battles there. And as I watch the Russians kill Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, and the growing battle in the Middle East, I wondered what “good” do these monuments to the dead really do. Do “we” remember this history? If so, are we doomed to repeat it? And what does WWI – the one we don’t even hear about much – have anything to do with 9/11?
After this visit, I would say, everything.
Each year as our nation moves further on from the attacks of September 11, we struggle more and more with numerous security challenges to assure it never happens again. Border security. Transportation security. Cyber security. The emerging threats and vulnerabilities exposed by artificial intelligence. The threats multiply and the world becomes a more and more dangerous place.
The anniversary of 9/11 is our nation’s opportunity to reflect on the tragedy that is the reason why American lives have changed so much. Why we stood up the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Why we go through airport security. Why we have security on our borders. Why we focus on the ways our enemies are trying to harm us.
September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists killed nearly 3000 of our people, the vast majority civilians, in three locations: the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and because of some heroes on board United flight 93, Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Today we commemorate the people who died – at their jobs, doing their jobs, living their lives until 19 terrorists — people we welcomed to this country — ended them.
Is history doomed to repeat itself?
The memorials across Europe would say “absolutely.” Right now we watch institutions “cataloging” the death, suffering, and war crimes perpetrated on Ukrainian civilians. I am sure there will be many monuments to these people.
We watch the events in the Middle East unfold – despite the thousands of memorials to the estimated 6 million Jews murdered, to this day they are hunted, and with the help of social media, deniers of the Holocaust abound with one in 5 young American’s now believing that the Holocaust was a myth. All this despite the Holocaust being one of the most extensively documented tragedies in human history.
America is a great nation made up of extraordinary people and exciting ideas. If any nation can stop history from repeating itself, we have the greatest opportunity. Our next generation’s understanding and rational commitment to this question will determine if we can stop the cycle of history. How?
Remember.
Every single person who lived through 9/11 has a story. Share it. Take the opportunity to tell the tale of the tragedy that occurred. Support your schools, faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations in efforts to tell the story. Do not be afraid to teach our next generation about this tragedy. Be afraid of what will happen if you don’t.
Learn.
There is no shortage of information on everything under the sun these days. The sources, and perspectives, however, are increasingly suspect. Vow to open your mind to learning factual information every day. Find legitimate sources from which to gather information and make a point of learning the facts, perspectives, and considerations of an issue for yourself.
Do something.
There is no shortage of things to do to help. Make a donation. Volunteer for a charity. Commit your career to a mission within our government, in an NGO, or another organization committed to help people live a safe and free life. You have the power to make a difference – pick a mission, not a job.
Thank you to our Editorial board members, readers, and supporters for their reflections. Thank you to the leaders and volunteers working in charities to support the victims and families of 9/11. Thank you to the employees of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for committing their lives to the mission of preventing and protecting our citizens, our nation, and our way of life.
No, history is not doomed to repeat itself.