I remember September 11th, 2001, as if it were yesterday. I was working as a relief pharmacist in Morgan City, Alabama, when my wife called to tell me there had been an airplane crash in New York. In these pre-smartphone days, news traveled a little bit slower and the pharmacy I was working in did not have a television so we made do with a radio. I remember the confusion—there were some early reports about additional planes headed for landmarks across Washington, DC. I was an APhA member and had worked at APhA’s headquarters on the National Mall, many of my friends worked in that building, and I remember so distinctly the fear I felt not knowing their fate.
Everything changed on that day. For weeks to come everyone was united in grief. Even today, seeing footage from that day triggers a deep emotional response. While that grief continues to exist just below the surface, it’s important to recall what we gained from this experience. Nothing is more important than the relationships we have with family and friends, and we sometimes fail to remember this until it’s too late. That September morning was a sobering reminder of the importance of community, how we can lift each other up on the worst of days and celebrate each other on the best. Whether it’s a church or a synagogue, a mosque or a community center, we came together that day and in the days that followed to comfort each other and pray. We disagreed with each other on issues—political issues, cultural issues—then, just as now, but none of those were as important as being together as one community.
We are living through some of the most divisive times in our country's history. Both sides of the aisle paint their opponents as enemies. But we aren’t enemies, we are all Americans who love our country and want all to succeed. The bond we share is a love of country and community, and no bond can be as impactful as that.
I’m hopeful for our future, both our countries and our professions. Let us never forget that tragedy of September 11th, 2001, and remember those who lost their lives. Let us also never forget the love of our community and those with whom we share it. At the end of the day, it is those relationships that will sustain us.
For every pharmacist. For all of pharmacy.