Today is the 8th anniversary of one of the most awful days in American history. Can you remember September 11, 2001, and how you felt as the horror of what had happened crept into your life?

Can you remember how it felt to watch the twin towers burn, knowing there were souls above the fire who knew they were about to perish and could do nothing to save themselves?

Can you remember the emptiness you felt, and the longing to hold those who had lost loved ones?

Can you remember the desire to do anything - donate bottled water, canned food, blood - anything to feel like you were helping?

Can you remember the sense of community that America felt that day, and for many days after? We put aside petty differences, focusing instead on what we could do to help our country recover from the blow.

Can you remember the American flags flying from houses, overpasses and cars everywhere? Today, outside your home or on your desk at work, do you have an American flag displayed? Maybe you're wearing it as jewelry, a lapel pin or maybe a pair of stars and stripes earrings. Today, especially, fly that flag to help you remember.

Songs like Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning" and Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" were born in tragedy, but continue to uplift us to this day, as the best country music always does.

Today, remember the sense of community we felt as Americans pulled together to recover from 9/11 and try to bring it to whatever you do. We are a community in the best sense of the word, when we remember to behave as one. May we not have to have another 9/11 to remember.