09/11/2026
🇺🇸 THE NIGHT BEFORE — NEVER FORGET 9•11•2001 🇺🇸
On the night of September 10, 2001, thousands of Americans went to bed expecting September 11th to be just another Tuesday.
Firefighters went to sleep, not knowing that the next morning they would run up the stairs while thousands were running down.
Police officers went to sleep, not knowing they would soon put on their uniforms and answer a call from which some would never return.
EMTs and paramedics went to sleep, not knowing that the next day they would be treating the injured in the middle of unimaginable devastation.
Military personnel went to sleep, not knowing that their nation would be attacked the next morning.
Amateur Radio operators went to sleep, not knowing that within hours their skills and equipment would be called upon to help provide communications and support relief operations when normal systems became damaged, overloaded, or unavailable.
Mothers and fathers tucked their children into bed.
Husbands and wives kissed each other goodnight.
Children went to sleep knowing Mom or Dad would be there tomorrow.
People set their alarm clocks, laid out their clothes, made plans for work, school, meetings, dinners, birthdays, and everything else that comes with an ordinary day.
They had no idea how much the world would change the next morning.
On September 11, 2001, firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, military members, dispatchers, communications personnel, Amateur Radio operators, and countless ordinary Americans answered the call.
Some gave everything.
Others worked for days and weeks afterward, helping a nation through one of its darkest moments.
Tonight, remember the families who said “goodnight” on September 10th without knowing it would be their last.
Remember those who ran toward danger instead of away from it.
Remember the first responders.
Remember the innocent lives lost.
Remember the families left behind.
Remember the volunteers who answered the call.
Remember the Amateur Radio operators who helped keep communications moving when they were needed most.
And remember how, in the days that followed, Americans stood together.
🇺🇸 WE WILL NEVER FORGET. 🇺🇸
September 11, 2001
📻 Eastern Illinois Amateur Radio Club — W9GWF
Preparedness • Communication • Service
