The events of September 11, 2001 will resonate through history as one of the most unspeakable acts of evil this generation has ever witnessed. The authors of this atrocity strove, through their actions, to humble and isolate a nation; what they wound up doing is uniting a world.

The darkness that visited our doorstep Tuesday reflects the undeniable reality of just how much has changed for all of us, yet through the tragedy of this day, a light flickers anew in the world that has been solemnly dimmed for far too long. It is the light of humanity united in recognition of our commonality as citizens of this world. It illuminates a simple truth that most of us share; that we all want to be able to provide for our families, to feel safe, to contribute, to learn, to live, to worship, to be. For far too long we've been divided by petty politics and imaginary boundaries that keep us isolated and separated from a true understanding of one another. As witnessed by the outpouring of concern, support, and expressions of unity pouring out from around the globe, this separation, hopefully, is beginning to cease.

We are at a critical place in history; one that will forever determine how future generations look back and remember. The question is, what message will future generations receive? Will they look back and see only the evil perpetuated upon a people, or will they look back and see a people with a resilient spirit and the indomitable will to triumph over evil.

We face, as a global nation, the greatest fight we may ever experience together, the fight for peace and freedom - not for some, but for all of us. The reality is that the price for achieving this freedom will not come easily or without significant sacrifice. It is a hard truth to swallow in understanding that sometimes peace is found only on the other side of war. Most of us from this generation have lived a life knowing only peaceful coexistence rather than destructive terrorism and have never had to make that sacrifice for peace. Those who passed before us understood the cost of freedom, and those who are preparing to embrace freedom's fight are learning it now all too well.

My hope and my prayer, as we face a tumultuous path ahead, is that we nurture and tend to the spirit of unity born under this, the direst of circumstances, and that we rise up together in support of those men and women who are willing to sacrifice in the name of peace and freedom. Within the span of hours, we witnessed the worst and the best of the human spirit as the events in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania unfolded. Evil came knocking on our door; what it found was the undeniable spirit of a people who refuse to surrender quietly. May God bless us all.