9/11/01 is a day of remembrance for all of us.  We remember the victims, the sacrifices of the first responders, the fear and the glassy-eyed "this can't be happening" looks we wore.  And we remember the way that 9/11 brought together every person, every facet of America.  Flags flew from houses, buildings, lapels, and overpasses.  We were united in sadness and in pride for our mighty country. 

9/11 was not only a day of endings, it was a day of new beginnings.  It has a very special meaning for me, because it truly changed my life.  I was a Deputy Commissioner with the Indiana Department of Labor, considering next career steps, and reading a book by Richard Preston called "The Hot Zone," a true story about the Ebola and Marburg viruses (think of the movie "Outbreak" and you get the idea).  The convergence of a book on a potential bioweapon and a terrorist attack in modern day of that size was an easy lead-in to the field of homeland security.  I hold the memories of responding to 9/11 closely.  We knew immediately that we would be called upon to provide safety and health resources to Ground Zero, so we started preparing for the call.  I found out quickly that the buildings were completed in 1972, much to my great dismay, because buildings of that age contain a significant amount of both asbestos and lead.  Since lead is a teratogen, and can cause birth defects, I couldn't go to Ground Zero since I was three months pregnant.  But we did send several consultants who provided respirators and just-in-time training to the first responders as they entered the Pile, and several of us coordinated the effort from back home.  This effort kicked off my career in homeland security, which led into emergency management, and the lifelong effort to help increase preparedness for the next incident or attack.

"What were you doing on the day that 'homeland security' became a household phrase?" could be another question. Had you ever put those two words together prior to 9/11?  Most people would never have dreamed that anyone would deliberately fly planes into buildings.  It's hard for most of us to wrap our heads around the idea that people can think of such concepts, much less act on them.  We love our comfortable nests - our homes, our families, where we work, where we go to school, the places that have the best food in the world and the most fun things to do.  We are taught to shy away from evil - to avoid it, and not let it creep into our thoughts.  It's a conscious effort - indeed, we must force ourselves - to think about what "could" happen, as opposed to what "usually" happens.  Lightning doesn't "usually" strike people, but it could, so as a precaution, you should go indoors.  Earthquakes don't "usually" happen, but we prepare our homes so we can survive in case they do.  Terrorists don't "usually" strike.  Are you prepared for if they do?  The airline workers who checked the tickets at the airplane gangway doors on 9/11 tell chilling tales of the looks in the eyes of the terrorists.  You know when something is wrong.  If the hair stands up on the back of your neck - if you see something or someone suspicious, will you report it to the police?  Intelligence analysts say that attacks are likely to happen in open environments like shopping malls or universities.  By following the adage "If You See Something, Say Something," YOU can prevent the next terrorist attack.

We ask you to join the IU community in the remembrance and reflection events occurring on the IU campuses.  More information can be found at http://www.iu.edu/sept11/.  Some examples of IU events include:

• The 9/11 Commission members are reconvening on the IU Bloomington campus for further discussion on Thursday 9/15. Click here for more information.

• At IU Bloomington, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to "Indiana University Remembers 9/11," a public event at 5 p.m. on Sept. 11 at Indiana University Auditorium featuring musicians from the Jacobs School of Music.  Weather permitting, it will take place outdoors at the Auditorium steps.  Speakers will include IU President Michael A. McRobbie; Robert Loviscek, president of the Bloomington Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Local 586; Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan; and Kevin Bush, a member of the IU football team whose four years of service with the U.S. Army included tours of duty in Korea and Iraq with the 101st Airborne Infantry.

• A beam from the World Trade Center, which will become part of a permanent 9/11 memorial in Bloomington, will be on display outside the IU Auditorium.

• Other Remembrance events will be held at IUPUI, IU Northwest, IU Kokomo, IU East, IU South Bend, and IPFW.

We remember... and we thank those who continue to toil here and overseas because of 9/11 and because the threats against America still loom. We prepare... because it will happen again.  Will you be ready?