American Heroes of 9/11: Officer John W. Perry
This story raises questions about governance, accountability, and American values.
It’s strange how fast a day that once stopped the whole country can start to feel like a chapter heading in a textbook. Townhall’s decision to run a daily “Heroes of 9/11” series up to the 25th anniversary is a smart push against that drift. Not because we need more nostalgia, but because a lot of younger Americans genuinely don’t know the names, the faces, or the ordinary routines that got shattered and then replaced by courage.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
As we approach the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States, Townhall plans to honor the lives lost and the lives forever changed with our "Heroes of 9/11" series.
Every day from now until September 11, we will highlight an American hero. This year, most especially, we wish not simply to commemorate an event, but the character of exceptional men and women who demonstrated the best of humanity in one of its darkest moments.
More than that, we want to educate younger generations for whom September 11 is little more than a historical episode so that we embody what it means to "Never Forget."
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
It’s strange how fast a day that once stopped the whole country can start to feel like a chapter heading in a textbook. Townhall’s decision to run a daily “Heroes of 9/11” series up to the 25th anniversary is a smart push against that drift. Not because we need more nostalgia, but because a lot of younger Americans genuinely don’t know the names, the faces, or the ordinary routines that got shattered and then replaced by courage.
The entry on Officer John W. Perry lands for a simple reason: it’s not abstract. It’s a reminder that the story of 9/11 wasn’t only told by presidents and TV anchors. It was told by cops, firefighters, medics, and regular people who ran toward danger because someone had to. Remembering 9/11 means remembering individuals, not treating the day like a logo.
We also shouldn’t pretend the country has done a great job of carrying that lesson forward. We’ve watched institutions get shakier, public trust get thinner, and too many leaders talk about “unity” while picking fights with the very people who keep communities functioning. You can’t “Never Forget” if you won’t teach it, and teaching it starts with stories that are specific enough to stick.
As we get closer to 25 years, this kind of series does something the big anniversary specials rarely manage. It pulls the focus back to character and duty, not endless pundit arguments. Honor is a verb, not a ceremony. If we mean it, we tell the stories right, pass them down, and stop acting like courage is something we only recognize once a year.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.