On Sept. 11, 2001, I was a police officer/fingerprint technician for the NYPD. I rushed to the scene of the tragedy not knowing if my brother was alive. Yes, he was, but a childhood friend was lost that day. Mike Armstrong. I think of him often.

We were born and raised in Manhattan, seeing the Twin Towers rise, then fall. I think of the 10 Thansksgivings, Christmases, New Year’s Eves, birthdays or the birth of his child that he missed. I think of his family and the empty place that will always be there, where he once was.

People think that this was just a New York City event. They sadly miss the point that other locations were also hit that day. They forget the two wars fought over 10 years because of that day and the many Americans lost since then on the battlefield.

I just buried another friend, P.O. George Wong, this year. He died from cancer. First responders are still becoming ill from that day. How then, can we forget? The chaos that I witnessed has stayed with me to this day. Is it so much to ask to fly a flag that day or stop and reflect?

The terrorists acquired their drivers licenses in Florida. People should be ashamed to forget.

Bob Quinn, Lake Mary