Twenty-five years ago, our nation was changed forever; radical terrorists hijacked four planes and extinguished thousands of lives. We will forever remember those who lost their lives in Manhattan, the Pentagon and in that field in Pennsylvania.

We will remember those brave first responders who ran into danger to help save their fellow citizens, and we will remember all those who volunteered in the aftermath.

Just as everyone else who lived through that day, I will never forget the shock and feeling of dread. Within a few short days, I was on my way to Manhattan not as part of the rescue effort, but as a police chief bringing relief packages and hundreds of thousands of dollars to the families of fallen police officers.

I was joined by Deputy Chief Murry Roach and Officers Steven Dutcher and Robert Wich. When we arrived, we saw New Yorkers helping each other; it didn’t matter your race, sex, religion or political ideology. We were Americans before anything else. Patriotism exploded throughout the nation.

As a nation, we were rocked back onto our heels, but we weren’t down; one thing to know is that America never backs away, and we always move forward. The terrorists who attacked us that day tried to scare us into giving up our freedom and our way of life, but Americans responded with a resounding “No!” We would not bow to terror; we would not give in, and we would fight for our way of life and to avenge the innocent lives taken from us.

This 25th anniversary, I implore you to please remember all those who died that morning and remember the swell of pride you felt in being an American; remember how we treated our fellow Americans.

I choose to particularly remember two Norwich natives: Robert David Peraza and Michele Marie Reed, both innocent victims killed in the attack. I’m also reminded of the heroic efforts of two Norwich City fire captains who arrived in New York City just a day prior to the attacks. Captains Timothy Christophersen and Craig Roberts were there for mandatory training, but were immediately put into service with FDNY rescue efforts. Our prayers were answered when we learned they were safe after the World Trade Center collapse.

I also want to urge you to teach those who were too young to remember 9/11 about that day and the months that followed. Let them know about how resilient this great country was. Let them know that Americans were not going to be bullied by a group of terrorists and let them know that thousands of great Americans perished simply because of the freedom we hold so dear.

I also want to say thank you to the thousands who helped their country in the aftermath, especially the firefighters and police officers who risked their own lives to save people, the young men and women who enlisted in order to protect our freedom and way of life, and the everyday citizens who volunteered to donate blood or help in the rescue mission by simply asking “What can I do to help?”

Please, if you have the chance, visit a 9/11 memorial or ceremony, take your children with you, be proud to be an American, and most importantly, never forget.

Assemblyman Angelino represents the 121st  Assembly District, which includes parts of Broome County, Delaware County, Madison County, Chenango County and Otsego County. Follow Assemblyman Angelino on Facebook.