This marks the 15th year since a terrorist attack hit the soil of the United States. With so much energy and hurt surrounding this event, it is important to remember the good, the overlooked and the forgotten. Remembering the past, and using that to make a positive impact on the future, is quite possibly the perfect way to honor those we lost.

Remember those who lost their lives.

There will be a ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, and it will start around 8:30 a.m. EST. If you cannot make it, the ceremony will be broadcast live. As the museum is greatly supported by donations, and the donations are tax deductible, it is always encouraged to “contribute today to help build a lasting place for remembrance, reflection and learning for years to come.”

Remember those who gave their time.

First responders, such as firemen, paramedics and policemen, saw horrendous and nightmarish images as they swallowed their emotions and did their jobs. Servicemen and women who worked September 11^th gained more than just experience, as many gained injuries and some lost their lives trying to prevent others losing theirs. You can support these men and women, as well as their family, by donating to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Remember those who lost their parents.

Some parents who worked in the Towers did not make it home to their children. Some first responders did not make it out of the rubble to see their spouses again. Families were destroyed and broken, and Tuesday’s Children “supports youth, families, and communities impacted by terrorism and traumatic loss.”

Honor those who lost their lives.

Value those who gave their lives to protect us in our homeland by participating in a National Day of Service. Go to 911day.org, and see where you can volunteer in your community. You can also donate to 9/11 Day and help them reach their goal of packing 500,000 meals on Sunday, September 11th, to help feed families, seniors and veterans. Your support will also advance their mission to promote national unity, empathy and service each September 11th in tribute to the 9/11 victims and heroes.

Join those who climb to remember.

9/11 Stair Climbs began in Colorado, as a way for firefighters to remember their fellow servicemen and women who lost their lives after the attacks. Together they climbed one hundred and ten flights of stairs, and the tradition has carried on for the past ten years. Join the National Fallen Fighters Foundation as they climb across the country in an effort to memorialize their fallen friends.

Choose Love.

We Choose Love is a year-long program available to Rollins College students through Rev. Katrina E. Jenkins, and it is an opportunity to work together to create spaces of healing and allow honest and open discussion on our campus. On Sunday, September 11th, We Choose Love is kicking off their program with a Remembrance and Reflection memorial concert in Knowles Memorial Chapel at 3:00 p.m. This will also honor those who were lost in the Pulse Nightclub tragedy.

Choose to make this, and similar painful memories, into something beautiful.