Twenty-five years have passed since September 11, 2001, yet for those of us who lived through that terrible day, the memories remain as vivid as ever. I had the privilege of serving as mayor of our community for 28 years, and there are many moments during those years that I will always remember. Few carry the emotion and meaning of the days following September 11.

Several of us from Highland Falls traveled to New York City to select a relic from the devastation and bring it home to our community. It was difficult to put into words what that journey meant. We went down knowing we were bringing back a piece of tragedy that had touched every American. But for me, the ride back was even more meaningful.

We covered the relic with an American flag. We never treated it simply as a piece of steel or a piece of the building that we lost, but as a symbol of the lives that were taken, the heroes who ran towards danger, and the incredible spirit of our country.

For 25 years that relic has stood in Memorial Park. It has become part of our community and a quiet reminder that we must never forget.

Recently, I drove by and noticed something very simple that stopped me in my tracks. In the vase in front of the Last Man Standing statue, our soldier, someone whose name I do not know had placed three sunflowers. Three little sunflowers.

I don’t know who put them there, and perhaps that is what makes the gesture more beautiful. There was no ceremony, no announcement, no recognition sought. Just a quiet active remembrance. To the unknown person, thank you. You reminded me that remembering doesn’t always come in grand gestures. Sometimes it comes in three little sunflowers placed in front of a soldier who represents so much to so many.

We must continue to remember all that we lost that day and all that people gave us that day. And all the people who never came home.

As I look back on my 28 years as mayor, bringing that relic home is one of the things I will always carry in my heart. The ride down was difficult but the ride home - that American flag covering what we were bringing back to Highland Falls - is something I will never forget. Twenty-five years later, I still feel the same way.