At the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, MATC Oak Creek campus Vice President Mark Felsheim stated, “Let this memorial serve as a reminder of the American spirit which burns in all of us. That way of life that makes this the greatest nation on earth. The terrorists hoped to make us weaker, but they only made us stronger. They hoped to make us more divided but they only made us more united. They hoped to make us live in fear but they only made us appreciate life more. They hoped to make us doubt our ideals but they only made the American spirit stronger.

“This memorial is not etched here in glass or stone today, but etched in our hearts and in our souls. As we continue to move forward in the pursuit of happiness and the defense of liberty for all,” Felsheim stated, “we will never forget!”

Retired Police Chief of Oak Creek Thomas Bauer, part-time faculty member of the Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement program, said, “‘Never forget!’ means remember forever, but how do we choose to remember? I thought last night that the way to remember is by moving forward from that event, but a friend of mine sent me 70 pictures from 9-11-2001, what happened that day. It brought back memories for me.

“I think it’s healthy to look at those pictures and remember what those families are thinking of today as they move forward from that event, but I think it’s also good to look beyond those pictures and move forward, and to honor those with how we live from that day forward.

“Do you remember what you were thinking of right after the event? I do,” Bauer said. “I was thinking that the world has changed forever. What will my children’s world be? As we think back now, 14 years later, the world has changed. Some for the good and some we continue to struggle with.”