During the almost 250 years of the United States existence we have remembered dates of celebration like the 4th of July. But far too often we have had to remember dates of events that attempted to destroy the country. We remember these dates because they brought the population together and made us a stronger nation.

In a world where people are constantly trying to divide us using various digital platforms, we allow them their first amendment rights but we do not allow their disparaging remarks to break down our communities.

Words can cause violence and one author stated "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."

In all, the attacks by al-Qaida militants killed 2,977 people, including many financial workers at the World Trade Center and firefighters and police officers who had rushed to the burning buildings trying to save lives. The Pentagon was attacked and Flight 93 crashed, which saved the Capitol Building.

There are many enemies who try to destroy the American Spirit from afar and even within. But the spirit lives on. Over the almost 250 years, selfless acts spoke to the enduring American Spirit, the bright connecting thread in the fabric of our Democracy.

This spirit is sometimes difficult to define or to quantify, but it holds great power—and you know it when you see it.