Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, military veteran Deacon Robb Stark offers a Catholic reflection on 9/11 remembrance, sacrifice, and hope. He recalls watching the towers fall from an Army classroom at Fort Leavenworth and explains how the Eucharist transforms the way Catholics remember tragedy and honor those who laid down their lives. Deacon Robb calls listeners to choose courage over fear, mercy over hatred, and unity over division, and closes with a prayer for the victims, their families, and all who serve.
On the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, Deacon Robb Stark joins Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell with a Catholic perspective on one of the defining days in American history. Deacon Robb was sitting in a classroom of Army majors at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, when an instructor ran in to turn on the TV — just in time to watch the second plane strike the World Trade Center.
He remembers the nearly 3,000 people who died, the passengers and crews of the four hijacked flights, the firefighters, police, and paramedics who ran toward danger, the Flight 93 passengers who acted knowing it would cost them their lives, and the chaplains who entered the chaos to comfort and pray. Drawing on Jesus' words at every Mass — "Do this in memory of me" — Deacon Robb explains that Catholic remembrance is more than looking backward: in the Eucharist, Christ's sacrifice becomes present, and it sends us out to recognize him in the grieving, the lonely, the wounded, and even those with whom we disagree.
Recalling how churches filled and neighbors came together in the days after the attacks, Deacon Robb challenges a divided nation to choose courage over fear, service over selfishness, mercy over hatred, and unity over division — trusting that, as Good Friday gave way to Easter, evil never gets the final word. He closes with a prayer for those who died, their families, first responders, military personnel, and peace in our homes, communities, and world.
Deacon Robb also reflects on how the moment came full circle for him: about a year after watching the attacks unfold, he took command of an aircraft maintenance organization supporting the nation's mission overseas — and never imagined he would one day reflect on that day as a Catholic deacon.
Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
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