It's incredibly important that we never forget the significance of 9/11 and the tremendous sacrifice made by so many. I've written a lot of articles throughout the years and have had the honor of meeting some incredible people. One of my very favorite articles of all time is Buried Alive, which originally appeared in Law Officer Magazine in July 2006. It's the true, yet almost unbelievable story of what happened to New York/New Jersey Port Authority Police Officer Will Jimeno. I talked to Will just a couple of days ago and asked him for some comments on what he thinks is important to remember about Sept. 11. His response was passionate and underscored the love he has for this country.
“9/11 is a time to reflect on how great America is. That’s why we were attacked–because this country is great and because of our freedom. Freedom has to be protected and, if we don’t do that, we’re going to lose it. Around the word, people either want the freedom we have or they’re frightened by it,” he said.
Jimeno, who is a native of Columbia, became a U.S. citizen while serving in the Navy. Not surprisingly, he has very strong feelings about some of the immigration issues facing our country. “I’m a minority. My parents came to this country the legal way. If you have an influx of people who don’t understand what it means to be an American, we will lose what has made this country great. It’s time for us to protect our borders and protect America. Just like police officers stand the line every day, protecting their communities, we should be protecting our borders. If we continue to go down the road of not protecting our borders, we’re going to lose what has made our country so great.
“We’re a fair country. We’re a kind country. We’re not perfect. This year definitely, as a survivor, I hope and pray that we as Americans realize how precious our freedoms are. There are things coming across our borders that are not healthy for our country and for our communities. We have to protect our border. If we want this country to be great, we have to protect it from evil. It’s a silent war but it’s one that people need to wake up to.
“9/11 affected so many in a terrible way. I think about my partners. I think about their kids and how they aren’t there with their kids. As police officers, you have to remember how precious life is and how special your family is. The day 9/11 leaves me is the day they put me six feet under. It will always be with me,” Jimeno said.
I am truly honored to call Will Jimeno my friend, and I want to strongly encourage each of you to read the true story of what happened to him on Sept. 11, 2001. And please, watch the movie, World Trade Center. Some people have told me they didn’t want to see the movie because they thought it would be depressing. That’s just not true. The movie is inspiring and a testament to the power of the human spirit and the will to live. It’s a powerful portrayal of what it means to serve and the honor of wearing a badge. If you enjoy the Buried Alive story, you will love the movie.