On the 25th anniversary of September 11, we remember the horrific images, the heroic actions, and the beauty of Americans coming together in the face of tragedy. For both of us, 9/11 profoundly changed our lives forever.
We were working at the White House in the Old Executive Office Building. Following our morning meetings, we watched the television as the airplanes struck the two World Trade buildings.
Suddenly, the Secret Service ran down the hallway and yelled that we should evacuate the building. We watched a staffer nervously smoke a cigarette while pointing to the sky warning that an airplane was heading to the White House. We went to separate locations and could not find each other. Washington, D.C. was at a standstill.
People walked aimlessly and were concerned that another airplane would target in D.C. The Pentagon was on fire after an airplane struck the building and there were rumors of cars on fire near the State Department. We tried to call each other, but the cellular connections were jammed.
Matt found a telephone booth and a man who found out his brother had just died in the tower. He started to sob while Matt tried to comfort him. Matt finally reached his sister Chrissy who told him to “find Mercy.” Matt walked for miles, after several hours, we found each other.
We held each other tightly and knew that our lives would never be the same. We could have died yet we knew God had other plans for us. In the evening, we drove into the city to pick up my car near the White House. We saw the Pentagon on fire where the plane hit. We saw the flames and looked at each other with a deep sadness. We had only dated for a month, but this tragic day helped us realize that life is fragile and precious, and we wanted to share the rest of our lives together.
It was that day that taught us that we can not waste our time. We prayed for God’s wisdom to guide us in our lives, and we knew that our love had only grown stronger. We got engaged in December and married 7 months later. I saw Matt’s strength and calmness during this crisis, and he helped me to find the courage to get back to work the next day. We owed it to the American people to continue working and defending our country. We are Americans, and we never give up.
The sadness and tragedy reminded us of what truly matters: love and sacrifice. On 9/11, tragedy struck so many Americans. Many innocent American lives were lost and brave heroes jumped into action and sacrificed their own lives to save others.
We are inspired by Todd Beamer, a passenger on Flight 93 who led the effort to retake the hijacked plane during the September 11 attacks. After reciting the Lord’s Prayer, Beamer asked his fellow passengers,” Are you guys ready? Okay. Let’s roll” before he stormed the cockpit. Beamer and others sacrificed their own lives for others. Their sacrifice, like that of so many heroes on that day, exemplifies the unwavering spirit of America.
On 9/11, the message was clear: Americans needed to unite and the terrorists needed to pay a price. How could there be so much hatred? How could they hate us so much that they would use airplanes to kill those on board and in the buildings?
Islamic radical militants want us dead, and President Donald J. Trump knows it. We will not tolerate their hatred. As Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said, “the struggle against evil continued and it continues now.” These militants will not stop, and we must find common ground among Democrats and Republicans to identify the real enemy abroad that wants to destroy Americans at home and abroad.
We will never forget 9/11. We pray for the families who lost loved ones and remember the pain, suffering, and bravery of the American people. 9/11 was the start of our journey together as a couple, when we decided to commit our lives to each other, serve the American people, and fight to protect our nation.
Matt Schlapp is CPAC chairman and former White House Political Director, and Mercedes Schlapp is Senior Fellow for CPAC and former White House Senior Advisor to President Donald J. Trump.
