I wanted to update my profile pic to the Twin Towers today. I was deciding between photos of them standing tall and proud, pre-9/11, or photos of the memorial built since then. I didn’t plan to choose a photo of the attack or of them burning. That would be too graphic and might make some people too uncomfortable. But then I decided this is exactly the type of photo I should choose.

This is what we all promised to never forget. And in the last 20 years, life has gone on, distractions have piled up, politics have crept into everything, our country—even our friends and families—have become divided in so many ways regarding so many things.

So we need a reminder. Maybe it should be a sad, uncomfortable one. We need a reminder of what so many of us vowed to never forget.

This is what happened on our U.S. soil 20 years ago today. This is what killed almost 3,000 men, women and children going about their normal day. This is what many of us witnessed unfold on live broadcasts as news reports interrupted our seemingly-ordinary morning.

This attack wasn’t selective—U.S. citizens of all genders, races, religions, political affiliations, orientations and personal beliefs suffered a horrific death most of us can’t begin to even to fully fathom. This is what made us forget our differences for a brief period in time as we all shared common shock, grief, fear, anger, patriotism, concern and support. This is what showed us and the world how united the United States could be. THIS is what we need to remember.