Sept. 11, 2001, changed many things, foremost among them the sense that we were secure in our homeland.

As the nation pauses to reflect on that day, and to mourn those who died innocently 1,825 days ago, take time to remember that there are among us people whose lives have been profoundly changed by their service to our country through the National Guard, or by the absence of their loved ones serving abroad.

In the past five years, Alabama’s Guard has sent 5,777 troops to war, members of the local Guard unit among them. Alabama trails only the much larger states of Texas, California and North Carolina in the total number of members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

If you know someone who has a family member overseas, take time to call them, or to send a card or note, letting them know we appreciate the sacrifices they and their loved ones are making.