Together we remember, we commemorate,
the lives that were taken,
the souls that were taken.
They did not evaporate into air.
They are with us still
in the choice we make to remember,
to hold up with love and honor
those who died in two great glass towers,
who represented the world and its connections,
those who died at the Pentagon,
those who died on Flight 93
in sacrifice that others might live.

Blessed are they that mourn:
for they shall be comforted.

We remember the heroism of firefighters,
seeing brotherhood and sisterhood in others
so clearly that they freely gave
their lives to protect others.

Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they shall see God.

We remember the acts of kindness,
those who baked cookies to show their love.
We remember the global mourning,
the declaration: “We are all Americans.”

Blessed are the merciful:
for they shall obtain mercy.

Standing in this place of remembrance
and honor, our hearts full,
not only with sadness but with hope,
we send forward our loving commitment
to live as peacemakers,
to seek always the path of peace,
the path of justice,
the path of love for our
sisters and brothers in every nation,
the path of forgiveness,
knowing that every time we open our hearts
to forgive, we are opening the door to God,
letting love pour in to push out
the poison of fear and pain.
Beating our swords into ploughshares,
we make the tools to live together in peace.

Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called the children of God.

Tina Datsko de Sanchez serves as Poet in Residence at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach. She is the author of the bilingual poetry book The Delirium of Simón Bolívar.