On the eve of the anniversary of the most world-changing events of our generation, America stands on the precipice of another war and is more politically divided than it has been in decades.

As our nation remembers the heart-wrenching terrorist attacks that rocked our country, it is important that we also remember the emotions that we felt afterward.

For many people, it was disbelief, mixed with anger, grief and sadness. But sometime after those began to fade most Americans felt an overwhelming sense of patriotism, pride and unity.

We came together as a country and put ideological differences aside to find a common ground that felt right to all involved. We sacrificed individual freedoms and liberties — maybe even too many — all in the name of national security. We found a way to overcome this adversity and move our country forward.

The anniversary of 9/11 should be about reflecting on the 2,977 lives that were taken, but it can also be a time to reflect on all that we have lost since.

In ways that would have made our forefathers proud — brave and fearless men who likely wouldn’t be easily impressed with acts of liberty because of their own trials — we picked our nation up and moved forward as Americans.

It isn’t too late to capture that patriotism and national engagement again.