The next generation must understand the importance of 9/11

Spent some time this morning discussing the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. It's been 16 years since radical Muslim terrorists flew commercial airliners into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.

Our program director asked me to hold a minute of silence at 8:46 am marking the exact time that American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the North Tower on that fateful morning. For the rest of the show I was flooded with calls from people who had lived through the attack, knew someone who perished or had parents who worked at the WTC. It struck me that even though it's been 16 years, the attacks are still fresh in the minds of many people in our area. Some have suggested that this marking of the date pushes the events officially into the history books. I completely disagree.

The attacks on 9/11 will always be a part of our history for sure. But to dismiss the events as merely another historical event is wrong, at least in the foreseeable future. The war against radical Islamic terrorists continues. Men and women in our armed forces are still in harms way. People across the globe still live in fear of recurring attacks. This is a time to be vigilant, and support our military, intelligence community and law enforcement officers.

Not only is it important for the generation that lived through 911 to remember, it's critical that the next generation,"the homelanders" to understand what happened and how we are fighting to make sure it never happens again.

Bill Spadea is on the air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m., talkin’ Jersey, taking your calls at 1-800-283-1015. Tweet him @NJ1015 or @BillSpadea.