You all know the news.

You’ve all seen the reaction.

It’s been a surreal, and in some ways overwhelming, 20 hours.

The images of celebration, the constant updates, the never-ending speculation and analysis bursting through the pipelines to be filtered via my Twitter stream…it’s a lot. After some time, everything begins to meld into one giant clutter of scraps taped one atop the other  to the insides of my brain.

Through all the layers of information pinned there today though, one thing has remained clear.

That image above.

Nine firefighters from Ladder Company 4 in New York City. A team that lost seven firefighters in the devastation of 9/11 nearly 10 years ago.

And along that same line, this quote from President Obama’s speech last night: “Let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss…”

That’s what this whole thing is all about. Those lost, and those that continue to sacrifice day after day for our safety: firefighters, policemen, our troops, their families.

So today, thank them. Thank veterans. Thank those who serve this country with strength, resilience, and compassion.

And then thank them every day to follow.

To read more about the photographer who shot the above image – Michael Appleton – and the image itself, click here.