Amid the 2020 presidential campaign and global pandemic, Americans remembered the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks this past week.

It is a grim reminder every year of a day that resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and changed the course of American history.

At Shippensburg University, this day is remembered by the ROTC and campus community members during a ceremony outside of the library. Each year, the ceremony becomes more and more important on this campus. It becomes easier for my peers to forget, as we were toddlers or not even born in 2001. We do not have our own natural memories — only memories forged through the stories and recollections of others.

Outside of Shippensburg, officials, volunteers and family members held ceremonies at Ground Zero in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

However, in the days leading up to the ceremonies the focus was not on remembering those lost and honoring those who are still with us. The focus was on the presidential race — what and where the presidential candidates would be on 9/11.

Both candidates announced they would visit the field in Shanksville, where Flight 93 crashed when passengers fought back against hijackers. Media members speculated during the days leading up to the 11th as to whether or not Trump and Biden would cross paths while attending services. The attention was not on remembering, but rather setting up the 2020 candidates for a duel on sacred ground.

We live in a hyperpolarized society. This is not something that happened in the last four or eight years. The conditions we live in today have been brewing since before the attacks. All moves made by politicians are political — outright or otherwise. Add in the media and we have the politicization of memorials.

Maybe you did not notice, but the majority of TV political ads ceased on Friday. It has become a norm for candidates to halt ads for the anniversary. However, sources are reporting that both Trump and Biden campaigns ran ads.

This is how it should be — we must set aside the issues we face today and remember 9/11. Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden shared an elbow bump in New York, a glimpse of civility amid a contested and hyper-politicized campaign.

While this was only a moment, I commend both men for this action and for moving on. The focus must remain on the day and not the actions of our political leaders. But we should not passionately remember only one out of 365 days. Should we let the events of 9/11 dictate every second of every day? No. But we must do what we can to help those who selflessly ran toward the carnage 19 years ago.

In early August officials announced the 9/11 “Tribute in Light,” two columns of light projecting into the sky, would be canceled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. CBS News reported there were concerns surrounding the health risks of gathering a large crew to install the lights during a pandemic. While I understand the sentiment, I believe these lights are one of the simplest acts by which we can remember. After public disappointment and outcry, officials later changed the decision and continued the display.

Despite any conditions — pandemic or otherwise — we must continue to carry on the memorial ceremonies, provide avenues of assistance for survivors and first responders and educate the next generations. It is through this advocacy that Congress finally extended the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund in July 2019. This fund provides financial assistance to those who were injured in the attacks and became sick in the years following from removing debris in hazardous conditions.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the Trump administration has “secretly” taken nearly $4 million away from the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program. We must hold our government officials accountable and demand transparency in these and all actions.

We must “never forget” by supporting the mission of the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum to educate the next generation. We do this so that they too will understand the gravity of that day and will continue to “never forget.”

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