By Samantha DeAlmeida Roman

President, Associated Builders and Contractors New Jersey 

This week, our nation pauses to remember September 11, 2001, a day that forever changed America. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost and families were left shattered, yet the courage of first responders and survivors remains an enduring source of inspiration.

Each year, we say “never forget,” but remembrance must be more than words. It is a call to live out the resilience, unity, and strength that carried us forward in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Even as we reflect on that solemn anniversary, violence continues to wound our country. The assassination of Charlie Kirk, the murder of Iryna Zarutska, the loss of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman, the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, and the numerous school shootings that have occurred have once again shaken our collective conscience. These horrific acts underscore how urgently we must recommit ourselves to peace, vigilance, and compassion.

Violence is never the answer. No grievance, no ideology, and no frustration can justify taking a life. In the construction industry, we know that true progress comes not from destruction, but from creation; not from tearing one another down, but from lifting one another up. Safety and respect are not just jobsite rules. They are the foundation of how we build communities and live as neighbors.

As builders, we also understand the importance of trust and cooperation. Every safe jobsite is a reflection of workers looking out for one another, communicating clearly, and committing to protect their peers. These same values should extend beyond the jobsite and into every corner of society. Looking out for our neighbors, caring for our well-being, and respecting one another are essential to a healthy democracy.

We also know ours is an industry with disagreements. ABC-NJ often has adversaries in the policy arena and competitors in the marketplace. These debates can be spirited, and the stakes are high. But I pledge, and I urge my members and colleagues across the industry to do the same, that our disagreements will always be handled with respect, civility, and a commitment to nonviolence. We can fight for our principles without losing sight of our shared humanity. Everyone should go home safely to their families each night.

This is a lesson we can carry from both the tragedy of 9/11 and the violence of recent events. America is strongest when we come together in common purpose, when we honor differences without turning them into divisions, and when we resolve conflict without hatred or harm.

On this anniversary of 9/11, and in light of the violence that has recently shaken our nation, I ask my fellow New Jerseyans, to hold your loved ones close. The most important things in life cannot be built with steel or bricks, but only with love, time, and care.

And let us pray for America, for healing, for peace, and for the courage to meet hatred with compassion and division with unity. Together, we can honor those we have lost by building not only structures, but a safer, kinder, and more hopeful future.