On the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks — for which we will observe another anniversary tomorrow — the Sun-Gazette’s editorial board made an observation.

“The 2,982 names on the memorial will never be first and foremost evidence of the case for or against the Patriot Act,” the wrote. “Or the global war on terror, or the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, tougher immigration hurdles or any other aspect of public policy.”

“They are sisters and brothers, fathers, mothers, daughters and sons to the still grieving. They are friends and co-workers and fellow church and synagogue members to communities across the country. They were people who went to PTA meetings and chatted with the owner of the neighborhood bodega and coffee shop. They were people with dreams and aspirations, ambitions and hopes for better lives for their children and grandchildren.”

“They were people.”

As we reflect Thursday on the sacrifices our nation made, we hope the men, women and families of Lycoming County and of Pennsylvania can reflect on those who sacrificed the most — the lives lost and the husbands, wives, children, parents and families grieving those losses. We hope that as we do so, we can set aside, for at least a few moments, the controversies and conflicts and divisions that have, all too often, separated us as Americans.

This anniversary should be, at least in part, a time of somber reflection. It should be a time of remembering tragedies — and each of those 2,982 deaths was its own tragedy for so many people.

We believe we owe that to those 2,982 people and to their loved ones.