Who remembers the September sky, as blue as Delft china, stained by gouts of dirty, billowing clouds of death and debris? Who remembers the plane, impossibly low, just before it hit the second tower, like a snapshot of a nightmare that we are helpless to stop? Who remembers the sickening thud and car-wreck crash of falling bodies, or the charred Pentagon?

We pledged, "We will never forget.'' We vowed, "Whatever it takes'' to rain retribution on our enemies.

Remember that?

I'm not sure very many Americans do. We have drifted into do-not-disturb amnesia, because 9/11, in all its vivid colors, is like remembering the searing flames after a terrible burn. It brings back too much pain and fear.

And we have been blessed with analgesic safety and sleeping-pill security. The "other shoe'' that we expected to kick us in the teeth didn't come.

So, in the psychobabble of political spin, we have "moved on.''

This Saturday, on the third anniversary, Libbie Bennett of New Richmond is organizing another 9/11 Memorial event in Clermont County. The first year, about 500 showed up. Last year, less than 150. This year...

"It seems to be a political football, and some people don't want to talk about it because it's associated with the way President Bush stood up at Ground Zero,'' she said.

There will be a God and Country concert at 2 p.m. at the Union Township Veterans Memorial Park on Glen Este-Withamsville Road. Speeches will honor the firefighters and police officers who died that day. "I hope people come and meet the true heroes, not the fake ones their kids watch on TV,'' Bennett said.

Some people don't need reminders. At a Web site dedicated to 9/11, www.911digitalarchive.org, that sunny September morning of fresh hell is as real as a red alert.

"I recall looking over to others as we ran, as if to ask, 'Is this really happening?' - 'Hey, buddy, rouse me from my sleep, I've had enough of this nightmare,' " wrote Carl Teterskis. "In total, I watched six people that either leapt or fell from the upper floors. They flipped and flopped like rag dolls though the air, and with each one it seemed to take much too much time to reach the ground.''

From Barbara Ashley of lower Manhattan: "You could easily spot anyone who was walking up from the Trade Center because they were covered in what looked like volcanic soot - some with small wounds wrapped in handkerchiefs or makeshift bandages - and many, many people walking around dazed or crying or just shaking their heads, talking to themselves.''

Meg Heekin, wife of a Transit Authority cop: "Not knowing what else to do, I went to church and began praying for all the souls lost in this terrible event. I truly believed that it might possibly be the end of the world and prayed that everyone be delivered unto God.''

On the Web site, there are many pictures of the girder cross among the ruins of the Trade Center, and photos of the soaring towers that still haunt us in old movies and TV shows.

In a 9/11 video, a girl says, "I think this event has brought our nation together.''

True. Before the politics and antiwar protests, we were united as one nation, under God, seeking justice for all.

But who remembers that?

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E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.