brightnorm,
This subject you've touched on is upsetting to me, too. I'm pretty cynical about what I see as a very cavalier attitude not only about 911, but also nearly every aspect of the future of our government, culture and society. Almost anyone who is into politics has read the studies that claim that ~85% of voting age citizens in the US only start paying attention to the races about three weeks before each national election. The herd has a short attention span.
For the most part, the general population in the States are a busy lot and can't seem to be able to keep too worked up over the murder of three thousand of their own. While you took the events of 911 (and thus the pins) very seriously, many fickle people also wore them and in that very large group the lapel pins have just gone out of fashion.
I think that something WILL have the effect on most Americans that 911 has already had on you and some of the rest of us. IMO it will actually take quite a bit more. When the States finally awakens, everyone on earth will know it.
Disclaimer: I was born here. I've traveled around some but the States have always been my home. This is just my opinion.