Remembering 9/11

Each year on September 11, Americans across the entire country take the time to remember and reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Many can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center were attacked in New York, and the attack on the Pentagon that same day.

There were 2,977 victims who died that day, and over 6,000 injured. Some survivors are still dealing with the trauma and have life-long injuries, health issues, or suffer from PTSD over 20 years later.

I was an elementary school student, and I remember they put the news on with coverage of the Twin Towers. At that age, it was obviously harder to grasp the tragedy and the horror. I remember knowing this was not normal and something was off.

Reflecting with my mother, she shared that she was debating on picking me up from school that day. She shared that there were rumors there would be attacks possibly on schools, so she wanted me safe at home. I can’t imagine how scared she must have felt, and how scared mothers and parents everywhere must have felt.

As an adult, I watched documentaries about the events. Watching the footage was entirely heart breaking. Seeing people jump from the towers, people running in horror as smoke and debris filled the New York streets, is something from a horror movie.

Reflecting on the events each year also makes me feel even more gratitude for our first responders, firefighters, police officers, and military.

A new appreciation I have found this year is for the search and rescue dogs who worked tirelessly to find survivors in the rubble after the buildings collapsed. I did not realize how many dogs were involved in the search and rescue process after 9/11. I am incredibly thankful that those dogs were able to find people, and I’m thankful for their handlers and trainers for preparing them for situations like these.

I pray for those who lost their lives that day and I hope they are at peace now, they all deserve peace. I also pray that survivors have been able to cope with the tragedy and aftermath. I pray for those who showed heroism and bravery that day, and I pray for those who enlisted in the military shortly after 9/11. I pray that the whole country can continue healing from that horrific day and see a brighter future for our country.

If you are looking for a way to honor those who lost their lives, there are a few ways to do so any day of the year. You can visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. You can also donate to the memorial at their website: https://www.911memorial.org/. You can honor the 343 first responders who gave their lives to save others by climbing 110 stories, which is the equivalent to the highest point in the World Trade Center. You can also pray for victims, survivors, first responders, and our country every day.