Twenty-four years ago, on September 11, 2001, I sat glued to the TV, watching in shock as the first tower burned and the second plane hit. Like everyone else, I thought, this cannot be happening in the United States. But it did. And nearly 3,000 lives were gone in a single morning.
These were people just doing what we all do—heading to work, starting their day, drinking coffee, planning lunch. Firefighters, police officers, EMTs—heroes who ran into the chaos while everyone else was trying to get out. Ordinary people who turned extraordinary in a heartbeat, helping strangers down smoke-filled stairwells. None of them woke up expecting it to be their last day. But it was.
And it didn’t end there. The recovery stretched on for months. Brave men and women worked in the rubble, many of them later getting sick, many of them dying because of what they breathed in down there. Families were shattered—spouses left without their person, kids growing up without a mom or dad, parents burying children they should never have had to bury. The grief didn’t leave when the news cameras did. It still sits heavy for so many.
So today, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to the heroes of that day. Thank you to the ones who stayed and dug and carried and comforted. And my heart is with every family who had their world ripped apart.
We don’t move on from something like this. We move forward with it.
At this time of year, many of us find ourselves wanting to five back to the people and communities so deeply affected by this tragedy.
In the spirit of giving back to the 9/11 community and beyond, many 9/11 family members and first responders began charities, providing everything from mental health support to financial assistance.
I have chosen VOICES Center for Resilience (Formerly Voice of September 11th), founded by 9/11 family members Mary Fetchet and Beverly Eckert This charity began as an organization to help other family members, first responders, and recovery workers navigate complex processes to find health-related and financial resources. Drawing on lessons learned and expertise, VOICES has evolved to assist countless other communities impacted by mass violence and natural disasters. If you would like to research this charity, or donate, following is a link.
Second Battle, Same Me 
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