New traditions for 9/11
It’s hard to believe that eleven years have passed since the atrocities that took place on September 11th 2001. I was a graduate student in Baltimore, learning how to pour my first Western blot that morning, when the laboratory radio announced that a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers. At first everyone thought it was a freak accident, but soon enough, we learned it was a horrific act of terrorism. What ensued were feelings of uncertainty, confusion, and panic. I remember people wondering what would come next, and worrying about our safety. I remember that the phone lines were so jammed that I couldn’t get through to my family. I remember wondering if my cousin in NYC was ok. The days and weeks following were almost surreal. Years later, I ended up moving to New York City. While I wasn’t there when the attacks occurred, those events have left their mark on the city and its citizens, both physically and emotionally. Today 9/11 has become a day of reflection. We remember those who lost their lives on that day, but also the brave men and women who came to their rescue, those who worked tirelessly to rebuild our city, and heal our country.
But (and here’s where things get a little crazy) rather than look back on this day with sad feelings and negative emotions, we would better serve and honor this day by doing something positive to celebrate our country. I came across an intriguing blog post , written by Joe Peacock, author of the Joe the Peacock blog, who suggests ways to pay tribute to 9/11 in a productive way. Some of his ideas include making a donation to your local fire department or police station, making a care package for a soldier overseas, and VOTING! But the options are endless; do something that feels special to you. Instead of just posting another photo of a flag on Facebook (not that there’s anything wrong with that, as Seinfeld would say!), I really like the idea of actually doing something meaningful.
What will you do to mark this day?
Related Post: 9/11 Memorial
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