This Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of 9-11. It is hard to believe that ten years have passed since we experienced the horror of watching airplanes filled with everyday people turned into weapons of destruction. We can all remember the pain and anger we felt upon learning about the death of so many innocent people. We can remember the outrage we felt upon learning that there were extremists who under the guise of religion, slaughtered innocent people here in America.
The world changed ten years ago. Security at airports, train and bus stations, even bridges and tunnels, is a visible change that although important, inconveniences travelers. Security in our public spaces, and where people gather, has been increased. But there have been other more subtle changes as well. Many Americans express a feeling of vulnerability and loss of innocence.
Our challenge, as witnesses and survivors of that day, is to find an appropriate way to honor the memory of those who died on 9 -11 and those who have died since due to illnesses and injury related to 9 -11. Commemorating the day by participating in a service and creating memorials is one way to honor victims. Another equally important way to honor their memory is to live life and treat each day and the people in our lives as the wonderful gifts they are.
Pat