09/10/2026
History fair a few months after 9/11, holding my baby sister (LOL, but I'm still a few months older than our mayor!). I remember the fear as a child seeing/smelling the smoke/ash/"snow", and the crazy rumors that swirled about the attack until we found out later in the day what actually happened. The feeling that life as we knew it had changed. Naturally I turned to my parents for answers that evening and remember my father calming us down and telling me in no uncertain terms that America is going to get the people that did this to us. School was canceled the next day since we definitely did not know what was coming next. It occurred to me that I'm now roughly the same age he was at that time, and my daughter similar to me. As a parent I really admire how he handled that, putting on a brave face for us at such a scary time. I hope I would have the good judgement to do the same (and unfortunately we have been tested with events like October 7th). We remember all those lives lost on that day and salute their families, the "343" and all the other first responders and those who continue to suffer from 9/11-related illnesses. We will never forget your sacrifice!
