Remembering 9/11

Hello all,

With the anniversary of 9/11 being this week, I wanted to take a moment to share what I remember about the day and how it affected my life.

It's hard to believe that it has been 23 years since the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. I was 9 years old when these attacks took place. I remember not really understanding what was happening. It didn't mean anything to me. I lived across the country and my small child mind couldn't comprehend the magnitude of what had happened.

I don't remember my teacher at school really talking about it but she must have. My biggest memory of the day is walking into an Office Depot with my dad that afternoon and asking him a question about it and him answering. I can't even remember what the question or answer was now. But I just remember this feeling of confusion and sadness overcome me as it was surrounding everyone.

Through the years I have obviously come to understand the entire situation. To this day every time I think about it I want to cry and am surrounded by a cloud of sadness. While I do not know anyone who was personally attached to the tragedy it breaks my heart. All of the people who suffered that day and, in the months, to follow, devastates me and also makes me extremely grateful to have those I love still with me.

I can never know or imagine what the people who were affected by this attack felt or went through or still go through all these years later. For me it is always a day of solemn remembering through whatever I am doing. I like to take a few minutes at the time of the attacks to stop what I am doing and take a moment to pray over those who had their entire lives changed that day. Its a small gesture but the only thing I can do.

9/11 was the first national event that I had to go through in my life. The magnitude would not truly hit until a few years later, but even as a kid I think I realized that this was scary and unnerving and devastating. Someday I would love to go to New York City to view the Ground Zero memorial. I want to pay tribute to all that were killed and sacrificed their lives. All the innocent people that were just living their normal lives and lost them far too soon.

In the days following 9/11, many people came together and out nation saw a unity like none other. In the 23 years since the attacks, we have lost that unity. While I pray we never have to go through another huge tragedy like 9/11, I do pray that our nation can experience unity again.

I hope on Wednesday we will all take a minute to remember the sacrifices made on 9/11 23 years ago and pray for those who were affected by it and pray for our nation to move towards unity.

Much love,

Victoria