20 YEARS LATER: 9/11 ANNIVERSARY THOUGHTS. MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER.

by 

Today is September 11th. A day, I hope, no one ever forgets. Today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11. On this day in 2021, we reflect and remember the events of 9/11 20 years later.

Last night, I was up well past midnight, and when I went to unlock my computer’s lock screen, I saw the date September 11. I already knew today was THE day, but seeing it in bold white text hit me. I realized, now, the clock had turned over to the start of this day, only this time, it’s twenty years later. 20 years after the events, and on this day, what should be one of memories, reflection and hope for future, there is only fear. There is only anger.

I am so sorry to each and every person in the 13 families who have nothing to celebrate today. I am so sorry to everyone who is remembering a lost loved one from those days 20 years ago.

While some are remembering their person 20 years later and others are only just trying to realize their loved one is gone, the pain is there. It’s real. It should be honored and respected.

To each and every first responder, I am thankful and grateful to you for all that you did that day. To each and every military person who stepped up, not knowing what may come, thank you.  

Etched in the memories of so many, it’s a little bit surreal to me to think we now have a population of people who were not yet born on that day, but are now, legally, adults. It’s unreal and yet something I hope even if they were not here, they learn from and understand the truth of. I don’t remember all of the specifics of the day, but do know my aunt called us from work, saying to turn the TV on something we never did save for our one day a week VHS movie allowance. We were on the way out the door to a piano lesson, and our music teacher, kind as he was, hunted down an old television in one of the storage rooms so we could watch.

20 YEARS LATER: 9/11 ANNIVERSARY THOUGHTS. MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER. #REMEMBER911 #NEVERFORGET #AMERICA #USA #LANDOFTHEFREE #LANDOFTHEBRAVE #LANDOFLIBERTY Click To Tweet

I haven’t watched any of the documentaries, but I did hear an interview with the former mayor of New York, and I heard the recollections of the host of a pop culture show (Poplitics). How she put together the brief segment and her words combined made me tear up. She reminded any viewer how America united after that day in patriotism. Now I sincerely and genuinely ask, where did that go?

I miss that America and the pride her flag represented to everyone.

I miss the America that pledged to never forget and treated first responders with the respect they deserve.

The answers to people getting back to this is, in many ways, simple. Let go of fear. Turn off the TV. Don’t look at your social media pages. Go outside. LIVE your life! LOVE life. ENJOY life. Remember the sorrow, yes, but remember how good it felt to feel connection through patriotism. Remember how important that is to being a strong front.

I hope on this 20th anniversary, we reflect on these feelings. I can, under no circumstances, fathom what it felt like for those IN New York on that day, in the airplane or ANYONE who lost someone. But I do feel the sorrow of what those loses and tragedies represent. The Living Fully Co. ran by Mallory Ervin posted the following words today on their Instagram page.

Jules, this is Brian. Listen, I’m on an airplane that’s been hijacked. If things don’t go well, and it’s not looking good, I just want you to know I absolutely love you. I want you to do good, go have good times. Same to my parents and everybody, and I just totally love you, and I’ll see you when you get there. Bye Babe. I hope I call you.

– Brian Sweeney, September 11th 2001

This post made me cry. It’s the words of a man who knew chances of him ever seeing the people he loves were next to none. He knew his last breaths were immediate. This is heartbreaking. This is what we should look at EVERYDAY if we have to until we remember what life and what patriotism is all about.

May we never forget this today, yesterday or tomorrow on this 9/11 20 years later. Here’s a challenge for us all. May we hold everyone who lost a life close, even if only in a symbolic way, and may we remember that for the lives every solider lost in those twenty years, it was so we, as Americans, could live.

Let’s go live.

Thank you for visiting! Please, do come back soon.

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

2 comments

  1. I remember being in high school when this happened. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years, and it’s still as emotional to me now as it was then. Have you visited the 9/11 museum? They have a whole room dedicated to listening to voicemails from that day, and it is the saddest thing.

    1. I have not! I’m sure I wouldn’t fare well visiting a museum like that. I was crying SO much just reading peoples thoughts on Instagram. The first thing I saw about 9-11 when I opened IG on this 20th year was a graphic with the phone call from Brian Sweeney. I teared up starting my day and ended my (IG) day in tears too. So many great thoughts despite the sorrow.<3

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

(Enter your URL then click here to include a link to one of your blog posts.)

Optimized by Optimole