The tenth anniversary of the tragic 9/11 attacks is upon us. Where were you?
It was a Tuesday morning and surprisingly I was not auditing at a client’s headquarters in south Georgia, but in Midtown Atlanta. Word was a plane crashed onto the interstate. I soon learned what happened, went home when the office was closed, and planted myself in front of the TV, numb with shock. Many of my coworkers were trying to get back to Atlanta from near and far since flights were grounded. The next event I remember was attending a packed memorial service the following Tuesday at a church on Peachtree Street. I felt like the national sense of security had been ripped away, but I felt togetherness by the community's heartache. Tell me, where were you that day and how will you remember?
Maybe you will give blood, participate in a food drive, or say a prayer. I hope you will also talk about your memories with those you care about. Perhaps you have a child in your life who is confused by the events of 9/11. If so, I encourage you to watch this video, What Happened: The True Story of September 11, 2001, designed by Nickelodeon to specifically answer kids’ questions and convey a sense of the national tragedy. The video features kids with first-hand experiences of the day as well as answers to kids’ questions. The 22-minute piece doesn’t include many of the terrifying images of 9/11 and, in the end, reminds us of the unity the nation felt in our need for collective grieving.
Lynn’s letter (pictured here), which she sent to emergency responders on the one-year anniversary of the attacks, continues to offer good advice when dealing with grief. Talk with others and write about your feelings – together we’ll learn to respectfully weave the deepest sadness into our lives and grow stronger because of it.
“Dear America,
Though September 11 is beyond imaginable we need to move forward. This will be hard for [me] as well as the rest of America.
As a country, we need to join together. With each other, we can make it through this tough time. When it happened I did not understand. Now after 1 year, I have begun [sic] to understand. Talking and writing about 9/11 has really helped. It might help you, too.
I have many hopes for America. I hope we become stronger as a nation. I hope we continue our patrisom [sic]. I hope we continue to work hard. I hope the economy is rebuilt and most of all I hope we will help each other.
God Bless America!
Sincerely, Lynn”
Would you like to share your story? Please get in touch with Kate's Club! KC has free grief support with grief resources, grief counseling resources, grief training, and volunteer work in Atlanta and surrounding places in Georgia. Kate's Club is a growing nonprofit in Atlanta with grief specialists for kids and young adults going through bereavement. Our goal is to make a world where it is okay to grieve.