September 11, 2001. Everyone can remember pretty much exactly where they were when they heard the news. Many people were affected or know someone who was affected by the terrorist attacks that stopped the world that Tuesday morning. The hijackings, the Towers, the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives, and the brave men and women who saved countless others won’t soon be forgotten.
Now, 22 years later, how can we possibly still commemorate the day that shook our nation to its core? How can we honor the lives of those who perished in the attacks and the wars that followed? How can we reflect the solemn reminder of the fragility of life and the strength and unity of the American people? Today, we’ll cover different ways to do just that.
Visit the 9/11 Memorial in New York
If you haven’t yet made your way to the footprint of the old World Trade Center buildings, where the National 9/11 Memorial now stands, go visit it.
If you haven’t yet visited the National 9/11 Memorial, go visit it.
A reflecting pool, ringed in roaring waterfalls and bronze panels inscribed with the names of every victim of the 1993 and 2001 attacks, exists in the footprint where the two buildings once stood. Part of a beautiful plaza, surrounded by the 9/11 Memorial Museum and trees, it’s a symbolism of rebirth. It’s also a reminder of the melancholic hope many of us felt in the days following the attacks and an encapsulation of the American “never-say-die” spirit. Yes, there was rebuilding to be done. With everyone working together, we did it.
While it’s free to wander the plaza and to see the memorial, you need to buy tickets for the museum.
If this is a trip you’re thinking about taking, and it truly should be, there are a few things to keep in mind. While it’s free to wander the plaza and to see the memorial, you need to buy tickets for the museum. If you’re planning on staying in the area for more than a day, remember: The Financial District, where the memorial is, is still in Manhattan, meaning Manhattan hotel prices. If you’re driving, you’ll have to find Manhattan parking. Our suggestion: take a bus into the city with a set time of arrival and departure. If you’re staying overnight, try a hotel away from Times Square or one that has a discount available.
Connect with a Family Member of a Different Political Belief
We won’t ignore the obvious. The country is in a period of extreme political divide. Thanksgivings are becoming less like a battlefield for who gets the last drumstick and more of one for who supports the right candidate or leader. Social media has become a cesspool for political discourse. If there’s one thing that September 11 and the days following it showed us, it’s that America is at its best when we are united.
Whatever your political views are, take the anniversary of one of the worst heartaches our country has faced to share in that unity. It doesn’t matter if you’ve bumped heads with a family member or a close friend about elections, the President, or the news. What’s important is that, for at least one day, you bury the hatchet and show you care. Who knows, maybe it’ll help you find a way to talk about politics without it becoming ugly.
Now, at a time when we’ve never felt more divided along partisan lines, we need to remember that whether Democrat or Republican, Independent, or another political affiliation, we’re all Americans.
In the wake of 9/11, Americans of all colors, creeds, and codes united to recover and rebuild. Now, at a time when we’ve never felt more divided along partisan lines, we need to remember that whether Democrat or Republican, Independent, or another political affiliation, we’re all Americans. We all want what’s best for this great nation of ours — we just go about it a different way. When we talk politics with our loved ones, it’s important that we remember that.
Give Back to Your Community
Another way you can spend September 11 this year is giving back to your community. After all, the 9/11 terrorist attacks were attacks on our ways of life. What better way of showing that those attacks failed than strengthening your community?
What better way of showing that those attacks failed than strengthening your community?
Your acts of charity can be national or in your own backyard. You can donate your time or your money as you wish. The day is officially known as Patriot Day after all. Spend the day being patriotic by making a positive influence in your community. Taking time to give your support wherever it’s needed in our country helps show the unity and strength of the United States.
While there are many deserving charities out there who could use the help, volunteering or donating with a 9/11 charity is an incredible way to assist people who still really need it. These charities help survivors of the attacks, as well as first responders and others affected by them. Keep in mind, it’s smart to stick with established charities that are clear with how they spend the money to avoid scam charities.
There are many charities that help survivors of the attacks, as well as first responders and others affected by them.
One of the popular slogans commemorating September 11, 2001, is “Never Forget.” Key to these efforts of remembrance are charities like Voices of September 11th and the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Both these organizations are dedicated to preserving the memories of what happened that day and documenting everything that caused and came of the attacks.
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The attacks that the United States faced on September 11, 2001, were devastating, and not just because of the monumental loss of life. The attacks on 9/11 shifted how many of us viewed the world, showing us the very real dangers of international terrorism. While we were bloodied, we weren’t done. From the ashes, Americans and our friends around the world united to rebuild.
Today, the best way we can commemorate this national, and international, tragedy is to reawaken the courage, compassion, and companionship that so many of us showed on September 11, 2001, and the days that followed. It’s a day to remember that, when we were down, we wept as one, and then picked each other up — no matter our political allegiances, races, or religions — because we’re all Americans.
