Remembering 9/11: Lessons Passed Down

It’s hard to imagine how much time has passed. My daughters, Sydney, now 20, and Olivia, 24, grew up with stories of a day they were too young to remember, but a day that has forever shaped all of us. Olivia was born just 11 days before the September 11, 2001, attacks. We were at the beach celebrating new life, not knowing how drastically the world was about to change.

We’ve made it a priority to teach our girls the meaning of that day, not only through history books or classroom lessons, but through lived experiences. They’ve visited the memorial, traced the names engraved in bronze, and stood in silence as the water fell into the footprints of the towers. The memory isn’t as raw for them as it is for us, but we wanted them to feel that moment, not just learn about it.

I’ll never forget being in Destin, Florida just days after. We went for a sunset sail, and the captain said: “This will be the first and last time you’ll see no planes in the sky.” The silence was haunting.

Years later, standing on the riverbank looking back at the skyline, I saw a bent steel beam draped with an American flag. It felt perfectly placed, a symbol of resilience and remembrance. Against the backdrop of Manhattan, the world seemed to pause again, still, reflective, and reverent.

Over time, the tragedy became even more personal. A close friend lived and worked in the towers. Another colleague I often traveled with was in the building that morning and managed to escape. I think of them on this day, and every time I visit the memorial, I do.

But above all, I feel gratitude. Gratitude for the first responders who ran toward danger when everyone else was running away. Gratitude for the resilience of survivors and families who carried forward with unimaginable strength. I am grateful that my daughters have grown up in a country that, even in its darkest hours, chooses unity over division.

Every September 11, and truly every day, I’m reminded to thank the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who put others before themselves. Their courage is forever etched into our nation’s story.

The world changed on 9/11. My daughters didn’t live through the shock of that morning, but they’ve grown up with the legacy of it. And that’s what matters most: carrying forward the stories, the lessons, the gratitude, so that we never forget.