Remembering 9/11 in a Covid World
19 years … sometimes it feels like a lifetime, and other times it feels like yesterday that terrorists breeched our safety and security and took the lives of nearly 3000 innocent souls on a beautiful September Tuesday. One of those lives was my husband of 17 years, father of our 3 children, ages 7, 11 and 13 at the time. Like Jeff, they were sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, siblings, spouses, partners -- just going about their day, going to work, traveling for work or pleasure. Every one of them was part of a family, loved, and now missed for far too long.
Each anniversary of that horrible day feeds the grief that
is always there. Anyone who has lost someone dear to them knows this. When the
loss is through a very public tragedy like September 11, 2001, the community
remembers with us and offers comfort. Ordinarily there are public services,
small ones led by local organizations or towns; a larger one held in Boston
with the Governor, Mayor and other dignitaries attended by the 9/11 family
members and friends; and the commemoration ceremony in New York at the site of
the World Trade Center and Memorial Park.
But this year is different. Covid-19 is dictating that we find a new way to remember, without the community physically around us, without the organized service projects, without the school presentations educating students about a day that happened before they were even born that changed their parents’ and teachers’ America forever. The Massachusetts Commemoration, usually held at the Memorial in the Public Garden with Mayor Marty Walsh and at the State House with Governor Baker, will be on line (find it at www.massfund.org beginning at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11). It feels like it will be easier for people to forget. Perhaps seeing the flags at half staff will cause some to ask why and jog their memories.
To remember 9/11 we encourage you to join in on what has
become the largest day of service in the country. Do a random act of kindness
for a friend or stranger. Donate if you can to a cause that’s important to
you. Show some consideration for someone
you ordinarily would ignore. Look for opportunities in your community to do
socially-distant service, like cleaning up your neighborhood. Google the names
of those who died that day, and the first responders and contractors who have
since died as a result of their work at the site known as Ground Zero. Say
their names out loud. This ensures they won’t be forgotten. Do your random act
of kindness in their memory. Most of all, just be nice.
