It's September 11th, 2015 and there hasn't been a single word about the attack that happened fourteen years ago. Astonished and disappointed, I decided to put this together for those who thought this day was just another ordinary day, because you said you would "never forget" and if you did, it's time to remember and reflect.
So, here are some things you can do the day of September 11th and any day before or after.
1. Bake cookies and bring them to your local firefighters, police officers, first responders, etc. More than 3,000 people were killed that day, including more than 400 police officers and firefighters.
2. Write a letter. There are many families who are still mourning and will always mourn the loss of a loved one. Their names can be found online and all it takes is a pen, paper, and a little research to send them encouragement and support.
3. Did you know that almost 10,000 people were treated for injuries? The individuals treating those who were hurt included first responders, doctors, nurses, EMT's, and more. One could easily get their community together to pitch in and have a local restaurant cater their lunch for the day as a thank you for the hard work and dedication they are expected to perform during small to large crisis situations, every single day.
4. Donate Blood. This may sound strange but there were people who escaped death that day because of the treatment they received. Without donated blood, some of them wouldn't have made the recovery.
5. Plant a tree in memory of 9/11. To remember those who served, those who still serve, those who lost their lives, those who have had to mourn a loss of a loved one, how America came together and we all experienced something as a vulnerable whole.
6. Candle Light memorial. Hold these at any type of school or University, at work, within your neighborhood, at your church or synagogue, even at your home. Whether you say a prayer or share a story, sing "I'm Proud to be an American" and anything else, the act of holding on to the memory is important. Releasing wish lanterns is also an extra way to remember the attack. Find a list of names of those who have perished and write them on each lantern, releasing them into the sky and wishing the best for their families.
7.Watch a documentary. And if you don't like documentaries, watch the World Trade Center. It has known actors like Nicolas Cage and more, and it's a story about two police officers trapped in the rubble of 9/11. It makes you appreciate all that our police officers and firefighters do for us, and it reminds you that the wound is still fresh. Whether you were in kindergarten, middle school, at work, or even in the towers, it still happened. And it happened recently.
There are many other things one can do to remember the day of the attack. Appreciate the ordinary days. Reflect on everything that you are blessed with. Say a prayer. Talk about it with a friend. Ask your parents about their memory of the day. Research on Google. Watch the news. Do anything, but don't forget.
Never forget 9/11.
