It’s been 25 years since the attack on the Twin Towers, and the world has changed drastically. The first iPhone was released in 2007. Fortnite made its debut in 2017. COVID reshaped our lives in late 2019. But despite these advancements, every September 11 we set aside a day to remember.
How do we commemorate the fallen without having experienced it first-hand?
Neither I nor my classmates were born when the attack on the Twin Towers occurred, yet we know about this tragedy, how 2,977 people lost their lives in the attack. But this begs the question: How do we commemorate the fallen without having experienced it first-hand?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Still, remembrance doesn’t require you to be there. Something simple like taking a moment of silence to slow down when life moves too quickly can be a big step to memorializing those we’ve lost. Maybe go visit a memorial. It’s up to you to decide how to pay tribute to the lives that were lost. Whether it’s simple acts of reflection or other activities, what matters most is remembering history.
Even though I wasn’t old enough to remember the attacks on 9/11, the aftermath prevails in our day-to-day world. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created as a result of this event, and with it the oft-annoying 3.4 fluid ounce restriction on carry-on items like toothpaste. The Twin Towers were a major financial hub, and the attacks on the tower were direct attacks on America itself.
We need to preserve memories of 9/11, to pass down the stories of countless victims who lost something precious to them on this fateful day.
So, what can we do as a community to make sure 9/11 is never forgotten, to ensure this never happens again? Maybe the answer was there all along: oral tradition. It was used by our ancestors thousands of years ago. We need to preserve memories of 9/11, to pass down the stories of countless victims who lost something precious to them on this fateful day. We, the younger generation, and all living generations can contribute to this cause.
For those like me, who weren’t there or were too young, remembering doesn’t have to be based on your own experiences. It can be through stories you’ve heard from your grandparents or stories you listened to on the way to school this morning. Twenty five years ago, the world wasn’t the same as it is today. But as long as these stories keep being told and remembered, September 11 doesn’t have to be another date collecting dust in a history book.
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