11 Years Later, It Feels Like Yesterday

It’s been over a decade since that fateful day.  The world was forever changed on this day 11 years ago. Americans, New Yorkers, Long Islanders were so deeply affected.  There aren’t many of us here that don’t know someone personally who “Was There.”  There will forever be a hole in our hearts.

But with the memory of loss never really fading away, we carry on with our lives.  We remember those who perished and we rebuild the buildings and businesses that were destroyed.  There will always be an empty space at many of our tables but we’ve learned to live again, we celebrate the joys of our families and watch our children grow up. 

Today is a sunny, incredibly clear Tuesday morning, just as it was on September 11, 2001.  It was primary election day that day.  Once again we prepare to exercise the most fundamental of all American freedoms; our right to vote in free elections.  There will be primaries this week.  In less than two months, we will elect our President.  Until then, we will passionately debate the issues, share political cartoons on Facebook, make jokes about each of the candidates without fear of arrest or execution for speaking our minds.  While not perfect, it is a beautiful life in America, in New York and on Long Island.  And as we live that beautiful life, remember that there are people who want to take it away from us, remember those who perished 11 years ago, remember those who risked (or lost) their lives trying to save others and remember those who have fought and are fighting still to protect our beautiful lives.

God bless America.