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9/11 Remembered: A Decade Later

Dan Caccavale

It has been 10 years, a full decade, since the America we knew had changed forever- 10 years since the horrific incidents that occurred on September 11, 2001. Now, a decade later, we still mourn for the thousands of lives and families affected by what happened. On the anniversary of the horrific attacks, a memorial ceremony was held on the C.W. Post Campus to help those still mourning to heal and to remember all those who were affected by the attacks.

Most of the students at Post today were very young at the time of the attacks. “I was in elementary school,” explained Dontae Hawkins, a junior film major at C.W. Post, who went on to say that at the time of the attacks he “felt as if I was watching a movie, being too young to comprehend the seriousness of the disaster.”

Briana Nussbaum, a junior art education major, who was also in elementary school at the time, said that, “I may have been young, but as I watched about the incident on the news and heard everyone talk about it, I started to understand how serious this was. We had always felt so safe here, and knowing this all was happening only an hour way was a scary realization.”  Now, 10 years later, many are left wondering how they should view and treat the events that occurred that day.

This year, eyes still teared up as the names of those who were lost that day were read aloud, and many gathered in the Interfaith Center for a memorial ceremony to remember all of the lives affected.

After an introduction by Father Ted Brown and a Psalm sung by the C.W. Post chorus, candles were lit as Post students from all different walks of life stood together to help bring our community closer together during this difficult time. Later in the ceremony, Rabbi Jill Kreitman, Pastor John Dornheim, and Mr. Zeshan Hamid, the Islamic advisor at Post, all recited prayers stemming from different religions, but all giving the same message or remembrance and togetherness.

Soon after, Deacon Greg Kandra gave a reflection speech about his thoughts on the attacks and how our country has recovered from them. Following a final prayer from the Assistant Director of Religious Life, Jeanette Murray, and a singing of the Post Alma Mater, “When Evening Falls,” by Mates-Wolpe, the service concluded, but heads still hung low, and eyes were still covered in tears as the Post community united once more to honor those that were lost while still questioning whether America has truly healed after this time passed.

Deacon Kandra stated that, “we have all been able to process it, but I don’t think we will all completely heal. As time goes on, it gets easier.” Father Ted Brown echoed a similar message, saying that, “we have, to some extent, healed, but it is like a scab that is still easily picked.” This feeling was mutual among students as well. Michael Riggs, a junior music major at Post, stated that there is still a “feeling of a lost community.”

If we gain nothing else from these events, our community and our nation still come together to mourn as one and comfort each other once a year on September 11th.  No matter the religion, race, gender, or sexual orientation, everyone comes forward to help heal one another. Although people may disagree about whether or not our nation will ever completely heal, Americans will always have the newfound togetherness and community they have built.

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