“I Remember” || What to Say About 9/11 & Grief

“I Remember” || What to Say About 9/11 & Grief

For a person in grief, there are almost no two sweeter words than, “I remember …”

Those two words begin stories, spark memories, open old joys, and bring feelings back to us with blazing clarity.

On a day like today I wondered, what would I write for this mortuary blog? what is there to say still about this infamous, monumental, and mournful day? And the only thing that came back to me was this: I remember.

I grieve 9/11 each year. Last week I felt a nausea settle over me as I thought of the day’s events and anticipated it’s coming. We are, so many of us, grieving together today as Americans and as people; people who will never forget the tragedy that unfolded that morning. We connect to each other and to something greater than ourselves on this anniversary when we come together to remember.

And so I encourage you today, to share this image below if you don’t know what else to do.

Join me in remembering this day.

 

“I just remember looking up and thinking, ‘How bad is it up there that the better option is to jump?’”
New York Fireman
Sept. 11, 2001

“If anyone can hear me, make some noise and we’ll come help you.”
New York Rescuer
Sept. 11, 2001

“We are breathing the dead,
taking them into our lungs
as living we had taken them
into our arms.”
Hettie Jones
New York City
Sept. 11, 2001

“A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.”
President George W. Bush
Sept. 11, 2001

“We have met the worst of humanity with the best of humanity.”
Rudolph Giuliani
Mayor of New York
Sept. 11, 2001

Molly Keating
Molly Keating
Hello! I'm Molly and I run & manage the Blog here at O'Connor. I grew up in a mortuary with a mortician for a father who's deep respect for the profession inspired me to give working at a mortuary a try. Work at O'Connor has brought together two of my deep passions, writing & grief awareness. In 2016 I earned Certification in the field of Thanatology, the study of Death, Dying and Bereavement. I am honored to be able to speak on these taboo topics with knowledge, compassion, and a unique perspective. I want to sincerely thank you for following & reading the blog, I hope that this is a healing place for you.

31 Comments

  1. Mark says:

    Molly….September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget….the world as we knew it will never again be the same….but as the history of our great country tells us….even out of the ashes of the crumpled buildings and the downed airplanes we hear about the real heroes…..I am still very proud to be an American…..Mark

  2. Amy says:

    Molly,
    A day American’s will never forget. Our nation changed on September 11, 2001. I still remember that day very vividly and how things continued to unfold right there in front of me. The number of families, law enforcement, fire personnel and many many others are forever scarred. My girls and I talk about it each year and say prayers for those who were lost, those who now have to live without their loved one and those who’s lives will never be the same. Thanks for allowing us to “Remember”
    Amy

  3. Elsa says:

    Great Blog Molly,
    I think we all Remember that day and what that day means to us individually and as a nation as a whole. A day that will be in our minds forever.

  4. Rosemary says:

    Thank you, Molly, for this touching tribute!
    I still feel stunned and sick when I think of what happened that day, but it is so very important for us to remember. It changed the lives of every family who was directly affected, and it changed all of us forever.
    We must never forget!

  5. Kari Lyn Leslie says:

    Molly,
    Thank you for this tribute. I remember exactly where I was, just as all Americans do in a monumental event. I had a strange feeling come over me also, it was anxiety of the unknown. Every year I am afraid that someone out there will try again. When the sun rises on the morning of the 12th, there is a sigh of relief that escapes from me.
    kari

    • Kari,
      I feel the same way on 9/12 – it makes me think it should be a holiday on it’s own along with Patriot Day. I don’t think any of us have ever felt any terror quite like that morning, I hope we never do again.

      Thank you for sharing,
      Molly

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