Grief over the 18th anniversary of 9/11 

By Destynie Lichtenwalner

Photo Credit: Spencer Platt

Wednesday, September 11th, 2019 marked the 18th anniversary of the world changing event of 9/11. President Donald Trump attended the 9/11 ceremony to address the horrible accident. Standing at the Pentagon, Trump made many statements about what had been traveling through his mind. 

“This is your anniversary of personal and permanent loss,” President Trump said to the people. “It’s the day that has replayed in your memory a thousand times over. The last kiss. The last phone call. The last time hearing those precious words, ‘I love you.” 

Many people approached the podium to speak out about their lost loved ones. Parboti Parbhu took a stand to talk about her lost sister, Hardai. Parbhu’s most iconic sentence was “there’s still no easy way to say goodbye.”

While the few thousand people crowded around the glorious  9/11 memorial in Manhattan, New York, there was a large wave of people joining in to read the names of the lost aloud. 

People mumbled to each other regarding the horrific accident. Explaining their stories about where they were that day and the fear they felt. Margie Miller interpreted the loss of her husband. She exclaimed, “I want people to remember,” and stated, “I’ve attended this ceremony every year since 2001.” 

September 11 has now become a day of service. Many people decide to volunteer at different places, such as food banks, schools, and clean up projects. The memory is painful to many people. The losses, the pain, the regrets of the worst day in American history, September 11th, 2001.