It’s been 21 years since 9/11. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is asking people to post a picture of the sky above their head today. It’s inspired by the clear blue sky that was present in New York City and across the country on September 11, 2001.

As we vow to never forget the lives lost that terrible day, we should also never lose sight of the unity our country experienced through tragedy. No matter where we are, each one of us is connected.

It got me thinking about a journal entry I wrote one month after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. At the time, I penned my thoughts on fear and disbelief. “I am changed forever.” But I also wrote about the unity in our country that was so vital to healing.

The first time I visited the World Trade Center in person, I just remember how astonishingly tall the buildings were. I just kept tilting my head back to see the top.

It’s still hard to comprehend a world where something like this could happen. I wonder what my conversations with my daughter will be about when she’s old enough to understand?

My heart still hurts for the thousands of people who lost their lives that day in New York, Washington, and in Pennsylvania, as well as for their families who are still grieving.

So much has changed in two decades. We should never forget the lives lost that day, the price of freedom, and the hope that’s created when our nation stands together. America is that beacon for the world.

The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of KLTV/KTRE-TV or Gray Television. They are solely the opinion of the author. All content © Copyright 2022 Lane Luckie