Brennan’s Blog

It has been 7 years since 9/11/2001 and at times I remember that day in a fog but some images are very clear. It is hard to believe it has been 7 years. This morning MSNBC aired their coverage of 9/11/2001. I could see the chaos as reporters tried to gather facts from any official who had a minute to stop and provide any details they had. Seeing this chaos now, after the facts have been sorted out for 7 years, is a solid reminder of how the experience of that day is not something you can imagine from reading a minute by minute account of the facts of that day.

One live interview in the mix of all the events on that day that morning sticks out in my mind. A reporter was interviewing a woman who was recalling how she saw these horrific sights that were still happening as they looked out over the rooftop of a building near the twin towers. The shear intensity of what she saw was so much she could not continue to describe it. She lost it and the reporter just broke down and put his arms around her. There were no words necessary to relay what they were both clearly feeling.

The day after I remember a discussion among news commentators and a writer who noted that during all of the coverage of the previous day the word "tragedy" was carefully avoided by everyone on every network. Each person had a sense that somehow that word did not accurately describe what they were covering and experiencing. The twisted anguish caused by the events were too visceral to be explained with a simplistic description.

As the news spread to other countries I remember the phrase "we are all Americans today" from so many people. That was the silver lining on a dark day. We are in this together so take care of each other. I always want to remember that detail.

It has been 7 years. If you think about it, some of the first responders who died that day had children who were in grade school. Now they are through high school and are either in college or possibly taking up work in the same positions as one of their lost parents. Many of them are children of firefighters. They should have the equipment they need to do their work as first responders. You can donate to The Leary Foundation to help firefighters in New York, New Orleans and Massachusetts. This foundation was formed by Denis Leary in 1999 after six firefighters were killed in his hometown. Over the years the foundation expanded to provide resources to New York and New Orleans. It is a very worthwhile charity that has a real impact. Just giving $20 is all that is needed. Every little bit counts.