9/11: in remembrance

On September 11, 2001 every American's life changed forever. You don't need me to tell you that. One year later, on the first year anniversary of that terrible day in history, I found myself at a loss of what to do. I wanted to somehow honor those lost, those who survived, those who were such heros, those who left to fight, and all those still struggling with the heartwrenching sting of losing their loved ones. Yet all the way across the nation over here on the California coast I felt completely disconnected. I didn't know what to do so I headed to the bookstore, hoping that perhaps I could find some sort of 9/11 memorial book and honor the fallen in my own way. This is the book I found, and I have made it a tradition to sit down with it every year since.
There were a lot of reasons why I appreciated this book. But what struck me immediately was how the cover itself was literally made up of tiny photographs of all those who were lost. Look closely. Real people.

the all-too-familiar, heartbreaking sight -

and the American people in a state of shock

I simply cannot imagine what it must have been like

I still find it impossible to conceive the magnitude...

look how tiny the people are in comparison to the wreckage

the American people rallied their patriotism

there were all kinds of heros, God bless them all ❤

just a few of the many ordinary people doing extraordinary things

No 9/11 remembrance would be near as poignant without this now-famous photo. It stirs up so much emotion, even now, eight years later. For some things, there are just no words.