Remembering 9/11, 12 years later

A decorated home in Danville

It’s a solemn day in America, a day that will never be quite the same.

It’s a day filled with emotion; I already teared up listening to a tribute playing of “Imagine” in the car this morning. Seriously, the smallest things can bring back floods of memories of Sept. 11, 2001.

It was a harrowing day for so many, and it’s tragedy feels raw, like it happened yesterday.

So today I encourage you to take some time to remember and truly embrace the idea of “Never Forget.”

I wanted to post what I thought was the most memorable piece I’ve done on 9/11, just to share some thoughts. I wrote it for the 10th anniversary while I was a reporter at the York Daily Record.

Also, today, please hug your loved ones and let them know you care.

Airline industry ‘totally changed’ post 9/11

York, PA – Scott Miller feels awkward whenever people talk about their memories of watching the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. He didn’t watch the towers fall or see the horrifying images coming out of New York that day.

“To this day I still struggle with that,” Miller, director of public relations and marketing for the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, which runs Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, said. “I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like to watch it live.”

Miller was just trying to keep up with his new job at the Airport Authority, which he had started the day before.

In fact, Miller didn’t know anything was amiss that September morning as he sat in his office until a news station called to ask about the status of the airport’s flight schedule.

“They asked, ‘Have your flights been canceled?'” he said. “I said, ‘I’m not sure, let me check. I’ll call you back.’ Then I went to get online, but I couldn’t get on. Just then, the security director came in said, ‘Come with me.’ While we were in his golf cart riding to the main terminal building he explained there was an incident in New York. After that, the whole day for me is a blur.”

Bonus Photos and Video: Loretta Claiborne at Milton

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to hear an amazing woman speak. It was Loretta Claiborne, a woman who overcame incredible odds to become one of the most famous and decorated Special Olympians and an advocate for others facing challenges.

If you haven’t heard about her story of growing up in the projects of York before being introduced to competitive athletics through the Special Olympics, you’re missing out. She’s a great example of a Pennsylvanian doing good.

Here’s a little bit of her story, put together for the 1996 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs:

She spoke yesterday to elementary students in Milton, and she was incredibly positive. For someone who overcame such incredible odds, she was neither downtrodden nor haughty about her life.

I was truly impressed with her. And now I’m looking for the movie – Netflix here I come!

She also brought a great message about not bullying to the students, which is an important message to tell, especially today in schools.

Here’s some bonus photos from her talk: