The Sound of Generational Change: Remembering 9/11
As the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, the phrase “I never got to meet you” resonates deeply with victims’ families who gather each year to remember their lost loved ones. This phrase has become a poignant symbol of generational change at ground zero, where names of the nearly 3,000 victims are read out loud on the solemn day.
Some of these names are now being read by children and young adults who were born after the tragic events of 9/11. Last year’s ceremony included 28 young readers among the more than 140 participants, and this year’s event is expected to have a similar representation of young people paying tribute to the victims.
For many of these young readers, the connection to the victims is personal. Some are the children of victims whose partners were pregnant at the time of the attacks, while others are nieces, nephews, or grandchildren who have inherited stories, photos, and a sense of responsibility to never forget.
Being part of a “9/11 family” is a legacy that reverberates through generations, and as the world moves forward, the responsibility of commemorating and understanding the September 11th attacks falls on those who have no first-hand memory of the events.
“It’s like you’re passing the torch on,” says 13-year-old Allan Aldycki, who reads the names of victims, including his firefighter grandfather, at the annual ceremony.
Reciting the names of the victims is a tradition that extends beyond ground zero, with various memorials and ceremonies honoring those who lost their lives on that fateful day. The act of remembering is a way to ensure that the significance of the events is never forgotten by future generations.
For young readers like Allan and Capri Yarosz, participating in the ceremony is not only a tribute to their lost loved ones but also a way to pass down the importance of remembrance to future generations.
“Even though I never got to meet you, I will never forget you,” echoes the sentiment of many young participants who continue to honor the memory of those they never had the chance to know.
