(Pic #1) Lily May Schmidt, age 8, from St Cyril of Jerusalem School in Encino, California, pauses to reflect on the souls lost on 9/11. (Photo by Josh Kaplan)
Like so many others who lost friends when the towers fell on September 11, 2001, I thought of them constantly in the days and weeks that followed. Reporting for Fox5 in New York right before that fateful day, I shared on camera time with firefighters, sanitation workers, and Port Authority officers during live shots all over the city for the morning news. At least 4 of these extraordinary civil servants I knew lost their lives that day. My FDNY buddy Kevin Hannafin lost his brother Tommy in the attack, and remarkably found and walked out of the rubble with his brother’s fire helmet in hand. He told me it was “the proudest day” of his life.
They say “time heals,” but I find it just puts feelings on hold, until something reminds us what’s still really going on inside. Each year on the anniversary of that horrific day, when the country takes a moment to remember, I feel what I am supposed to feel, and shut the door until the next day of remembrance. I worry ambien that I am losing my connection with the victims I knew — and that maybe the horror of that day (and the lessons we learned from it) might be slipping out of my — and public — consciousness.
But last weekend, I got the message I needed to see — when I took a trip to Pepperdine University overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, California, where each year they honor the victims and emergency responders who died on 9/11, with a daunting display of 2977 flags poised on the school’s majestic hill.
There, amidst the tourists, the Boy Scouts and the biker dudes, I saw this little girl on her knees — praying, alone — with the most loving expression you could imagine on her face. At age 8, Lily May Schmidt wasn’t even born on 9/11/01. But there she was — kneeling — reflecting — on souls she said she “wanted to pray for.”
That simple image made me realize we haven’t forgotten. And we can count on the likes of Lily May Schmidt to keep us on track: conscious — and compassionate.
(Pic #2) Los Angeles Boy Scout troop members pause amidst the display. (Photo by Josh Kaplan)
Thank you for this pic. Needless to say it touched my heart. The year of the attack so many events were taking place to help support those involved in this horrendous attack. At one of those events I purchased a FDNY cap signed by Kevin P. Hannafin 2-119, so I was surprised to read his name in your report. I have thought of him so many times in the last few years and his connection to the attack. I was sorry to know he lost a brother but his heart is full of pride for what he and that brother did for our country. God bless him and his family!
Dot Stanitzky
Lafayette,La
thank you for writing this article about me i am now age ten i never forget what i did. i pray for every one how died in 9/11/01 –
Lily may schmidt