May we never forget.

Today marks 20 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States of America. Today, we honor all those who lost their lives or loved ones as a result of fateful September 11, 2001. May we never forget.

I'm not one of those who has an especially significant story relating to 9/11, but the memories are still rather clear in my head nonetheless. I was 12 years old when 9/11 occurred. When the Twin Towers were hit, my 7th grade English class was just about to begin. I remember the principal coming into the classroom with a look on her face that I can only think to describe as terrifying. She handed a note to our teacher, who then proceeded to barely maintain composure as she told us what was going on in our nation. I am Catholic and attended a Catholic school as a child, and the main thing I remember about that day at school is every student being ushered to the church where we could sit and pray, because what else were we supposed to do.

If I'm being honest, I think one of my 12-year-old self's most vivid memories revolving around the 9/11 terrorist attacks didn't even occur on 9/11 itself. It occurred on October 7, 2001, when the evening's regular television programs were interrupted as the first bombs went off in the war in Afghanistan. I remember thinking, They're going to air this on television? And then they did.

Today we pray and hope for peace.

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We'll continue with our usual weekly blog hops tomorrow, including our true contribution for this week's Caturday Art Blog Hop, as today we want to focus on remembering and honoring the victims and heroes of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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Did you know?

Did you know that an estimated 300 trained search-and-rescue dogs were present at Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks? Did you know that the last person found alive at Ground Zero, roughly 27 hours after the towers collapsed, was found by a search-and-rescue dog? There were also therapy dogs present, offering comfort to anyone who might need it at Ground Zero. Sadly, both human and companion animal lives were lost as a result of the September 11 attacks, but they shall all be remembered.