9/11 leaves vivid memories

Just as Dec. 7, 1941, the date when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, is etched in the memories of one generation of Americans, so is Sept. 11, 2001, in the memories of another.

Nine/11 has become the accepted shorthand for the day when two terrorist-hijacked aircraft were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, and a third into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. A fourth jet crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pa., about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh; its passengers fought back against the hijackers — and won.

Whoever you are, and wherever you were, 9/11 has changed you. We are not the same. The events of that fateful day have changed us.

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How have we changed? What have we learned? That’s where you come in.

On this historic anniversary, the Chronicle is inviting its readers to share their 9/11 experiences with us — 400 words or less. Where were you on 9/11? How are you changed? What have you learned? How should we, as a nation, move forward?

Maybe you have your own questions to answer. Whatever they are, we invite you to compose your experiences in the comment section below, or send them to 9-11@thejewishchronicle.net. We’ll share a representation of your responses in next week’s paper and post even more at our website, thejewishchronicle.net.

Nine/11 has changed us. We hope your shared experiences will help us create an archive to which our readers may refer back to again and again as a way to reflect, draw strength and move on.