Kidsday: Never forget 9/11

When I was a little girl, I thought of a human life like a balloon, and when someone would pass away, their balloon floated up and away. On Sept. 11, 2001, I tried to imagine more than 3,000 balloons floating up and away from Earth. It was heartbreaking, and it devastated the whole world.

Although, it was a huge tragedy, 9/11 brought America closer together and made us the strongest we have been in a very long time. The compassion and support people showed one another was obvious and comforting.

The family and friends of the victims are survivors. A family member of a 9/11 victim told me, "Yes, we're with it all the time, but no group of survivors has ever had better care." Another family member of a 9/11 victim shared with me, "I feel very lucky to have had these friendships these past few years. It's the greatest group of people I would even want to meet." It is amazing to me that, after all these families have been through, they have another huge thing in common -- all have a great sense of hope.

However, it was not always this way. Families of 9/11 victims did not always have hope. They got their inner strength and help from, at the time, almost complete strangers, all with one goal, to get the United States back on its feet. Positive messages were sent out from political leaders such as New York Sen. Charles Schumer: "Remember days like today, where Americans -- not Democrats, not Republicans, not New Yorkers, not Wyomingites -- rose to the occasion." Schumer was saying this in response to the great work from the firefighters, police officers, cleanup crews and the rest of Americans who came together to make us all stronger as a nation.

Remember all those who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Remember all the first responders, remember the contributions, remember the love for one another, remember the survivors, remember the kids, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends.

Remember to have strength and hope. And so, as painful as this day is to remember, never forget.