Northport moms teach 9/11 to kids

Northport’s Sarah Connor was only 2 years old when the 9/11 attacks happened. Her mom, Amy Connor, felt it was important to bring Sarah and twin sons William and James, 8, to Northport Remembers 9/11 on Sunday afternoon.

Sitting on the grass at the Village Plaza, Connor and her children were among the hundreds that attended. Connor said she knew people who were in the Twin Towers on 9/11 and is thankful to this day that her friends made it out of there safely.

“September 11th is such a defining moment for so many of us,” Connor said. “When I was growing up, my mother always talked about President Kennedy being assassinated, and I just didn’t fully understand, and now I find myself doing the same thing with my children, having to explain the huge significance of 9/11.

“They are learning about it in schools and I also discuss it at home. They now understand why Mama cries whenever I see the horrible images from September 11th on television.”

The ceremony featured speeches from several dignitaries, including Rep. Steve Israel, Village of Northport Mayor George Doll and Village of Northport Chief of Police Ric Bruckenthal. The Northport Community Band played “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “God Bless America” as members of the United States Armed Forces and Northport Boy Scout Troop 410 marched alongside the stage.

Northport’s Kate Rubenackel was in Britain when the attacks took place. She couldn’t believe the horrific images that were being shown on her television screen.

“I was watching TV and thought I was watching a World War going on,” Rubenackel said. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I think this memorial is great because we should never forget. To me, September 11 feels like yesterday, not 10 years ago. We should always carry on remembering. I’ve been trying to explain it to my sons Thomas, 2, and Daniel, 7 months. As they grow older, I want them to understand.”