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On the 19th Anniversary of 9/11: Remembering the Power of Community and Caring
On every anniversary of 9/11, I think of the power of community and caring. My memory of that day is forever linked to the early childhood educators of Cherry Preschool, who were a caring community trying to manage their own terror to shield young children and comfort their families. Those kids are now young adults. I doubt they have any memory of the day at all, but my colleagues and I at Cherry Preschool will never forget it.
Because it was what we call pre-visit day, when children come individually with parents or guardians to meet their teachers and see their classrooms, most of the staff had arrived early and was busy preparing. It was such a beautiful morning. Perfect for starting a new journey in a child’s life. I was director of the school, so I had been there for quite some time when a staff member rushed into the building shouting, “Turn on the TV.” It was 7:45 a.m. Chicago time — too early for kids to be arriving.
It didn’t seem possible. A plane had crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. How could such a weird accident happen? Was it a small private plane that had flown off course?
