9/12 AND A SUMMER OF MEMORY AND HOPE
In the days following September 11, 2001, American flags seemed to be ubiquitous across our nation. They were hanging in windows and were affixed to cars, and stores across the country scrambled to keep them in stock. These patriotic displays symbolized national pride that was lived out through a renewed sense of civic engagement that penetrated many areas of our lives. A 9/11 benefit concert in October of 2001 featured the world’s most prominent pop musicians. Red Cross donation sites were packed to capacity with volunteers who wanted to give blood. Spontaneous moments of silence took place across the country. Even what would have been a routine New York Mets game ten days after 9/11 turned into an emotional celebration of America’s pastime when future Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza won the game with a home run in front of thousands of fans, including first responders from the New York Fire and Police Departments.
In this newsletter, 9:57 Project co-founder John Hamilton reflects on the unity that was seen on September 12, 2001, and the days that followed and recounts highlights of the 2024 Summer Leadership Challenge, where we carried the legacy of 9/12 forward through a memorable Veteran-led experience for high school students.
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How will future generations remember 9/11?
Tens of millions of Americans have been born since September 11, 2001. Lacking relevant insight and perspective, 9/11 for them could become another mindless mark on the historical map. Without guidance and context from those who lived and suffered on that day, future generations may be lost about who we are today.
The warmth of summer will continue to surrender to the beauty of fall. The hazy skies will dissipate into those crisp autumn atmospheres, and inevitably there’ll be that pristine morning when the older among us will wake up to that same cloudless blue we saw that fateful Tuesday in 2001. We won’t have to be reminded about 9/11, because, for a moment, we’ll instantly feel it. We’ll immediately recall all the hard things, but If we persevere, we will remember some good things too - bravery, love, and courage. The unity of 9/12. Those noble notions, if we let them, can show our future citizens a path forward.
This summer, The 9:57 Project continued our mission of relating those things. As we head into fall and another 9/11 anniversary and whatever else history has in store for our country, we can take pride in what so many have done to provide context about the events of 9/11 to our young people. Our pride is not in the accomplishments of our organization but in the labor, courage, and service of the friends who’ve partnered alongside us to help. Our pride is in the high school students who’ve committed to remembering the heroes who stepped up on 9/11, and who’ve accepted this part of their nation’s narrative and made it part of their own story. Our pride is in the veterans, first responders, and everyone else who chose to help on and after that most tragic of days.
In late July, in partnership with the Serve Our Willing Warriors, The 9:57 Project hosted 17 young leaders in a week-long Leadership Challenge for the second year in a row. These young people were presented with in-depth studies of leadership and resiliency by Combat Veterans and a Flight 93 Family Member. Our dear friend Debby Borza, whose daughter Deora Frances Bodley was on Flight 93, again unselfishly gave us so much of her time, perspective, and insight. In addition, we were lucky to be joined by Debby’s partner Greg Linden, who along with friends Raymond Crowel and William Ball, demonstrated their martial arts expertise and related how important fitness and movement are to resilience.
Debby, Greg, and their friends accompanied our students and Veterans to the Flight 93 National Memorial that week. After visiting the site where the first counter attack in the War on Terror ended, we went across the street to Patriot Park and met Randy Musser and Neil Hoffman, who were kind enough to show us the memorial they have established to honor the service members who perished in the subsequent years of the conflict. Seven thousand flags there pay homage to each and every one of those sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters.
On the last day of the 2024 Leadership Challenge, retired General Carter Ham and his wife Christy visited with the students and imparted their perspectives on service. We were also honored to hear from Willing Warriors co-founder Shirley Dominick. That afternoon, the students participated in a graduation ceremony, where each young leader shared what service project the week had inspired them to pursue. As always, The 9:57 Project is personally thankful to Sarah Ford, the Executive Director of Willing Warriors, and Donna Gibson, the Executive Director of The Friends of Flight 93, for all their help in conducting the Summer Leadership Challenge.
In addition to the immense help we get from Debby, Flight 93 Family Members Gordie Felt and Kenny Nacke, both of whom lost brothers on Flight 93, continue to offer their time and energy to our efforts. They have joined us on multiple student trips to the Flight 93 Memorial in the last year. Their encouragement, insight, and leadership is a critical component of our success to date. Gordie and Kenny’s brothers Ed Felt and Louis “Joey” Nacke II were leaders and heroes in life, in family, and on 9/11. Debby, Gordie, and Kenny are amazing leaders and servants of our nation in their own right, imparting their resilience and citizenship in the memory of their loved ones to anyone wise enough to accept it.
Sincerely,
John Hamilton
In this newsletter, 9:57 Project co-founder John Hamilton reflects on the unity that was seen on September 12, 2001, and the days that followed and recounts highlights of the 2024 Summer Leadership Challenge, where we carried the legacy of 9/12 forward through a memorable Veteran-led experience for high school students.
--
How will future generations remember 9/11?
Tens of millions of Americans have been born since September 11, 2001. Lacking relevant insight and perspective, 9/11 for them could become another mindless mark on the historical map. Without guidance and context from those who lived and suffered on that day, future generations may be lost about who we are today.
The warmth of summer will continue to surrender to the beauty of fall. The hazy skies will dissipate into those crisp autumn atmospheres, and inevitably there’ll be that pristine morning when the older among us will wake up to that same cloudless blue we saw that fateful Tuesday in 2001. We won’t have to be reminded about 9/11, because, for a moment, we’ll instantly feel it. We’ll immediately recall all the hard things, but If we persevere, we will remember some good things too - bravery, love, and courage. The unity of 9/12. Those noble notions, if we let them, can show our future citizens a path forward.
This summer, The 9:57 Project continued our mission of relating those things. As we head into fall and another 9/11 anniversary and whatever else history has in store for our country, we can take pride in what so many have done to provide context about the events of 9/11 to our young people. Our pride is not in the accomplishments of our organization but in the labor, courage, and service of the friends who’ve partnered alongside us to help. Our pride is in the high school students who’ve committed to remembering the heroes who stepped up on 9/11, and who’ve accepted this part of their nation’s narrative and made it part of their own story. Our pride is in the veterans, first responders, and everyone else who chose to help on and after that most tragic of days.
In late July, in partnership with the Serve Our Willing Warriors, The 9:57 Project hosted 17 young leaders in a week-long Leadership Challenge for the second year in a row. These young people were presented with in-depth studies of leadership and resiliency by Combat Veterans and a Flight 93 Family Member. Our dear friend Debby Borza, whose daughter Deora Frances Bodley was on Flight 93, again unselfishly gave us so much of her time, perspective, and insight. In addition, we were lucky to be joined by Debby’s partner Greg Linden, who along with friends Raymond Crowel and William Ball, demonstrated their martial arts expertise and related how important fitness and movement are to resilience.
Debby, Greg, and their friends accompanied our students and Veterans to the Flight 93 National Memorial that week. After visiting the site where the first counter attack in the War on Terror ended, we went across the street to Patriot Park and met Randy Musser and Neil Hoffman, who were kind enough to show us the memorial they have established to honor the service members who perished in the subsequent years of the conflict. Seven thousand flags there pay homage to each and every one of those sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters.
On the last day of the 2024 Leadership Challenge, retired General Carter Ham and his wife Christy visited with the students and imparted their perspectives on service. We were also honored to hear from Willing Warriors co-founder Shirley Dominick. That afternoon, the students participated in a graduation ceremony, where each young leader shared what service project the week had inspired them to pursue. As always, The 9:57 Project is personally thankful to Sarah Ford, the Executive Director of Willing Warriors, and Donna Gibson, the Executive Director of The Friends of Flight 93, for all their help in conducting the Summer Leadership Challenge.
In addition to the immense help we get from Debby, Flight 93 Family Members Gordie Felt and Kenny Nacke, both of whom lost brothers on Flight 93, continue to offer their time and energy to our efforts. They have joined us on multiple student trips to the Flight 93 Memorial in the last year. Their encouragement, insight, and leadership is a critical component of our success to date. Gordie and Kenny’s brothers Ed Felt and Louis “Joey” Nacke II were leaders and heroes in life, in family, and on 9/11. Debby, Gordie, and Kenny are amazing leaders and servants of our nation in their own right, imparting their resilience and citizenship in the memory of their loved ones to anyone wise enough to accept it.
Sincerely,
John Hamilton