Saturday will mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the day when 19 militants of Al-Qaeda carried out the deadliest series of coordinated terrorist attacks in world history on the U.S. Nearly 3,000 people died with an additional 25,000 who were injured. Even two decades later, the impacts of that traffic day are still being felt, experienced, and lived to this very day.
Jeff Dill, founder and CEO of the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance joined ABC4's Rosie Nguyen on the CW30 News at 7 p.m. to discuss the residual effects faced by first responders who were there at Ground Zero. He talked about the data and statistics of firefighters impacted by the tragic events of 9/11, how cultural brainwashing can play a role in how firefighters and EMS deal with emotional issues, why some decide to take their own lives, why he believes every firefighter should do an "internal size-up" everyday, and how he is reflecting on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
Jennie Taylor, widow of Utah National Guard Major and North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor explained how 9/11 shaped her family's life, how they're doing now three years after losing Brent, how she wants the public to remember her husband, her thoughts when President Biden announced the U.S. would be withdrawing from Afghanistan, and the WEber Remembers: the 9/11 Project her foundation and partners are hosting this weekend.
Satin Tashnizi and Nora Abu-Dan, co-founders of the Emerald Project shared what they were doing when 9/11 happened, their feelings when they saw the footage of the Twin Towers falling, when things changed for their family, what the word "terrorist" meant to them before and after 9/11, what they think the solution to terrorism is, how 9/11 shaped their identity, and what they think the consequences of 9/11 are that people don't usually talk about.
The WEber Remembers: the 9/11 Project will continue for its third and final day on Saturday, September 11th. The schedule will begin with the Sunrise Fire Memorial Ceremony at 6:46 a.m. at the Roy Fire Station No. 31, Riverdale Fire Station No. 41, and Weber Fire Station No. 61 in Farr West. A firefighter memorial ceremony will take place at 12 p.m. at America's Fallen Firefighter Memorial Park next to the Ogden Amphitheater. The free public exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Weber County Fairgrounds.
The Emerald Project will host a panel-led discussion, "The Other Side of 9/11: How Sept. 11 Shaped Our Identity" with the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy on Saturday, September 11th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the UCCD (151 E. 5600 S. Ste. 206, Salt Lake City, UT 84107).
