ABSTRACT
National anniversaries are often times of introspection and reflection in which both individuals and the nation remember acts of heroism, courage, and bravery in the face of marked tragedy. For those who have experienced such tragedies directly, these are occasions to mourn the loss of life and reflect upon what could have been. Yet as time goes on, the harsh and vivid memories we have of those events generally softens, and the pain that was so intense during those immediate moments becomes greatly reduced. Almost immediately as that day's tragic events occurred, most Americans who experienced 9/11 knew that the horrors perpetrated by these terrorist attacks would become events that would be indelibly etched into our collective consciousness-whether experienced directly in lower Manhattan or indirectly watching television.
