Marking 10 Years Since 9/11

As we near the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Patch editors set out to find out what has changed in our communities and the country.

The New York City skyline, of course, will never be the same. Military missions related to terrorism continue to be part of the national dialogue.

But as Patch editors talked to school administrators, law enforcement officers, first responders and others, a trend emerged. Not that they were treating the upcoming anniversary with nonchalance, but most had gotten into a rhythm, a normalcy.

“Everything is different” was a common phrase in the days and weeks immediately following the attack. And while many things are, indeed, different, our communities have regrouped, rebuilt and moved on. We go to work, our kids go to school, we complain about traffic and, in general, we live much like we did before Sept. 11.

In the end, history will decide the legacy of the Sept. 11 attacks, but our ability to get back to our lives must be a part of it.

Over the course of the next week, you’ll find a variety of stories related to the anniversary of the attacks. Some will address how things have changed. Others will allow all of us to share our experiences and opinions of the attacks and their aftermath.

All of them are an opportunity to share your thoughts, memories, experiences and opinions. Join the conversation as we prepare to mark this dark moment in our nation’s history.