09/11/2026
Am I being authentic? What is the “why” behind my beliefs, and why do I feel so strongly about these beliefs? Those are questions I have asked myself in recent times. In today’s world of people, businesses, or organizations flip-flopping by the day/month on beliefs or doing things just for clout or attention, I want to be sure that I am being “real” and true to myself. It’s something I take very seriously.
Patriotism is a focal point of this business and something I personally have a passion for. I never necessarily questioned that it was real because, well, I really feel it, but I did question myself about exactly what drives it. My family does not have a super deep military history, no prevalent positions held in office, nothing that would necessarily scream patriotism or drive me to having the natural passion that I have. So what drives it?
As I pondered this question internally, everything goes back to September 11, 2001, and a trip in the spring of 2002 that would ultimately have a profound impact on my life. I do not remember much about the day of September 11, 2001, as at the time I was 9 years old. The big thing I remember is getting off the bus at my grandma’s house after school and Judge Judy not being on my grandma’s TV in the kitchen area, and also TRL not being broadcast normally and watched accordingly by my older cousin who would get dropped off there before me. I knew something was off because the routine was broken, and after seeing what happened on TV I knew it was serious also. What I remember more are the days, weeks, and months immediately after.
Fast-forward to early April 2002 and my Mom took me on a trip to New York City. I remember landing at LaGuardia in New York City and seeing the big apple on the runway. We did a lot of fun things on the trip: Times Square, a Rangers hockey game at Madison Square Garden, the Statue of Liberty, going up in the Empire State Building. But the biggest thing I remember, and what I believe ultimately changed my life forever, was going to Ground Zero and witnessing all of that in person. To this day, I still have memories of the makeshift memorials, personal love notes left by survivors to people that perished, and even some missing person posters still left hanging up. It was very real and it was very raw. My eyes sweat every time I think about it.
At that time Ground Zero itself was essentially a giant hole in the ground. Cleanup was still very much underway while rebuilding and official memorial plans were just beginning, it seemed. There was still a sense of togetherness and unwavering support toward the FDNY and NYPD, who were the absolute true heroes of the city. Many of them were gracious enough to take pictures with me, and they were indeed heroes in my eyes.
What I remember most about this timeframe is what happened on September 12 and the immediate days after that. We were united. I remember Sammy Sosa running with the American flag onto the field. Who can forget Lee Greenwood at Yankee Stadium before game 4 of the World Series? My family was always proud to be Americans, but I remember going out with my mom in the days after and buying a flag to hang up on our house for, I believe, the first time. Millions of others did the same. For a while, it wasn’t uncommon or weird to take an extra minute to talk to somebody and show them some love, just because. There was praise and appreciation given to the first responders of not just the FDNY and the NYPD, but across the country. For a while, everybody had each other’s backs and there was no doubt about it.
I am extremely grateful for having gone on this trip with my Mom (thank you if you read this!). My personal memories and experiences on that trip to New York ultimately changed my life and had a lot of inspiration on the person that I am today. Our actions as communities and a country on the days after 9-11-2001 give me hope that we can get back to that feeling and come together once again. That is a huge why and goal of ours.
Today we remember and promise to never forget what happened in NYC, Washington DC, and in that Pennsylvania field.
Tomorrow and every day we move forward and strive to be better. “Let’s Roll.”
