September 11th: For So Many It Will Always Be Personal
Through Facebook this past year I have reconnected with many people that I had gone to school with while growing up in Monmouth County. Recently, I learned that I had lost a classmate and another classmate had lost his father on September 11th, 2001. It is eight years later, and I am shocked that I never knew this before now. I felt the sadness as if it had just happened. We all have had loved ones pass away, but the whole country doesn't mourn with us, doesn't commemorate the day of their deaths, and I wondered, does it ever get any easier for them? At the same time, I don't think they or anyone else who lost a loved one wants anyone to forget the impact September 11th had on them or the whole world.
After New York, New Jersey lost the most number of people in the tragedy. One hundred forty-seven men and women who were born, raised or living in Monmouth County lost their lives on September 11th. You often don't see this any more but I wanted to profile two of their stories.
Joe Driscoll was on his way to Yosemite National Park to go on his annual hiking trip with some friends. United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked and crashed in Shanksville, PA instead of hitting it's Washington D.C. target when the passengers decided to try to take back the plane from the terrorists. Joe was married for 43 years, was the father of four children and five grandchildren and served in the Navy during the Korean War.
Walk With Joe is a memorial 5K walk that takes place this Saturday, September 12th at the Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan. Proceeds from the walk, or any donations do not go to the Driscoll family, but instead benefit local charities such as area food banks, a child advocacy center, and the 9/11 Memorial in Atlantic Highlands, as well as the Christopher S. Gray Memorial Scholarship at the University of West Virginia.
This is an original post to New Jersey Moms Blog. Emily blogs regularly about living with chronic illness and raising a child at Mama Sick.
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