Colin McShane, whose father was a firefighter who died in the line of duty, remembers watching TV with his family as a child and trying to understand what was happening. He now wants to join the FDNY, following in his father's footsteps.
Meanwhile, Sue Riccardelli and her wife, Maureen Murray, are flying a flag outside their New Jersey home that honors the people of central Newfoundland who cared for them and over 6,500 other passengers after their planes were grounded in Gander, N.L. They plan to bring the flag to performances of "Come From Away," a musical about the stranded passengers and their hosts.
Many Americans are also still dealing with the physical and emotional toll of that day, including thousands of first responders who have died or become ill from working at ground zero. Mia Farina, a former police officer, was diagnosed with chronic lung disease related to her work in 2014.
In addition, anti-Muslim sentiment and Islamophobia persist 25 years after the attacks, with some politicians and pundits using stereotypes and misinformation to demonize Muslims and other minority groups. This has led to increased hate crimes and erosion of civil liberties.
As the country marks the anniversary of 9/11, many are reflecting on how their lives have changed since that day and how they can come together to support each other in the face of adversity.
