Immediately following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, people around the nation and the world began the process of mourning the loss of so much life. With this month commemorating the 14^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and with the first responders who bravely served while debris and fire rained from the sky in lower Manhattan.

  Many feel the need to commemorate or memorialize this tragic event each year. Commemoration of tragic events is an important component of the healing process for both individuals and, at times such as this, for an entire nation. The anniversary of 9/11 can also serve as a conversation starter to share the history of this event with those too young to remember or those that were not yet born.

  An integral part of the story to be shared is the bravery of the first responders who put themselves in harm’s way to serve others on that fateful day. The first responders, particularly members of Fire Department New York and the New York Police Department, did not turn away; instead they rushed into the World Trade Center buildings while the world around them crumbled. Many lost their lives, while others who “survived” likely still suffer the physical and emotional burdens that were given them that day.

  The thought of teaching young people about the horror and the honor shown that day can seem a daunting task. The National Museum of Funeral History provides a safe and neutral environment to comfortably explore the sensitive topic of death and learn about various traditions and rituals practiced when someone dies, such as how to honor fallen heroes. The Museum’s exhibit on funerals of fallen first responders such as police and firefighters often serves as a meaningful place to start a conversation regarding 9/11 or pay tribute to those who lost their lives on that tragic day or in other situations and circumstances.

  In the Fallen Heroes exhibit, museum guests will see a custom-designed police officer casket, showcasing how a funeral for a police officer, or even fire fighter, who perish in the line of duty can be customized to pay tribute to their life and legacy. Also on display are two urns donated by the City of New York containing the ashes and debris remnants from Ground Zero in Manhattan.

  Exploring the traditions involved in the funerals for fallen first responders is interesting. For example, rendering final honors to a departed firefighter is known as striking-the-four-fives. The origin of this 200-year old tradition lies in the way fire alarms and daily announcements were dispatched to outlying firehouses from a central location. Each event was communicated using a specific number of bell strikes. When a firefighter or important official died, the bell was struck five times in a row and the sequence was repeated four times with a pause between each. The death of Abraham Lincoln was communicated this way in 1865 to inform the New York firefighters of his death. Museum visitors can also discover more about the honors given to presidents after death in the Museum’s Presidential Funerals exhibit.

  Fallen police officers might expect to have a “Last Call” or “End of Watch” ceremony at their funeral. Why they can vary in length, they are typically held at the end of a funeral or memorial service, but can be done whenever the family feels it is appropriate. This special tribute could be conducted with a radio call coming from a dispatcher to the fallen officer’s radio, stating something such as “Indiana 53…calling Indiana 53…this is the last radio call for Indiana 53….No response from Sargent Ames…Indiana 53 is out of service after 15 years and 2 months of service. Although gone, you will not be forgotten.”

  For those seeking ideas on how to remember and memorialize those lost on 9/11 here are some simple ideas:

•         Observe a moment of silence at a particular time. A timeline of that fateful day can be found at http://timeline.national911memorial.org/#/Explore/2/Entry/527

•         Lower flags to half-staff. Flags may be lowered at 8:46 a.m. to mark the moment when Flight 11 struck the North Tower at the World Trade Center.

•         Participate in a day of service to others, as 9/11 had been officially established as a National Day of Service and Remembrance by bipartisan federal legislation and a Presidential Proclamation.

•         Donate blood, as the need for this life saving resource is critical throughout the year for a variety of reasons. Did you know approximately 36,000 units of blood were donated to the New York Blood Center after the September 11 attacks?