Dennis Malloy: On 9/11, I remembered the kindness of Americans

As we commemorate Sept. 11, 2001 many of us are taken right back to that day and exactly what we were doing. You no doubt saw something over the weekend, either on TV, online or on social media that told the story of that day.

It's strange to think that many freshmen in high school today weren't even born yet and that most kids in college barely have any recollection of that day. To those kids and many young adults in their early 20s, life is always as it was for most of their young lives.

But for those of us who can remember 15 years ago like it was yesterday, it's a much different world than we remember that day. We all have stories of where we were, what we were doing, how we reacted and who we lost or how profoundly our lives changed that one day.

The thing I'd like to convey most for those who weren't here or were too young to remember is the feeling we all had in the days, weeks and months that followed. Sure, there was anger and fear and a sense of unease. But there was also a sense of togetherness and kindness toward strangers that I've never felt before or since. American flags that were everywhere. I mean everywhere! So many cars flew the flag from their windows. People would let other drivers go in front of them and wave them on. People were careful of what they said and so many of us in New Jersey knew we might run into someone who had just lost a friend or loved one.

Looking back, I guess that could only happen after an horrific event like 9/11, sad as it seems. After a while we went back to our routine and in some cases even worse. The country seems more divided in so many ways than I can recall at least in my lifetime. I've questioned over the years why I'm so drawn to documentaries and tv show about that day.

The feelings of fear and horror and uncertainty are overshadowed by how united we were in the days, weeks and months that followed. Or is it how unknowingly innocent and blessed we were before we woke up that morning of Sept.11, 2001.

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