It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since the attacks on America, September 11, 2001. In many respects that feels like a lifetime ago, but show me a few pictures from that day and the emotions are just as raw, the memories just as vivid. If I’m honest, I’ve been a bit choked up all day, just at the thought of it.

When Holly and I visited New York City earlier this year around Saint Patty’s day, the 9/11 Memorial was one of the places I really wanted to visit. I wanted to see it for myself. I wanted to stare into the pools and touch a few of the names on the Memorial. As you stand there, you’ll see others do the same and I couldn’t help but wonder, did they know them? Or are they, like me, just here to pay their respects to the 2,977 people that lost their lives that day because of the actions of 19.

As I do, I wondered around to find a good angle to photograph the area. The Memorial is massive; pictures truly don’t do it justice. I spent a lot of time just walking and looking. When I finally pulled out my camera, I had randomly stopped in front of the name Hernando Rafael Salas. I didn’t know Mr. Salas, nor any of the other people who died that day, but as I looked through my pictures later, I decided I should try to figure out who he was. Turns out he was born in Columbia and worked in a building a few blocks away from the Twin Towers. According to his obituary, he and his wife had moved here in the 60’s to chase after a dream. Mr. Salas was 71 years old.

I saw someone earlier today post something to the effect of, today, we shouldn’t gloss over the images from September 11, 2001. Today we should sit with those images and remember. I’d like to challenge you to take that a step further. Find the name of a victim, and see who they were. For a brief minute, let your story, and the story of a complete stranger intersect. Then go spend some time with your loved ones. I’d imagine that’s what all of the people who lost their lives on 9/11 would want us to do.

–Dan Thompson