NEW CANAAN, Conn. Worries about large crowds will keep Barbara Riggio and her family from going to Lower Manhattan for the memorial service for those killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
But the family plans to gather in New York City on Sunday to celebrate the life of her nephew, Robert Murach, who was working at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center and died when the twin towers collapsed.
"We will go for the day and celebrate his life," said Riggio, who wears a silver bracelet in Murach's memory.
Security seems to be on the minds of more people in the decade since the attacks, Riggio said, referencing reports of more threats leading up to the 10th anniversary. Riggio is glad to see that.
We have to be more observant and vigilant and keep our eyes up. Moving on, even with a few more lines and checkpoints, is something Americans should do," she said. It [doesn't mean] that were going to give up our lives.
Mark Ticar, 40, also sees an increased emphasis on security. The country feels safer, he said. We have long lines at the airport. Its a necessary evil that we have to have that.
What Ticar does not like is seeing more divisions in the country since the days after the attacks, particularly with the major political parties. It seems more divided, Ticar said. We need to stop that.
Susan Eng, financial management director at the New Canaan YMCA, also cited security as a change. She did not fly for four years after the attacks. There is concern, but we are safer than we were 10 years ago, Eng said.
Eng said there has been more political division since the attacks, but also more unity in the U.S. in general. Seeing members of Congress sing God Bless America on the steps of the Capitol after the attacks was her favorite moment of unity. As horrible as the attacks were, the moment taught Americans a lesson about coming together, she said.
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