Today I recall the beauty of one simple word: COMPASSION. Twelve years ago today I was a young Architecture student at Howard University in D.C. I was a witness to a day we will never forget. The sky was the most beautiful shade of blue and the air was crisp and warm – not a cloud in sight. I remember walking from the East Towers to campus passing Georgia Ave. shortly after the devastating news came from New York. Around the time the Pentagon was hit the streets filled with cars momentarily abandoned. People standing with their doors open and exclamations of fear & pain could be heard. In the days after on the radio I recall hearing words from those whose loss was greater than I. Every single one of them said the same thing. We DO NOT want anyone to ever endure the pain and loss like we have. Retaliation & war is NOT the answer. These words gave me a sense of peace amidst the madness and I smiled. For a brief moment in time we were all woven together tightly. Whether in tears, love, loss and most importantly compassion.

I give special thanks today to the first responders whose health was stolen from them during their bravest hours.