Community Corner

Changed By 9/11: Matt Hogan, Journalist

West Hempstead resident (and Patch editor) Matt Hogan discusses how 9/11 made an impact on his life.

On Sept. 11, 2001, I was about five days into my freshman year of high school.

I remember getting a call down to the main office around 10 a.m. The secretary told me my mom had called and said, "Your brother was in an accident, but he's okay."

I thought it was a car accident on the way to the train station or something like that. My brother worked right across from the World Trade Center. Turns out my mom was just letting me know that he was okay and my high school's main office had just bungled the message.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At that point I didn't know what had actually happened because the high school didn't want word getting out just yet and didn't want to send students into a panic.

Then, in fourth period, an announcement came on over the loud speaker about what happened in lower Manhattan. I knew my brother was fine, but unfortunately other students' family members were not fine.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I remember seeing one particular student out in the hallway with a member of the faculty. She was hysterically crying and later in the day we had all found out why: her father was killed that day.

It's an image I never shook and if that day taught me anything, it's that I should appreciate every moment I have and every person in my life because you never know when it's all going to be taken away.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here