The Hudson Valley has always carried a special connection to Sept. 11. So many of our neighbors were among the nearly 3,000 lives lost. Others joined in the heroic response. That day’s pain — and pride — is deeply part of our region’s story.

As a father of two young children, I feel the responsibility of ensuring that future generations in our schools grow up with a real understanding of what happened. For them, 9/11 is not lived memory — it will only be what we choose to teach.

We must make sure they learn about the courage of men like FDNY firefighter Joseph Spor Jr. of Yonkers, who never came home that day. We must make sure they know about the countless acts of selflessness, from first responders climbing the towers to neighbors helping neighbors in the days that followed.

Last year

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