How Mister Rogers’ Heartwarming Message About 9/11 Helped a Devastated Nation Grieve

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Mister Rogers did not draw back from addressing tough matters — and 9/11 was no exception.

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Though the late tv icon’s present was already off the air on the time, Fred Rogers’ producers inspired him to report a collection of messages addressing the terrorist assaults, in keeping with In the present day.

Nevertheless, Rogers — who lived part-time in New York Metropolis and was initially from Pennsylvania, the place Flight 93 crashed after passengers had been capable of cease a hijacked airplane from reaching the U.S. Capitol — initially struggled with what to say. 

“I simply do not know what good these are gonna do,” he mentioned in a dialog with producer Margy Whitmer featured within the 2018 documentary Will not You Be My Neighbor?, per Biography.com. 

In the end, Rogers ended up recording 4 movies, which aired on the primary anniversary of the assaults, in keeping with Snopes. The movies ended up being the final Rogers filmed on the studio the place he made Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood earlier than his demise in February 2003.

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Mister Rogers

Video: Tom Hanks tells Ellen about visiting Mister Rogers’ hometown (TODAY)

Tom Hanks tells Ellen about visiting Mister Rogers’ hometown

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• Afghans flee to Pakistan border after U.S. withdrawal
  Lower than a month after 9/11, america invaded Afghanistan, the place Al-Qaeda deliberate the assaults. The conflict lasted practically 20 years and have become America’s longest conflict and price the lives of greater than 2,200 American service members. The U.S. withdrew its remaining forces in August, resulting in chaos. Charlie D’Agata experiences from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border the place persons are determined to flee.
  
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• Ticket agent who checked in terrorists displays on 9/11
  Former US Airways ticket agent Mike Tuohey opens up concerning the grief he is felt since September 11, 2001 when he checked in two of the terrorists at a Portland airport earlier than they flew to Boston the place they’d hijack the airplane that crashed into the North Tower of the World Commerce Heart.
  
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• Tribute held in Shanksville, Pennsylvania for victims of United Flight 93
  United Flight 93 was the ultimate hijacked airplane on September 11, 2001. It was the one jetliner to not make its meant goal, the U.S. Capitol Constructing. Passengers and crew on the flight, who realized of the opposite hijackings, tried to hurry the cockpit and retake management from the terrorists. As an alternative, it crashed in a area in rural Pennsylvania, killing everybody on board. Their heroism will probably be remembered Saturday at a memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nikole Killion experiences.
  
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In a single message geared toward mother and father, Rogers mentioned that though it could be tough, it is necessary to have open conversations with youngsters with a purpose to assist them really feel secure.

“Some mother and father marvel tips on how to deal with world information with their younger youngsters,” he mentioned in a single video, reported In the present day. “Properly we at household communications have found that when youngsters deliver up one thing horrifying it is useful straight away to ask them what they learn about it.”

“We regularly discover that their fantasies are very totally different than the precise reality. What youngsters in all probability want to listen to most from us adults, is that they will discuss with us about something. And that we’ll do all we are able to to maintain them secure in any scary time,” he continued. “I am all the time glad to be your neighbor.

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In one other video, Rogers advised viewers how proud he was of them.

“I want to inform you what I usually advised you if you had been a lot youthful. I such as you simply the way in which you might be,” he mentioned within the message, in keeping with Biography.com.

“And what’s extra, I am so grateful to you for serving to the kids in your life to know that you’re going to do every part you possibly can to maintain them secure,” he continued. “And to assist them categorical their emotions in methods that may deliver therapeutic in many alternative neighborhoods.”