petr >> on the cover Life After Terror CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 MB AO .11044%, g • 2.0 1111.01111011111F- #4414.4.444 Mar 4404101101110 1441480ft ewe 414 404441444444.t. 4 • 4 ' ti • 4 - ,•311lierla.71104 liki ••• - **- 441, , •4110104 1144kt„ 4 6„ A 0 """ 1,4 11110" a le * kik 0. • • 1111 iL .440% ill :IL ta, - 4 . • A wife and mother reflects on the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. la 41 kola •*, . 11, li 4 •011Iggh 441160•41111 .11/44.4 444 4-* • 4.60 - 044•Will 04VIIINIVF 11 • Se -..-* •• - ' • AB #0 - ..44111 . *2111144, •.• ' 'I , 4 1 I 1 • • ft .• WO tog. tc k *4 it* t ..* • • • I I. • flossitsII• rt , • Alt. 4.k INV.11114 • llikow. :4, 100.4 orerowr 411.. 4 an expression on my kids' faces. I lost the love of my life, my partner, my best friend, my children's father. How was I ever going to do this on my own, I wondered? But there was something I did know because of my prior life experiences that prepared me and allowed me to carry forward. I had to — there wasn't any other choice' Top: Memorial light beams at Building a New Life Cheryl and Ian first met in June, 1981, when she was transferred to Cantor Fitzgerald in New York from an office in Beverly Hills, Calif. They became great friends and a few years later romance blossomed. They were married on Feb. 16, 1985. Over the course of four short years, they welcomed three children, two daugh- ters and a son. "The dreams and plans Ian and I had for our life and family were now gone she said. "My goal was to help myself and my kids become as emotionally whole as possible and guide them to become productive, engaged adults living an hon- est life." Over the last decade, Schneider says she's accomplished that by slowly build- ing a new life for her family while keeping Ian's memory with them at all times. "It hasn't been easy:' she said. "There are always reminders of what we have lost, what Ian missed out on. I've been lucky to be surrounded and comforted by a loving, caring family, amazing friends that have always kept an eye out for us, and a com- munity that took our loss as personally as we did." Ten years later, with the painful anni- versary looming, Schneider has been busy helping two of her three children pack and head off to college. Rachel, 20, is now a junior at the University of Michigan. Her brother, Jake, 19, is a sophomore at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. The youngest, Sophie, 17, is going into her senior year at Millburn High School. A message she wrote on her father's online 9-11 memorial page Sept. 10, 2007, is still there today. It reads: "Hi Daddy, I miss you tonight more than ever. I will be thinking about you all day tomorrow. I love you daddy and miss you s000 much!" Bittersweet Justice Back in May, the world watched as President Obama announced Osama bin Laden was killed in a top secret U.S. military operation. Bin Laden, the world's most wanted terrorist, was the alleged mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks. Following his death, evidence gathered from his secret compound in Pakistan revealed the al Qaeda leader was planning future attacks and had even considered the 10th anniversary as a good time to strike again, although no specific plot appears to have been planned. "Killing Osama bin Laden was a good thine Schneider said. "Unfortunately, there will be others who will take his place. But, hopefully it sent a clear mes- sage that we will stay the course in the war on terror." Upon hearing the news of bin Laden's death, Hermelin also took a moment to reflect. "Good — they finally caught him!" she said. "I guess we're all worried about what's going to happen here in the States now We needed to have caught him a long time before this. He's had nine years to spread his terrible poison. Losing my nephew made a tremendous change in the family. This doesn't bring him back, and it doesn't take back all of the terror attacks since then." Schneider says she'd like to believe our country is now a safer place. "That's certainly evident by what we're told to do when we travel by air:' she said. "I don't think my kids remember a time when you didn't have to undress before going through security at the airport. I think there have been resources commit- ted and protocols put into place for poten- tial terror threats. We're a much more aware and vigilant country." I 1 8 September 8 2011 Ground Zero. Bottom: Ian Schneider and his family one week before Sept. 11, 2011. "There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think about Ian',' Schneider said."There was always something to laugh about when he was around. Many times we find our- selves recounting the funny stories involving Ian. Once the laughter subsides, there is a bittersweet moment I can't help feeling. What has been surprising to me even 10 years later is the ongoing kindness people still offer even if they're just learning that we are a '9-11 family.' It's hard sometimes to wrap my head around the fact that my family, my husband, is part of world history' Returning to Ground Zero Schneider says in the months leading up to the 10th anniversary, she's struggled with how to mark the somber occasion. Because her husband often told her, "Every day is a party and you're always invited:' she decided to host a get-together with family and friends Sept. 10 to toast Ian and celebrate his life. On Sept. 11, she and the children will attend the ceremony at Ground Zero dedicating the National 9-11 Memorial. The site features two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools, each about an acre in size, where the twin towers once stood. President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush will be there; officials will take turns reading quotations and poems. The list of 9-11 victims will also be read in its entirety. The event will only be accessible to family members of those killed in the attacks; the memorial will open to the general public, by reservation, the following day. Construction of a museum and 1 World Trade Center, a 1,776-foot tower, which will become America's tallest building, is still under way. "I feel its important for us to attend the ceremony at Ground Zero. The four of us have never done that together;' Schneider said."The reflecting pools of the museum will be opening. I want to see and touch Ian's name inscribed on the pool that repre- sents the north tower, 1 World Trade Center, where he spent 23 years working for Cantor Fitzgerald. It will be an incredibly emotional day, but it's one we will get through as we have all the others."