Children and Parents Discuss 9/11

Rabbi Shaul Praver of the Congregation Adath Israel, called for a time of renewal for America, with prayers that the human goodness of the people of the United States would rise above the hatred foisted on this country ten years ago.

“Whatever religion you believe in, your rights are protected in this country, without fear of being punished for it. We come into this world knowing only love, the greatest gem of all religions. If it ain't about love, it ain't about God,” the Rabbi said today at the Ives Center.

 Vanessa Iavancso sat with her son Robert, who turned nine on June 10, just one day short of a full nine months from the date of the attack on the World Trade Center. “I felt like he replaced someone special who had lost their life that day,” she said.

 Kelsey Heyel, 10, said that the day was not as sad for her as it was for people who lost someone in the attack, but she was impacted most by the mention of the people on the plane that had crashed in a field, and who had most likely fought to keep the plane away from the White House. “It would have been really bad if the plane hit the White House. That is where almost all of the presidents have lived. It is one of the symbols of America."

 Jayna Larkin, mother of three children, said, “It's about the innocence of the children; they will not be able to grasp this for a long time.”

"It's not like someone wrote a manual on how to raise these children," said Vycki Higley Pratt, who was married to Robert Higley II, who died in the World Trade Towers on 911. Vycki and Robert Higley had two children, Amanda, 14 years old now, and Robyn, 9. "Robyn is doing wonderfully. Both girls know they have two fathers."

Vycki Higley married Rick Pratt in 2003, and the couple have a third daughter.

"Everybody is good. We're doing OK," she said. "(Rick) has always been around for them."

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