They lost loved ones in 9/11. NPR invited them to leave a voicemail in their memory

Voicemails played a poignant role during the 9/11 attacks, as overloaded cellphone networks left many victims’ last messages to their loved ones in the form of voicemails. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, NPR set up a phone booth in Brooklyn Bridge Park, inviting people to leave voicemails for those they lost that day. Positioned across the river from the rebuilt World Trade Center, the project connected with survivors and families through public records and support networks.

Six individuals shared their stories, including Trish Straine, whose husband died in the north tower just days after the birth of their second son, and Matthew Bocchi, who was only nine when he lost his father. Their reflections provide insight into grief and its evolution over time. This project is inspired by Japan’s “Wind Phone,” a space for those mourning the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami to communicate with their lost loved ones.

Source: NPR