Melody Bodette

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an American tradition. It’s been going since 1924. This year marks the 99th parade (it took three years off during World War II). It’s famous for elaborate floats and huge character balloons that bob above the streets as the parade marches forward. Millions of people watch the parade live in New York City each year, but many many more watch it on TV.

We did not have an American flag outside of our house prior to 9/11. But after 9/11, my dad made sure to put an American flag outside the house, at least as a visual symbol that yeah, in this house, we also support the US. Even if secretly we were criticizing everything. It was a way of protection. This story is part of VPR’s 9/11 remembrance project, featuring the voices of Vermonters reflecting on how their lives were changed by 9/11.To find the full project, go to www.vpr.org/911.

Vermont Public Radio | By Melody Bodette, Published September 8, 2021 at 6:00 AM EDT SAKhanPhotography / istock Sunset view of capital of Islamabad, Pakistan. I'm Sam Nelis and I live in Winooski. On September 11, I was in seventh grade. And at the time, I was living in Islamabad, Pakistan, with my family. My dad's originally from Belgium, my mom's originally from Montreal, and they're international teachers. So they were teaching at an international English-speaking school in Pakistan.