Kayla Coughlin oral history interview conducted by Dr. Benjamin Luft, September 4, 2020

About

Kayla's father, John, an officer in the Emergency Services Unit of the NYPD, was a loving and dedicated family man. He possessed a unique ability to de-escalate crisis situations, earning the admiration of both colleagues and community members. His sense of duty and kindness defined him. On 9/11, Kayla was six-and-a-half years old. When she came home from school, her older sisters were watching coverage of the attacks. They told her that their father was in New York City. That night their mother told them the devastating news-their father was among the missing. Friends and relatives offered support, but Kayla often retreated to the top of the stairs, imagining her father's return. Eventually, Kayla's mother made the heart-wrenching decision to have John declared dead. Fears of another terrorist attack and worries about family safety haunted Kayla and kept her from sleeping. At school, Kayla felt like an outsider due to her traumatic loss. She struggled with anger and frustration, unable to relate to her peers' experiences. Kayla's perspective transformed when she went to a summer camp for children who lost parents in the 9/11 attack where she experienced bonding and healing with peers who shared her pain. A pivotal moment occurred when a camp counselor asked if she hated those responsible for her father's death. Kayla chose forgiveness over resentment, making the Bobby Sands' quote her own by stating, "My revenge will be the laughter of my children." Kayla struggled with…

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Library of Congress, in Library of Congress

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Credit

Library of Congress

Language

English

Country

United States

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