Army Lt. Col. Mike Vande Loo stood with his 8-year-old son in downtown Aberdeen in Harford as children sang patriotic songs and listened to officials talk about the importance of Sept. 11, 2001.
Vande Loo has been on active Reserve duty for nearly three years, and is stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He is also a veteran of the first Persian Gulf conflict.
The Examiner spoke with Vande Loo about his thoughts on September 11, 2001, as well as how he broaches the subject with his son.
Have you talked to your son about September 11?
He was 1 when it happened.
We try to let him know it was a tragic event that happened to this country, and that it hurt a lot of people.
My wife [also a lieutenant colonel in the Army] and I … tell him that a lot of people gave their lives that day, and continue to do so we can be safe.
What does September 11 mean to you?
To me, it is about remembering that when a tragedy happened to this country, people stood up and were heroes.
We need to be aware that people gave their lives and risked all for our freedom, and continue to do it today.
I’m thankful for what our service members do overseas, and for what those heroes did on September 11.
Being a soldier, do you talk to your son about correlation between September 11 and the conflicts abroad that you may one day be deployed to?
No, we try not talk about that stuff. I think it’s beyond him right now.
We don’t discuss that with him.
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