THIS Saturday marks 20 years from the terrorist attack that shook the world: 9/11.

Many people can recall where they were the moment news broke that planes had struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City, and the devastation that ensued.

Tracey Brown Kernaghan remembers exactly where she was that day.

On September 11, 2001, Tracey – and her late husband, Gary Kernaghan – welcomed their first child, Alex, into the world.

Ahead of celebrating her 20th birthday on Saturday, Alex Kernaghan from Ballinamallard spoke to The Impartial Reporter about the poignancy of the day on which she was born.

“Growing up, my mum has always made me aware of what happened on the day I was born,” explained Alex.

However, it was when she attended Project Common Bond (PCB), a programme by Tuesday’s Children, that she learned more about the significance of the day and how it had affected people’s lives.

PCB is an international camp that brings people together who have been affected by terrorism.

“I attended PCB in 2017 aged 15 and I met lots of people from all over the world. One of the girls I shared a room with lost her dad when she was one; he worked in the Twin Towers,” said Alex.

For her 18th birthday, Alex, along with her mother and sister, travelled to New York city.

During the trip they visited the 9/11 memorial.

“When we went to the memorial, we were able to see [my friend’s dad’s] photos and read his personal story.

“Seeing a photo of my friend with her dad at the memorial really was very sad, and made the reality of what happened on 9/11 more real.

No animosity

“The memorial was so tranquil and the stories so respectful. Even the search dogs who lost their lives were given a place in the exhibition,” said Alex, who went on to note how there was no animosity or hatred within the exhibition.

“It was factual and celebrated the lives of everyone affected by the terrorist attack.

“It really brought home how vast the devastation had been. In the memorial centre, they had kept pieces of the stairs of the original Twin Towers; this was very poignant.

“Walking around the memorial was very emotional, as I met people who had been affected,” she told this newspaper.

Not long after Alex was born, Tracey’s father kept her a newspaper clipping with the headline: ‘All children born on 9/11 are our hope for the future’.

Alex is currently studying a degree in nursing at university in Newcastle and hopes to become a specialist nurse.

“I have always wanted a career in helping people and I chose a career in nursing after caring for my dad, who was terminally ill with cancer.

“Seeing the work nurses were doing when he was in hospital, I decided that was the path I wanted to go.

“I would love to travel the world with nursing,” she said.

As well as PCB, Alex has also travelled to the United States with the Ulster Project, a programme which encourages peacemaking.

When asked if she believes peacemaking should be a priority, she said: “Yes, we have always been brought up within our home to accept and respect everyone within society and be kind in our words and actions.

“We have always been encouraged to integrate in group activities and we have travelled extensively as a family, so we have learnt a lot about other cultures and religions.

“The Ulster Project was a wonderful experience to meet and integrate with people from different countries, schools and religions within Northern Ireland and the USA. It was a great learning opportunity, which was a lot of fun.

“It shaped me in relation to my beliefs and views more positively. [It taught me] how peace allows us as a society to move forward more positively.”