Children of the 9/11 victims tell loved ones of those killed in Paris not to stop living their lives. Photo / Getty
Children of the 9/11 victims tell loved ones of those killed in Paris not to stop living their lives. Photo / Getty
Children of victims who died in the September 11 terror attacks in the US have shared their unique perspective on the recent attacks in Paris.
In a video by Vox, four children of 9/11 victims have recorded heartfelt messages for people in Paris. They describe how they have moved on from the painful loss and share words of encouragement.
The young adults, whose lives were forever changed 14 years ago, urged those who saw a loved one die on November 13 not to stop living their own lives.
Seated against a black background, they speak directly to the camera as a French translation is subtitled at the bottom of the screen.
Juliette Candela, 21, lost her dad when she was six. Photo / Vox
"I know what it's like to have my father killed on national television," says Juliette Candela, 21.
"My mum pulled me over and she said, 'There was an accident today. The was an attack on where dad works. And we don't think he's ever gonna come home,'" she says in the footage.
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Juliette was six when her father John, 42, died while working at Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm hit by the September 11 attack.
Her advice for getting through such a tragedy is not to "shy away from living your lives."
Juliette has also found a way to keep the memories of her dad alive - as well as help others. According to NorthJersey.com, she's involved with an organization called Tuesday's Children, which supports families who have lost someone.
She says she looks for signs from him, too: "My dad's favorite number was 33," she says.
"I went to the gym today and the only locker that was left open was number 33. And I thought, okay, wow," she says, looking skyward. "I'm okay today. I'm good."
Francesca Picerno, 23, said her dad Matthew didn't just die - he was killed in a premeditated terrorist attack. Photo / Vox
For Francesca Picerno, her dad Matthew was killed in the attack just a day after her ninth birthday.
She explains losing a parent the way she did and victims of the Paris attacks have is different for kids.
"He was killed. He didn't just die. He wasn't in a car accident, he didn't have cancer. He was killed. It was a predetermined, premeditated terrorist attack. And I guess you just don't understand that when you're a kid. And I grew up and I understood, and everything just froze for me," the now-23-year-old says.
"It's no longer something that is your own, your own experience. You're sharing it now... and it sort of takes away from the fact that you can grieve and move on and just live your life."
Despite this, she says Paris victims must not live in fear. "You should never be afraid of any terrorist because, I'm telling you, the terrorists are more afraid than you are."
