Twenty-five years ago, the attacks of September 11, 2001, changed the United States forever. For Emilio Parga, the tragedy also changed the direction of his life.
In the days and months that followed, Parga witnessed the grief carried by children and families in his own community. The scale of the loss was difficult to comprehend, but what stayed with him was something more personal: people were hurting, and many did not know where to turn or how to talk about what they were experiencing.
Rather than stand by, Parga felt compelled to create a place where people could grieve openly and, perhaps just as importantly, begin having honest conversations about death and loss.
That calling eventually led to the creation of The Solace Tree, an organization dedicated to supporting children, teens, adults and families navigating grief, trauma and loss.
The idea did not come together overnight. An important part of Parga’s journey was a visit to the Dougy Center, a nationally recognized organization focused on supporting grieving children and families. He also credits Donna Schuurman for providing guidance, encouragement and belief as he worked to turn the idea into something that could serve his community.
What began as a response to an extraordinary moment of national tragedy developed into a mission that has continued for more than two decades.
Since its founding, The Solace Tree has supported thousands of people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Its work has reached children who have lost parents, families coping with sudden death, schools facing tragedy, first responders, workplaces, athletes and entire communities dealing with loss.
For Parga, grief is not something that should be hidden, rushed or treated as a problem that needs to be fixed.
Loss can affect every part of a person’s life, yet conversations about death often remain uncomfortable. Children, in particular, may struggle to understand what has happened around them while the adults in their lives are managing their own pain.
Creating space for those conversations became one of the central ideas behind The Solace Tree.
The organization’s work reflects a simple but powerful belief: people should not have to grieve alone.
That philosophy has remained consistent even as The Solace Tree’s reach has expanded. Whether the organization is supporting one family or responding to a loss affecting an entire community, the goal remains to meet people where they are and give them a place to process what they are feeling without judgment.
As the country marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, Parga believes remembrance should extend beyond reflecting on the lives that were taken that day.
It should also include remembering what emerged afterward.
In communities across the country, people showed extraordinary compassion toward strangers. Neighbors supported one another. First responders ran toward danger. Families, schools and organizations found ways to come together despite overwhelming fear and uncertainty.
For Parga, those acts of human connection remain an important part of what September 11 represents.
The anniversary is therefore both deeply painful and deeply meaningful. It is a reminder of how quickly lives can change, but also of the responsibility people have to show up for one another when they do.
Twenty-five years later, the mission that began in the aftermath of 9/11 continues.
The Solace Tree remains focused on creating conversations around grief, supporting those experiencing loss and reminding people that asking for help does not have to be something done only after reaching a breaking point.
For Parga, honoring September 11 means remembering those who were lost while continuing the compassion that followed.
One grieving child, one family and one community at a time.
