A Monmouth County woman who lost her husband in the Sept. 11 attacks says that she has mixed emotions as the 16th anniversary of the attacks draws closer.

“I look back more with smiles than tears, but I still get a pit in my stomach,” says Ginny Bauer. “I still never feel quite right."

Bauer’s husband David was 45 years old and working in finance when he was killed in the attacks. The couple was raising their three children in Red Bank.

After her husband’s death, Ginny Bauer became an advocate for 9/11 survivors. She says that after a period of grieving, she made the choice to embrace life again.

“I’m stronger. I’m more assertive. I’m more confident with myself,” she says. “I appreciate life more.”

Ginny Bauer has remarried. She also serves on the board of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

She says that her goal is to educate people about the attacks.

“School children who are just reading about this now,” Bauer says. “I feel like we have a true obligation to make sure we tell the story…and to try to do something that’s positive so that people learn something from this.”

Bauer says that she attends the annual reading of the names ceremony at Ground Zero most years.Thank