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WCBS 880 9/11 Series: 'Jersey Girl' Kristen Breitweiser Rebounds From Personal Tragedy

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - Kristen Breitweiser was one of the four stay-at-home mothers, whose husbands were killed in the World Trade Center, who became known as the "Jersey Girls."

WCBS 880's Marla Diamond With The Story

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"When my husband was killed, I realized that there were a lot of things that I remained very naive about and that should have opened my mouth more and gotten more involved," she said.

RELATED: WCBS 880 Presents 9/11 - Ten Years Later

Her activism, along with that of Patty Casazza, Lorie Van Auken, and Mindy Kleinberg, lead to the formal inquiry into the attacks and she also became some of the 9/11 Commission's biggest critics.

"We haven't done as much as we could do to make the nation safer ten years later," she said.

Bretweiser says she plans to spend the 10th anniversary taking a quiet walk on the beach or in the woods with her dogs and 12-year-old daughter.

"Every time I hear her laugh I'll often tell her, 'You know, you sound like your dad,'" she said.

Breitweiser didn't remarry, but no longer wants to be defined as a 9/11 widow.

"Although I wish more than anything that he was here to see her and see how magnificent she's turned out, I can't, you know, I can't have the terrorists get to additional lives from 9/11 - my daughter's and mine. We have to go on living our lives. Life moves forward," she said. "I'm very happy to say that my daughter did not lose her sparkle or her smile or her infectious little giggle and laugh."

Though not in the spotlight anymore, Breitweiser continues to blog on issues of national importance.

How do you feel about the work of the 9/11 Commission? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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