September 11, Again
I wonder how many years will go by before we can hear the words, “September 11th” without it taking us back to that horrible day. How long before we forget the tragedy of those who died that day, those who were badly injured, those who continue to carry the harm of that day around inside of them.
How long before we forget the sight of people jumping to their deaths from the top of the towers. Before we forget the gut wrenching signs all over Manhattan, of people missing, while their families hoped against hope that they might have somehow survived.
How long before we forget the fear and anger that filled our hearts that day, that month, that year…how long before we forget the strength and bravery of so many, without which many more lives would have been lost.
I know that I will never forget. I will never forget that day. Calling my friend Janet, who saw it happen, and hearing her voice, and crying with relief that she was OK. Talking to my friend Rosemary, who worked with the people at Cantor Fitzgerald, at the top of the first tower hit. She wasn’t there that day, thank god, but knew many of those who died. I will never forget the pain and anguish that was inflicted upon us that day, or the pain and anguish we have inflicted since then on Iraq and Afghanistan. From all these many miles away, 3,000 miles from New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, and still, I am scarred. How much worse for those who were there, who survived. Who didn’t survive. No, I cannot forget these things. In a nation with a reputation for short memories, I suspect this is one that will stay in the minds of all who were alive that day.
Here is last year’s post, which includes a re-post of my first September 11 post, at my old blog in 2006.
7 Comments
dadwhowrites
I’ll never forget that day either. I was still working in new media and knew many people in New York who had friends in the towers. The office of the company I’d left a few months previously (I trekked back and forth to NY regularly for a year) was a few blocks away and I’d done the tourist thing (the observation platform, the Windows On The World) and changes trains their a lot. We all just phoned and instant messaged and hoped everyone we knew was okay. And watched. It changed everything. I still can’t look at a plane in the sky without thinking about it.
Starshine
You’re so right, Julie. I’ll never forget. It was a day that changed our lives forever.
I’m glad you decided to link to last year’s post. I’m going to read it now. I like re-reading it each year. That family just looked so close-knit, and I know their hearts must be heavy today.
selina kingston
Quite simply, we should never forget…and I don’t think we ever will. We can’t.
Jimmy
Condolences to all who lost loved ones on that day. I will never forget it, or exactly where I was when I first learned of it at our old office in Clinton NC.
I was the first one in our office to mention the date 9/11 and reference/question it to the emergency number 911? We were all in disbelief that anything like that could possibly happen on our soil?
amuirin
Seems like there’s two reactions from a lot of people, those who revisit and explore the meaning of that day, and people who kind of duck under it till it’s over.
Both reactions betray how deeply 9/11 affected every citizen of this nation.
btw, I loved your comment on my San Fran post. I wish I’d thought to contact you before we went!
allison
Random stranger who stumbled upon your site and this post. Thank you for linking to last year’s post and for letting me honor Ed’s memory. Best to you.
Jenny's BFF
It’s wonderful to read that so many people won’t forget. I won’t either. Every year I watch a special on OPB or The History Channel. Every year it makes me cry and makes me sick to my stomach to think about how many people died and in such an awful way. Thank you for posting a remembrance to them every year.