5 Years Later -
September/10/2006 06:39 Filed in: Life
Tomorrow will be 5 years since the terrorist attacks
on the World Trade Center -September 11, 2001 - a
date to never forget. It's hard to believe that it's
been that long since all that devastation because it
is all so fresh in my mind, and the minds around me.
I live in NJ, about one and a half hours from NYC.
Every time that I'm on the road, I see a bumper
sticker on a car that reads something along the lines
of "9/11 We Will Never Forget" Every time I'm out in
the public, I'll see at least one person wearing some
sort of remembrance T shirt, hat, or even with a
tattoo. And each time I look out my front door, or
drive down Main Street I see the American flag
proudly displayed on numerous homes and businesses.
It's a good feeling, a feeling of pride, a feeling of
togetherness, a feeling of safety - I know, that
despite the differences that I have with these people
- political, religious,moral,race - whatever the
difference, I know one thing - we have a common
likeness created through the mourning of September
11th. In my state, and in NY and other neighbor
states, we are all still mourning the great loss of
September 11th. Though we don't mourn in black, we
mourn in red, white and blue. It's a celebration of
life and our differences, because our country was
born from differences.
The spirit of September 11th is still very alive here on the East Coast. I tend to think that because the East Coast was more affected by that day, that our wounds are deeper, and more solidly set in our minds. As if it's more serious for us, since it was "in our back yard" as opposed to people on the West Coast who were only ever as close as their TV screens. We all agree it's a tragedy, but we have less likeliness to forget about that day. My Husband Sean is a volunteer firefighter as well as an emt, there are many preparation plans and disaster guides that he's been drilled about incase of "another September 11th". The thought of my husband in any situation like that scares me to death, especially because it's unpredictable. There is no amount of training that anyone could do to prepare for such a disaster.
Sean & I enjoy watching the firefighter drama "Rescue Me" on FX. It's about the FDNY. In one of the last episodes, the lead character, on a particularly bad day goes into a bar, no cash in hand, and orders a whiskey....some words are exchanged, he ends up going into a monologue about respecting fire fighters. He challenged anyone in the bar to give him 3 names of American Idol Contestants, no problem, just about everyone in the bar could name 3 names, at least two or one names slipped off the tongue. Then he asked them to give him 3 names of firefighters that gave their lives on 9/11 - just 3 names, out of 343 firefighters & paramedics that gave their lives - not a word - Everyone is silent. Now, I realize that this was television, and not based on actual events - but something tells me that's not too far from the truth. So, when we say "9/11 We Will Never Forget" is it true? Are we forgetting, or did we already forget? Does everyone's version of remembering extend as far as a bumper sticker or t-shirt saying we do? I truly hope not. People died, people gave their lives selflessly, and their memories live on forever. I will truly never forget, and for everyone out there - remember 9/11/01 - remember not to forget.
- Abbie
The spirit of September 11th is still very alive here on the East Coast. I tend to think that because the East Coast was more affected by that day, that our wounds are deeper, and more solidly set in our minds. As if it's more serious for us, since it was "in our back yard" as opposed to people on the West Coast who were only ever as close as their TV screens. We all agree it's a tragedy, but we have less likeliness to forget about that day. My Husband Sean is a volunteer firefighter as well as an emt, there are many preparation plans and disaster guides that he's been drilled about incase of "another September 11th". The thought of my husband in any situation like that scares me to death, especially because it's unpredictable. There is no amount of training that anyone could do to prepare for such a disaster.
Sean & I enjoy watching the firefighter drama "Rescue Me" on FX. It's about the FDNY. In one of the last episodes, the lead character, on a particularly bad day goes into a bar, no cash in hand, and orders a whiskey....some words are exchanged, he ends up going into a monologue about respecting fire fighters. He challenged anyone in the bar to give him 3 names of American Idol Contestants, no problem, just about everyone in the bar could name 3 names, at least two or one names slipped off the tongue. Then he asked them to give him 3 names of firefighters that gave their lives on 9/11 - just 3 names, out of 343 firefighters & paramedics that gave their lives - not a word - Everyone is silent. Now, I realize that this was television, and not based on actual events - but something tells me that's not too far from the truth. So, when we say "9/11 We Will Never Forget" is it true? Are we forgetting, or did we already forget? Does everyone's version of remembering extend as far as a bumper sticker or t-shirt saying we do? I truly hope not. People died, people gave their lives selflessly, and their memories live on forever. I will truly never forget, and for everyone out there - remember 9/11/01 - remember not to forget.
- Abbie
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