I lost two college friends in the devestation of the 9/11 attacks, one whom I had made some great memories with at school. Even though we hadn't spoken in years, his death in the Twin Towers at the hands of evil, will always give me cause to remember him as he was. Young and vibrant with his whole life of potential ahead of him.
Eight years later, we reflect upon how we, as a country, lost our innocence that day.
Today I pause to remember all who died, and will never forget.
18 comments:
I'm with you.
Even on this years holiday we visited Stonington CT - there on the point near the old lighthouse looking out over the sound is small memorial stone bench - very unstated as a memorial to one of those who never came home 8 years ago. Poignant and dignified.
There is a prayer often used at UK remembrance day services for those lost in conflicts over the years... relevant today and as a postscript to this...
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Indeed
Rest In Peace
Aside from the grief we all felt - what I also recall is how George Bush used (abused) the solidarity of all Americans in ways that were counter productive to healing. His were the advancement of viscous political thinking and style. Within months of his business the general camaraderie w/in the nation was dissipated. And we got the Patriot Act, tons of secrecy with Darth Cheney running much of the secret stuff.
Sorry to hear about your friend.
I wasn't even thinking that this "anniversary" was coming until I woke up this morning. I looked at my phone and saw "Sept. 11" and immediately got that yucky feeling in the pit of my stomach. I think a lot of people here in NYC take the day off, and I don't blame them.
I was a preschool teacher on Sept 11, 2001. All the little ones had seen what happened live on tv before coming to school (it happened at about 6 am our time, so, like me, most people were eating breakfast in front of the tv when it happened.) The kids knew the adults were scared and angry, they knew terrible things were happening, they knew no-one knew when the horrors would end.
There was one little boy whose mom was on a business trip in NYC and his father was unable to contact her and didn't know if she was okay or not (he found out about two days later that she was fine, thank goodness) But I'll never forget all those little three year old faces looking up at me, comprehending the chaos but feeling so helpless.
I felt exactly the same way they did.
Wow. This makes my turd post seem rather unimportant.
I lost some people that day too. I'm a New Yorker so it's not hard to find people you knew in there. I also knew one guy who was a paramedic on vacation on that day. All his coworkers died, and he was the only one left because he was away. He slid into such a depression he killed himself. 9/11 never ended for MANY people. A horrific tragedy.
Thanks, Candy. A beautiful tribute.
Very well done candy. Fortunately I didn't know anyone who was lost that tragic day.
It still seems to me like yesterday.
We closed the office early that day and I remember the stunned faces in the cars that drove by me on my way home. We're about 15 miles from the Pentagon. That evening we heard the thundering of the F14's overhead. I've never been so frightened in my life. Forgetting is not possible.
Curse that evil day. I lived in NYC at the time, and have refused to talk about it with family and friends until today. Candy, stop by my blog to read all about it. I hope it won't be too depressing.
Best,
-Mad
I agree. Never forget.
And if I ever meet someone in person that thinks it was a US conspiracy I swear I'll knock them out.
I started Troll Incorporated 9.11.01. Hope we never forget and that enough of us learned something from that day to prevent another like it.
Great post. I was in 9th grade history when we got the news. I guess my 14 year old mind couldn't really grasp the the gravity of what happened though. I also remember my mother pulling me out of art class at listening to radio coverage of the event. It was one of the most surreal day of my life.
Rest In Peace.
A day no American will ever forget, without a doubt.
I guess Dr. Zibbs will just have to knock me out because I don't believe the official version of what happened at all and I am not alone in that.
If you think about it, we spent over 60 million dollars and endless amounts of time investigating whether or not Clinton got a blow job and the majority of Americans could have cared less about that. By comparison the 9/11 investigation was a hurried affair that DID NOT satisfactorily explain what happened that day and the Bush administration certainly did it's best to slam the lid on any further inquiry. Those who actively ask questions are labeled as crazy or unpatriotic. The whole thing stinks to high heavens.
I really think the best way to honor those killed in the attack would be to get to the bottom of what actually happened that day.
I think it was a US conspiracy. Of course I am kidding, I just think it will be funny to fight Dr Zibbs. Oh, yeah... I also am never forgetting.
Just called over from Benny's site to offer my condolences. I had a brother who was serving, until recently, serving in Afghanistan. He was really badly hurt by a road-side bomb, and will now never work again.
Is this what we are all fighting for? This is a war that no-one can ever win. Just this past week, here in England, there has been this trial of terrorists who were planning on blowing up seven 'planes, possibly killing over 3,000 people.
This is such a mad world that we are living in!
Yes, that is a prayer that we say at every memorial...WE Will Never Forget. 9/11 affected us too, but it seems as though English people are often forgot in tragedies such as this, but we have had our share too of these senseless acts.
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