In Memory...

[OneFinger]

Remembering those whose lives were changed 3 years ago today and honoring those who gave so much.

 

http://robertpence.com/new_york/twin_towers_1986.jpg

[Guest rohale]

It's been one the hardest times in recent memory. I used to live in New York and I lived and worked very close to where the twin towers used to be. I had just spent a year back in Southern California. I remember just as I was leaving home for work on that tragic morning, one of my ex-roomates was watching the Today Show and I remember seeing a builiding on fire. I didn't think much of it. When I got to the office, we were supposed to have a department meeting and it was canceled. I asked why to a fellow co-worker and we went into his office and he had a small television. I was horrified by what I had seen in those television images. Then I knew why no one really could get any work done. Three days later, I went to a memorium in Los Angeles and by then it was crystal what had happened. The nation rallied around the President and we were very upset and demanded justice. The hard part was getting the phone call, that two former co-workers and a former roomate of mine had been killed in the North Tower. We had stayed in touch and were planning on catching a Yankees game the weekend after the tradedy. I lost a lot of sleep knowing that three real good buddies had been murdered. In some ways it still hurts

 

A week after 9/11, I was on a business trip in New York, my ex-girlfriend had gotten tickets for us in advance to the Late Show With David Letterman. I remember she saying to me that as soon as I was done with work, to rush straight there and not worry about a change of clothing. When we got there, the line was empty and we were ushered in and we sat in the fifth row. It was very quiet in the Ed Sullivan Theatre. When the lights went on and Dave came out, he straight went to his desk and made a very moving tribute to those whose lives were taken away on 9/11. I have to say, it really brought me to tears and it is something I will never forget. Dan Rather came out as Dave's first guest, that man broke down. In that given moment, it was very touching to see Dave put a hand on his shoulder and reminded him that he maybe a journalist, but he is a human being first and that moment of cosoling was something that I still remember.

 

Having the chance to have seen the debris hit me quite hard, I felt that I got a kick in the stomach seeing the damage first hand. It was the impact and knowing what happened that made me shed tears. I talked to a couple of people who lost loved ones at the site and it was definitely heart wrenching. I know my former partner couldn't believe that such a thing had happened and nor could a lot of other people across the nation and worldwide. It did happen and life carries on but not for three thousand people and its still hard for a lot of loved ones who lost family members because of that tragedy.

 

I go to New York every six weeks nowadays on business trips but mainly on personal trios to see my friends. I always make sure that I visit the site of 9/11 and remember my buddies who lost their lives. It still gets to me after all this time, sometimes they time is a healer, but not always. The only redeeming quality that came out of this tragedy was that for one brief moment in time, this tragedy brought this country together at the heart and soul of this nation.

 

 

Rohale

[jackhammer91406]

Late last night the PBS outlet in Los Angeles had a two hour documentary on two groups of the survivors. It was titled A Tale of Two Towers. As one group from each tower talked about the start of what they all described as a gorgeous day, and then the horror of what they felt and saw as they each made their way down the long stairways to safety, I realized that the impact of that day will (and should) always be measured in human terms and not political ones.

 

I appreciate Rohale's account and I too have made a point of visiting ground zero on my two NYC trips since 9/11.

Watching last night's program made my two visits even more meaningful.

 

No matter how the events are used to subvert the political process, I hope we NEVER FORGET what happened that day.

[OneFinger]

Another moving picture in memory.

 

http://media.bonnint.net/ksl/0/49/4933.jpg