Sunday, September 11, 2016

Reflections on the 15th Anniversary of 9-11-01


It is the fifteenth anniversary of 9-11-01 but it still feels to me like it happened yesterday.


I'm sure most people who were connected in some way to the actual event will never forget it.  Some are connected intimately by the loss of a loved one that day, and we know and have met many in that sad position over the years. Others have had their lives disrupted in other ways that may seem less significant, but non-the-less have been life altering and traumatic, and the pain for them also never goes away.

An American flag from the World Trade Center site hanging in the 9-11 Memorial Museum

I've written many blog posts about 9-11-01 before this one--click here to read that posts from the latest to the earliest.  From the very well done 9-11-01 Memorial and Museum, to the beautiful and touching Memorial Waterfalls inscribed with all the names of the victims, to the Angels Circle in Staten Island, NY--a very heartfelt memorial to the local residents that perished, and the many other memorials--some homespun, others official throughout the boroughs of New York City. The pillar found that became known as the World Trade Center Cross, to St Paul's Church -the Little Chapel that Stood, that meant so much to the recovery workers in the aftermath, to the FDNY Memorial that is on the wall of the 1010 firehouse that stood across the street from World Trade Center Tower 2, at 124 Liberty Street.  


I've often come in contact with unexpected memorials to 9-11-01 in my travels, and when I moved to Colorado from New York City I was shocked to find that I now lived in the same community that Jason Dahl, the pilot from United Flight 93, that was hijacked by terrorists and most likely aiming to destroy the US Capital, but was brought down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, by the hero passengers. This memorial stand near the neighborhood where the Dahl family lived. A scholarship in Jason Dahl's memory was established to help students achieve their dreams of becoming a pilot.  
This evening I will be attending a candlelight vigil in memory of Jason Dahl at his memorial, and we will also hold in memory all who perished that horrific day.


The repository for the unknown remains of those who perished on the WTC site on 9-11-01 in the 9-11 Memorial Museum.


It has been fifteen years, and the 9-11 Memorial has preserved for all time what was, and what remains, and the new World Trade Center is open and functioning as a testament to rebuilding and that life goes on. We shall never forget, but as with all mourning, time allows us to move forward and honor those who were lost by living life and cherishing the good.  The city, the nation and the world came together after 9-11-01 to help, to show solidarity and to aid in recovery, and it is good to remember those feelings in a time now, in a world where so much discord prevails.   It is up to each and every one of us to make the world a better place.  We all have that responsibility. Hate only leads to more hate. Let us honor those innocent lives who were lost with love.



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34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post Pat with wise words. I will never forget.

podso said...

Thank you for this beautiful reminder, Pat.

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Pat, thank you for sharing your thoughts about the day that changed life forever. Please God, teach us to love one another. ♥

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I remember it like it was yesterday. It brought the country together but the long term strains have torn it apart again I feel. The world has definitely changed.

riitta k said...

It was a terrible day, I remember it clearly. Terrible sights at CNN...
Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos.

Maggie said...

A beautiful moving post, Pat, your words and images will stay with me as we travel home to Normandy. Thank you for being a part of Mosaic Monday today.

Hudson Solo Shows said...

Enjoyed finding and reading your blog from a link on Engine 10 and Ladder 10's site. Thank you for thoughtful and informative coverage. I lived and worked in NYC area, 1991-2002, then moved back to Pittsburgh. NYC will always be home, too. Blessing, Yvonne

likeschocolate said...

Beautiful touching photos! We shall not forget!
http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/2016/09/finding-hope-in-lantern-festival-of.html

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Pat! Beautiful post and images. Sept 11, 2001 will be a day I never forget. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

Snap said...

Never forget...............

Lady Fi said...

It's hard to imagine that it's been 15 years!! It feels so fresh in many ways -- I wonder if we have learnt anything from this. I hope so.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Let's NEVER NEVER NEVER forget... Prayers for those loved ones and families involved in this horrible tragedy.. I cannot imagine living there like you did then --and going through that... PRAYERS for you all also...

I SO SO SO enjoyed all of your posts on Facebook this weekend keeping the story ALIVE for us... Still makes me cry to think of what happened on 9/11/01.

Thanks for sharing..
Hugs,
Betsy

J said...

Beautiful. I had no idea about the pilot's final resting place. The eagle tribute and sentiment is so touching and appropriate. Those of us who agree with you that "hate only leads to more hate" will never forget our brothers and sisters of 09-11-01.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Yes never to forget the tragic loss of life - I posted a tribute on Facebook yesterday to those lost, the heroes who were first responders, and the heroic rescue dogs of 9/11. Your post was beautiful

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Hardly seems like 15 years Pat, as it feels like yesterday and this tragedy still brings tears to my eyes.
We were touched only slightly by knowing a woman who worked in the bank where we dealt back then who lost her husband as he was in one of the towers for meetings.
The memorial tributes in the US are truly heart warming.

Tamar SB said...

I went to the memorial a few years ago - so well done.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it was like yesterday that my daughter called me 9:15 am with an urgent voice to tell me to put the TV on -and you know the rest. Even though Southern Calif. is at the other side of the countr,y for a few weeks the mood in the streets and stores, were filled with grief, with on many corners tributes to the ones who died.
Thank you for sharing Jason Dahl with SEASONS this week. Have a happy week with many things to be thankful:)

NCSue said...

The evilness of this act never fails to shock and sadden me.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here and at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/09/los-viejos.html

Molly said...

Where have all those years gone.

Mollyxxx

Ciao Chow Linda said...

It will stay with us always. I'll never forget that day and the weeks that followed.

Ida said...

We won't forget. Some of the memories and images of that day still haunt me when I start to think about it on 9/11 anniversary day. Your post was heartfelt and well put together.

Jeanne said...

Hello dear Pat, Your post is a beautiful tribute to this sad day in America. I know your heart is even more affected with your love of your home state and NYC. My niece's friend lost her finance when the towers went down. It touched so many people. We too will never forget.

Wishing you a very good week.
Hugs,
Jeanne

elizabeth said...

Yes, we will nor forget!

Sylvia said...

Pat, We will not forget this event and we remember the lost and their families. Sylvia D.

Ingmarie We said...

A horrible day! Will never forget it.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shots from the trip.

Susan Anderson said...

Thank you for these visual reminders of our loss. May we continue to move forward with courage and hope in a world that can make both difficult to find.

Lorrie said...

It is a day I'll never forget. We need to remember and to move forward into the future with the resolve to never let such a thing happen again.

Mandy said...

Lovely post and reminder. It's hard to believe it's been 15 years.

diane b said...

A beautifully written post and a lovely memorial for the pilot. What a horrific time it must have been for him and his passengers.

Summer said...

Hoping a day like this will never happen again♥ Lovely post♥

summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

Mary K. said...

Pat, I was not in NY when this happened but I had taken my little boys up to one of the towers a few days before we moved to Greece. So this place has special meaning for them as well as me. I was glued to the tv set that day, watching in horror and not believing what my eyes were seeing. We will never forget. Thank you for this touching tribute.

Anonymous said...

Ummm yah, I will never forget that day sitting in front of my TV not sure what I was looking at. I can only imagine your feelings since you are so intricately intertwined with 9/11. We must never forget.

Lisa @ LTTL

Betty said...

I still feel so sad when I remember that day. It's hard to believe it's been 15 years. I still remember flying into Newark Airport two months after 9-11. As we flew parallel to the Hudson River the plane was very quiet. Everyone was straining their necks to look, but they didn't make a sound. In the past people would be excited as they pointed out the Statue of Liberty and the NYC skyline. It was a changed world.