73 minutes that changed the world forever
The legacy of the New York attack continues a decade on from the attacks, an event which no one old enough to remember will ever forget and a legacy which will affect the world forever. In the days before HD TV, a scene of devastation played out in film footage that we hoped never to see unless in a context of a made up disaster movie. But this was real life, which affected many real lives, for many years to come.
You know of the 2,752 men, women and children who died at the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001 but have never met them. You have heard of those 3,000 children under the age of 18 who lost a parent.
Perhaps more vivid for recalling the events are the memories of the tragedy, that will live on in history, as told by the survivors, the bystanders, the Emergency Services, Search and Rescue Teams and those that put their lives on hold to do what they could for others simply because they could. In the out pouring of grief, anger, disbelief and conspiracy theories that have followed these are the unsung heroes of that day. A good friend of Stevie, and supporter of KDS Group, spent a week voluntarily working with the Search & Rescue Teams and took Stevie and family to the site and talked him through her time there.
Stevie says of his visit “Hopes and dreams were taken away to early from too many individuals and families on that day. It was humbling to be there and to speak with someone who had taken part in the rescue effort in a voluntarily capacity. She told of the miracle of seeing survivors being uncovered from the rubble and hearing the reaction from their families when they heard they were alive, the sheer skill and determination of emergency and rescue workers who risked their lives on an hourly basis to save as many people as possible and the support that was received from people all over the area to come and help out. She told of sadness, and cruel finality, of working with virtual strangers to recover the bodies, and body parts, of those victims who did not survive, many of whom were never identified or returned to their loved ones.”
10 years after the event we should all reflect on what is important in our life and in how we are living and ensure that we communicate regularly and kindly with those who are important to us. Most importantly on the anniversary of this tragedy never forget those who lost their lives in this horrific event, the families who mourn their missing loved ones every day, the survivors and those who worked with the emergency and rescue teams who relive the harsh memories every day with a silent dignity and determination.
4 Comments
Posted by
Colin Millar
on 11 September 2011
The most incredible thing about the attacks on 9/11 (as well as other terrorist attrocities closer to my home in Lockerbie and then London) is that rather than challenging the way we live our lives, it reminds us of the very things that we have in common. The
increbible bravery and unity shown by friends and complete strangers alike reminds us that something very positive emanated from these tragedies and our resolve to stand together against such attrocities is only made stronger. My heart goes out to all the
people who lost their lives or their friends, colleagues, neighbours and loved ones on all flights hijacked on 9/11 and my admiration to the brave men, women and children who responded so honourably and resolutely. We will never forget you.
Posted by
susan
on 11 September 2011
It''s strange to talk to some of the senior kids I teach and realise that they were so young at the time they don''t really remember what happened that day. Yet for me it just seems like yesterday. I can remember it so vividly: exactly what I was doing and
thinking when I saw the tv footage. There are probably only a few events like this in everyones life that are so massive they change the way you view the world.
Posted by
Wendy Pollock
on 10 September 2011
Most people who are old enough to remember this, will never forget it - I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing at the time of the attacks as I am sure most people will. This is ten years later and I am still in tears every time I hear a report
discussing the on site experiences that day. I am very much a live and let live type of person and really don''t understand what is behind attacks like this, yes there are huge differences between race and religion but shouldn''t we be embracing this and learning
from it rather than shunning it and destroying life. This is a great report Kate, and I (along with many other, I would hope) will be taking some time out on Sunday to remember those that saved so many lives as well as remembering those that lost theirs. RIP
those who lost there lives in 911
Posted by
Joe Wilson
on 10 September 2011
10 years later....doesn''t seem like it since watching TV in utter horror and disbelief. It was certainly a day that demonstrated the extremes of human behaviour; 1 destructive and 1 heroic. I remember watching what was happening, hoping that loved ones were
well away from it and being quite amazed with how normal everyday people consolidated themselves as "New Yorkers" and did whatever they could do, from tending to injured strangers to cheering on firefighters as they made their way towards Ground Zero. This
one day illlustrated all the sayings about times of adversity bringing out the best in people. I can''t imagine how frightening that day would have been, yet people still chose to put others before them. Truly amazing. "Times of great calamity and confusion
have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm." - Charles Caleb Colton To finish on a positive - September 11 is also the birthday of one
of my nieces who arrived a few years later, so while it is a poignant date of remembrance on the calendar, it is a day of celebration within our family. Happy Birthday Catherine Dora! "To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy
can be the thoughtless act of a single day." Sir Winston Churchill
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