WTC Tribute

 

When I started to redesign all of my web pages I knew that I would have to include a  page dedicated to the events of September 11, 2001.  My feelings about that day are so hard to describe.  It was such a beautiful day,  the sky the color of this font, not a cloud in sight.  That such horror and destruction could happen on such a perfect day..............was beyond imagination.  I listened to the radio that day from work, without any television or video of what was going on.  I live not too far outside of New York City and our radio stations are from NYC.  I heard the utter shock in the voices  of the DJ's as they watched what was happening.  I listened as a man phoned from one of the upper floors...........he was above the wreckage and there was no way down.  He said he was OK and would just sit and wait for a rescue.  But there were to be no rescues on the floors above the wreckage, or on many other floors.  The Twin Towers were something that we had taken for granted for a long time as part of the NYC skyline and no one could believe they would fall down.  But on that beautiful day the skyline and our lives changed forever.

Like the rest of the country I spent many hours watching the images on TV, hoping against hope that many more survivors would walk out or be found in the rubble.  As the stories all came together it was unbelievable that any human being could plan and stage such destruction.  I thought about a lot of things those next few days.  How much that one day had not only changed life as we knew it, but the future for my children.  And once again I was reminded...........you have to make the most of each and every day.  Life does not come with any guaranties.  My heart and prayers go out to all of the victims and their families.  God Bless you.

In November I came across an article in our local paper about Mercy BAND's.  These bands are very much like the POW bracelet I wore way back when.  Please click on the link above and check out this site.  Wearing this bracelet every day is my way of saying that those who lost their lives on that day will not be forgotten.  Also in November Alan Jackson performed a song he had just written at the Country Music Awards.  To me,  this song says it all about that day.....

Where were you when the world stop turning on that September day
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below
Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters

Chorus:
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I could
Tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Verse:
Where were you when the world stop turning on that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her
Did you dust off that Bible at home

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
And you close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love...............

In early December I finally went into the city with my daughter and we made our way down to Ground Zero.  It was almost 3 months after that horrible day, yet there were still fires burning and the air was  thick with a smell and a taste that was hard to ignore.  It was night time and so eerie.  The whole area still had a feel of death about it.  When we walked around to the other side, the remaining skeleton of the one tower still stood...........All that was left.....Although I'm very glad I went down, it brought back all of the emotions that I had been trying to put to rest.

My Mercy BAND is a NYC Firefighter:  Thomas W. Kelly  Like so many others,  his body has not been recovered.  Please click on his name above to learn more about him.   

 

My daughter also wears a Mercy BAND for  Keith Roma of the NYC Fire Patrol. To learn more about him, please click his name.  Keith was found and laid to rest on December 28, 2001.

 

As I wrap up this page,  I'd like to add one bright spot. A few days after Sept. 11th, my son brought home a photo that had been taken at the end of the school year last May.  The 4th grade class had been on a field trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  The boys, as you can see, have the New York Skyline as their background.  The plaque in front of them describes the building of the Twin Towers.  Although I have seen 1000's  of photos of the Towers since then, this one will always be my favorite.  A time of innocence and a very different world for all of us.