Permit me to concentrate today on a 25th anniversary. So, if you are looking for my Skywatch Friday post, please click here.
25 years ago today I woke up and prepared to go to work. My spouse was at home - he would be going to work around 12:30 pm.
It was supposed to be a beautiful mid September day with clear blue skies.
Now, 25 years later, I remember that day. Everyone of my generation remembers that day. Residents of New York City and its surrounding communities remember. Residents of the area around the Pentagon remember. Residents of the area around Shanksville, Pennsylvania remember September 11, 2001. The people of Gander, Newfoundland, remember that day, the day we've called "9/11" since that beautiful blue sky late summer morning. Until it wasn't.
Other countries remember dates of tragedy. Here in the United States, we remember, even after 25 years.
According to the World Trade Center Health Program, some 9000 people have died from 9/11 related illnesses.
9/11 is still claiming victims from related illnesses today.
I've blogged about 9/11 every year since I've started to blog in 2009, and I will continue to do so as long as I continue to blog.
Here are some of my posts:
September 11 Reaches Adulthood
In New York City's 9/11 Memorial and Museum there is an art installation called Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on that September Morning". How can I not forget that blue sky?
Finally, we are also called to remember the generosity of the people of Gander, Newfoundland (Canada) on September 11, 2001 after United States closed its airspace and airlines grounded their planes. Some 7000 passengers and crew on 200 planes ended up landing in Gander International Airport, near a city of (then) about 10,000. people.
The people of Gander quickly mobilized to make the people stranded there when airlines grounded their flights feel welcome.
Food and clothing was donated. Schools were turned into dormitories. A hockey rink provided refrigeration for donated food. The people of the planes became known as the Plane People.
The people of Gander never asked for payment but the passengers and crew of one of the flights set up a scholarship fund for students in the Gander area. The fund has grown to over one million dollars.
Tonight, the City of Binghamton, New York will host the LUMA festival, which features light projections onto buildings. I won't be there in person, but I will be there in spirit, as light chases away the darkness.
25 years.
If you read some of my more recent 9/11 posts you can see my concern that the generations unborn on 9/11 will not understand the significance of that day in U.S. and world history or the kindness of 9/12.
Let us never forget those affected.
I was holding my 2nd baby on my lap while watching the tv. Even tho I was far away on the west coast, I'll never forget either.
ReplyDeletewow! What a beautiful tribute to 9/11 ~ thanks ~ Hugs ^_^
ReplyDeleteIt's like Pearl Harbor and JFK. If you weren't born when it happened, as far as you were concerned, it had always been. Only my niece had been born in 2001. Now she's 25 and she has four younger brothers. Time passes. But we remember. And it's our job to let the younger generations know what it was to be there.
ReplyDeleteWe will never forget.
ReplyDeletePeople who were born after this happened don't really understand what it was like to either be there or watching it happen.
I have doubts on how kids are being taught in schools today on important events like 9/11 like when we were going. I remember being told about the evils of Hitler, the horrors of the Holocaust, the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the assassination of JFK. All of these happened much before my birth, other than President Kennedy's murder, and yet I was deeply disturbed by these events. It still bothers me and I don't want to forget about each of these, either. We need to stay vigilant always against evil and sometimes you don't know how it'll come disguised a neighbor, a politician, a social program, .... The world we live in is scary but thankfully I have my faith to overshadow my fears around me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on what started off as a beautiful day that turned so dark. Praying for the 9/11 victim families, those who suffer from pollution related and mental health issues associated with that fatal day. I just can't imagine. I appreciate that you keep reminding everyone in Blogosphere! xo
ReplyDeleteYes! Even though I live in Montreal, Canada, I will never forget! Not sure if you have ever seen this movie, Alana....Flight 93. (not United 93, that was in theaters), but Flight 93! It is on YouTube. A very powerful movie! And the actors in the movie very much resemble the real passengers that sadly perished on that flight.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are having a great weekend. Thank you so much for sharing.
...911 affected so many!
ReplyDeleteI remember that sky as well. It was the wonderful shade of blue that we only seem to get in September here. I remember staring out the window of my office at it when one of my caseworkers came running down the hall to tell me the awful news. All thoughts of the beautiful sky were forgotten.
ReplyDelete