We can all remember what we were doing that day. How our country stopped and glued itself to any television in sight for days.
Jarod had just turned 2 and we were living in Opelika. He and I were traveling to Montgomery for my first day of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) for that year. Russell called me on my cell phone to let me know that a tower had been hit. That there had been an accident. I prayed for the people involved, turned off my phone and went into Bible Study. The rest would become known when I got home at lunch.
I sat watching the television, with tears, wondering who and how and why like the rest of the country. It was surreal. Our country was changed that day.
I finally made it to Ground Zero three weeks ago. Marilyn and I had half a day to "play" and see more of New York before we boarded our planes to come home. The September 11th Memorial was our goal.
Walking to it is a bit overwhelming. When you walk down the same narrow streets where you watched people running as the towers fell. Being covered in the ash - having no where to really go.
You pass the Fire Station. So many courageous men, who were there immediately to help. Who never came back.
Memorial Wall for the First Responders
Humbling
As we continued our walk towards Ground Zero, we also passed St. Paul's Chapel. This church was built in the 1700's. It even has a pew inside where President Washington sat.
Literally across the street from the two towers, this church was un-damaged from the collapse of the buildings.
It served as a respite for the workers who were helping in the clean up in the months after. This church provided food and a pew to sleep on.
Amazing to me how God preserved this little building right in the middle of such chaos.
One tree in the courtyard fell. And it fell in such a way that it didn't damage one headstone. Everything was preserved.
Incredible.
Being in New York for the first time ever, I was able to experience for myself just how tall and over powering the buildings are. And it is quite common to see planes fly over all day with the airports close by.
I know how helpless and vulnerable we felt watching all of this unfold on TV - being there put a totally new perspective on that. The fear, the chaos, the unknown - it had to be completely overwhelming. My mind cannot grasp it.
These memorials are beautiful. They are massive as they are the foundation of the buildings. There are two of these. One for each tower.
Engraved forever around each of the fountains, are the names of the men and women who lost/gave their lives when the towers fell.
Surrounded by quiet visitors, it was a surreal experience. I couldn't hold back the tears.
Marilyn made the comment that "These are our scars."
How true.
The fountains run deep - and in the very center, they drop even deeper. No matter what angle you are at, you cannot see the bottom.
 |
| John Ogonowski |
We will never truly grasp how deep these scars run throughout our
country. People who lost friends, family members. Most people know
someone who was affected in someway.
I have remained in contact with my 7th grade math teacher all these
years. Her brother, John Ogonowski, was one of the pilots on American Airlines Flight 11
that went into the North Tower.
We all have a story we can share.
So very thankful for the opportunity to have visited this place. To see it in a new way. To remember and yet experience the strength and resilience of our nation as they rebuild.
So many things still yet to come. They have finished one of the towers, are completing a museum that will open in the Spring of 2014 and are continuing to work on the rest.
Thankful for the men and women who are working so hard to make sure that we will never forget.
Until next time.....
