9/11 Twenty-Five Years Later
Twenty-five years ago, I went to the city early, excited to be going on a vacation with my husband leaving on an 8pm flight. I was going to put in a half day and then meet my husband, Roger at the airport.
At 9:00 am, a dear friend called from Chicago screaming, the television blaring in the back ground. “ARE YOU ALRIGHT??” I answered fine, not knowing what had happened. She started to speak but all I could hear was the TV. Three minutes later she screamed again, “Oh my God, Oh my God.”
I was to meet a client at 9am at the World Trade Center, but he cancelled the night before, so I was in the office at 42nd and Fifth. Little did I know what a blessing that was.
After Carol told me what happened, and we listened to the news together, my admin walked in as if she had been shot, convulsing. She commuted by bus on the Williamsburg Bridge which had direct view of the towers. She watched the planes crash into the buildings.
A vision I can imagine has stayed with her.
The fear gripped the city. Was it done? Were we under attack? Was there more to come? Do we need to fear taking a train to get home? The unbearable news got even worse with the other two crashes. As I write this, I have tears in my eyes.
What remains with us 25 years later?
I remember the hand written signs everywhere that posted a picture of a loved one. “Have you seen John, with the phone number to contact.
I remember the heartbreaking kindergarten kids’ drawings that thought it was birds falling from the building. The NYTimes would post a bio every day of each person who lost their life and I felt compelled to read each one to honor their death.
But most of all what I remember the amazing compassion, bravery, and outpouring of love from people around the world. The fire department, EMS risking their lives answering the call without hesitation.
At the time, I worked for Sodexo, a food/facilities management company, which did the food service for American Express and Merrill Lynch among several other establishments. The first thing was to ensure that all the staff had gotten out of the towers. With the panic it caused it was hard to know. With great sadness, unfortunately two men didn’t make it out.
Due to Sodexo’s large purchasing power and number of personnel including chefs, mangers and service people, we were able to send emergency help as did Aramark. There were amazing stories of countless people giving their time, some sleeping on bubble wrap to keep up with the demand of feeding the first responders. The General Manger that worked at the trade center walked every day the 3 miles to and from her home as transportation was down. It was a devastating time, but also one that showed humanity at its best.
PRAYER FOR OUR LOST ONES AND THOSE LEFT BEHIND:
Dear Lord,
We remember where we were that day—the reports coming in, the images before us, the tears shed, and a world in mourning.
We pray for all those whose lives were taken too soon. We remember the spouses who never had the chance to say one more I love you and who were left to pick up the pieces of their lives and families.
We pray for the children who lost parents that day, many of whom are now adults themselves. May they continue to feel Your presence surrounding them with love, comfort, strength, and hope.
We lift up the first responders who, without hesitation and often without thought for their own safety, answered the call. We remember those who gave their lives that day and those who became ill and died in the years that followed.
Lord, our world is still broken. In the midst of division, violence, and uncertainty, we ask for Your grace to guide us.
Give us the courage and faith to believe that each of us can make a difference. Help us use the gifts You have given us to bring kindness where there is anger, hope where there is despair, and light where there is darkness.
May our shared grief become shared hope, and may we carry the light of those we lost into a world that sorely needs it.
Amen.
