9/11

[ellie]

They say you always remember where you were when the news of Kennedy's assassination broke (if you were old enough of course) but I think the same could be said of 9/11.

We were at our villa, getting ready to go out to breakfast when my son called us to come and watch the news on the TV. It appeared that a small plane had hit one of the twin towers.

Little did we know the train of events which was unfolding before our very eyes. As we stood transfixed watching CNN it became apparent that something quite horrific and never-before-experienced had happened.

All four of us stood bemused as we watched smoke billowing, pieces of paper drifting down towards the pavement, people looking up, wondering what on earth had happened, firemen and policemen trying to make sense of what was going on, and men and women putting their own lives on the line in acts of profound bravery.

A few months ago we visited Ground Zero, and it was one of the most moving experiences of my life. All three of us were deeply affected by what we saw and heard. We had the honour of being escorted by a lady who had survived being in one of the towers when it was hit, and by a gentleman whose wife had, on that gloriously sunny morning, gone to a meeting in one of the towers - not her normal workplace - and who he never saw again.

As the anniversary of this tragedy comes round again may I share some of the photos we took of the World Trade Center.

[Mary and Colin]

Ellie thank you for sharing your photos.
My daughter and i were talking about this yesterday after seeing the film "United 93" on tv. The way they potrayed the passengers and them sending those last text, those phone calls. We talked about the whole 9/11.
I remember being at work and Kay came running down stairs shouting "my sons out there my sons out there" and crying. The atmosphere as it all un folded on the news.
Kay's son was fine but took almost 24 hours before they made contact.
My daughter and i had a big hug and feel lucky for being here.
Thanks Ellie
Mary

[ellie]

This beautiful and simple memorial is located in the American Express building and it took our breath away. This eleven sided granite memorial pool is dedicated to the 11 employees who lost their lives that day.

Over this pool is suspended a huge 600 lb Brazilian tear shaped quartz crystal, carved with 11 sides. Around the inside edges of the pool are the names of those workers who died. The families were asked to describe their loved ones in a few words, and these are inscribed inside the pool, above the names. Dedications such as 'A Father, Husband, Son who gave all unconditional love and loyalty' and 'You Gave Us Love, Honour, Joy, Laughter. You'll Be With Us 'Till The Ever After' add to the sense of poignancy.

From high up in the ceiling, water droplets drip randomly but steadily, creating intersecting ripples in the water of the pool. Aptly named 'Eleven Tears' these droplets represent tears, but also the links between these families.

If you look closely at the third picture you can just see a ripple over the top word of the dedication. It was unbelievably emotive.

[pbensur]

It's hard to believe that it's time to commemorate that awful day yet once again. I can remember the horror and fear I felt that day and thinking about it always makes me cringe. The site of the plane that went down (never hitting it's destination) was only a short distance from where I live. It was terrifying.

We visited Ground Zero during the year following the tragedy and it was one of the most sobering experiences of my life. I wasn't aware of that memorial in the American Express building - it is certainly something I want to see next time I'm in NYC. Thank you for sharing that.

[arkvilla]

There was a documentary about it on Monday night - even now when you watch it back it seems unbelievable.

There was lots of footage from poeple's own vidoes and mobile footage so you could see it from the perspective of people living nearby etc.

Truly heartbreaking

[Steve]

Thanks for sharing your photos ellie, and yes even after all this time when we see it again on TV it still seems hard to believe, it's almost like watching some make believe Hollywood film set.

[Steve]

There was a documentary about it on Monday night - even now when you watch it back it seems unbelievable.

There was lots of footage from poeple's own vidoes and mobile footage so you could see it from the perspective of people living nearby etc.

Truly heartbreaking

That's right sandra, we have been watching some of them, there was one on about the 9/11 millionaire widows and I found it amazing really, these payments were made on the condition that they didn't sue the WTC or the airlines and how one widow got through $5 million and then there was the greed of other family members of other widows. In one case a woman was married to a police officer who had 3 kids from a previous marriage, she was offered something like $1.6 million but she refused it and didn't want the money but she did want an investigation into why he died. His kids took legal action against his wife and after a long court case she lost and had to accept the payment. Then there was another woman, who was a common law partner of a fireman, they has just had a baby together, she was not entitled to any payout but the baby would get $2 million when she becomes of age and her partners parents tried to take away control of the cash and the responsibility of the child and the final straw for me was again, a fireman's widow was awarded a substantial amount of cash. Along with this they get a sort of councillor, another fireman that will help with things and make sure things are going ok. This fireman was her husbands best friend and within 3 weeks of her getting the cash and his help, he left his wife and moved in with her! So it just shows what money does to people, even in the most dire of circumstances.

[JAF]

I am slightly too young to remember the Kennedy shootings but do rememer this.

At the time our eldest was suffering from ME and was not able to walk very far. Our own town centre has uneven brick paving which jarred him in a wheelchair so for an outing we used to visit Lakeside, as it has smooth floors. We had just returned and turned on the television and thought we were watching a film. It was only when we changed channels and saw the same pictures we realised the horror we were watching. I left Andrew and went and collected Robert from school so only heard the second tower fall on the radio.

At the time my sister in law worked for Marsh and unfortunately they lost quite a few staff. She said it was very somber at work for some time waiting for news of who had survived as they knew quite a few people in the Towers office.

[arkvilla]

That's right sandra, we have been watching some of them, there was one on about the 9/11 millionaire widows and I found it amazing really, these payments were made on the condition that they didn't sue the WTC or the airlines and how one widow got through $5 million and then there was the greed of other family members of other widows. In one case a woman was married to a police officer who had 3 kids from a previous marriage, she was offered something like $1.6 million but she refused it and didn't want the money but she did want an investigation into why he died. His kids took legal action against his wife and after a long court case she lost and had to accept the payment. Then there was another woman, who was a common law partner of a fireman, they has just had a baby together, she was not entitled to any payout but the baby would get $2 million when she becomes of age and her partners parents tried to take away control of the cash and the responsibility of the child and the final straw for me was again, a fireman's widow was awarded a substantial amount of cash. Along with this they get a sort of councillor, another fireman that will help with things and make sure things are going ok. This fireman was her husbands best friend and within 3 weeks of her getting the cash and his help, he left his wife and moved in with her! So it just shows what money does to people, even in the most dire of circumstances.

You know Steve I always say " Be careful what you wish for " too much money can ruin your life. People think it will solve all their problems but I think it would just bring a whole host of different problems.

It's a funny old world eh??

[Steve]

You know Steve I always say " Be careful what you wish for " too much money can ruin your life. People think it will solve all their problems but I think it would just bring a whole host of different problems.

It's a funny old world eh??

Very true Sandra!

[ellie]

I think the programme which most affected us most was the one with the phone calls. It really touched a nerve to hear the desperation of those trapped, and the hopelessness of those trying to help them, talking to them and trying to keep them calm, offering them suggestions of what they could do - keeping near the floor, breaking a window etc.

It also showed what great courage these people had in their last desperate minutes, trying to remain positive, helping others, thinking about their relatives and trying to give them hope, underplaying the situation so as not to cause them distress.

What seems so awful if that so many were told to stay put, that they were safer in their offices than evacuating speedily. In fact the lady who took us round the Ground Zero site told us just that. She was in the second tower and she said that all they heard of the first explosion was a very quiet 'boom' as they were on the opposite side. The noise was not even sufficient to make them stop what they were doing. They continued working as they had no idea what had happened.

When they finally discovered that a plane had hit the first tower they, too, were told to stay at their desks. Even when they were hit they were still told to stay put, but their floor manager decided to evacuate them. The last she saw of him was him going round the floor checking that everyone was safely out. He was not so lucky. His courage and self sacrifice meant that many of her colleagues survived, but he did not.

Sadly, although the years have passed, this lady still cannot come to terms with the fact that she survived and other friends didn't. There was an immense sadness which was almost palpable emanating from her, but don't get me wrong, she was not seeking sympathy, she told her story with the utmost bravery. We felt humbled by her great courage in returning to the scene to tell the story, and to help others to understand not only the devastation, but also the hope.

[ellie]

A small part of the amazing memorial to the firemen who took part in the rescue operation.