9/11: Your reflections
In recent weeks, Metro launched a 9/11 tribute site and invited you to share your thoughts and feelings as the 10 year anniversary approached. Here are some of your comments. Thanks for sharing, Metro readers!
Alana Munro, Cleveland, OH: You could hear a pin drop throughout my entire high school as friends and foes sat together watching coverage of the 9/11 tragedies. A mere two months later, my best friend and I made a trip to Ground Zero to witness firsthand the unbelievable destruction that changed our lives forever. A day and experience that we will never forget.
Blake Rymer, Etowah, TN: So much has changed in 10 years, I’m so proud to be an American! I hope we all can reflect back on that day, and remember the sacrifices that have been made and will continue to be. Thank you to all the troops who have served and will serve!
Per Mikael Jensen, London, UK: Will never, ever forget, for obvious reasons. Having visited NYC probably 40 times it really was incomprehensible to watch the footage coming out of NYC, just could not believe the pictures. Till this day, passing by Ground Zero every time I’m in NYC, always makes me stop for a while and think about all these people who either died or lost their beloved ones or friends. Ground Zero made a lot of sense as a place to mourn. It will forever be one of the strongest Landmarks to me.
Luisa Caro-Taveras, Bronx, NY: sigh..10 yrs still seems unreal. I can remember that morning, as if it were yesterday….and the days that followed, how hope became despair & then hope again; when strangers became friendly faces & we all shared the same pain and the same strength. All those beautiful souls watch over us now.
Troy Moslemi, New York, NY: My son’s due date was on 9/11, and I was at a court hearing trying to get a case continued so I could attend the birth of my son. A few minutes before 9am, I was listening to a Miami DJ talk about an “airplane accident” in New York, but I had to rush into the courthouse to be at the hearing on time. There was horrible traffic heading toward the hospital from downtown after the hearing. Another lawyer later told me that the Miami police had gone into every tall building downtown and told people they had to leave.
Nicole Nordeste, Northeastern: This is one of the only days in my life for which I can say I remember exactly where I was, what I was doing and what I saw on TV. I wish I could say that about something to celebrate…but this was and is an incredible tragedy. My ongoing condolences to the families of the men and women who were lost on 9/11.
Michael Meloni, Astoria, NY: I was a Freshman in high school that year. My second full day of classes. I could see Manhattan from the North side of my school. the shades were drawn in the morning due to the sun but in the afternoon I will never forget seeing the cloud of smoke billowing from downtown. It is hard to believe 10 years have passed and I will never forget those people who lost their lives for each and every one of us. I have also watched the cleanup and rebuilding of the WTC site. It will one day be a beautiful place again. For all of those watching down on us may God Bless You and God Bless America!
Michael Gregor, Philadelphia, PA: I remember 5-6 fraternity brothers cramped into my room listening to Howard Stern (who far and away had the best coverage that morning) describe the carnage in tragic and horrifying detail. No one even drank that night, we just stared up at a quiet, motionless sky. Never forget.
Jennifer Utterback, Mexico City, Mexico: Being an American living abroad for the last 16 yrs, didn´t make it any less painfull, as I remember getting out of the shower and thinking that some “pilot” had made a terrible wrong decision. I still remember going to my office in Mexico and crying as I cont´d to watch the coverage with huge speculation and looking to make some sense out the unthinkable. My heart went out and continues to go out to all of the families´. The amazing display of courage and solidarity is the only lesson I can find in this great tragedy.
Annmariee Heeran, Belle Harbor, NY: Never Forget my brother Charles Frances Xavier Heeran…Tower 1..Cantor Fitzgerld…GOD BLESS all the 9-11 Families. I lost my brother when I was a junior in college…hard to believe it will be 10 years! My wish is to have one more conversation with him to tell him I love him. I would never in my life think this would happen to my family. This has changed me so much. LIVE, LAUGH & LOVE! NEVER FORGET!
Demetra Balodimas, Queens, NY: I was working in Manhattan at the time, and remember walking over the bridge with my sister who was pregnant…trying to keep her calm, but really not knowing what would happen next, kind of frozen. I grew up being able to see the Twin Towers from Queens, and at that moment it was like all those memories were erased. What I do remember clearly though on that day, and the days following 9-11, was that New York suddently became a very small town, where people said good morning to strangers and held the door for each other…it was weird…but really nice… and it made me proud to be a New Yorker. My heart goes out to all the grieving families on this 10th anniversary…
Erik McKay, New York, NY: Ten years ago I was running for my life some 6 blocks away, knowing that my ex-girlfriend, whom we were still friends worked for Cantor, Jacqueline P. Sanchez. I even applied for a job there myself 2 years before. But morei importantly she lost her life and I think about her everyday. Sometimes, I still cry wishing things were so much different. She is my inspiration to keep moving on, keep living and loving. 10 years still feel like 10 days ago.
