9/11: New York City and the Twin Towers

I'd like to preface this poetic piece I wrote in 2001 by sharing that I visited New York City in March of 2008 with my good friend, Joseph.

I wallowed in the walks we took by and through many of the local landmarks like the Museum of Modern Art, the city's behemoth and architecturally ornate library (not to mention the wealth of archived books), Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Broadway, The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building (I happily stayed on the ground level) and of course, I could only stare and ponder the remains of Ground Zero. The site had been excavated, leaving a deep, city-block-wide hole in the ground, cordoned off with neon orange-colored netting around the perimeter. 

I remember that 9/11/2001 fell on a Tuesday. I was married back then and my husband, Peter, called at around 7:30 a.m. suggesting that I turn on the television. I thought the news station was replaying something that had happened hours earlier because even the reporters and the anchors seemed confused about whether a commercial aircraft had accidentally crashed into one tower, when the second aircraft made a direct beeline for the remaining tower.  What I was watching just couldn't be happening. It took me a few minutes to discern that the news cameras were capturing real-time events. 

As the morning unfolded, more reports erupted about a third aircraft purposefully crashing into the Pentagon and another, perhaps coincidental, crash was thwarted in an open field somewhere in Pennsylvania. All four of the aircraft's passengers perished.

Here I was, safe, warm and perplexed in the safety of my home watching a multitude of epic disasters unfold. I was drinking coffee, glued to the television, when I had a fleeting, firefighter thought: both of the towers are going to pancake collapse sending debris all over the city for miles around. But, I could be wrong, after all, I'm retired from the fire service. What do I know? 

No sooner did I discount my arm-chair critique when the Twin Towers toppled. I instinctively knew that the death and injury toll of both civilians, of the New York Fire Department and other public safety personnel, exponentially multiplied in an instant. 

The other thought that I had was to keep my 4-year-old son, Juan, home from preschool that day while I touched base with everyone I knew and loved.

On the eve of such a tumultuous anniversary, television documentaries abound, mostly focusing on stories of faith, of hope, of recovery, of divine intervention, of split-second decisions, of heroism and of survival. Of those who did survive the mayhem, the multiple trauma and the uncertainty, many miracles prevailed, as defined by the very survivors themselves. 

As Joseph and I meandered around Ground Zero in 2008, there were many other people meandering, too.  But for the sound of street noise, there was a veil of complete and utter silence coupled with expressions of gratitude.

****  The Greatest Gift (John 15:13) ***

They went running in, full gear,While panicked crowds were running out, As I watched in gaping silence, My mind was filled with doubt. 

What I saw was true, indeed, Reports I heard, insane, For who would trample U.S. soil, To inflict deliberate pain? 

On unsuspecting people, Making breathless, frantic calls, Crying goodbye to loved ones, From within the towers’ walls? 

When the multiple alarms had sounded, Calling valor to the floors, Not one hero did hesitate, To march through the firehouse doors. 

They did not know the details, This call surpassed routine, Words could not describe the horror, Of what was heard and seen. 

Smoke and flames were churning,In the morning sky, And as they neared the incident, Dazed people shuffled by. 

Armed with untold bravery, They knew the task at hand, Would be a tortuous nightmare, Time passed like moistened sand. 

Through the hourglass of life, Courageous mystery, Ascension into the smoke-filled torches, Would change each history. 

Undaunted, mindful, confident, They tossed aside all fear, Donning the mask of gallantry, While wiping victims’ tears. 

They didn’t stop to look behind, They knew what lie ahead, I wonder what they thought about, What pictures filled their heads?

I know it was not death, Nor was it injury, Only thoughts to rescue them, In unscathed victory. 

From the safety of my quiet home, I could not believe my eyes, When the fractured towers toppled, From the New York City skies. 

Two-hundred, plus, of New York’s finest, Lost in one fell swoop, Brothers, sisters, moms and dads, An embattled firefighting troop. 

Did they see their lives before them, In one big flash of light? Did they feel their human souls, Take on ethereal flight? 

Did they know that they were loved? Did they know that they were brave? Did they know that we were cheering, When we saw some people saved? 

Did the angels rush to greet them, To show them where to go? Did Jesus call them by a name, That only he would know?

In a place of utter beauty, Beyond a worldly dream, Choirs of angels singing praise,“Welcome home, our rescue team.” 

Where loving spirits recalled, Encounters on the Earth, All the folks who touched their lives, From the time of destined birth.

When they met the Lord Almighty, In all of His blazing glory, He embraced them in eternal love, While telling them a story: 

“I appointed you to post, A job tough, yet so divine, Watching over others’ safety, While working on the line. 

Feel free to hang your turnouts, And stow away your gear, Next to my big coffee table, Past the gates and to the rear.

Wings of gold await you, As equipment to endow. Michael, the Archangel, Is your B.C., now. 

Don’t think that you’ve retired, There's still much work to do, Pick up your wings and take to flight, Heaven’s job is new. 

You’re my guardian force, The best we have to date, I’m sending you to safeguard, The blessed United States. 

North and south and east and west, Four corners of the nation, Will be your post on stand-by, Like your earthly fire station.

When your brothers are running in, full gear, While panicked crowds are running out, All will watch in gaping silence, As I remove all doubt. 

That what they see is true, indeed, And not at all insane, They’ll recall the foremost law, An action never feigned. 

Faith and hope and charity, Precious gifts from God above. But laying down your life for others, Is the greatest gift of love." ~