IN HONOR OF THE TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11
Today, we gather to be reassured that God hears the lamenting and bitter weeping of Mother America because so many of her children are no more. Let us now seek that assurance in prayer for the healing of our grief stricken hearts, for the souls and sacred memory of those who have been lost.
~Rev. Nathan Baxter, Dean of Washington National, September 14, 2001
On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was up very early which for a non morning person always proved a challenge. It was 5:50 A.M. PST, half dressed and with wet hair, I turned on Good Morning America and heard Charlie Gibson reporting that a plane
had hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. I paused and thought how tragic but, the clock was ticking so, I dashed around making coffee, feeding the dog, pressing my blouse when at 6:03 A.M. PST the second plane hit. I sat down on the couch and was transfixed for the remainder of day and for many days and weeks to follow. Our world would never be the same.
I know each of us intensely remembers where we were when this tragedy occurred and the emotions run deep. Today is for remembering and honoring those lost in this tragic event that is so vividly told through numbers:
Total time of attacks: 102 minutes
Total number killed in attacks: 2 985 people (including the 19 terrorists)
Number of children who died: 8, the youngest child was only 2 years old, and the oldest child was 11
Estimated number of children who lost a parent: 3,051
Percentage of Americans who knew someone hurt or killed in the attacks: 20
Number of firefighters and paramedics killed: 343
Number of NYPD officers: 23
Number of Port Authority police officers: 37
Number of WTC companies that lost people: 60
Number of employees who died in Tower One: 1,402
Number of employees who died in Tower Two: 614
Number of people who died on Flight 93: 44
Number of people who died at the Pentagon: 184
Number of days international flights were banned: 3
Number of days NY Stock Exchange was closed: 6
Number of days fires continued to burn after the attack: 99
Number of months it took to clear debris at WTC: 9
Tons of debris removed from WTC site: 1,506,124
Jobs lost in New York owing to the attacks: 146,100
Estimated amount donated to 9/11 charities: $1.4 billion
Estimated number of New Yorkers suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder as a result of 9/11: 422,000
Sources: New York Magazine; 9/11 Memorial Site; wave3.com
SIMPLE WAYS TO HONOR AND SUPPORT:
VISIT the National 9/11 Memorial website or the actual site which opens to the public on September 12. My husband, George, and I will be in NY next month and plan to visit the site to honor two friends that he lost ten years ago today: Jude Moussa, 35, who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald and Raymond Metz, 37, who worked for Euro Brokers. Both were vibrant men that died far too young.
POST A PRAYER at Prayers for Peace.org: On the memorial wall, you are invited to post memories, prayers, and words of encouragement on a special page created for each person.
TAKE PART in the 9/11 Video Quilt hosted by PBS NewsHour: you are invited to submit a 90-second video of how the events on Sept. 11, 2001 impacted your life.
GIVE $11 to help build VOICES of September 11th’s Living Memorial. This online interactive tribute commemorates the lives and stories of 9/11 and will preserve them in perpetuity for future generations of Americans.
LIGHT A VIRTUAL CANDLE at Gratefulness.org to honor the families and friends of those lost
WRITE A TRIBUTE at Project 2996 blog
LIKE THE FACEBOOK APP at Remembering 9/11: Where Were You?
HEARTBREAKING BEAUTY:
A friend recently shared that one of the vivid memories she holds on that fateful day was all the paper fluttering about. Out of context, the image is quite beautiful…confetti dancing against a blue sky…so light and carefree….then reality shakes you and the millions of pieces of paper becomes overwhelming and heart breaking knowing that we can never put the pieces back together again. Our hearts will never forget.
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