September 11, 2006 Remembring 2001

Has it really been 5 years since that beautiful Tuesday morning 5 years ago? It does not seem like it has been that long. We all can remember where we were when we heard the news. We all remember the sadness and grief we felt for those who lost their lives in New York, Washington D.C. and Shanksville PA. We rejoiced for those we knew who survived or who were not near there that fateful day. We praised the rescue workers for the work they had to do. We remember the pictures of that day.

We became angry when we learned the "why" of the events. How could anyone be so cold to take passenger planes and fly them into buildings? If you are like me, you still don't totally "get it." How much evil must there be to do such a thing.

Five years later, there is still a hole in the city whre the two buildings once stood tall. This is what it looked like on August 9, 2006 from the Winter Garden in the rebulit World Fiinancial Center Building, I am not sure of the number. This building was also destroyed that day. There is such a gaping hole to remind us.

There are plans to build some buildings here and to have a memorial for the victims. Unfortunately, this has not been an easy road to decided what to do with this spot. Personally, the idea of putting up buildings would send a message to those who are bent on this type of destruction. The plan is ot have a reflecting pool and memorials on the site and below the reflecting pool is to be a chapel where family and friends of those who died can go.

It is also coming out about more victims of this destruction. The rescue workers and volunteers are beginning to show lung and other problems from breathing in the dust, dirt, ashes, asbestos. Yes, I say they are also victims from that day.

I pray that we can learn from this, take precautions against further acts of terror, but yet, not loet it consume us. If we let this consume us, then the terrorists have another victory from that day.

Walking around New York, seeing the site, talking with people who were in the city that day was quite an experience. The people of New York are friendly, helpful people and love their city. They remember and want us to remember too. It has taken time for Lower Manhattan to "bounce" back, but it has. There are many things happening there and their is resilience there. People are returning to the area that they had to leave.

Also, let us not forget the Pentagon which also suffered destruction and loss. Michelle was by there about a year later and the Pentagon area had been finished. At that time, you could tell a difference in the brick of the area that had been damaged. Also, let us not forget United Flight 93 and the men and women on that plane who decided that this plane was not going to hit another building. I would say that was the first act of our war on terrorism.

Yes, We Remember 9-11-01 How can we foreget?