Sept. 11, 2001, is for today's teen-agers what Pearl Harbor and John F. Kennedy's assassination were
Sept. 11, 2001, is for today's teen-agers what Pearl Harbor and John F. Kennedy's assassination were for generations of Americans before. If just for a moment, time stood still.
Fifty years from now, many of today's teen-agers will be grandparents, left to explain the terrible events of that day to generations to come.
With that in mind, The Vindicator asked a group of juniors and seniors at Mohawk High School in Bessemer, Pa., to write short essays answering this question: "It's Sept. 11, 2051, the 50th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America. Your grandchild asks you what that day was like. What do you say?"
I REMEMBER SO VIVIDLY that it was such a beautiful morning; the sky was so blue with the sunrise as a focal point. It's so paradoxical how such a tragedy happened on such a beautiful day.
Amid all that happened that day, I think what affected me more was what happened in the days following. The sunrise the next morning was an encouragement -- the world had not ended. The weekend after, I remember being able to see the stars as never before, because no planes had yet returned to the skies. Perhaps the most encouraging and memorable result of the tragedy was the unity we felt as Americans, the increase in American patriotism, and the fact that no matter what, God remained in control.
I WAS SITTING IN government class when our teacher walked in with a serious look on his face and told us what had happened. He said many people had died and others were wounded, and there was no telling if they would strike again. At this point a sense of terror ran through my body as I thought of my sister, Nicci, who lived in New York City. As Mr. Seltzer continued to talk, the room around me became a blur and the words he spoke were unheard.
After class I walked to the office to call home and see if there was any word of my sister. As the phone was ringing, tears filled my eyes as I waited for someone to pick up. Hearing that Nicci was fine, I was thankful and felt lucky, unlike the others who were not as fortunate.
FOR ME, THE REALITY of the attacks quickly struck home. A plane crash in western Pennsylvania immediately ignited my concern for the safety of my father, a truck driver. When I saw the crash site was not within his working area, I felt instant relief. In those short minutes, I learned how much I loved him and wanted him to remain in my life.
With the death of thousands of innocents, Sept. 11 was the tragedy of my generation. Life had been seemingly safe; but, in an instant, the world was permanently altered.
IT WAS TERRIFYING. I walked into chorus to find the TV on with this unforgettable image on the screen: The twin towers in New York City had gaping holes in the side of each tower, with flames leaping out of the holes. People jumped, desperately, out of the holes.
I remember wondering if the world was ending and if I was going to die that day.... A hijacked plane had flown over our area several times before crashing in a field about an hour away (in Somerset County, Pa.). Whatever innocence was left in America was lost on 9/11, and it has not since been restored.
IT WAS THE REBIRTH of a nation with a new vision unclouded by the haze of its apathetic manner. It was the surge of every emotion saturating the mind and soul at once. A nation was thrown into a raging sea of fear and anger only to be rescued by the inner strength and perseverance of its people and their convictions rooted in freedom and humanity. From the ashes of terror, our nation brilliantly emerged stronger than ever before. The United States, like the mythical phoenix, would not die. Life would continue for most, but could never be perceived as it had before.
I VISITED New York City in December of that year, while the fires at ground zero still burned. What I found in upper Manhattan was a molded city that maintained its holiday traditions and carried on united, patriotically. Lower Manhattan was a consecrated ground. No camera lens could fully capture the devastation of the city or the spirit in which it pressed onward. New Yorkers sent a message to the world and proved to me that America cannot be shattered.
IT WAS LIKE A DREAM.
I sat in physics class where our usually matter-of-fact teacher,
Stumbled in his reciting of the horrible events of the day.
Fear and amazement swept through me,
Like a cold shiver that races up your spine when you forget your coat in mid-November.
I can remember not knowing the severity of the situation,
But as I watched the first tower fall,
I could feel the hopes of so many people falling with it.
Period 4 physics class continued on that day,
As did the rest of the world,
With heavy hearts and blurred priorities.
Over time, peaceful focus was restored,
And priorities were altered for the better,
But this great nation will never forget that day.
The day all petty problems were forgotten,
And neighborhoods molded into brotherhoods
Again.
We have persevered.
MY GENERATION WAS more sheltered than any previous generation. To us ... war was something only fought on foreign ground. ... We could have never fathomed the helplessness that we felt [when the terrorists struck]. The invincible world we had grown up in imploded before our eyes. It happened so fast.
I remember being afraid to sleep that night. If they were capable of hijacking American airplanes, I could only imagine what else they could do. I had never been afraid of war because I never thought it applied to me. But now, war was closer than ever.
I REALIZED THAT there are people in this world who hate America, and who hate me for no other reason than that I am an American. I understood for the first time that the United States, the strongest and most powerful nation in the world, was able to be penetrated.
In the days that would follow, I was overcome with emotions. I felt fear, not for my life, but for my future, and sadness for the lives that were lost and the families who were shattered.
Yet, as I witnessed people rushing to donate blood, supplies and money, saw firemen and policemen risking their lives for others, and saw the red, white and blue flying high and proud, I was filled with pride.
THE ATTACKS WERE MEANT to make the United States weak and fearful. Despite our emotions, we pulled together. ... We can thank the terrorists. They did not make us weaker, but stronger. Patriotism increased as we worked together, but most importantly, a spiritual awakening and revival strengthened our nation.
RUMORS SPREAD LIKE wildfire in my gym class due to no reliable updates of the news and our flying imaginations. We all looked for planes in the sky to confirm the news and saw none. For the first time we'd rather have been back inside the school building instead of vulnerably walking the track outside...
WATCHING THE NEWS, I expected the broadcaster to suddenly say this was all a hoax. When the words were never spoken, time slowed and briefly came to a halt. ... Hopefully future generations will never experience another day of infamy, that only through listening to the memories of that day will they know what it is like to have time stand still.
AS I WAS SITTING IN class hearing a terrific tale, it felt as if I were having a nightmare, only I could not wake up. The feelings that rushed through me were anger, disbelief, sadness and despair. There was a feeling of hopelessness; no one could do anything but wonder when the destruction would be finished.
[WHEN I HEARD about the attacks,] I thought, "How could somebody do this to us? We are a free country and want the best for everyone." Then I realized that was exactly why the attacks happened. The group responsible did not like that we were so free.
WHEN I COMPARE myself to the millions of people that lost their homes, loved ones, jobs, etc., I know that I am fortunate that I am nowhere near as personally affected by this terror as they still are. The horror that those people have to live with for the rest of their lives is far worse than the numbness that I feel when my heart goes out to them.