Forgetting is not an option
Here is an article from News 12 in New Jersey, outlining how some people are commemorating 9/11. Every year I play this YouTube video of Alan Jackson singing “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning and shed a few tears.
Like many other people, I can clearly remember that day eighteen years ago when my daughter called me from Texas to tell me to turn on the television news. I was up and getting ready for work, but my husband was still asleep – an ironic turn around from the years he was up early and I was still asleep.
Anyway, I heard a note of panic in my daughter’s voice, so I went to the living room and switched on my television. My daughter was still on the line, and we both watched in horror as the second plane hit. I was stunned. Not even sure I could go to work, but I had to. I was working as a chaplain in a hospital at the time, and I thought of all the patients who were feeling the emotional impact of this tragedy on top of the hardships they were already experiencing.
If ever they needed a chaplain, it was that day.
I’ll never forget the somber atmosphere in the hospital. Or the special chapel service we had. Or the many stories that people shared that day of family and friends for whom they were concerned. We were far away in Omaha, Nebraska, but many of the patients had ties to people in New York and Washington DC where the two major attacks happened.
Slowly throughout the day the news was good for the majority of the patients, and we shared prayers of thankfulness.
So today, I will remember the people I worked with in the Pastoral Services Department, and the peace they helped to bring to people that day.
How are you marking the anniversary of that tragic day?
We should always remember. Even if it is just for a few moments of silent reflection.
So I’ll leave you to it.
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Now, two years after I wrote this post, we are marking the 20th anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers in New York. Today on Twitter I saw a mention of Brian Clark, who not only survived the impact of the plane hitting the south tower, he helped rescue Stanley Praimnath who was trapped on the 81st floor. Sixty-one of Clark’s co-workers were killed that day.
In an interview for Macleans Magazine, Clark said, โWeโre all blistered or oversaturated in the 20th anniversary, but my 20th anniversary is no different than your 20th anniversary.โ