REFLECTING ON 9/11/01
I’ve been in New York since yesterday. It inspires awe to see the memory of the Pearl Harbor of my generation observed with dignity by the community that lived through it. Even McCain and Obama were here, setting aside their differences for the solemn occasion.
It was a time to remember the countless ordinary citizens who helped to save the lives of others that terrible day, and to reflect upon the sacrifices of the legion of public safety personnel who did not survive the disaster. I had dinner last night with Bill Allard, a plank holder on the famous NYPD Stakeout Squad. He and his famed partner Jim Cirillo were shot at many times, and sent many violent criminals to the morgue with deadly accurate return fire. When Stakeout was disbanded by a generation of city leaders who deemed shooting violent armed criminals to be politically incorrect, Bill transferred to the legendary Emergency Services Unit. Unique in American policing, the ESU is a high-risk unit that combined rescue work – digging victims out of subway crashes, getting jumpers off bridges and skyscraper ledges – with the function other cities called SWAT. Bill had been retired by the time 23 fellow ESU officers were killed in the collapse of the Twin Towers. He had spent yesterday at a unit memorial service for the ESU’s honored dead.
The firefighters, paramedics, and cops were the ones that charged into the danger as a sea of humanity fled from it. They and the many private citizens who saved lives on 9/11/01 wrote a chapter of courage and commitment into the pages of American history. One hopes that the magnitude of that single, cataclysmic incident will not obscure the fact that such sacrifices are made every day by the same kind of good people, in crises that are smaller in scope yet every bit as life-threatening.
May they always be remembered, and appreciated.
September 14th, 2008 at 1:25 am
“May they always be remembered, and appreciated.”
I lift my glass to you men and women of that day. I will never forget and I will strive to carry on what you stood for.
9/11 was one of the reasons I went back in to L.E.. I’m just glad that I was still young enough to go Federal.
Biker
September 14th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
“May they always be remembered, and appreciated.”
There are heroes that history makes known, and heroes that remain largely unknown, as they just “do their job”.
My hat’s off to both…THANKYOU!
Blaze
September 14th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hear! Hear!!
September 15th, 2008 at 10:34 am
“Always Remembered…”
I’ve always felt that one of the things that led to 9-11 has been the indoctrination of our culture to not respond. We are told to concede to the perpetrators, taught to be sheep. Told it’s wrong to intervene and to let the authorities take care of it.
We’ve seen this problem growing in our culture. Incidents like the beating of the woman on a NYC bridge as 30 people watch but none intervene until she jumps off the bridge to her death.
On 9-11, a few passengers decided that they would not sit quiet, they would not stand still. They too died in the crash of their airline, however, the people residing in the intended target of that plane remain alive today. That unknown target remains unknown to this day. Because brave people decided to act instead of awaiting the action of the authorities.
On 9-11, there were thousands of victims, but there were also hundreds of heroes. Those who rose up to the call, ran into buildings to save others, those who acted…
To me, that was a true shining moment of America. When Americans act for the greater good…we see a nobility unsurpassed. No greater love can someone show for fellow mankind than to lay their life down for others.
And while 9-11 was one of the greatest tragedies in America’s history. We also saw nobility and greatness that shall never be forgotten.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Mas, once again, your words ring true. (raises glass)
To those who dare, to those who share, to those who care…you will not be forgotten.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
In the Uk as much of europe it is fashionable to denigrate the people of the USA. One day they will waken and feel humbled by the huge number of americans who think of others and of coming to the aid of those in need , regardless of the consequences, above all considerations. They will compare that to their own selfish interests and feel humbled.
may they all go with god. amen
September 20th, 2008 at 2:13 am
I will NEVER forget 9/11/2001. That was a day that America showed its true courage. This country came together and reminded me of the stories of Dec 7, 1941. Everyone was an American, no political parties, just Americans. In the days that followed, I saw on TV more heros than at any other time in history. God Bless them all and God Bless America.