My next trip to NY was the first Sunday after 9/11 -- one of the first days air travel resumed. I landed at night and crossing the bridge, I could see the absence of the towers and the eery glow of the rescue lights and smoke from the fires where the Twin Towers should have been.
I stayed in Time Square but felt compelled to walk down as close as I could, past the firestation in Greenwich Village where the walls were literally covered with posters of loved ones missing. I got as close as Houston St. where it was blocked to through traffic -- probably 5-6 blocks from the site. I saw one flat-bed truck after another leaving with cars that were crushed into 2-3 foot wrecks. I came back through Union Square where there were so many memorials and so many people from all over the world that it boggles the mind.
I arranged a family trip to NY during Christmas of 2001 to support NY City. Things had changed more dramatically at that point and the city was getting back on its feet. NY is resilient like the rest of the US and I want us all to remember what happened like this video shows without us ever losing hope. Sorry for rambling -- had to get it off my chest!
Wayne_Shrugged
Thanks for sharing that story. My sister-in-law was stuck in one of the trains under the trade center. She said that no one really knew what had happened but they were not being allowed off the train and people began to panic. She said there were actually stratch marks on the doors from people trying to claw them open. After some time, the train began to move again and went to the next stop where they were allowed to get off. It was then they began to see what was happening.
Days, weeks, months later people were so different in NY, she said. People were patient and kind. People greeted each other on the streets. The nation supported NY and New Yorker's supported each other. The epitome of the American spirit. When tragedy strikes we gather our strength and take the steps that are necessary to triumph over it. We needed someone who was able to lead us through that time. Thank God the New Yorkers had Rudy Guiliani. Thank God America had George Bush. I hope none of us ever forgets how important that is.