Fourteen years ago, your entire world was covered in smoke. The world seemed to come to a halt at exactly 8:46 am, when the first hijacked plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. We all watched in horror as the worst terrorist attack in American history plagued our eyes and ears, filling the air with fear and hopelessness. For those of us who are still here today, we look back on September 11th, 2001, as the day hell became a reality. In those hours between the fall of the iconic Twin Towers, the world held its breath while you held your own amidst the crumbling steel and immense heat.
I know you close your eyes today and hear the screeching of the melting steel looming above you. I can imagine that you can still feel the thick smoke surrounding you until the world became a deep gray. You did what a lot of people could never imagine doing; you went into those buildings, or you waited until the dense smoke cleared to sift through all the rubble in hopes that a hidden voice would find it’s way towards you. I know that you stopped dead in your tracks as the second plane hit, and you prayed that your family would always know that you loved them. You thought about your wife, husband, children, mother, father, brothers and sisters, and hoped that you would get to hear their voices and feel their touches one more time. But you knew that you were put on this earth for a reason. You knew that someone out there was praying along with you, but instead, they were praying that you would be the first face they saw when the ashes drifted away.
I can only imagine the pain you felt when you heard that some of your friends and family didn’t make it out. I know you felt angry and confused as to why someone would do something like this. I know that even 14 years later, you may feel as if it should have been you under the beams and rubble, but please know you are a walking blessing. Please understand that you are a crucial part of the story. Know that there are people out there who are reunited with their families and cherishing every second of their lives because of you. Know that the minute you ran through the smoke and the screams, you saved someone’s life.
Fourteen years later, you stand beside the reflecting pools at the 9/11 Memorial, and the dark memories always flood back. You stand beside the footprints of the buildings that collapsed right before your eyes, and you feel that same despair deep within your core. I know that looking at those beautifully etched names alongside the pools set your heart racing, and that familiar pain will never truly disappear. You’ll always wonder how something like this could have happened, and you’ll always hear the snapping of the steel and the roar of the planes overhead. But because of you, people have walked away from the terror with another chance at life. Because of you, heaven emerged out of the pits of hell. We are all here today because of your efforts, and we are able to stand united under the flag, hoping one day justice, kindness, and peace will win. You risked your life on that pitiful day 14 years ago, and we remain forever thankful and blessed to know that you are still with us.
I’m sure that many people have used the word “hero” around you since that day. I’m sure that deep inside, you are proud of your country and it’s ability to rise up against those who don’t believe in redemption. I hope you look up at the Freedom Tower and smile, knowing you are part of the reason this country had the strength to rebuild. Know that we stand by you and salute you for all that you have done for the city of New York and for this entire country. Know that you are a true hero, and for 14 years or 400 years, we will always remember that.
Sincerely,
A Proud and Thankful American
