Never Forget - 9/11

Today marks 25 years since the horrendous terror attack on the World Trade Centre in New York. I want to use the blog this week to honour those who died and why I believe we should never forget that day.

“Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning”, a truly poignant song written by Alan Jackson and in my view this song sums up the day more than anything I’ve heard or read since. 9/11 is one of those events which everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard the awful news. For me, I was at home, a day off work and was in our living room with my dad and randomly an engineer from Sky who was setting up our equipment. While tuning the TV, we had it on CNN when the news came that the first tower had been hit. At first, staring in disbelief but thinking at that time that this was a tragic accident. When the second plane hit, we all looked at each other and realised in unison that this was no accident. I don’t remember the man’s name, I have never seen or spoken to him since, but my dad and I shared that historic moment with the man from Sky. I often wonder, does he ever speak to his family about what he was doing that day and says he was in a customer’s living room. Complete strangers tied by a shared remembrance of witnessing one of the world’s most horrendous events. At the time I worked for an American company and saw in the days and weeks following the impact this had on my friends and colleagues.  

We remained glued to the news for the rest of the day and indeed, days after. The world did stop turning that day. The world we knew before was gone forever. Air travel, travel on public transport and attending large public events all changed. We all know the changes that have been seen over the years since. We lost freedom and that freedom was replaced by caution, fear and suspicion.

We mourn the loss of the people in those buildings when the planes hit as well as the extremely brave firefighters who ran into danger to try and save people, unknown to them that the towers would subsequently fall and engulf them along with those already trapped. We remember those who have sadly died since as a result of the fallout when the towers fell. The images of people covered in dust is one of the lasting memories from that day and an incredibly powerful depiction of the horrors people endured then and for years after. We remember those in the other planes which hit the Pentagon and the incredibly brave passengers who prevented the 4^th plane hitting any location in Washington. Also included in our memories should be the soldiers who have sadly died while fighting terror in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Regardless of your views on whether we should have fought those wars is irrelevant today. What matters is that those soldiers were sent there as a direct result of what happened on 9/11 and their memories are as equal to those who died in the initial attack. Today, we also mourn those who have been murdered in subsequent terror attacks throughout the world since. The threat didn’t die when those towers fell, it increased, is a greater threat than ever and we all know how vigilant we need to be at all times.  

Anyone who has visited the 9/11 memorial in New York will know how deeply moving a memorial it is. I was honoured to be able to visit in 2017 during a family holiday. Every part of the museum and memorial is incredibly powerful. The personal items, the voice recordings from people who knew it would probably be their last call to loved ones and the tragic sense of loss. All as a result of people with radical beliefs who brought a reign of terror that was not only felt by America but the wider world. One part of the museum which highlights to me perfectly how quickly life can change is a photograph, taken that morning of the skyline while the towers were still standing, taken just minutes before the first plane hit. A beautiful morning, blue sky and minutes later the world had changed forever. Another part I found extremely emotional was bikes, still chained up. People who cycled to work that day and were never there to collect them to go home. These are just some things which stood out to me but from the minute walking in, till the minute I left, I felt upset and moved to tears throughout but more than anything I see it as tribute to innocent people who ultimately, were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would encourage anyone who visits New York to go to the memorial and walk through the museum, it stands as a reminder of what happened, a tribute to all involved and ensures we never forget. The only other place I have ever felt as deeply moved was a visit to the concentration camp, Dachau. Two places which represent the result of what happens when hatred and terror manifest as a belief.

One other thing which has always struck me about the day, is how people avoided being in those buildings purely as a result of forgetting something, a missed train or sleeping in and missing their alarm. I greatly believe in fate and something intervened that day to ensure they weren’t there.

One story which I find hugely uplifting in the midst of such horror is the story of the people who found themselves in the tiny town of Gander in Newfoundland. 38 planes carrying 7,000 passengers who were diverted there as a result of US air space being closed. A small town opened their homes and their hearts and welcomed strangers who had no idea when they would be able to leave to get home. People who were understandably worried and terrified for their loved ones at home in America who were under attack. They had no idea if more was to come and they were miles away in a tiny town in Newfoundland. This story is depicted in a book and now stage show called Come From Away and if you ever get the chance to see the show then please do. It's a story of how even in the darkest of times when strangers are thrown together that true kindness does exist even in the midst of tragedy.

I’ll end as I started with a line from Alan Jackson's “where were you when the world stopped turning” and it is this:

“I’m just a singer of simple songs, I’m not a real political man, I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran. But I know Jesus and I talk to God and I remember this from when I was young. Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us and the greatest is love.”

Let us never forget the people who died on 9/11 and their relatives and let us never forget to love over hate.