September 11, 2012
In Memory of September 11: The Spirit Of America! 0
As a native New Yorker the September 11th attacks have always served as a reminder of how great America is! As an American, each year I reflect on how terrorists attempted to break the American spirit by attacking our nation, and how we fought back with our resilient spirit! I will never forget watching the firefighters fight to save lives, while NYPD’s finest protected the innocent bystanders from hurt or harm. That spirit permeated through the streets of New York through the ruins and the rubble… That American spirit gave us hope and that spirit is still alive with us today.
The truth is we were all confused and broken on that day: September 11, 2001, the world watched in awe as The World Trade Center became Ground Zero … Americans wanted justice and we wanted peace. The broken hearts from the families who lost loved ones needed to be healed and the people who were injured needed the strength to live through 9/11′s effects. Emotionally we were all in the same boat people of all races, creeds, and religions… We were Americans and we were attacked. The night of 9/11 We all went to bed uneasy and unsure if there would be more attacks, we were vulnerable and we were scared. But amidst our pain and anguish, there were men and women who didn’t sleep that night or many nights to come. They stayed up night after night digging through debris in order to save the lives that terrorists tried to take away… They worked the night shifts at hospitals trying to revive and give life to those who were on their last breath. They visited their neighbors who lost their wives or husbands and they stayed with them, comforting them and giving them courage. That’s the spirit of America! When we are attached, we get back up with the help of our people; We give each other strength and that is what makes us the greatest nation in the world . We come together in solidarity and love for our country that believes and fights for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are Americans and on 9/11 we will “Always Remember and Never Forget”.
Now as I ride on the Staten Island Ferry marked with the words “Sprit of America” I know what that means, and I know what it especially means to a New Yorker… This free Staten Island Ferry ride has so much meaning, and as I feel the breeze from the Hudson River hit my face, I look at the Freedom Tower and I smile. I smile because we are no longer confused and broken by terrorists attacks. Justice has been served, and Ground Zero is now the Freedom Tower. Yes, we are still recovering but the spirit of America is alive, and it lives within the hearts of the American people.