We are now approaching the 11th anniversary of 9/11. Like many of my fellow Americans, I seem to be reflecting on that year that was.
First of all this date brings out emotions of anger and feelings of loss of so many good people. Let’s look at the numbers first at the WTC. The total was 2,823. of those 23 were police officers, 34 Port Authority officers, 343 Firefighters. At the Pentagon, 125 were killed not to mention those on flight 91 where an additional 40 died fighting terrorists and crashed in Shanksville, PA.
These may be purely numbers, but every soul lost had a story to tell and did in the months to come. And many of us would read these stories and feel that we knew them too. This evil act took place on Sept.11, 2001 at 8:46 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston hit the North tower and we were in shock. Than United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower and we knew we were under attack.
This nefarious and egregious act of hate caused our spirit to swell with a renewed sense of patriotism. Flags were flying all over the country. Churches and temples were full. America was hard at work raising money to help the victims. On TV funerals were being broadcast for yet another fallen hero, brave men and women, especially firemen and police officers, who died. It truly was a time that did try mens souls. It was was also a time where strangers became as friends as we banded together to fight a common foe.
I remember serving as an usher a few days after the attack for a member of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus at St. Anastasia Parish in Douglaston where we had a special service for all the community to pray for the victims and their families. At this service a woman came up to me to ask where she should put her prayer cards. At that moment she broke down and cried. I later learned that her husband who was a retired firefighter died at the scene what was later called Ground Zero.
It made me feel very sad. I found so many people that lost loved ones or knew someone and there were many towns that had lost someone all over Long Island. I remember walking one Sunday after the attack to the Whistler Stop next to the Long Island Railroad in Little Neck. I was walking behind a young woman who was jogging. The gate had just come down and this woman tried to get under it to cross but a police officer stopped her. She remarked at that and said “He is right I don’t want to die, I have just lost my husband at the WTC.”
I wish I had said something to comfort her but I was lost for the right words. I later had some time to reflect and thought to myself, here was a woman who had lost her husband so young. They probably had many hopes and dreams of a life together and now the dream had died on that day.
In closing, as I am reflecting on that day of infamy of Sept. 11, 2001. I remember being at work at Northest Plumbing in Great Neck and we had gotten a call from a co-worker who was at home on his computer who told us the North Tower had fallen. This was the beginning of many sad things that day. We knew that day we were at war. But as things would be, we were blessed with good leaders and through the words of our Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, who said we will get through this and he was right, not to mention the help we received from our governor George Pataki.
We also heard from our president , George W. Bush , who said, “evil doers will pay for what they did this day, for you cannot hide.”
As Americans, we have been through a lot but we did survive. Things were at there very worst we found ourselves to be at our very best. As time goes on we must never forget and must tell our children and grandchildren of that fateful day. We found a renewed spirit and a deeper sense of spirituality and a determination to do what was neccessary to overcome the evil on that day. Remember this too: we are one nation under God, so may God bless America.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Glen Oaks Village
