I won't even begin to equate the magnitude of the devastation to families who lost their loved ones to the loss of buildings or even an attack on a country. I cannot imagine the individual pain people feel when they lose someone they love, especially when they are 'taken' away. I remember Sept. 11, 2001. I stood like many, mouth agape watching as the sort of odd 'little' news story unfolded after a plane crashed into the trade center. I didn't even begin to think of the loss of life at that point. It seemed at first like it was some sort of weird incident where somebody didn't know what they were doing and had a terrible accident. Then the second hit and still I thought, wow maybe its an air traffic controller who is misguiding things. When the plane hit the Pentagon I knew we were under attack...but still I was standing there as if I didn't know what to do. I had never felt less like a journalist as I did right then....that is until later that day when I was sent to photograph reactions of people watching the news at Allegheny College. Again I watched the TV news repeating the second plane flying into the building and looking at people react...my camera on my lap. I missed every picture I saw because I too was numb. I had stood under those towers twice in my life and rode an elevator to the top once. I made a few pictures of the buildings, but not really of the people around or in the buildings. It is strange to me that I used to place such importance to the buildings themselves. Yes they were architectural marvels in many ways, but they were just stuff--steel, concrete, rivets, glass...etc... Its the people lost that is the tragedy. I don't even equate the attack on America as high--we're a strong country--we can survive attacks---in fact we're likely to defend out ideal for eternity. I have a friend who didn't know if her best friend was ok for several hours. He worked there. Thankfully he was ok, but the pain that my friend must've felt cannot be measured....though in retrospect it must pale in comparison to those who suffered the same pain only to find out their fears were true. It has been 10 years since 9/11/01 and I can't say we have done everything right since then as a country, but that still doesn't take away the fact that the folks that set up this country were really, really on to something...its our duty to see to it that what they knew to be right is somehow realized perpetually and doesn't loose focus. Photograph from 1986 during Hands Across America by Richard Sayer.
AMEN and AMEN. I,too, remember that awful morning 10 years ago, while talking with your brother and watching it all happen on TV. Every 9/11 since then has been expecially emotional for me. I will attend a special service in the morning, and then just be quiet and think, and meditate for the other parts of the day. Yes, America will survive, but we can not become complacent as there are those who hate us and want to do harm. So we must be watchful and report anything that does not seem right. OK enough from your old mother. Good night. Sleep tight!
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Mom
9/10/2011 01:02:14 pm
I forgot to tell you that this picture is just awesome. You will forever have a piece of history most of us were not privy to. Thanks for sharing.
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Rita
9/10/2011 01:19:21 pm
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Rita
9/10/2011 01:21:29 pm
Exquisite photo. Well thought and well expressed.
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Kim Shilling
9/11/2011 11:05:40 am
I want to schedule an appointment for my son to have senior pictures taken - please repley via email or my cell 573-2574