It seems as if it were only yesterday that I wrote this post somberly reflecting on the five-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. I could remember exactly what I was doing on Sept. 11, 2001 and all of the events in the days that followed, as we tried to move forward as a nation. It’s two years later and I can still remember everything. I’m sure I’ll remember everything three years from now – even twenty years from now.
It’s something that stays with you. No matter where you go or what you do, how can you forget? How do you forget the innocent lives lost and the heroes who rose and fell all in the name of Liberty, in the name of Freedom?
I ‘d like to share a small “video”** from a few years ago when I was still in college. Our group presentation topic was the “Future of PR.” While we spoke about previous trends in the industry and looked to the future, we couldn’t forget looking at how the industry, – the world was affected by this tragedy.
I honestly can’t watch that without getting teary-eyed. The situation is still very real and it’s something we have to deal with every single day, not just once a year. It’s also still a living nightmare for some more than others.
Every year since the attacks, people choose to mark this particular day in their own way, whether it’s gathering together with loved ones or visiting the crash sites. As we know, official memorials are in the works to be dedicated on the tenth anniversary, just three years away. Yet, the troubling thing is that both the World Trade Center Memorial and the Flight 93 Memorial are experiencing delays due to ballooning costs, financial pledges that have yet to be made good, and whatever other excuses they’re using.
This isn’t a sign of progress – that we’re moving forward as a nation. Something has to give here. The promise was made to memorialize these people and give permanent tribute to the sacrifice. It’s time that that promise becomes reality.
I’d like to defer now to a post from “M” at the Burgh Baby blog, who shares beautiful photos from the Flight 93 Memorial as it is now. (I also encourage you to click around on her site, as all September ad revenue will be donated to the Flight 93 Memorial Fund. As a plus, her posts are hysterical or thought provoking, so I highly recommend her blog).
What more can I say other than I hope that we can see this through and get back to what really matters: honor and remembrance.
**All rghts to photos/music in the .wmv file are retained by their respective owners. I will remove the video upon request.
I couldn’t agree more. Remember those days and nights following 9/11 when flags were flying outside every home, neighbors stood outside chatting, entire cities lit candles in unison, and we felt “together?” I want that back, but I don’t want to have another 9/11 to get there.
Thanks for spreading the word on the Flight 93 Memorial as well.
I agree. How can we go back to that? The fact that everyone put aside their political differences and united seems like a dream. Now, we’re here seven years later ripping everything apart, still stuck in a long war overseas and here at home.
I hope we never have to see another event similar to 9/11 in our lifetime, and if that’s what it takes to unite everyone, well … that’s sad.
[...] click-through extravaganza over at Burgh Baby. (I mentioned the month-long initiative in my recent 9/11 post). I’m really trying to drive the point home because this is in the name of helping to [...]