9-11 Tribute

My 13^th birthday started like any other. I woke up around 7am to my radio alarm clock. I laid in bed for a bit like I always do just singing away to one of my favorite songs. I remember getting this happy feeling followed by a mini adrenaline rush as I thought about being a teenager, starting a new year, and feeling a little more “adult.” As my mind paraded in my happy thoughts, I started to get ready for the day. I remember singing along to the song that played until the radio announcer quickly got on the air to announce that New York’s Twin Towers were on fire a large explosion of some sort. As I left my room I walked into the living room only to find on our TV one of the Twin Towers on fire. People on the news seemed panicked as they kept going back and forth about what had happened. I kept thinking, “Was it a bomb? What’s going on? I don’t understand.” With nothing more than confusion on my mind I went to school. Teachers had the news on in all of the classrooms. My friends kept talking about how LA was next. I was so overwhelmed and numb all day.

When I got home my parents told me that my birthday party would have to be postponed. Instead we had a family dinner, sat around the table, and wept. Our thoughts turned to those that innocently died that day, to the families that lost their loved ones, and together we prayed for the one thing we needed most…Hope.

It has been almost 10 years since the September 11^th attacks. To this day Ground Zero remains empty. It has become a sort of holy ground in the Middle of the busy and crowded city New York. Though people have returned to their daily routines and time has passed we must not forget the inspirational people that risked their lives that day, the heroes that overcame fear of death and those that stayed loyal to helping their fellow men in the thick of danger.

Throughout the years pictures and stories about the September 11 attacks have always inspired me to be a better person. Out of a total of 2,819 people that died that day 366 were firefighters, NY police officers and paramedics. Meaning, 366 people that weren’t even in the Twin towers and were safe that instead chose to go into the WTC as it was on fire to help people get out. One inspiring true story about two NYPD officers John McLoughlin and William J. Jimeno put fear of death behind them as they ran into the burning South tower basement to get people out. When the tower began to collapse, they quickly jumped into an elevator shaft. Seargent McLoghlin was buried under 30 Feet of Rubble and Officer Jimeno was buried under 15 Feet of Rubble. Officer Mcloghlin recalled the event as “I like to think God had a guardian angel on each of us. It took three hours for them to reach me, another eight to save John. I have physical injuries, but the emotional scars are worse."

Another amazing survival story that inspires me very much is of a Blind Man named Omar Rivera and his dog Dorado. Omar worked as a Computer Technician in the North Tower on the 71^st floor of the WTC. His touching story brought me to tears when I read his remarks. He said, “I stood up and I could hear how pieces of glass were flying around and falling. I could feel the smoke filling up my lungs and the heat was just unbearable. Not having any sight I knew I wouldn't be able to run down the stairs and through all the obstacles like other people. I was resigned to dying and decided to free Dorado to give him a chance of escape…. So I unclipped his lead, ruffled his head, gave him a nudge and ordered Dorado to go. I found myself on my own for several minutes amid the pandemonium. But then, I felt a familiar, fuzzy nudge from knee-high. Dorado returned to my side a few minutes later and guided me down 70 flights and out into the street. It was slow going because there were so many people struggling to get out but Dorado kept nudging me down step by step. It took more than an hour for Dorado and I to descend those 70 flights of stairs. Not long after we reached the ground and gotten to safety, the tower collapsed. I owe my life to Dorado—my companion and best friend."

I am sure there were many heroes that rose that day amid the devastation whose stories we will never be told. However, I know that their legend is still in my heart and every year on my birthday I will always remember that 9-11 day when America untied together, heroes stood tall, and people helped their fellow men in the thick of danger. Their story is my story and it will always be remembered.