I wrote the following essay 10 years ago, just one week after the 9/11 attacks. I wanted to share it with you today on the 10th anniversary of this tragic event.
Heart of the American People
A Free World in Shock
One week has past since the attack on American soil. The images of September 11th, 2001 are branded in our minds. No words do justice in describing the horror as it unfolded in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. The deepest scars will belong to those who watched firsthand as the skies exploded over their heads and saw victims jump from the fires, hundreds of feet to their deaths. And only minutes later, they witnessed the mammoth skyscrapers crumble into dust, blinding and choking those who ran for cover. The victims’ loved ones whose lives have been destroyed will endure the most difficult road, yet all of us will bear marks from this day.
Manhattan Skyline: 1980s Twin Towers and the Empire State Building
As America and the world looked on in shock, myriad emotions took hold of our very souls. Shock, confusion, despair, fear, sorrow, and anger engulfed us as we watched our buildings collapse and thousands of lives extinguished before our eyes. Hope, pride and resolve, came in the aftermath as the country pulled together as never as never before in my lifetime.
I was only one of millions of Americans that shed tears this past week. Tears from our country’s leaders, reporters, doctors, and rescuers were common images. New York fire fighters lost more men in those horrifying minutes of September 11th than in the last 135 years combined. The images and tears from our bravest men are almost too much to bear. All Americans feel the pain of the “hooded men” as they continued to work to save lives.
The Great Towers
The World Trade Center in New York was more than tall buildings. People from 22 countries had offices in them. Situated within walking distance from Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, the towers represented international commerce for the entire free world. The two structures accounted for 20% of the office space in lower Manhattan. More importantly, they represented our economic system.
Tens of thousands worked or visited the World Trade Center each day. Built in the early 70′s, the twin towers were a marvel to embrace. When erected, they were the tallest buildings in the world. People from around the globe would come and crane their necks to look up upon the towers in awe. I did on several occasions.
Susan poses on top of the South Tower of the World Trade Center in NY- John Urogdy 1999
My last visit was on December 30th, 1999. The elevator ride alone was an experience, as my wife and I rose to the top at an incredible speed. I stood on the observation deck of Tower II and looked upon the city of New York. The experience was incredible. I looked toward uptown Manhattan and photographed the Empire State Building, lit up in the distance. It looked so small that evening, yet today the Empire State Building is once again the tallest building in New York. To the South, the Statue of Liberty stood as proud as ever. And she still stands proudly today, overlooking the “hot coals” that burn in the streets of New York.
The towers were a marvel from the bottom looking up and from the top looking down. They were also inspiring from the air. Here is a photo I shot from a plane in the 1980′s while traveling to my home on Long Island.
Twin Towers photographed from an airplane in the 1980s- John Urogdy
America on its Knees
Building can be replaced. Symbols of freedom and the American spirit will reemerge stronger than ever. But it’s the human tragedy that overshadows the loss of man-made structures that breaks our hearts. The families posting photographs of loved ones lost in the disaster, each hoping for a miracle, brings tears to our eyes. For most of us, we knew that few, if any, of the missing people would ever be found alive. And for some families, bodies were never recovered.
The terrorists have brought our nation to its knees. But we have not been on our knees in submission to our attackers. Nor do we kneel in fear. We have been on our knees in prayer for the victims and their families and for all of the goodness in our world.
As we rise back up, we stand straight and tall with our heads held high and look at our enemies in the face as they cower in their hiding places. These cowards have sorely underestimated the heart and soul of America. What they have hoped to destroy, they have made more powerful. The American ideals, which they wish to shatter, have never been stronger or more alive. The American people have never been more passionate about our colors. Flags across the nation sold out in every store, but you only have to look outside your window to find every one of them proudly displayed.
The Heart of the American People
The rescue workers risking their lives to search for friends and strangers fill us with pride. The outpouring of support from across the country and around the globe gives us hope, uniting and inspiring us. Our leaders bring us confidence.
We take the time now to mourn our dead, console the grieving, and rebuild our cities. But soon our focus will be on eradicating evil this earth. Our heroes–the stock brokers, office workers, firefighters, policemen, government employees, pilots, and countless other innocent victims–have not lost their lives in vain. They have given their lives for their country in an act of war. Terrorism has awoken the Giant. And the Giant is “The Heart of the American People”.
-John Urogdy 9-18-01
For those of you who are interested, I’ve copied pieces from the writings of Nostradamus. I personally found them chilling.
Century 8, Quatrain 81
The sly King will understand his ambushes,
From three fronts the enemies assail,
A strange number, tears from the hooded men,
The brilliance of the translator will come to fail
Century 5, Quatrain 59
Suddenly arrived, the terror will be great,
The principal players in the affair are hidden away:
And the lady in the hot coals will no longer be in sight,
Thus little by little will the great ones be angered
Century 8, Quatrain 59
Two times put high, two times put low,
The east also the West will weaken
Its adversary after several battles,
Driven out by sea will fail at the time of need
Century 1, Quatrain 87
Earth-shaking fire from the center of earth.
Will cause the towers of the New City to shake,
Two great rocks for a long time will make war,
And then Arethusa will color a new river red.
