nmah6836.xml

nmah6836.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2004-09-22

I am a Nassau County New York police officer who on that horrible day was at home, and browsing the enternet.My wife who had been watching the news, informed me that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. I went over to the TV and saw a gaping and smoking hole in the side of one of the towers. At the time, I could not believe that this was an accident. I then turned from the TV to look out of my window. A moment later my wife'screams confirmed my suspicions as yet another plane slammed into the sister tower. I knew then that we were at war. I called my command and was eventually mobilized. Unfortunately for me, I spent time on regular police duties rather than responding into the city. I remember handling mundane calls and being disgusted by people's petty complaints as their fellow citizens lay dead,wounded or trapped in the rubble of those majistic towers. Rumors of more attacks began to circulate. I had a hard time falling asleep that night. The next day while off duty and using my police credentials I and a friend drove down to what was eventually called Ground Zero. I was amazed at the mountain of rubble that greeted us. The air was scented with both the smell of death, and that of pulvarized concrete. Looking up at the rubble I saw that someone had placed an American flag on a protruding steel girder. The scene it created had an uncanny resemblance to the flag raising at MT Surabachi. That sight became an inspiration. So too was the sight of my fellow Americans. Americans of all races, colors and religions working side by side and risking their lives to save lives. I took my place on what became known as the bucket brigade passing dug up debris from one hand to the next. While doing so I met a young volunteer fire fighter named Travis who drove all the way up from Kentucky to help. We were so different from each other. He an Anglo with a thick Southern accent, and I a Yankee New Yorker of Puerto Rican heritage. It made me feel good to see him there, and at the same time it affirmed my identity as an American.
Working the sight became somewhat perilous as a nearby building released ready to fall debris. Rumors spread that it would collapse at any moment and from time to time we stopped the work and prepared to flee the area. This became nerve wracking, but no one quit their post. We went on hoping to find survivors. Unfortunately, there were no longer any survivors to be found. We were lucky to just to find the dead. On one occasion a nearby group let up a yell. I went over to investigate and saw the body of a man wedged in the debris. The body although more or less intact was none the less horrible to look at. On the way home that night, we were greeted by people holding up candles, American flags and other visible signs of support. Although we suffered a catastrophic tragedy, some how it felt good to be an American.The next day I once again responded to Ground Zero. By this time heavy machinary was bought in, and we did very little. I then decided that a would be doing a better service by responding to the funerals of my fellow civil servants. Some of whom I knew on a personal level. This is what I did, going from one to the other.

Yes my life has changed. Although always a patriot, I am now more so than ever before.

Those heroes that we lost. The cops, firefighters, other civil servants, and the average working heros who lost their lives simply by going to work. We should remember as well, the wonderful unity displayed by our fellow citizens and the sympathy expressed by the world.

I always flew an American flag. Even before Sept 11th. I did however purchase a flag for my car.