September 11 Digital Archive

story10132.xml

Title

story10132.xml

Source

born-digital

Media Type

story

Created by Author

yes

Described by Author

no

Date Entered

2003-09-21

911DA Story: Story

My story is this:I am a New Yorker
I've lived in Reading, PA for 32 years, BUT I AM A NEW YORKER.
I do not live in the five Boroughs on on the Island or Upstate, I may live hundreds or thousands of miles away, Or I may just live over the GW bridge, BUT I AM A NEW YORKER.Whatever took me out of New York, Business, Family or hating the cold did not take the New York out of me. My accent may have faded and my pace may have slowed, BUT I AM A NEW YORKER. I was raised on Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Rockefeller Plaza, The Yankees or the Mets or the Giants or the Dodgers, Rockaway Beach, Coney Island, Jones Beach, Rye Beach or one of the other beacheson the Sound. I know that THE END means Montauk. Because I AM A NEW YORKER. When I go on vacation, I never look up, Skyscrapers are something that I take for granted. The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are part of me. Taxis and subways and "get outta heah" don't rattle me, because I AM A NEW YORKER. I was raised on cultural diversity BEFORE it was politically correct. I eat Greek food and Italian food, Jewish food and German food Middle Eastern food and Chinese food. Because they are ALL American food to me. I don't get mad when people speak in other languages in my presence, because my Grandparents came to this country via Ellis Island, and they chose to stay. THEY were New Yorkers. I AM A NEW YORKER. People who have never been to New York may misunderstand what I am trying to say. My roots are in New York. My Grandfather was a New York City Firefighter. He saw the Fire Department thriugh its' evolution from horses to motorized equipment. I witnessed its distruction on September 11,2001. I AM A NEW YORKER. My Firefighters died trying to save New Yorkers and non-New Yorkers, They died trying to save Americans and non-Americans. This is what they do. Because they were New Yorkers. I feel the pain of my fellow New Yorkers, and mournn the loss of my beautiful city. I feel and dread that New York will never be the same, but then I remember, I am a NEW YORKER. And New Yorkers have: Strength, Tenacity and courage way above the norm. Compassion and caring for our fellow citizens, Love and Pride in our City, State and our Country. Intelligence, experience, and education par excellance. Ability, dedication and energy above and beyond.Faith,no matter what religion we practice.Terrorists hit America in its' heart, but Americas' heart is still beating strong.Demolishied thr steel in our buildings, but couldn't touch the steel in our souls. Hit us in the pocketbook;but we'll parlay what we have left into a fortune. Ended innocent lives leaving widows and orphans, but we'll take care of them, because they are NEW YORKERS. Wherever we live, whatever we do, whoever we are, there are New Yorkers in every city and every state in this nation. We will not abandon our city We will not abandon our Brothers and Sisters, we will not abandon the beauty, creativity and diversity that New York represents, because We are New Yorkers, and we are proud to be New Yorkers. "REMEMBER THE WTC" In loving memory of my Grandfather, the 343 firefighters that perished on September 11, 2001 and those befor them who made the Supreme Sacrifice.

Citation

“story10132.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed June 13, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/8842.