story9093.xml

story9093.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-02-25

I was headed to work that morning at the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth, NJ. When I heard that a plane hit the World Trade Center, I thought that a small Cessna plane had hit the needle of the North Tower. Then I heard that a second plane had hit the WTC. Since, it was a spotless blue day, I knew that I would be able to see the New York City skyline from where I work, so I hopped on the bus and headed there. Sure enough, both towers were on fire. The mall closed early that day at twelve noon. We drove to the back of the mall where you can get a clear view of the entire lower Manhattan. By then the Towers had collapsed. Downtown Manhattan was covered in dark gray smoke. I will never forget that day for as long as I live. I felt like somebody punched me in the stomach really hard. I really felt like those terrorist ruined my skyline. Now, when I ride into the city, looking at the Empire State Building and looking to the right and not seeing those familiar silver towers still makes me sad to the point of crying. I still don't understand why there are no towers there. I definitely think that we should rebuild them. The following weeks after the attacks had me on an emotional roller coaster. One minute I would be laughing and joking, the next I would be sitting on the bus crying out of nowhere. On top of that, I lost my former Sunday School teacher in Tower One. I didn't even know he worked there until that Saturday, my stepmother had a t-shirt that had his picture on it, saying that he was missing from the 99th floor. September 11, 2001 will follow me to my grave and beyond. I go the Ground Zero at least twice a month to give my love and respect to those who died on that horrible day. Every time I see an FDNY firefighter or a fire engine, I wonder how many firemen they lost that day. I still cringe at the staggering number of 343, the number of New York City firefighters lost at the WTC. I will never forget the many office workers whose only sin was going to work early that day. And they had to pay for it with thier life.God Bless Elder Sean Booker who always had a smile and an encouraging word for any and everybody. God Bless America and God Bless New York City, truly the greatest city to ever grace this planet.