As a Native New Yorker, I lost so much that day. I lost friends-of-friends. I went to funerals for those people, one of whom was a firefighter. I lost neighbors. I lost some innocence. I was in the city that day; and every time I'm in the city to this day I shudder when I hear the wail of sirens.
On this solemn Anniversary, I am torn as usual. I am angry that my Skyline is forever altered. I am upset by fellow New Yorkers who seem to have moved on or forgotten, not wanting to discuss or revisit something they consider an unpleasant moment in our history.
Maybe I sit in the deep end of melancholy: I want to hear songs like New York Minute and New York State of Mind and God Bless America today. I'll definitely cry. I will remember; I will never forget. Even as Roc goes off to serve his SoB community, where the real fears are from drugs and gangs and domestic violence, I will think about him becoming an NYPD officer and how this one event shaped that decision for him and pushed him to go and do and see and give. I will wonder if they pause at Roll Call; a silent moment for the fallen.
I will never forget.
Amen.
ReplyDeleteI watched the black smoke billowing from some 800 miles away via CNN news feed, as I dressed in civilian clothes for another day in the detective office. Except it wouldn't be just another day, for any of us in law enforcement, just like it wouldn't be for any New Yorker.
ReplyDeletePerfectly written post remembering this day, and my thoughts today are with my brothers and sisters in the NYPD.
Let me add an "Amen" to what you said as well. Never forget.
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