New York City, N.Y. (Sept. 9, 2004) - As the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack approaches, a test of the Tribute in Light Memorial illuminates a passing cloud above lower Manhattan. The twin towers of light, made-up of 44 searchlights near “Ground Zero,” are meant to represent the fallen twin towers of the World Trade Center. Depending on weather conditions, the columns of light can be seen for at least 20 miles around the trade center complex. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Public Affairs 2nd Class Mike Hvozd.
The anniversary of September 11 always affects me emotionally, and the event itself unfortunately marked my beginnings in New York six years ago. I had moved to Stony Brook in early August and was beginning my new life as a graduate student there. I was so happy! I had escaped a boring job in Berkeley, changed my focus in life to music full-time, and now lived in a vastly different environment - suburban Long Island. I remember, as I completed the last leg of the cross country drive east, looking at the World Trade Center as I crossed the George Washington Bridge on August 4, thinking I’d have plenty of time to go up to the top and check out the view from the sky. Of course, that time never came.
Even though I was 60 miles from the impact, I still felt its effects. Many people commute out to Stony Brook from the city, students and faculty alike, so many were worried about family members and their whereabouts. I witnessed many distraught phone calls. I called my family on a payphone (this was during my pre-cellphone days) to let them know I was ok. We knew no one would be able to get back into the city that night, so a chart went up by the student lounge with information about alternate housing arrangements available to the commuters, all extra beds and rooms in fellow student’s homes. We had two friends stay with us that night. That evening, a group of us gathered together to watch the coverage, bouncing between ABC and BBC to get as balanced a report as we could. I think we must have been up until midnight, finally heading off to bed still stunned at unfolding of the day’s events.
I watched the memorial service today on television. It’s still so very sad to see everyone there, remembering, many still in pain. Some say we need to move on, but I know that I still find comfort in the annual reading of the names and the ceremony that goes with it all. Some might find that to be a weakness. I do like the idea of turning this day into a day of service, of doing good for others and the community.
It’s a grey, rainy day today. On the radio this morning, one of the announcers said that the raindrops were like tears. It’s corny, but I kind of like it.
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