Eighteen years ago, I got off the No. 2 train in downtown Manhattan and saw a crowd of people on the street corner watching one of the Twin Towers in flames. I still remember what I wore that day – a black top, red skirt, and black sandals. The only information that anyone had at that point was that a plane flew into the building.
Soon after I walked to my desk, the second plane hit. My coworkers and I got into a state of calm panic. We closed all the windows as the smoke welcomed its way inside. Phone lines started to tie up so it was hard to get through to anyone. We were told to go to various locations within the building. Then the first building collapsed. At that point, everyone was told to evacuate. I couldn’t understand why we were being told to go outside when it wasn’t any safer out there. As everyone went outside and split in different directions, I found myself alone trying to figure out which way to go. I can’t say I was feeling scared, rather fear was taken over by numbness, loneliness and confusion. I will stop my story at this point – I was one of the lucky ones. I did manage to get home by walking the Brooklyn Bridge and my black/red outfit was all white by the time I did.
Like myself, everyone who was alive that day has their own story to share, no matter where they were. Those who lost their lives and their loved ones of course suffered the most. There are also those who have suffered stress disorders and other health issues caused by the events of that day.
Many first responders have lost their lives over the years because of 9/11 related illnesses. Through major efforts from advocates, comedian Jon Stewart, first responders, and others, the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund was just recently extended to 2090. The World Trade Center Health Registry still continues to monitor and provide services to those who lived, worked or were in the downtown NYC area that day.
So how do we explain what took place on September 11th 2001 to our children today? Kristie Kiernan Bouryal has written a children’s book series to help seven to eleven-year-olds understand the catastrophic event by focusing on the heroes of that day:
Here are some other 9/11 related books for children.
“If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.” —Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl
