A Tribute in Lights-9/11/2012
Fox News Photo Of American Flags 9/11/2012
Sitting on my stoop in Brooklyn I have a beautiful view of the Tribute in Lights, it’s awe inspiring. It feels like yesterday when we were attacked and so many innocent people were murdered. I saw the Towers in billows of smoke on that day and every September 11th I re-live it. I count myself lucky that I wasn’t in Manhattan working when it happened but it still rips my heart out every time I think about it, for hours that day I didn’t know the whereabouts of my daughter. On that day she had to go to Battery Park City in the shadow of the World Trade Centers. There was no cell phone service that day and for what seemed like centuries I could not reach her. She left for work late that day, we both watched in shock and horror as a plane hit the North tower, at that time it was speculated by the media that it was just an accident, a small plane must have lost control and flown into the Tower. After she left I found out the sad truth about what happened. Her train stopped mid station, just short of the WTC station that was damaged. It took her hours to get out, they had to evacuate the train and in the dark the passengers were guided by MTA employees, FDNY and NYC Police to the station and then had to make their way out to the street. Imagine the chaos in that station and then on the street. The South Tower had collapsed when she got out and you couldn’t see anything at all. A friendly hand on her shoulder guided her to some light and she started to walk home. She walked over the Brooklyn Bridge to her friends house and called me. When she got home she was covered in soot and you could see the hand print on her blouse, it was a Fireman who helped her. Today I am thankful, but still sad for all the lost lives and how our country has changed as a result of this terrorist attack.
I tried to take a picture of the Tribute in Lights from in front of my house but my iphone just couldn’t pick it up well enough, this is my picture, you can barely see the two blue lights and the tree’s in front of my house but they are there.
Here is what it really looks like, this is from Google pictures:
Tribute in Lights
apuginthekitchen 
My friend a beautiful post and tribute – I cannot imagine how it would feel to remember this period and be involved.
Hugs and hopes for a better future
Uru
Thank you, today is always a bit tough, memories come flooding back. It’s bittersweet, a lot to be thankful for and yes looking forward to a better future.
Hi Suzanne! Thanks for sharing your 911 story, what a day that was! My workplace was expecting a group of people from Baltimore that morning, they arrived late. We all went to lunch and took the rest of the day off. Every year I relive my feelings and my heart goes out to those who lost loved ones.
Beautiful, beautiful post and thank you for your personal story. I am glad your daughter made it home safely. Many, many people helped others that day without being known. A day we will never forget.
Beautiful post. A day that people all around the world will never forget and will always remember what they were doing that day. Watching horrified on the tv from the safety of my own house across the other side of the world, I cannot imagine at all what it must have been like over there that day. The Tribute in Lights are stunning.
Thank you, it truly is a day that we can never forget and every year on the anniversary we re-live it. It’s painful. The tribute in lights is so beautiful and is such a wonderful memorial.
Your tribute in lights is amazing. Love seeing those pictures but, hate what happened that day. That must have been scary for both your daughter and you for those few hours. I was getting ready for work (2nd shift then) and I kept sitting and staring at the tv, just crying. It’s a hard day every year since too.
Thank you, yes it was scary, I remember so vividly my daughter was ironing what she would wear to work and as always we had the news on. When we saw it I had a very bad feeling but the media didn’t say anything other than an accident had probably occurred. I remember asking my daughter to stay home I felt something was very wrong. She opted to leave and then I saw the second plane hit. OMG, I couldn’t believe it. Thank God she was ok, but I don’t think I turned my tv off for over a week, disbelief, sadness, worry, it was a veritable mish mosh of emotions. Like you all I could do was cry. I have to mention the heroic dogs that worked at ground zero. The unsung heroes. My friends and I all got together and purchased protective shoes for the dogs and sent them there. So many heroes both canine and human.
Isn’t that strange how we can sense that “something” is wrong. I felt that way when the first plane hit too. Yes, the unsung heroes. The ones without words but, doing a job like no other…the dogs. That is awesome what you and your friends did for them. I seen quite a few pictures on facebook yesterday saying to remember them also. Heck, I cried just looking at the pictures yesterday on facebook! I did not turn on my tv at all last night. I just couldn’t bear anymore sadness. I went to bed early actually and it felt good!
I saw a small piece on CNN online (I think??) maybe it was MSN, but anyway it was a tribute in photo’s to the hero dogs. They photographed those that are still with us and it was beautiful. I watched the making of the Concert for NYC last night and that was inspiring. We all go on, your post was simple and beautiful “Lest we forget”
Suzanne I have just read the thread of comments and find myself wiping away tears and engulfed in sadness. Good thing I can touch type (sort of) as I cannot clearly see the keyboard. It was late evening here in Australia. My daughter and I had gone to our respective rooms to watch a West Wing episode on our tvs there. A news flash came across the screen that a suspected light aircraft had slammed into one of the towers in the WTC. Our local TV provider switched immediately to CNN. We dashed down to the family room where the large screen TV was, rugs wrapped around us and switched on CNN via the Foxtel satellite. There we stayed watching with horror for over 8 hours, crying, feeling so much sadness … and outrage. Like I feel for your recently murdered ambassador to Libya. One of the reasons I am coming to spend 2 weeks in New York in early January is that I need to pay my respects at Ground Zero and remember those who died on that day and those who have died subsequently from related causes. My heart goes out to each New Yorker. When we lived in Washington in the early 1980s and my husband was an Australian military attache at our Australian Embassy, we went to New York a couple of times because he had to meet with US colleagues in the WTC. I refused to enter the buildings and chose to explore other parts of the city. Those buildings scared the living daylights out of me. They were just too big for me. Strange words coming from a young woman who was in Saigon during the war for 12 months dodging rockets being lobbed on the city etc.
Thank you Suzanne and your friends for their beautiful words. They touched a gaping wound which needs to be healed.
What happened here in NYC touched the world. Everyone remembers exactly what they were doing at the time this happened. I know exactly what you mean, a friend asked me to dinner one time and had made reservations at the restaurant at the top of the WTC building, I didn’t want to go but had to. My fear was overpowering and when I think about those souls that were lost on the upper floors I can only imagine the feeling of helplessness.
You were in Saigon during the war, you are very brave indeed. Thank you for your kind words, we are all bound together by the events of that day it doesn’t matter where we are from or where we were at the time.
Reblogged this on apuginthekitchen and commented:
I wrote this post 2 years ago but the sentiments are the same. A day to Remember and a day that we will never forget…..
Thank you for this post. Truly grateful your daughter returned intact and . . . this gives us pause today.
Thanks Sue, it was the worst experience being helpless and no communication. The city was shut down and I knew she was right there. It was a miracle.
Thank you for sharing your experience in this beautiful article. It is a day I will never forget that terrible day. The images of what I saw on tv on burned into my soul. So glad your daughter was okay; you must have been terrified! Blessings and peace to you and NY on this day!
Thanks Michelle. It was terrifying and surreal and a day never to be forgotten.
Awash in tears and memories – thousands of miles away in San Diego, it will, nonetheless, a day etched in memory forever. Sitting here wearing my “I HEART NY” t-shirt, I remember them all and the families who mourn every day. Thank goodness for your daughter’s safe escape.
I know, today I have to work on and off, but I have to take the time to remember. Watching most of the reading of the names, it brings it all back. Thanks Liz.
Suzanne, so grateful your daughter came out of the mess ok, but you’re right, also so much to be sad for. I’d imagine that experience changed her forever.
It did change us all forever, yes so glad she was ok. It was unbelievable. Thank you so much,
A beautiful tribute post Suzanne. Your relief to get that phone call from your daughter, I can only imagine. I was with Jake and a friend in a park when it happened – I remember my friend getting some sort of text alert on his phone. We went to the park cafe to get a cup of tea and saw the horror – the needless loss of lives, the mindless violence – unfolding on the little television that was perched on the wall above the counter. But the beauty and kindness of the human spirit always prevails at terrible times like this just like you and your friends helping to protect the paws of those wonderful dogs. The tribute lights are beautiful and very appropriate. Hugs x
Thanks Selma. yes seeing the kindness and caring after the attack was so needed giving back some faith in humanity.
I had no idea that you had a daughter. You look so young in your picture. What a harrowing story, but glad she was okay. Thanks for reposting this. It’s always a tough day. The town where I grew up is the last town that FDNY can live and still work for FDNY. A very big percentage of our town was there that day and it left a huge hole in our community…friends of mine (forever 24)…friends’ parents. It’s a hard day always. Beautiful post. Much love.
Thats so sweet of you, thank you. It was harrowing dealing with the unknown. I know there are rules in place now governing where firemen, police etc… can live and still be considered part of the NYC services. It left a huge hole in Park Slope. Cobble Hill and all over many were lost. Thanks Amanda.
This day “9-11” shall always be in our memories. Thanks for re-posting, Suzanne…
Thanks Linda, never ever forget!
That tribute in lights happens every year? I never saw it before and it’s so … indescribable. Makes me have a bunch of feelings. Something like what you described happened to me and my mom in 2010 because of an earthquake in Chile so I understand a bit of what you felt about your daughter.
Also in Chile something bad happens in 1973 on september 11, so it’s a hard day here too.
The best for you and your family this day Suzanne.
Yes, every year they do the tribute in lights. It started right after 9/11 and the space was empty, the blue lights were the phantom buildings. I didn’t know that something happened in Chile also and I am so sorry to hear that. We will always remember!
What a wonderful post Suzanne, I can’t imagine how it must of been for you, we were all safe and sound in phoenix at the time and so far away. I remember how scared we were at first and how we all called each other.
It was so scary because all communication ceased in NYC, transportation of all kinds, cars, trains, buses, everything shut down. It is a day I can never forget.
A beautifully written post Suzanne and still so heartbreaking to think about the reality of what happened that day. Such a relief that your daughter was able to make it home to you safely.
Thanks Margot, yes, it was a day that I remember so vividly, it still is surreal.
I’m so glad you reposted this for us to stop and take a moment to remember that day, and what we lost. I’m so glad you and your daughter were fine, although she had some harrowing moments.
Thanks Susan, yes I am thankful every day.
So glad your daughter was safe that day. It is truly one of the most horrific things that has ever happened in our world. xx
Thank you Christina. Yes, it was probably the worst experience of a lifetime.
Beautiful post Suzanne, things that you cannot forget. I’m so happy for your daughter and for you.
Thank you so much.
It is so sad Suzanne, something nobody can forget. Your tribute is beautiful and it is good to know your daughter was safe that day.
Thanks Viviana. It was such a relief when I got that phone call.
Such a sad day but what a great country who stands by it’s people and for people, not only on papers but in real. I am so glad that your daughter came back safe. A reflecting post !
Thanks Sonal, it is a great country and one positive thing that came out was how we came together for each other,
Tough times bring us closer :).
I am sorry to be late commenting, especially given the content of this post, so please forgive me. I can remember where I was when I first heard of 9/11 and how shocked I felt and how long it took for the reality to fully sink in, it seemed so unbelievable. I simply cannot imagine what it was like to be so close and to have such a terrible worry about your daughter’s safety. And then to deal with the sadness of the loss of so many lives.
It’s alright I appreciate the kind comment. We all remember where we were and what we were doing when this horrific event unfolded. It still seems unbelievable, every time I am in Manhattan and go past the site I still can’t believe that those two gigantic towers came down and the despicable act of terrorism. Thank you.
I’ll never forget the horror as the events unfolded. We were in Minnesota, and I was on my way to work when the news came in about the first plane. I stopped the car and ran in, the boss had the tv on and as everyone came in we sat and tried to make some sense of it.
As more and more reports came in from different areas, I remember thinking, “Should I just leave and grab the kids at their schools and head out of the city?” It seemed like this was the beginning of WWIII. This was tempered by the thought that we were in the midwest, and it would be highly unlikely that anything would be important enough here to be a target…
Later, we found out that our Mall of America attack had been botched. We had several friends and relatives in New York and it took days before we found out they were all ok.
I can’t imagine what you were going through.
No matter how safe you think you may be you can never rule out the possibility that you can be a target. Thank God they thwarted the Mall of America attack. NYC was like a ghost town, no traffic in or out of the city except for emergency vehicles, same on the bridges and tunnels. It took some time for communication to be restored, no one went to work, we were glued to our tv’s watching the events unfold. I had a scheduled closing that was supposed to happen the day after and I found out the office which faced tower II was destroyed, windows blown out papers sucked out the window. We closed over a month later in a different office.
What a lovely and sad tribute to something that should never have happened. I am so glad your daughter was ok! x
Thanks so much Petra yes it never should have happened, unfortunately it did and every year we remember but not just on Sept 11 there are reminders every day. Yes, so happy my daughter was safe, it was so scary.
hi Suzanne
You are right, events like that makes you stop and appreciate life and loved ones, as well as the ones that lost. x