Twenty-five years ago today, on 11th September 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks on the United States. In the days that followed, countless stories emerged of strangers helping strangers amid the chaos. Some of those stories were later preserved by the September 11 Digital Archive, which collected letters, emails, photographs and first-hand accounts of that day and its aftermath. Among them was this letter of thanks.
To the Police Officer who helped me on September 11th:
You literally picked me up off the sidewalk that day.
I was on the east side of City Hall Park and after the second WTC collapse I was running from the wall of dust and flying debris when I fell. I was terrified—people were running over me and past me. You lifted me off the ground and said “run with me”. After a few blocks when I said I didn’t think I could run anymore, you said “run just a little further and then if you can’t run I’ll carry you”. You got me to a safe place and went back to help others.
I didn’t get your badge number or your name but I will never forget you. I pray that you are safe. You and your brother and sister officers are one of the great things about this city.
With love and gratitude,
Ann (the lady in the gray dress and yellow sweater)
The day after the towers went down I volunteered to work at Ground Zero with the firefighters for 4 weeks. I watched them work tirelessly, relentlessly looking for survivors. Oftentimes they would pass out on the curb for a quick nap. The depth of their snores was like cellular-level exhaustion. For weeks after Sept 11, I saw people looking at each other, reaching out to help, sitting next to one another on the subway. On that very subway, I would cry after every shift. I couldn't believe people would actively sit next to me and just talk, share what's on their mind. No masking, no poker face. I would think, why the hell didn't we always do this? What a terrible but beautiful time.
I miss the country and world that was...for such a short time...and what could have been.
We had the opportunity for greatness and we chose (or leaders chose) vengeance, Islamophobia, enriching defense contractors, destabilizing the Middle East, concentrating power in the executive, committing war crimes, and limiting American civil liberties.
It was the beginning of America's decline.