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New York’s Twin Arches
Sometimes, a picture is worth more than words can describe.
(Instagram/flowkradd)
“A rainbow appeared over New York City the day before 9/11, and many noted that it appeared to emerge from the World Trade Center site, where the Twin Towers were felled by terrorists in 2001.”
—Nick Sanchez, Newsmax
September 11, 2001 began as a serene Tuesday morning that quickly turned into one of the darkest days in American history.
The world changed forever.
Fourteen years later, the New York skyline and the Pentagon still reveal unthinkable images of gigantic planes crashing into buildings, causing destruction and fire with billowing clouds of smoke, brave people running for cover and heroes running into danger. It’s difficult to put into words what we all felt that day, including the personal connections to people in those cities and on those flights that day.
And those who were almost there.
The awe-inspiring picture above (showcasing one of nature’s best tricks) doesn’t heal the pain from September 11, 2001. However, after so many years, still with a feeling that it just happened, it does offer a small glimmer (and sign) of hope for the future as a rare double-rainbow shines over New York City with the One World Trade Center and an American flag perfectly in frame.
Never Forget.
12 Thoughts on 9/11
Twelve years ago, two hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center Towers, a third hijacked airplane crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth hijacked airplane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania on a clear, unassuming September morning. The world was changed forever.
I was walking through the second floor of my high school’s library when I heard a fellow classmate of mine since elementary school say, “a plane just hit the World Trade Center” to someone near him as I strolled by towards the doors to the hallway. I could tell that while he said it as if it was probably an accident, he also knew it was something more…Confused, I initially hypothesized a small plane had accidentally flown too low and hit one of the skyscrapers. Once I walked into my math class and saw the images on the television screen hanging in the front left corner of the room that every single person was fixated on, we all knew something truly terrible had happened. It was no accident. Then, soon thereafter, the second plane hit. The United States was under attack and nobody could believe what their eyes were seeing.
Reflecting on what occurred on that morning, I have prepared 12 thoughts regarding what happened and what transpired on September 11, 2001:
Nobody saw it coming and our heart’s sank as the smoke billowed out from the towers
Everyone rushed to a television in shock, watching a nightmare unfold without our eye lids closed so tight
Vast panic flooded the streets of New York, Washington, D.C. and those aboard the planes as a numbness started to paralyze those running and sitting in confusion, panic and fear
Each fireman, police officer and good citizen offered a helping hand as hell surrounded them all, giving a glimmer of hope to those experiencing the unimaginable
Real heroes emerged that day, sacrificing everything for their fellow man, woman and child
Forever etched in our memories, that morning changed the world
Our accidental glances up into a clear blue September sky will never again look completely peaceful or tranquil
Rebuilding our hearts takes time, but we make sure to always take pause on this day
Good people never returned home and that’s a vacancy and pain the entire country felt then and feels today
Even as we mourn, we must also know that in the darkest of places can rise a sign of optimism, like a cross standing strong amongst the rubble or the brave words, “let’s roll”
True heroism and courage is quietly honored today, combined with the overwhelmingly emotional reflection of the entirety of what transpired on September 11, 2001
9/11 will always be remembered…always
Jimmy's Daily Planet 