9/11: Waking Up to a Tragedy

Tuesday morning lower Manhattan. This fine September day starts out with the sun shining. A brisk summer morning has caressed the tallest buildings in the world. Every building in lower Manhattan is in the sunlight, but not all of the buildings were standing tall and proud. My family wakes up ready for the day. Everyone is picking up clothes so quickly. Basically being thrown across the room at points. I open the curtains taking in the beautiful city of New York. Little did I know that I was going to leam of the tragedy years before?

My family gets on the elevator to the first floor. We all walked out to the front of our hotel. I look up, and all I see is building after building. Jumbo jets skimming the new morning sky in New York City. Walking amongst thousands of patrons. The buzz of a cab every three seconds. Moming rush hour was in full swing. My family is a dot in the large sea of people. Walking to the bridge crossing was difficult. The bridge crossing took us over a very large area of construction.

The roar of construction going on to my left. In curiosity I turned my head. Six cranes line around two large squares. I was asking my parents so many questions. What are these two random squares? Were the important? What were they to America? My dad answers with oneanswer

“They symbolize hope and strength.”

I had only ever learned about this event in school. 9/11 was ingrained in every American’s head. I was upset that I did not understand any of this. Eventually I walked away from the side of the bridge. All I could feel was sorrow. 9 years old how am I supposed to know about 9/11?

We walked by FDNY company 10. Firefighters standing outside looking up. Every single one of them had the thousand yard stare. Little did I know one person made it that day? A company of 120 men and women. One person makes it up how does this happen. I talked to the very person that made it that day. He was very soft spoken about what happened. “Sir what happened on 9/11?”

“A terrible tragedy.”

This terrible tragedy plays over and over. He got down on one knee, and told me what happened. A single tear ran down his face.

“I was the only one to live that day. Why me? There is nothing special about me. I should not have lived that day. Two large planes hit the Twin Towers. Those are the two squares you see there.”

My whole family is around this one man, Listening to that tragic day. I couldn’t help but almost start crying. The firefighter said “I woke up expecting a great day. I open the bay doors. Just to get some fresh air running through the station. Screams of a jumbo jet pierce the morning air. I can’t really remember anything after that. All I remember is a black curtain covered New York city.” That was the only thing I remember from that day. 9 years old I understood a little more. The only firefighter to live that day, yet he told me everything that happened. Faith was restored for another day. That amazing September day ended. My family eventually made it back to our hotel. The whole day was brought together by the firefighter. I am thankful for meeting him that day.

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