9/11

I don`t want to ramble on about 9/11. Enough has been said about it to last all of us a lifetime.

We were privileged enough to spend a holiday in NYC last year and got to visit Ground Zero. I found that an incredible experience. The hustle and bustle of NYC seems to stop once you get to Ground Zero. The mood turns sombre, almost as if everybody is too scared to breathe and a hush descends. This quietness is brought about by respect, I have no doubt. Everybody knows the significance of that day and that place. It certainly helps to make Ground Zero a very special place to visit.

I know a lot of people would think why is this South African getting all sad about something that is in essence an American thing. Well, it is an American thing and I really respect that but 9/11 touched everybody. For once, it seemed that the world (most of the world) stood together. SA nearly came to a standstill. You can ask anybody where they were when they got the news and they`ll be able to pinpoint their exact whereabouts. It truly touched the world very deeply. Hayley and I were a newly married couple. The first thing that I thought was that this was gonna lead to WW3, I really did. I was so devastated that we had only had such a short time together. That freaked me out. I think everybody in the world, has a similar story.

There is nothing at Ground Zero except for a vast open space with a lot of building going on. It`s as if the New Yorkers are trying their utmost to NOT remember that awful day. I cannot blame them. No signs showing you how to get there, nothing. If we didn`t hop on a sightseeing bus and got directions from the tour guide, we would never have found it.

I personally thought the most special part of the visit was St Paul`s Chapel and the part it played during 9/11. This little church had survived the great fire of 1776, which left NYC in ashes. Then came 9/11 and even though massive buildings around it tumbled, this little church was left unscathed. Just goes to show, nobody touches God`s house, nobody.

The only thing that didn`t make it was this tree, of which only the stump remains.

These badges are from all the fire, police and medical departments from various cities and towns all over the world, that assisted during the day and days after the event. I love this photo and it`s obvious that my wife took it, I don`t have the talent for a photo like that.

This last photo is a view from St Paul`s looking towards ground zero. Once again, the sombre mood is almost impossible to describe.

My heart still goes out to the families who lost loved ones during that dreadful day.

It`s a fact that the bad element who caused such heartache and sorrow that day will one day stand before God and He will be the one to judge them.

PS. I have tried to get the photos alligned properly but I can`t. Sorry.