September 11,
2001
A Look Back, Five Years Later
A Commentary
by Patricia Cummings
As we mark the
fifth anniversary of the event that is commonly referred to now as
just “9-11,” most all Americans will remember where they were and
what they were doing when they heard the news. I was in a chat
room with a quilter friend from Minnesota when she asked if I had the
TV on, and then said that I had better go see what had just happened. My
husband was outside, washing the car. After briefly watching the
video of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers, I ran and told him,
“You'd better come quick.” He could tell by the tone of my voice
that something very important was occurring. Little did we know that
2,973 Americans would die on that day, 2,749 in New York alone, due
to the wanton acts of deranged and misguided men.
Another National Tragedy
During my lifetime, there have been two other tragedies with an unfathomable quality, although neither involved such a multitude of deaths. When President John F. Kennedy was fatally shot, I was sitting in a combined seventh and eighth grade classroom, in a small town. Our teacher, who also served as the school's principal, brought a television into the room. The same preliminary footage rolled, over and over, perhaps for the benefit of those who had not yet seen it, and because, at the time, the networks had nothing else to show. Transfixed, we all watched the reports.
Dreams Go Up in Smoke
The second
tragedy, the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle, touched me in
a personal way. I had met the victim, Christa McAuliffe, a high
school history teacher who had hoped to be the first “Teacher in
Space.” I had even substitute taught a few of her classes, when she was away, training. On that fateful day of the launch, with her own two young children and their classmates in
attendance, McAuliffe lost her life, along with all of the other crew
members.
On that day, I was at work, answering phones for a large insurance company as a “temp.” I was speaking with an agent in Puerto Rico when my co-workers screamed and began crying at the sight of what they had just witnessed on television. Some people were so upset they had to leave the office. After all of the fanfare, and all of us cheering for one of our very own community members, it is no wonder that many were plunged into a state of total despair over this loss.
The Real
Meaning of Shock and Awe
Unanticipated tragic events, even when the deceased are not personally known, can shake us to the very bone. There is an accompanying awe that holds our hearts in a deadlock grip. Before the occurrence, the feelings would not have been conceivable. Somehow, we sense that life has changed, irrevocably, and forever.
Mourning the Loss of Innocence
The sheer number of deaths, in one fell swoop, was the most alarming part of September 11. To think that ordinary people, just going about their daily work, could be wiped off the map so quickly is haunting.
On that day, America lost more than just human lives. Part of our mourning for that day, involves our own loss of innocence. America was forced to relinquish its surefooted step in the world. On that day, we came to know fully our vulnerability, we came to understand that we are not safe...anywhere, and we came to realize that security itself is just an illusion...at any time. While we have this information, deep inside all of us, we do not usually confront the feelings of “flight or fight,” “ongoing fear,” or the need to “get them before they get us.”
Quilters Raise Funds for 9-11 Families
In the five years since 2001, quilts have been made and displayed to commemorate the actual events of 9-11. A special exhibit of quilts, designed by quilters from around the world, was mounted at the Houston International Quilt Festival. Subsequently, photos of these quilts were published by C&T Publishing, in the book, America from the Heart: Quilters Remember Sept. 11. Karey Bresenhan wrote the foreword to this book. All monetary proceeds are being donated to a scholarship fund for the wives and children of 9-11 victims.
Writers Add to the Mix of Tributes
In addition, an
unforgettable song was written by country singer, Alan Jackson:
“Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?” Yes, song
artists and writers rose to the occasion to express their feelings
in ways that were most meaningful to them. I wrote “A Stitch in
Time,” an essay that I also translated into Spanish. “Para Mis
Amigas” expresses some of my feelings in trying to put what had
happened into perspective.
A Hero Emerges
from the Quilt World
Donald Beld, a
retired hospital administrator from California, is a quiet man of
generous ways. He designed and made a meaningful quilt, seen below, entitled,
“Fallen Timbers: A Salute to the Heroes of 9-11.” He dedicated
the quilt to the victims who died when their plane, commandeered by
terrorists, crashed into a field in Schenksville, Pennsylvania. The
Flight 93 National Monument in nearby Somerset, Pennsylvania has
placed Beld's tribute quilt in its permanent collection.
"Home of the Brave Quilts" Comfort the Grieving
In addition, Beld also founded The Home of the Brave Quilt Program. Due to his efforts and vision, volunteer quilters across the United States are making and giving quilts to grieving family members of soldiers who have lost their lives in the War on Terror.
The quilts have an historical component as they are based on Civil War quilts that were created and distributed by the U.S. Sanitary Commission. They are presented to each family, along with personalized embroidered tribute labels on the back, and associated ephemera which acknowledges the great sacrifice of each soldier. This is an ongoing program. There are additional, related files on this website.
All of Us Have Been Touched
The “War on Terror” has not been pretty. Many of our young men have died on foreign soil, fighting for an ideal, namely, freedom from despots. As it turns out, we have taken on a greater mission of securing peace in the region, and assisting Iraq to maintain a self-sufficient, democratic government. For the safety of the world itself, it is necessary that peace be brought to the whole area by diplomatic means, as well as military initiatives.
Like any war, the goals are lofty. Like any war, some of those fighting will pay the ultimate price and many others will come home physically wounded, or psychologically battered.
Continued Resolve Needed
While the tactics of war will change over time, our eyes should be fixed on the vision to create a more stable world, one into which we will not be afraid to bring children. The words of Bob Dylan, in “Masters of War,” are newly meaningful, though written so long ago now.
"A Time of War/ A Time of Peace”
We could all cry a river over all of the losses that we, personally and collectively, have experienced as a nation. Yet, we must dry our tears if we are to continue to fight the good fight. We must wave the flag and hold it high. We must support the ideals of our founding fathers. We must never succumb to the threats, the intimidation, and the ruthlessness of those who plot to defeat this great country for their own ideological and devious purposes.
As leaders in the world, we must rely on the continuance of our resolve to make the world a safer place. We will never forget 9-11, its ordinary citizens and its band of rescuers. We will never forget those who cleaned up New York, and the Pentagon, after the fact. We will never forget our own feelings on that day, where we were, and what we were doing.
Our collective memory of the fateful day will keep us strong in our desire to safeguard the lives and the rights of our own people, but also those of the righteous people in the countries where the United States is now a presence. God Bless America!
©Copyright 2006. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, New Hampshire. pat@quiltersmuse.com