On September 11, 2001, I was just four years old, living in Fiji, far from the financial district of Lower Manhattan in New York. I distinctly remember the breaking news coverage that broadcast the shocking events of that day. My parents and grandparents frequently discussed the 9/11 terror attacks, particularly the crash into the World Trade Center, which claimed nearly 3,000 innocent lives, including first responders, on that tragic day. My grandmother would tear up while watching the news about the victims, as if they were her own family members.
The destruction of the twin towers dominated headlines worldwide, and the news remained a constant presence in our home for months, even years, after the tragedy. These early experiences instilled in me a strong desire to fully grasp the events of 9/11 and their significant impact on global history.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists from the extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The towers eventually collapsed due to the impact and subsequent fires, resulting in the deaths of almost 3,000 individuals from 93 countries.
The third plane struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing 184 civilians and service members. Passengers on the fourth hijacked plane, Flight 93, learned of the other attacks and fought back, ultimately crashing the plane into a field in western Pennsylvania, resulting in the deaths of 40 people.
Fast forward to September 1, 2024, I visited the 9/11 memorial in lower Manhattan while participating in the International Visitors Leadership Programme organized by the United States Department of State. Leaving the Park Central hotel around 11 a.m., I journeyed to lower Manhattan, where I encountered hundreds of tourists worldwide who were honoring the memorial.
The memorial features two large pools, each nearly an acre in size, located at the footprints of the former North and South Towers. These pools contain North America’s largest man-made waterfalls, descending 30 feet into square basins before dropping another 20 feet into central voids, representing “absence made visible,” according to memorial architect Michael Arad. The serene sound of cascading water creates a tranquil space away from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Walking through the memorial with a heavy heart, I read the names of the 2,983 victims killed in the 2001 and 1993 attacks inscribed on bronze parapets around the pools. Standing before the reflecting pools, I felt the weight of history and sorrow, imagining the terror experienced on that fateful day when lives were abruptly cut short.
One name that stood out to me was Rahma Salle, a 28-year-old passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 11, who was seven months pregnant. She and her unborn child, along with her husband, perished when the plane crashed into the North Tower.
The memorial also features the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that endured the events of 9/11. Found severely damaged in October 2001, it was nursed back to health by the New York City Parks and Recreation Department and returned to the site in 2010, symbolizing resilience and perseverance.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial for the first time was an emotional journey that enabled me to comprehend the profound loss that September 11 brought to the world. Each name etched in the bronze panels symbolized a life lost, a story interrupted, with the overwhelming number serving as a stark reminder of the nearly 3,000 individuals, including first responders, who died that day.
Inside the museum, personal artifacts, emotional testimonies, and historical displays vividly portrayed the events of 9/11. The narratives conveyed the heroism of those who rushed into danger and the families who lost loved ones, allowing the weight of collective grief and the enduring impact of such loss to resonate profoundly.
This visit was not merely a tour of a memorial; it was a significant journey into the heart of a global tragedy, underscoring the lasting legacy of September 11 and its continued impact on our world. White roses are placed on the victims’ names at the memorial, especially on their birthdays, serving as a poignant tribute to those lost.