On September 11, 2001, I was a young child in Fiji, far from the tragic events unfolding in New York City. I distinctly remember watching the breaking news coverage of the day that changed the world. My family often talked about the 9/11 attacks, which resulted in nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost, including first responders.
The news deeply affected my late grandmother, who would tear up watching stories about the victims as if they were her own family. The collapse of the Twin Towers dominated headlines globally, with news coverage continuing long after that harrowing day. These experiences ignited a desire in me to understand the full impact and implications of the 9/11 events on history.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists from the Islamist extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four planes, crashing two into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The destruction led to the collapse of the towers, claiming nearly 3,000 lives from 93 different nations.
A third plane struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, resulting in the deaths of 184 civilians and military personnel. Passengers on the fourth hijacked plane, Flight 93, fought back against the hijackers, causing the plane to crash into an empty field in Pennsylvania, killing 40 people.
Fast forward to September 1, 2024, during my visit to New York as part of the International Visitors Leadership Programme by the U.S. Department of State, I prioritized a trip to the 9/11 memorial in lower Manhattan. My colleague and I took a short ride from our hotel to the memorial site, where we encountered hundreds of tourists from around the world.
The memorial features two large reflecting pools, each occupying nearly an acre, situated in the footprints of the former towers. These pools contain the largest manmade waterfalls in North America, symbolizing loss and absence. The sound of the flowing water provides a peaceful contrast to the city’s hustle and bustle.
Walking through the memorial was an emotional experience as I read the names of the 2,983 individuals killed in the 2001 and 1993 terrorist attacks inscribed on the bronze parapets. Standing before the reflecting pools, I felt the gravity of the history and the lives lost, imagining the fear and helplessness experienced that tragic day.
Among the names, I saw that of Rahma Salle, a 28-year-old from Boston who was pregnant at the time of the attacks. She was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, which hit the North Tower, ultimately leading to her death along with her husband and unborn child.
The memorial plaza also houses a Callery pear tree known as the Survivor Tree, which miraculously survived the attacks. Discovered damaged but alive in the wreckage, the tree was nurtured back to health and returned to the site, symbolizing resilience and hope.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial allowed me to truly comprehend the weight of loss that day brought to the world. Each name on the bronze panels represented a story interrupted. As I walked through the museum, personal artifacts, emotional testimonies, and historical displays vividly illustrated the events of that day and the collective grief felt by families who lost loved ones.
This visit was not merely a tour; it was a journey into the heart of a global tragedy, highlighting the enduring legacy of September 11 and its effects on our world.