On September 11, 2001, I was just four years old, living in Fiji, far from the tragic events unfolding in New York City. Despite the distance, the day’s shocking events made a lasting impression on me. I remember my parents and grandparents discussing the 9/11 attacks frequently, the crashes into the World Trade Center that claimed almost 3,000 innocent lives, including first responders. My late grandmother was particularly affected, often becoming emotional while watching news stories about the victims, as if she had lost family members herself.
The attacks on the Twin Towers dominated headlines worldwide, and news coverage continued for months and years, leaving a deep mark on my understanding of history. These early experiences ignited within me a desire to fully comprehend the magnitude of 9/11 and its lasting impact on global history.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists from the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes. Two of these planes were flown into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. The catastrophic damage from the impacts and ensuing fires caused both towers to collapse, resulting in nearly 3,000 fatalities from 93 different countries. The third plane struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, resulting in the deaths of 184 civilians and military personnel. Passengers aboard the fourth hijacked flight, Flight 93, bravely fought back against the hijackers, leading to the plane crashing into a 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 Program organized by the U.S. Department of State, I prioritized a trip to the 9/11 memorial in lower Manhattan. Accompanied by a colleague, we left our hotel around 11 AM for the short drive to the memorial site, which stands where the Twin Towers once loomed. We arrived to find a diverse group of international tourists, all drawn to pay their respects.
At the heart of the memorial are two nearly one-acre pools that mark the footprints of the original towers. The pools feature the largest manmade waterfalls in North America, which descend into a deep void, embodying the concept of “absence made visible,” according to memorial architect Michael Arad. The soothing sound of cascading water creates a peaceful atmosphere, a stark contrast to the busy city surrounding it.
Walking through the memorial, I felt a profound sense of sorrow as I read the names of the 2,983 individuals killed in the attacks inscribed along the bronze parapets of the pools. Standing before the reflecting pools, I was reminded of the immense loss experienced on that day. One name that struck me was Rahma Salle, a 28-year-old who was seven months pregnant when she perished aboard American Airlines Flight 11, along with her husband.
The memorial’s plaza features a unique Callery pear tree known as the Survivor Tree, the only tree to survive the attacks of 9/11. Discovered in the debris in October 2001, the tree was nursed back to health and returned to the site in 2010, symbolizing resilience and hope.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial for the first time was an emotional journey that helped me grasp the profound weight of the loss incurred on September 11, 2001. Each name etched in the bronze panels symbolizes a life cut short and a story interrupted. The overwhelming number of names serves as a somber reminder of the nearly 3,000 lives lost, including many courageous first responders.
As I wandered through the adjacent museum, I encountered personal artifacts, heartfelt testimonies, and historical exhibits that vividly conveyed the events of that fateful day. The stories of bravery from first responders and the heartbreak of families who lost loved ones created an intense emotional experience. This visit was not merely a tour but a deep exploration of a global tragedy, highlighting the lasting legacy of September 11 and its effects on our world.