On September 11, 2001, I was just four years old, living in Fiji, far removed from the tragic events unfolding in Lower Manhattan, New York. I have a vivid memory of watching the breaking news of the attacks that shocked the world. The discussions around me, from my parents and grandparents, repeatedly focused on the 9/11 terror attacks and the devastating crash into the World Trade Center that claimed nearly 3,000 innocent lives, including those of first responders.
My late grandmother would often become emotional while watching the news, feeling as if she had lost family members in the attacks. The crashing of the twin towers made headlines globally, and news coverage lingered in our home for months and years following the tragedy. This exposure fueled my desire to understand the full impact of 9/11 on world history.
On that fateful day, 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 ultimately collapsed due to the impact and ensuing fires, resulting in the loss of nearly 3,000 lives from 93 different countries. The third plane struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, where 184 civilians and service members were killed. The fourth hijacked plane, Flight 93, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back, killing 40 people on board.
Fast forward to September 1, 2024, I found myself in New York as part of the International Visitors Leadership Programme. I made a point to visit the 9/11 memorial situated in lower Manhattan. Departing from the Park Central hotel around 11 am, my colleague and I took a nearly 20-minute ride to the memorial site, passing famous landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and Wall Street.
Upon arriving, we were met with droves of tourists from various parts of the globe, all drawn to the memorial. The centerpiece of the memorial comprises two nearly one-acre pools, positioned where the North and South Towers once stood. These pools feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America, descending 30 feet into square basins, with water flowing into a smaller void at the center. As the memorial architect, Michael Arad, described, the pools symbolize “absence made visible,” creating a serene atmosphere that contrasts with the city’s usual noise.
Walking through the solemn memorial, I took in the names of the 2,983 individuals who lost their lives in the 2001 and 1993 attacks, engraved on bronze parapets bordering the pools. As I stood before the reflecting pools, each marking the former footprints of the towers, I felt a profound sense of loss and the weight of history. I read the names of victims, including Rahma Salle, a 28-year-old pregnant woman from Boston who perished in American Airlines Flight 11 along with her unborn child and husband.
The memorial plaza also features the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that remarkably survived the 9/11 events. Discovered in October 2001, this damaged tree was nurtured back to health by New York City Parks and Recreation and returned to the site in 2010 as a symbol of resilience.
My visit to the 9/11 Memorial stirred deep emotions, offering a tangible understanding of the loss suffered on September 11, 2001. Each name etched into the bronze panels surrounding the pools represented not just a life lost, but a story interrupted, highlighting the toll of that day on nearly 3,000 individuals, including first responders.
As I walked through the accompanying museum, I encountered personal items, testimonies, and historical exhibits that brought the events of 9/11 into sharp focus. The narratives of heroes and grieving families were palpable. This visit was more than just a tour of a memorial; it was a profound journey into the tragedy that affected so many, serving as a reminder of the lasting impact of September 11 on the world.