On September 11, 2001, I was just four years old in Fiji, far removed from the tragic events unfolding in New York City. However, I distinctly remember watching the breaking news about this horrific day that shook the world.
My parents and grandparents often discussed the 9/11 attacks and the catastrophic crash into the World Trade Center, which claimed nearly 3,000 innocent lives, including many first responders. My late grandmother would become visibly emotional while watching the news, feeling as if she had lost family members in the attacks.
The destruction of the Twin Towers dominated headlines globally and remained an ongoing topic in our home for months and years after the tragedy. These early experiences ignited a deep desire in me to comprehend the full magnitude of 9/11 and its lasting repercussions on world history.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists affiliated with the extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four commercial planes, two of which were flown into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. The impact and subsequent fires led to the towers’ collapse, resulting in nearly 3,000 fatalities from 93 countries.
The third plane struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing 184 civilians and military personnel. Passengers on the fourth hijacked plane, Flight 93, bravely attempted to retake control, leading to the plane crashing into a field in Pennsylvania, causing the deaths of 40 individuals.
Fast forward to September 1, 2024, I had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 memorial in Lower Manhattan while participating in the International Visitors Leadership Programme by the U.S. Department of State. Departing from the Park Central hotel around 11 AM, my colleague and I took a short Uber ride through New York, passing iconic sites like the Brooklyn Bridge and Wall Street, until we reached the memorial.
Upon arrival, we were welcomed by throngs of visitors from around the globe who had also prioritized visiting this poignant site. The memorial features two large pools, each nearly one acre in size, located where the North and South Towers once stood. These pools boast the largest man-made waterfalls in North America, cascading 30 feet into a square basin, before disappearing into a smaller central void that represents “absence made visible.”
The sound of the water was both serene and reflective, providing a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. As I walked through the memorial, I felt a deep sense of sadness, reading the names of the 2,983 individuals who lost their lives in the 2001 and 1993 attacks, each name etched in bronze along the edges of the pools.
Standing in front of the reflecting pools, memorializing the twin towers’ footprints, I sensed the heavy weight of history and loss. I could not help but reflect on the tragic day and the devastating feeling of helplessness experienced by so many. One name struck me particularly—”Rahma Salle and her unborn child.” Rahma, 28, was on American Airlines Flight 11, pregnant and traveling with her husband when the plane crashed into the North Tower.
The memorial also features a remarkable Callery pear tree, known as the Survivor Tree. Discovered severely damaged at Ground Zero in October 2001, it was cared for and returned to the site in 2010, symbolizing resilience and hope.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial for the first time was immensely emotional, allowing me to grasp the significant losses resulting from the events of September 11, 2001. Each name on the bronze panels around the pools represented a life lost—an interrupted story.
As I explored the museum, I encountered personal artifacts, emotional stories, and historical displays that vividly illustrated the events of that day. The exhibit highlighted the heroism of those who rushed into danger and the heartache of families left behind. This visit served as a powerful reflection on the enduring legacy of September 11 and its impact on the world, emphasizing the necessity of remembering those lost.