On September 11, 2001, I was just four years old and living in Fiji, far removed from the events unfolding in New York City. However, I still recall the news reports that captured the world’s attention that day. My family often discussed the tragic 9/11 terror attacks, particularly the crashes into the World Trade Center that resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths, including many first responders.
I remember my grandmother becoming emotional as she watched the news reports about the victims, grieving as if they were her own family. The destruction of the Twin Towers became a major news story, dominating our home with coverage for years following the tragedy. These experiences instilled in me a personal commitment to understand the full impact of 9/11 on our world.
On that fateful morning, 19 terrorists from the extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four planes, crashing two into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. The buildings eventually collapsed due to the damage from the plane impacts and subsequent fires, claiming lives from 93 different countries. The third plane hit the Pentagon, resulting in 184 civilian and military casualties. Passengers aboard the fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, bravely fought back against the hijackers, causing the plane to crash in Pennsylvania, claiming 40 more lives.
Fast forward to September 1, 2024, when I had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 memorial in lower Manhattan as part of the International Visitors Leadership Programme organized by the U.S. Department of State. After a short drive from our hotel, we arrived at the memorial, surrounded by other visitors from around the globe also there to pay their respects.
The memorial features two vast reflecting pools, each nearly an acre in size, situated where the Twin Towers once stood. These pools contain the largest man-made waterfalls in North America, symbolizing “absence made visible.” The cascading water creates an atmosphere of serenity amid the city’s hustle and bustle. Walking through the memorial, I reflected on the names of the 2,983 individuals inscribed on the bronze parapets surrounding the pools, each representing a life lost.
Confronting the reality of that day, I thought about the victims, one of whom was Rahma Salle, a 28-year-old passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, who was seven months pregnant when her life was tragically cut short. The memorial also includes the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that endured the attacks and symbolizes resilience. Discovered in the aftermath, it was rehabilitated and replanted in the memorial plaza in 2010.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial was a deeply moving experience, underscoring the profound loss that occurred on September 11, 2001. The sheer number of names etched in bronze reminded me of the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, along with the stories behind them. The exhibits in the accompanying museum highlighted personal artifacts and testimonies from those who experienced the tragedy firsthand, illustrating the heroism of first responders and the heartache endured by families of victims.
This visit was more than just an exploration of a memorial; it was a heartfelt journey through one of history’s most significant tragedies. The experience served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing legacy of September 11 and its lasting impact on our world.