On September 11, 2001, I was just four years old and living in Fiji, far away from the financial district of Lower Manhattan, New York. I still remember watching the breaking news about the tragic events that stunned the world on that day.
My parents and grandparents frequently discussed the 9/11 terror attacks, particularly the crash into the World Trade Center that claimed nearly 3,000 innocent lives, including first responders. My late grandmother would often tear up when watching the news, emotional as if she had lost her own family members on that day.
The destruction of the twin towers garnered global headlines, and news coverage remained prevalent in our home for months and even years following the tragedy. These early experiences ignited a deep commitment within me to understand the full scope of the 9/11 events and their significant impact on history.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, 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 twin towers ultimately fell due to the damage from the impacts and the resulting fires, leading to the deaths of nearly 3,000 people from 93 different countries.
The third airplane crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, resulting in 184 civilian and military casualties. After learning about the other attacks, the passengers on the fourth hijacked flight, Flight 93, fought back and the plane ultimately crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, about 20 minutes from Washington, D.C., killing 40 people onboard.
Fast forward to September 1, 2024, while in New York as part of the International Visitors Leadership Program from the U.S. Department of State, I made it a priority to visit the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan. Accompanied by a colleague, I left our hotel around 11 a.m. for a nearly 20-minute drive to the site where the twin towers once stood.
Upon arrival, we joined hundreds of tourists who were also visiting the memorial. The centerpiece of the Memorial consists of two pools, each nearly an acre in size, situated in the footprints of the former North and South Towers. According to the memorial notes, these pools contain the largest manmade waterfalls in North America, descending 30 feet into a square basin before the water drops another 20 feet into a central void. The memorial architect, Michael Arad, describes the pools as “absence made visible.” While the water flows into the voids, they will never be filled, creating a space of tranquility and reflection away from the city’s hustle.
As I walked through the memorial and read the names of the 2,983 individuals who lost their lives in the attacks of 2001 and 1993, I felt a heavy heart. Standing before the twin reflecting pools, each marking the former towers’ footprints, I was overwhelmed by the sense of history and loss. The names inscribed in bronze around the pools served as poignant reminders of the nearly 3,000 lives lost, including many courageous first responders.
One victim’s name stood out to me: “Rahma Salle and her unborn child.” At 28 years old, she was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, seven months pregnant and traveling with her husband. Both she and her husband perished when the flight crashed into the North Tower.
Interestingly, the Memorial plaza also features a Callery pear tree, known as the Survivor Tree. This tree, which is the only one to have survived the events of 9/11, was discovered severely damaged in October 2001 at Ground Zero. After being nurtured back to health, it was returned to the site in 2010 and now stands as a symbol of resilience.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial for the first time brought forth strong emotions, providing me with the opportunity to understand the profound loss that occurred on September 11, 2001. Each name etched in the bronze panels represented a lost life and an interrupted story. The sheer number of names was overwhelming, reminding me of the nearly 3,000 individuals, including first responders, who lost their lives that day.
As I walked through the museum, I encountered personal artifacts, emotional testimonies, and historical displays that brought the events of 9/11 into sharp focus. The exhibits conveyed the narratives of those who were present, the heroes who risked their lives, and the families who mourned their loved ones. The weight of their stories and the collective grief was palpable, making this visit a transformative journey into the heart of a global tragedy. It served as a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of September 11 and the impact it has had on our world.