So 9/11, a day which will live in infamy. To all of America it was just a normal day, but as we all know that changed pretty quickly. I don't really remember much from that day. I was in 4th grade I know that, and all that I remember is another teacher coming into the classroom and whispering something to my teacher. She paused for a moment and informed us that we would be getting out of school early because of something that was happening. As 4th graders this was the best news ever, half a day of school! I remember waiting for a while for the buses to come and get us, whenever anyone asked what was going on to teachers we only got silence. We got loaded onto the buses and we were mixed with middle school/high school kids and I remember very vividly an older kid saying "someones are blowing stuff up." Everyone was talking loud, but i didn't really comprehend what was going on. I got dropped off at home with my 7 year old sister and we raced inside. My parents cars were home which I thought was weird because they should've been at work. I ran in and said a smart ass comment to my sister and I yelled that I was home. The next thing I saw I will never forget. My mom was in the living room on the couch crying with her hands on her mouth and my dad was just starring silent at the TV. They both turned and looked at me and those looks definitely let me know something was truly wrong. My mom sat us down on the couch and we just watched the news. i wasn't really scared of what was going on until a week or so later.
One of the scariest days in my life by far was the week after 9/11. My father is a volunteer Fireman back home. he has been for most of his life. The week after 9/11 was all a blur, but on one particular rainy night. my dad's fire department had a service for all of the fallen NYC firemen. We were outside at a flag pole with all of the members dressed in their uniforms. There were people crying as the rain fell on us. After the service my dad came up to me and my sister in his uniform and he knelt down to are level and proceeded to tell us he was going to NYC to help out with the clean up. I remember my sister started crying and I got angry. I was angry at him because i was scared what happened to all those other poor people would happen to my dad. I cried and begged him not to go, but he said he needed to help. That was his job. I hated him at the time for leaving us and i feared he wasn't going to come back home. He left for a week with a few other members. He stayed on a battleship on the Hudson river and for a week straight he helped those in need in NYC. Looking back on it now I'm proud of my dad, but back then I didn't see it that way.
As I got older we learned of the dangers in the air that Spiegelman talks about in "In the Shadows of No Towers." "Asbestos, PCB's, lead, Dioxins, and body parts...." Learning his now and how many people have been affected by this, workers, firemen, construction crews, getting cancers and other diseases scares me. I'm afraid that one day my dad will come down with something because of government lies. Maybe I'm just paranoid. I just hate to see something bad happen to such a good man like what has happened to other good and noble men and women. 9/11 definitely changed how I see my father as a man and I've seen how it's changed me.
"Things will never be the same" - Tupac
That's really beautiful that your dad went to help out with the rescue and clean-up. One of the things I remember most about that time period was how much we as a nation came together to help out. Yes, there was crazy racism going on but there was also wonderful examples of brave men and women going out of their way to help others in need.
ReplyDeleteDoes your dad ever talk about his time there or is it too painful for him?
Just, wow. You kind of buried the lede with this. The fact that your father helped out--that's a very big deal. Your response and your sister's, and your concern for him, is perfectly understandable. I'd have liked to hear more of this story too--about what he said to you kids, and if he ever talks about it now, or you've expressed your concerns to him and how he responds. Also, the ways that 9/11 changed you. Your dad really is the best kind of American hero. For the sake of this assignment, I'd have liked to see you work with the text way more than you did, although maybe not wanting to delve into it too much might make sense too.
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