On Rippling Out & Remembering What Matters

 

I didn't.  While twenty two years seems like a long time ago, another era, it doesn't take much to bring back memories of that day, the horror, the costs, the sacrifices.  The weather never fails to remind me, along with the date, as I take in the freshness, blue skies and bright warm sunshine of September and hold it in contrast to the burning hatred and cold contempt that was part of the darkness revealed that day as evil actions took the lives of thousands and changed the lives of millions.    

From 9/11 By the Numbers:   "Death, destruction, charity, salvation, war, money, real estate, spouses, babies, and other September 11 statistics.

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. Time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out."

• Total number killed in attacks in New York: 2,753
• Number of firefighters and paramedics killed: 343
• Number of NYPD officers: 23
• Number of Port Authority police officers: 37
• Number of employees who died in Tower One: 1,402
• Number of employees who died in Tower Two: 614
• Number of U.S. troops killed in Operation Enduring Freedom: 2,343
• Bodies found "intact": 291
• Remains found: 21,906
• Number of families who got no remains: 1,717
• Number of people who lost a spouse or partner in the attacks: 1,609
• Estimated number of children who lost a parent: 3,051
• Days fires continued to burn after the attack: 99

In addition, a growing number to add on to that list is the number of first responders who've died from 9/11-related illnesses, which now stands at 341, almost equal to the number of firefighters who died during the terror attacks themselves.

Last night I watched "Man in Red Bandana" on Amazon, portraying the choices and actions of one whose response to evil enacted and rippling outward was to help and save as many people as he personally could.  I found it heartening to see and hear of the huge ripple effect for good one person's life can also have.  "As survivor Judy Wein, who was rescued by Welles Crowther notes, “People can live 100 years and not have the compassion, the wherewithal to do what he did.'”