Ripple Effects

Yesterday, there was a Facebook post making the rounds – encouraging people to copy, paste and share.  It was a very poignant post – and one that certainly resonated with a lot of people.

“On this day, 18 years ago 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights. 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning tomorrow. 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift. 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol. 8 paramedics went to sleep in preparation for the morning shift of saving lives.

None of them saw past 10:00 am Sept 11, 2001.

In one single moment life may never be the same. As you live and enjoy the breaths you take today and tonight before you go to sleep in preparation for your life tomorrow, kiss the ones you love, snuggle a little tighter, and never take one second of your life for granted.

#Neverforget
Copy and paste”

3,263 people – mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands and wives – were preparing for a “normal” day in their lives in the pre-dawn hours of Sept 11, 2001.  And did not see the sunset.  Did not see the “end of their shift/tour/workday”.  Did not have the opportunity to bemoan jet lag, long waits at the food truck/lunch counter or just the fact that it was “another day”.  3,263 individuals perished that day – through no fault of their own.  Simply being on the wrong plane, being at their desk on time, or doing what they were called to do that day.

And we do remember them – and the loss felt around the world on this day 18 years ago.

But they are not the only ones to be remembered –

We should also remember the hundreds – yes, hundreds – of first responders that have died due to illnesses stemming from the exposure to dust and particles at ground zero.  Men and women that answered the call – fire, police, emergency medical services, and even some of our non-government responders – digging through the rubble, caring for those who were working through the rubble, doing their jobs.  Who thought that at the end of their shift/tour/assignment they would return home and try to un-see the horrors and grief they witnessed and experienced.  Only to find they had another assignment to fill.  Fighting for their life.

We should remember the thousands of sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, husbands and wives that have had to face a very different life since that day.  Dreams cut short.  Futures forever changed.  Tossed into an alternate world that they would never have chosen for themselves, or anyone.  Whether they lost their loved one on that day, or ten years later after watching them struggle with illness, or continue to watch that loved one battle the lingering affects of “answering the call” all these years later.  The strength demonstrated to simply make it through one more day, every day, all these years later – is nothing short of amazing.

I remember. 

I remember the news on my way to work.

I remember calling my son (who was at a prime age to be called to service if it came to that)

I remember the conversations with fellow Red Cross workers years later – “Who was there early on?  What records do they need for ongoing health claims?”

I remember news reports of yet another responder succumbing to illness attributed to his work that day and in the weeks that followed.

I remember.

Do you?