COLUMN: Viewpoint – 25 years after 9/11

Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. The disaster killed 2,977 people. When I visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York City I walked around its twin reflecting pools. Inscribed on the bronze wall surrounding the pools are the names of every one of the people that ultimately lost their life that day. I did research on the victims and discovered they were firefighters and stewardesses, government employees, tourists, business travelers, engineers, paramedics, teachers and students on field trips. So many wonderful contributing members of society whose productive lives ended in an instant.

I was a Winnipeg Free Press columnist in 2001 and in my article that September week I talked about how my Grade 4 students at Mitchell School provided a great distraction on Sept. 11. When reports of the attacks hit the news, I was in the school staff room, but a decision was made not to inform the children immediately. So when I went back to my classroom we continued with our normal routine of math problems, story reading, singing and lunch. The world was in crisis but the class hamster still needed feeding, one of my students threw up, another needed a hug, and two girls had a fight that required me to mediate. My students reminded me that no matter what happens life goes on.

In the long days following, I remember how full of curiosity and worry the children were about the 9/11 event. I had to set aside time each morning to answer their questions and listen to their concerns. Many of them were watching the images of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers over and over because there simply wasn’t anything else on television.

The Hanover School Division mandated a moment of silence in schools on Sept. 14. When I asked my students whom they might think about during that moment, many said children. They were sad for the children who had died on the planes and in the destroyed buildings and for the children who had lost parents and grandparents.

On a trip to Toronto I saw the musical Come From Away. It brings to life a heartwarming story about the 9/11 attacks. It’s based on the true experiences of the residents of Gander, Newfoundland after 7,000 passengers whose 38 planes had been diverted descended on their community. The people of that small town opened their homes, hearts and public spaces to strangers from around the world, feeding, entertaining, and caring for them. Many lasting friendships were established. The passengers were from different countries, spoke different languages, followed different religions and were of different races, income levels and sexual orientations. It didn’t matter to the kind souls in Gander.

In a recent set of devotionals I wrote for a religious press, I used the story of Gander in conjunction with the fifth verse from Chapter 27 of Psalms. It talks about God providing shelter during troubling times and setting us up high and safe on a rock. Since Newfoundland is often referred to as “The Rock” I compared what God does for us to what the people of Gander, Newfoundland did for others.

Tomorrow I’m going to think about the lessons of 9/11.

Each person in this world is precious and important.

Even after disaster life goes on.

Children have great things to teach us and deserve our careful care and attention.

We are called to open our hearts and lend a helping hand to all.

Let’s not stop hoping for a world where everyone has a safe place to live and learn and love.