Ten years ago, fire fighters and New York Police officers are shocked by the horrifying sight of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. Instead of running away, they run toward this horror. A dark time in American history, the 9/11 plane crash killed thousands of Americans including office workers, police officers, fire fighters, and everyday people just like the rest of us.
Due to diseases, those who survived may endure, this attack on the American home front doesn’t cease to this day. These thousands of deaths were equally unnecessary as they were tragic. While the first responders took the decision to aid as best they could, their heroic deeds were only commemorated to a certain extent on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. Mayor Bloomberg stated that the estimated 91,000 heroes who helped in rescue and search efforts were to be recognized on a separate day from September the eleventh. Instead, politicians as well as other public professions travelled to ground zero on this historic date.
Although the Americans who were attending this event provided no room for the famous heroes, numerous citizens of America talk of extracting a few of those who are attending. Not only were the first responders to be excluded from the ceremony, but religious groups such as churches and temples were as well.
The Wantagh community’s thoughts on this decision vary from acceptance to outrage. While some residents of Wantagh cannot find anything wrong with the choice that they find to be appropriate, others feel there is no meaning or significance to have their memorial on a separate day. A volunteer fire fighter of Wantagh said, “I was in the city and saw the crash a few hours after it happened. I was 16 at the time and think I speak for a lot of fire fighters and cops when I say that the NYFD and NYPD deserved to be (commemorated) at this ceremony.”
The police officers and fire fighters that did attend the memorial were not there to commit to their duties but for a different reason, to pay their respects to their lost friends and family members. The NYPD and the NYFD both have suffered tragic losses. Those who were lost and the heroes who attempted to rescue them should not be remembered individually, but as one group that will not be forgotten through American history.