9/11 6 Years Later...

It seems to be a common thread my generation to ask "Where were you on September 11^th, 2001?"

For generations such as my parents and their parents it used to be "Where were you the day that JFK was shot?" or "Where were you when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor?"

Some people these days feel that we should just brush the "dust" of 9/11 under the rug and quickly move on as if nothing had ever happened. Maybe it's because the wounds are still just too surreal even though it's been almost 6 years since that beautiful September day on the southern tip of Manhattan. I've heard people say "Oh just move on already." I happen to live by a different motto "NEVER FORGET." But just in case you have forgotten click here and view this very eye opening account of the events in still images representing all those who perished, and were affected by the tragic events on that September day. Also included are quotes dating back to the early years of our country over 200 years ago. http://www.fdnylodd.com/BloodofHeroes.html

On September 11^th, 2001 Two Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy Four (2974) people lost their lives. This number does not include the 19 individuals who brought this terrible event upon us.

Additional lives were lost in the grassy fields of Pennsylvania and the west side of the Potomac River at the Pentagon.

16% of those murdered on 9/11 in NYC were Firefighters and Police Officers answering the call of citizens in need of their assistance.

To this day the "body count" for lack of a better term still continues to mount. Almost 10,000 construction workers, law enforcers, firefighters, transit workers, and some volunteers continue to battle long term breathing ailments, cancer, and other health conditions as a result of the airborne debris floating through Manhattan that early morning, and for the weeks following. Almost 71,000 additional citizens have registered to have their long term health affects tracked by the City of New York and its World Trade Center Health Registry due to what has now become dubbed "World Trade Center cough."

People are still dying as a result of this tragic event 6 years later. Most recently a Seven Alarm Fire at the Deutsche Bank building at 130 Liberty Street in lower Manhattan across the street from the former World Trade Centers, a building destroyed during the 9/11 attacks that was in the process of being demolished caught fire and two more FDNY Firefighters were killed on August 18^th, 2007 in the process of extinguishing the blaze.

Also those with the ailment designated "World Trade Center Cough" continue to die as well.

So on this coming Tuesday the 11^th of September 2007 take a moment and reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country as citizens, and professionals. "NEVER FORGET"

"Copyright © 2007 by Scott Slocum. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the written consent of the author."