09/12/2024
911 MY MEMOIR
~Rebecca Torres
Reealitty's Table
As I listen to our children speak about 911,as if it were just another terrible event in our history books, I remember the pain, anguish, loss, and other emotions we went through that day.
I remember, as a young pre school teacher, laying my hands on the shoulders of one of my 3 year old students as we watched the towers go down. {The school was across the water directly facing the towers.}
“Mom is gone.” He said. It tore at my heart. More than half of my students were instant orphans in that moment, others lost family.
The majority of the members at the church worked at the Trade Center and had gone off to a regular work day.
We had been scheduled to leave, with the little pre schoolers, on a field trip out there and were a little upset because the bus had broken down and not gotten there yet.
I praise God for that broken vehicle now!
We heard the news on the radio, went outside of the small church, and looked passed the water. The smoke visible, we screamed as we saw the second plane hit.
The Last Fire House that was, at that point, not allowed to cross the bridge, had no choice but to park alongside where we were and watch with us.
Some of the little ones were allowed to climb on top for a better view. None of us expecting to see what came next.
We all went cold to the bone as we watched the tower begin to fall. Then dust…then the second one…more dust. Black sky. Not a sound except for little ones crying, teachers sobbing, and firefighters forgetting themselves yelling out, “No!” “Oh My God!”
My little ones ran to me. Around me in a huddle. I had no words of comfort for them. Lord knows I tried my best.
It was like a horrible movie come to life. Their mothers and fathers were gone. As little as they were they knew. (It took me years to get past the memory of those next few hours.)
That day we stayed at the school until almost 10pm waiting for news from kin to come and pick up the little babies. Each embrace from them evoking sorrow and tears beyond words.
Days after any sound of a plane would have them running to my side in terror. We stopped taking them out to play for about two months until some healing had taken place. Out little classroom radio became our best friend. It forever played calming music.
There was an eerie silence at the tale end of that day.
Walking the board walk was as if walking through stone. The atmosphere felt so heavy. Seeing the battleships out in the waters…in my backyard…was so offsetting.
We were scared for a while. Then got angry…then accepted the reality and the losses. We had to.
Let us not forget that this was real. Not just some sensational news story. But REAL. The affects are REAL…the survivors are REAL…the lessons are REAL.
I only pray that we have truly learned from it.
Today those little ones I held so long ago and grieved with are young adults, survivors of the event.
My loves, wherever you may be, my prayers are with you. May God cover your hearts and minds as we remember, once more, the day NYC became stone silent. You are the promises from ashes. You are the beacons of hope. You are NOT forgotten!!! Forever I will hold you in my heart. God Bless.
