Subject:
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Re: We all came together...a LUGNET memorial
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Sun, 16 Sep 2001 11:58:17 GMT
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Viewed:
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532 times
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The fruit of your labor has not gone unnoticed; you have created a proper
memorial page bringing together the experiences of LUGNET members for us all
to share. This is something that is needed, and I thank you for putting it
together.
A further report from just outside "Ground Zero" - my wife and I went into
Manhattan today for Queens to the Jacob Javitt's Convention Center with a
car full of medical supplies, toiletries, and dog food (for the now homeless
pets, and for the volunteer canine units that are searching for survivors).
On our way in at around 5pm, we were halted outside the entrance to the
Midtown Tunnel into Manhattan. They cleared the tunnel to let more
emergency vehicles, mainly fire-trucks, enter the city. Apparently, there
was to be a shift change. I have never seen so many in all my life, from
all over the boroughs and Long Island's Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Volunteer firefighters and paid professionals alike - and I wish I could
personally thank and hug every one of them.
We made it across town to the Convention Center hitting absolutely no
traffic. Upon arriving, you could see the military vehicles and personnel
around the building, along with the Salvation Army trucks, and hoards of
people looking to help. There were police department personnel from places
I've never heard of - doing their best to answer questions with very little
knowledge of the city. There were people walking with boxes full of
supplies from all over, in the direction of the Center. We were turned away
because they had too many supplies – too many people donated stuff – is that
even possible? I wouldn’t have believed it until we arrived at Shea Stadium
(where we were redirected to) – another staging area for donated supplies.
There were trucks, and trucks, and more trucks, bringing in supplies – from
nationwide chains to donated trucks with donations from towns and counties
all over. The boxes were everywhere. They too had too much.
My point is, I have never seen this city pull together as it has now. The
foreign flags of people's origin came down and the American Flags went up...
in unbelievable numbers. I used to be able to find my car in the parking
lot of a mall by looking for the flag on the antenna... but not anymore.
There are candles lit every night up and down the streets, and flags flying
everywhere. Their are signs hanging from the highway overpasses thanking
the heroes who travel to and from the city to help in the rescue efforts. I
am a proud New Yorker, and an even prouder American. I always have been,
but never more so than right now. In a time when my faith in humanity was
hitting an all time low - it has been renewed... with a vengeance. On one
hand, I'm glad the country can see what I have known all along; that New
Yorkers are strong and caring people, who are not selfish and self
indulgent, and who would not step over you if you fell – it turns out that
we would be willing to risk our lives trying to pick you up. I am sad that
it took something like this to prove it. But, as an American, I have faith
that this would hold true in any city or state of our great nation if the
need arose.
We don’t live in America – America lives in us, and because of that, it can
never be destroyed. We stand for the idea of freedom and tolerance - it has
not always been that way, but it is what we have grown together to achieve.
People come from all over the world to live and work and raise families
here. I live on a street with people, who if still living in their
homeland, may be at war with each other. Here, we live side by side – not
without some difficulty at times – but always with a willingness to accept
one another to ultimately live in peace.
One last note – and I strongly urge all to take heed – make note of the
merchants and companies big and small who are taking advantage of this
situation for their own greed – sometimes called price gouging – and NEVER
patronize them again. SHUT them down! And with that, take note at all the
companies who are helping – and patronize them EVERY chance you get.
Locally, from the tow truck companies who have donated trucks to the hotels
that offer a free place to stay, Home Depot and their unbelievable support,
and numerous companies and individuals who have made extraordinary donations
of time and money – remember them. And for the hotels (big and small)
charging double to stranded tourists or anyone in need of shelter, and the
gas stations charging double – remember them too.
We will survive.
Ken Wright
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