WTC- Never Forget…

Posted on 19. Oct, 2009 by Corey in All.

The famous saying that you always hear is that “time heals all wounds.”  It is a tough one to realize and understand, but it does usually come true.  With this situation I do not feel that will ever be the case.
The one moment that is hard to get out of my mind and forget happened September 11, 2001.  I bet almost everyone remembers where they were that morning when they heard that terrorism had struck the United States of America, and hundreds would die, thousands would be injured and millions would be affected.  A country that prides itself on its toughness and almost invincible attitude had been smacked, thumped, and walloped.
When the attacks hit I was still in college at the University of Cincinnati. I remember having to go into the Shoemaker Center that morning to meet our Athletic Trainer Jayd Grossman and fellow basketball manager Steve Bybee to start inventory on our basketball equipment that had just arrived from Nike.   With our eyes glued to the television set in the training room, we quickly realized that we were not getting much work done and decided to head to the Holy Grail for lunch.  There, we were surrounded by more TV sets and numerous news stations that covered this disaster from all sorts of angles.
Over eight years later our country has not forgotten the attacks and will most likely never get over this tragedy, nor should we.  On a recent trip to New York with my dad, we took a subway down to Ground Zero, to pay homage and our respects to the area where the World Trade Center towers use to stand, and where so many lives were affected.
This was my second time at Ground Zero, but my first to be able to look around, reflect and soak in the atmosphere around.  The first time was in 2002, some months after the incident.  I was with the University of Cincinnati Basketball team and we were playing Oregon in the Jimmy V Classic in New Jersey.  Coach Bob Huggins decided to take the team into Manhattan during an off day, and asked the bus driver to swing by Ground Zero for us to see the damage and devastation.  Still pretty recent, security was tight and we were not able to exit the bus to see much.
When my dad and I returned last month, I got an eerie feeling as we exited the subway and came up from underground.  The direct area where the towers were is still heavily surrounded by chain link fences, as construction has started to rebuild the area.  As we walked around the grounds, we learned of the plans for an onsite memorial and new buildings that will be going up on the same location.
My dad and I circled Ground Zero and visited the outside of the fire station where the first responders came from.  Still to this day, there is a memorial for the fallen fire fighters with fresh flowers and cards.  Due to technical difficulties, the 9/11 Museum next door was closed and we were not able to go in.
On the other side of the grounds is the visitor’s center, where plans for tribute and new area are located.  The Center was packed as people consistently filled in and out to see what was going to happen to this area, and to remember more of this horrible incident.
September 11, 2001 is a date that no one in America will ever forget.  It was a horrible tragedy, the worst in US history and wound that will never be healed in most people’s heart.  Although this blog is usually used to talk about sports, I felt it very important to share my experience and pictures with you.