United at 9/11, Divided in Pandemic, America Mourns the Loss of Thousands Twenty Years Later

DOES IT TAKE AN ACT OF TERRORISM TO BRING US, AS A NATION, TOGETHER AS ONE?

Photo from Greenpoint, NYC, 2021 - Diane Lilli
Posted

Does it take an act of terrorism to bring us together as a nation as one? If so, then perhaps we can all look at the Pandemic as terrorism, and do what these brave heroes did twenty years ago: face the dangers and mask up, get a vaccine event if it scares you, and become one to fight this deadly virus that has murdered 4.2 million souls.

If you were alive in 2020, you have a story. For me, it was my own journey driving to my OBGYN  while 7 months pregnant with my daughter, who is now 19. As we drove along the highway, I kept saying it wasn't a good idea to travel,  and it was during this ride the shocking view of the violent destruction of the Twin Towers came into view.

From the moment the buildings downtown came crashing down, local firefighters, police, EMTs, doctors, nurses, and amazing heroes stepped up to rush to the site and try to rescue victims. As we know, there were no survivors, but instead, almost 3,000 people were murdered on that crisp fall day.

Members of the Montclair Fire Department, pictured here, were some of the incredible brave heroes who risked their lives to assist during the bleakest days in our history.  Just about every firefighter station in towns across  New Jersey did the same brave deed: rushing into the danger, and not away from it.

On 9/11/01 - members of the Montclair Fire Department at Ground Zero.MFD 911 l to r: Capt Tim Selleck (retired), FF Mario Sierra, FF David Hayes (left MFD for FDNY), FF Chris Meletta, FF Daryl Pearman, FF Pat Fraiser, FF Steve Wavrek (retired), FF Lloyd Gialanella. Courtesy of MFD
On 9/11/01 - members of the Montclair Fire Department at Ground Zero.MFD 911 l to r: Capt Tim Selleck (retired), FF Mario Sierra, FF David Hayes …

Yesterday, President Biden said, "Unity is the one thing that must never break."

As a nation, we have not learned that hard lesson. 

Does it take an act of terrorism to bring us together as one? If so, then perhaps we can all look at the Pandemic as terrorism, and do what these brave heroes did twenty years ago: face the dangers and mask up, get a vaccine event if it scares you, and become one to fight this deadly virus that has murdered 4.2 million souls.

We can not bring back the dead, but beyond mourning, perhaps we can learn.

Let's unite. Let's put aside our personal fears or beliefs to stop Covid once and for all.

#NeverForget