Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Let's Be Brutally Honest: First Responders Should Be Invited To The 9/11 10th Anniversary Event

This upcoming Sunday will be a major event that was only remembered to being a day of remembrance ten years ago. On September 11, 2001, at 8:46 AM, planes that were flown by suicide terrorists flew into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. The site where the World Trade Center once was is now called Ground Zero and ten years later, we have fought wars on terrorism and have ended up in an economic crisis. I was sure that there would be an event commemorating those who lost their lives in this tragic event, did something to make a difference to those harmed in this event, as well as hold a memorial of some sort. It turns out that the results were not completely what we wanted to hear. The firefighters and police officers who served as first responders after the twin towers crashed are not being invited to the memorial being held on the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that this memorial is going to concentrate on those who lost loved ones during this tragic event, and to remember those who were lost in this event. Also to be invited were President Barack Obama, Former President George W. Bush, who brought strength and a positive message during this time, Former NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani, who was also a key figure in bringing courage to the city during this fearful time, as well as governors, representatives, and other political figures... but not the firefighters and police officers who were actually hands on in this dire time.

The firefighters, police officers, and other first responders risked their lives to save the lives of others. Some of them lost their lives during this event. If it weren't for these first responders, things would have been much more chaotic than they were and more innocent lives could have been lost. These are many of the real heroes of 9/11, and they are being paid back with an exclusion for the memorial services being held ten years later. There should be a bit of outrage, as they are first denied the right to insurance, and then are excluded from being honored for doing something that really made a difference. To be quite honest, these are people that are being disrespected for serving their country hands on and being there at the moment they were needed. I would like to ask the political figures, especially those who were either not serving at the time or on vacation, what they were doing at 8:46 AM on September 11, 2001, and what did they do after hearing the news about the airplanes crashing and the lives being lost. While I believe those who attend are showing respect to their country, they should be thinking, "Where are the first responders that were making a difference and physically risking their lives to not only serve their country, but to save innocent lives that were being harmed?" and "Why aren't we giving any recognition to these first responders?"

This will also be a non-religious memorial, thus there will be no prayer during this event. They will be naming those victims of 9/11 and also allow the victims families and other loved ones to see the names of their relatives lost in the tragedy on the memorial. While there will probably be many attendees, I don't see why they can't fit the time and space for the first responders. This is just as much their event as well. Even if they're not mentioned, I am thankful for all of those who risked their lives to save others and serve their country during this tragic event and I also express my sympathy for those who have lost loved ones during this tragic event. This is a serious event and the arrangement should be taken seriously, much more seriously than the way things are currently being planned.

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