I did not lose a loved one on September 11, 2001. And other than the life altering loss of liberties, I did not suffer harm on that tragic Tuesday 25 years ago. But thousands upon thousands did.
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Back in August of 2015 I took my family to visit the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan, NY (http://www.911memorial.org/ ). It was more powerful than I imagined.
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26 years ago, as an underfunded young man starting out in my career (and hoping my girl would accept my proposal of marriage that evening), I shot for the stars and made a reservation at a marvelous restaurant on top of the World Trade Center called Windows on the World. The view was outstanding; the service was impeccable. I was a young man who had saved his money to afford a special evening, and we received the outstanding service they were known for. Complete detailed attention. The waiters, back waiters, hostess, and chefs all made the evening of my engagement proposal most special.
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My wife said “yes” that evening and my world was changed forever in a good way. We had hopes to return on future anniversaries, but we never did and never can. All we can visit are the two gaping holes in the ground that commemorate the loss that occurred two years later.
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In the summer of 2011, David Shaw, owner of Flying S, said he needed a Haas GR712 router. I had just been offered one in the New Jersey area and David thought that would fit the bill. On the way back from my family vacation we picked David up at the local airport. Not sure how we found room for him in the cramped Mini-Van, but he graciously fit. My wife dropped us off at Service Metal Fabricating, Inc to perform the inspection, and took our toddler girls to a park. The inspection went well.
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Once there, Tim O’Keefe, the plant manager, told us that it was the machine that engraved each name into the brass plaques surrounding the waterfalls lining the circumference of each of the tower bases.
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He told us about the powerful effect on himself and the others as they programmed each name into the CNC. Collections of last names began forming family members that died together. He said they would begin crying as they typed the series of names of the lost into the program.
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We were not allowed to take any photos as some pictures had already been leaked to the press and family members of the departed were not prepared. We saw a mockup and felt the power the Memorial would hold. The Memorial would be unveiled a few months later.
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As I walked around the Memorial with my girls in 2015, trying to gently explain how life changed on that day; how and why people would enact a plan to create such despair, I was blown away to learn about “The Survivor Tree.” There was no plaque next to the Callery pear tree to tell the story but our tour guide faithfully spoke about the hope that this tree brings. It was found under the rubble at ground zero a month after the attacks and nursed to health across the river.
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It was brought back to the Memorial in 2010 and is now a remarkable object of hope to millions who visit the memorial.
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When have I been crushed by life? What event has put me under rubble?
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This remarkably unremarkable pear tree is a testament to the human spirit. To the healing that God and time alone can bring. Some will attempt to take our freedoms, our hopes and our future, but we can rebuild, continue to dream and build a great future. We can re-establish roots, get nourishment and flourish once again.
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I believe in a loving God who restores. I believe in the redemption of mankind and the healing of brokenness. This tree is a symbol of healing and hope to me.
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To those who lost their lives that day, to those who gave their lives that day trying to avert planes or rescue those who did; to those who lost loved ones and who volunteered to serve and fight to protect our freedoms: THANK YOU, AND MAY GOD’S GRACE FALL HEAVILY ON YOU.
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