Sunday, September 11, 2011

We Remember

Ten Years Ago Today, The World Changed Forever

Located on our town green is this small, unassuming memorial to Dianne Bullis Snyder, a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, September 11, 2001. Dianne's plane was the first to hit the World Trade Center, the North Tower, at 8:46 am. Her parents live in town, Dianne grew up here, graduated from our local high school, and lived here most of her life before moving to Massachusetts in 1999. 

I know loss—how difficult it is, putting one foot in front of the other just trying to get through each day. This horrific tragedy belongs to every American and many millions of others throughout the world. I can't even imagine, however, what it must be like to have this loss be personally yours. Everywhere one looks at this time of year—TV, newspapers, the internet, coffee shops, grocery stores—September 11 remembrances loom large. The very seconds and minutes of your loss are replayed over and over again, editorialized, scrutinized, debated. My heart goes out to her husband, her two children, her parents, her sister and two brothers, and to all of her friends that have had to make a life without her. I can't imagine anything more difficult.

Her memorial stone includes this quote by Thomas Campbell, a Scottish poet, 1777-1844. I truly believe what he wrote:
"To live in the hearts of those we leave behind, is not to die." 

Ten years. May we remember, and keep those we have loved, in our hearts, always.

4 comments:

  1. Today should be marked by a day of gratitude remembrance and hope for what has come and what will happen.

    Your story was quite touching today, Casey. Thank you for letting us know about Ms. Snyder's life and what she might have experienced before her final moments. I can't even image what she was thinking or how brave it is to let is all go in front of you.

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  2. thanks, Woody. It is, indeed, a day for reflection on so many levels.

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  3. Casey, I have often said that this that I thought this would be even an "extra hard" loss as one has to live it over and over and over again...and altho I realize that people want to be respectful and remember, I think it must be just unbearable to just start to *catch your breath* from this loss and see it all over again and again.
    I appreciate your manner of addressing the day.
    Beautiful post.
    Thanks
    Mare

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