This weekend was 9/11. I had kind of forgot it was on Saturday, but I was beautifully reminded as I ran. I ended up running 22 miles all alone which makes you think a lot... as I ran past the Sandy city buildings I was the only one around. The sun wasn't quite up yet, it was about 7am and I was headed home. It was such a beautiful morning, I was enjoying the coolness in the air, and the peace of my thoughts when I noticed the Healing Field Flag Display. I am sure I had the best view of the day, it was dawn, cool, and so peaceful... definitely somber. I stopped running for a minute to take it in, and remembered a recent visit to New York.
In New York I was able to visit two special places. The first was the 9/11 museum. I will always remember this place. You were immediately reminded of that horrifying day. There are photos, letters, quotes, clothing, pieces of buildings, all types of items from the day. The most memorable for me was reading a quote on the wall, a phone call a husband made to his wife. I'm not sure if this is the exact quote I saw, but it is a real phone call. Brian Sweeney called his wife, got the answering machine, and told her they'd been hijacked. "Hopefully I'll talk to you again, but if not, have a good life. I know I'll see you again some day." Obviously I had tears, but I hate crying in public, so was able to hold them back and pretend I was ok.
The second place I loved in New York was St. Paul's Chapel. I had walked pass it a couple of times, so one morning when I was wondering New York alone, I decided this was my chance. St. Paul's was right next to the World Trade Towers and was not damaged at all in the attacks. To my surprise, as I walked in the Chapel there was a junior high choir from Tennessee performing there. I walked in to hear them singing one of my favorite songs, "Hallelujah." They sounded so incredible I had to stay and hear the whole concert, so it was me and all of their parents. I was able to walk around the Chapel and see the memorial's to 9/11- oh, St. Paul's is right next to Ground Zero, and served as a refuge for volunteers for 8 months following the attacks- they ate and slept there. At the Chapel they have postcards you can take with a great poem, showing what a huge part of 9/11 St. Paul's was. I also loved the history of the Chapel, I learned this is where George Washington worshiped on his inauguration day. l loved walking around around the sidewalks looking at all the old grave-sites. It was definitely a place of peace in the big city.
St. Paul's Chapel
It stood. Not a window broken. Not a stone dislodged.
It stood when nothing else did.
It stood when terrorists brought September down.
It stood among myths. It stood among ruins.
To stand was it's purpose, long lines prove that.
It stands, and around it now, a shrine of letters,
poems, acrostics, litter of the heart.
It is the standing people want:
To grieve, serve and tend
celebrating the lasting stone of St. Paul's Chapel.
And deep into it's think breath, the largest banner
fittingly from Oklahoma climbs heavenward
with hands as stars, hands as stripes, hands as flags;
and a rescuer reaches for a stuffed toy
to collect a touch;
and George Washington's pew doesn't go unused.
Charity fills a hole or two.
It stood in a place of sorts.
It stood when nothing else could.
The great had fallen, as the brute hardware came down.
It stood.
-J. Chester Johnson
