It was appropriate that our nation collectively recognized the tenth anniversary of the September 11th tragedy. The official dedication of the Ground Zero Memorial and the many ceremonies that paid homage were befitting as well. It is important that the date of September 11 always be a date of remembrance.
Yet, this is now October—so why are we running a story related to September 11th in this issue of ALIVE?
The answer lies in the fact that while 9/11 was a horrendous and tragic event, for most of us, it was just that — an event; one that can be properly observed, once a year, to then be forgotten for another year. We are able to suppress, delay or “compartmentalize” the mixed feelings of anger, fear, and heartbreak that that terrible day evokes, for those of us old enough to remember it.
But what of the families of the victims? What about the first responders who were there, who witnessed 9/11—who performed and served under the most dreadful of circumstances? Men and women who lost close friends and co-workers. For these, 9/11 marks a date in time with an entirely different meaning.
We are honored to include in this issue, in an exclusive story by Anita Venezia (page 16), the eye-witness account of retired New York Fireman, Sean Hickey, who was one of the first firefighters on the scene when the World Trade Center buildings collapsed. His job, at the time, was intended to be search and rescue, but as you will discover, it sadly became something else.
Our message is simple—we must never forget that for the victims and first responder of 9/11, the wounds are real. While all of us were affected in some way, those who lived through it will carry the scars, every day, for the rest of their lives.
Thank you, Sean Hickey, and thanks to your fellow first responders. We pledge to you that the price you paid to serve us all will, truly, never be forgotten.
