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Sitting here in complete silence, trying to remember what the views were, trying to imagine what the harbor must have looked like when so many vessels were rescuing desperate people from the shores. For those who heard all the noise, the sirens, the gasps and experienced the complete life changing chaos of September 11
th. I wonder how long it took for the quiet to come back.
Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty represent the notion of the inscription: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free…. I am lucky enough to be sitting at Liberty Park New Jersey and if I listen with purpose, I can hear the memory. As I watch the people come and go; they take a few pictures, speak so many languages, and I can see the excitement for some to be at the place where their ancestors first came to our great country. For some, the hardships that brought them to this land must have been so terrible. For others, it was the adventure of dreaming of a life with riches and the promise of a better future. The reasons are endless, and although I do not know how
my ancestors landed here, personally, I am happy that there was a landing!
Me and Scout did not take the ferry over to Ellis Island, but I did mention to her a little military history about the base of the statue of liberty. The Statue of Liberty sits on what is called the Fort Wood Promenade and is a permanent remembrance to the military fort that protected the harbor from the British during the War of 1812. It was a look-out for the enemy ships trying to sneak into the harbor, but luckily, nobody ever fired a shot from the island. The island continued to serve as a military outpost until the mid-1930’s, when the changes in modern weapons and Lady Liberty became a part of all our ancestry.
Our nation fought for freedoms to be a country of independent thought and free ruling; the War of 1812 was the true second fight for our nation's freedom. I wonder if those historical figures could have ever imagined what freedom would eventually look like. I think that with time, it could be re-asked as “what does freedom feel like?”
The quiet of the water, the perfect location, and
my long-time fascination with portions of September 11
th, allows for my mind to continue to be tethered to so many unanswered questions. That Day. Those moments. The Sounds. The Loss. The disbelief that evil could exist at unimaginable levels. Maybe this was the day for me.. To become who I am?
Maybe my life is reflective of what my eyes have seen? Why do we remember exactly where we were when something spectacular or horrifying happen? Does my past somehow dictate this strange and innate need to be part of something bigger. Why am I looking for the good? Why do I believe that people will give of themselves because of reasons they can’t explain.
The search for freedom might be a push, pull and tug on our hearts, our physical beings, and our memories. I am connected to this harbor here between New York and New Jersey. This very harbor is the location of the greatest water rescue of people, only to be compared to the rescue of troops in Dunkirk during WWII. It was only 800 maritime saviors, with over 150 ferries, tugboats, fishing boats, yachts and personal watercraft who personally rescued nearly 500,000 people from
the shores of a burning New York.
I wonder about the boat drivers, the captains in the harbor and those who fled to safety and then hurried back into the danger, how are they now. Wars have happened, families run towards freedom for a better life, and yet at times, the freedom from the memories is the struggle. I wanted to find a boat captain and just talk about those stubborn and resilient thoughts that just continue to hang around. Maybe life is just a journey? We all get to choose our particular journey. Some people just choose different venues to visit. Some want to experience different worlds, different feels, and different tastes.
In my choice to live out loud I feel like my choices, lessons learned and the sovereignty of human life that I hold so true are just dodgy little random thoughts that come and go, and if I don’t listen, they just pass with barely a whimper. It is hard to listen. Quiet can be so terrifying and I wonder if those maritime heroes can hear through the quiet. What must they have been thinking while lined up to pick up the broken and frightened
souls off those New York shores. The daunting fear that was overshadowed by doing the right thing for your fellow survivors. The Coast Guard asked this harbor for the novice and for the professional to assist. To float their vessels towards the flames, towards the dust and towards the tears. Not one time did they ask for the brave.
The sacrifice of the volunteer, the good Samaritan, the people who witnessed history and helped to make it bearable. To always remember with them, is the least I can do. Every day people live with thoughts, real or imagined. The fight or flight of action or inaction is what drives us. For the follow-on years after securing the freedom for others, protecting those who needed it and speaking for those who do not have a voice; for these everyday people, the memories of these actions can and are re-activated by the thoughts of the worst of the worst. Through history, through the wars, the skirmishes and challenges, there have always been those who move towards the noise, the danger and the unknown. I am grateful for the brave. Let us not forget that these are our neighbors, our friends and
our family members. Every day wake up, count the steps of the day and live a life of normal. Always remember the Survivors.
The quiet comes at night. The memories linger in the shadows and the prayers to change outcomes are said. These are people. These are my friends. These are families who wish for the lonely to stop. Wishes for loved ones to return for one last hug, one last I love you and one last meal together. Not everything is about death and the ultimate sacrifice. Sometimes life just changes.
The stillness of the boats waiting in the harbor to welcome the horrendous chaos of that day. People boarded their vessels that took them to safety. Thank goodness me and Scout found a great bench here in the harbor. We watched the world go by. We allowed the noise to come In and found something….
kindness from others and the pride to be sitting here on the edge of the waterway that represents the fearless many who ran towards the danger. Listen through the quiet.
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