Our Hearts Still Mourn

The sounds of trucks idling and trains squealing prevented any semblance of silence at the 911 Memorial Service today.

Still, plenty of people paused in their morning routine to come to Freedom Plaza in Metuchen in observance of the moment of silence at 8:46.

Because of all the rush hour noise, and the fact that so many people are not able to come to the morning service, there was talk of moving it to the evening next year.

I keep hearing people say that the weather today is just like it was seven years ago. But I disagree. The sky was deeper blue. There was less humidity. The air was crisp with a fall smell. After a very short time, all hints of vapor trails in the sky disappeared. It’s strange how vividly I remember sensory details like that.

I was grateful for this morning’s prayer, remembering and asking God’s blessing on the families of the victims.

Firefighters from our town read the names of each of the firefighters who died in the World Trade Center that day.

Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of talk about marking 911 as a national holiday or perhaps as a national day of mourning.

But I like the idea of marking the day with a national day of charity and service. Close the schools and the banks, and allow people opportunities to spend time in community service on that day with organized projects planned all over the country. What do you think? Would it just turn into another excuse for a mattress sale? I hope not.

But regardless of how the country eventually decides to commemorate the day, Metuchen will never forget.

Freedom Plaza is located just outside the train station, where commuters pass through on their way to New York. The memorial plaques list the names of New Jersey residents who were victims.

“Amazing Grace.”
He didn’t finish the hymn though. Instead, after he played a verse or so, he kept playing, but turned and walked up the stairs toward the train, with the sound of the bagpipes mingling with the traffic noise, then fading away.

I think it’s a good idea to move the memorial service to the evening, when school children and more adults could come. But I still think a sounding of the townwide fire siren at 8:46 am, followed by a moment of silence wherever you might be, is important.

God bless the families of the victims. Grant them peace and healing. Amen.

To read about my journey of mourning, searching and redemption after Sept. 11, 2001, click here. Jump to the redemption part, my favorite part, by scrolling almost to the bottom of that page. (But a page search for the word “redemption” is easier.)