My Story

I remember that day: I was a 10 year-old boy. It was sunny, and I was surprised my sister came back at school to get me. She told me on our way home "Something happened, a terrorist attack, to the World Trade Center in America."

Our parents were a "no TV" policy for kids except for Sunday mornings cartoons and we were always watching the news at dinner. But this day was an exception. We went back home, the radio was on (as always), and that old TV was on too on the « Breaking News » of main channels (we had only 6 by that time).

I remember the silence in the room, the voices of the News Presenters which were really representative of the gravity of the situation. They were just telling "If you join us now,… " and presenting the events, because they had nothing else to add, and not more info able to be communicated to the public.

The images were talking for themselves.

I remember the shock when we saw the second plane. I remember the people running in streets in panic, and the video filmed from the Fire Dept interview with that horrendous plane sound. I also remember the anger of my dad trying to talk to the tv helicopters through the TV so they help getting people on the roofs instead of filming. I remember the sound and view of people jumping the windows, asking my parents "Why do they do that?"

I remember the silence when the Towers started to fall.

I was always a big fan of firefighters, soldiers, cops as kids; you know, the usual heroes of kid boys, so I remember all these firefighters and police officers covered in dust, some of them screaming orders to try to do something, some others under shock whatever be it emotional or due to the blasts / shockwave of the fallen buildings. I remember the NY firefighters trucks sirens, and a footage of a firefighter (or a cop maybe) screaming to people to run away, then he came out of the smoke in the street all gray and dusty.

I remember the worrying discussions between grown ups in the livingroom: "Is it worldwide?", "Is it the start of a war?", "Are we also under attack?"

Then the consternation: "Not again, it can’t be!" when the Pentagon plane crashed. I remember my dad asking out loud "Why don’t they shoot the planes?" It’s so easy to say, but a tough decision to take.

 I remember the tribute the News Presenter made when we’ve heard about the people who revolted in their plane, making it crash before it reaches its target, accepting their fate but trying as they could to prevent another atrocity. I remember asking about that, and my Mum said "The people knew they were about to die but they still managed to stop the terrorists by crashing the plane so no more people are harmed." I think it was the first time as a child I truly felt and understood what sacrifice means. I remember also the empathy induced by that streamed message a woman left on voicemail to someone of her family; it was played on TV, it was really heartbreaking.

It’s horrendous.

Why

Yes, why. I remember asking that question a lot. I was shocked by why all these innocent persons were dying in front of my eyes. Who can be so inhuman to commit such things. Who on earth would be sick enough to do that. I know no good person around me me, wherever they live, who wouldn’t be horrified by such thing.

I remember wanting to sleep in the room of my sister that night, I still had the "jumper" images, and this really shocked me. "Do you think they are going to go to heaven?" I asked in the dark while we weren’t even of a believing family and education, but somehow I think I just wanted that all these innocent persons who died that day would get something better, that their death in such incomprehensible and horrendous act should be worthy of Heaven.

Somehow, I do think this event also triggered my interest for geopolitics, war strategy, espionage, and Cold War history. That day marked a turning point in the era and the start of the War on Terror as we know it. All the free world was united, all good people wherever they are were standing with the American people that day. As they stood also with us when we had attacks in Paris just because we fought with Allies against what shouldn’t exist.

Nowadays, I still see 9/11 as a day of remembrance. Thousands of innocent lives lost in the name of insanity. Thousands of additional lives of soldiers and civilians lost in the wars after it.

It’s also important for newer generations (after 2000) to be well educated about it. I’m still really upset with all the theories around it, or some people blasting nonsense misinformation on social medias about it. There are good documentaries here in Europe which even retrace the complete history from pre-USSR war of Afghanistan, through the US help to mujahideens until the end of Modern Afghan war. It’s important and it’s well taught. Maybe one day we will have the complete truth, if there is anything more to add to what we already know. For history's sake, but also for the families of victims of the attacks, and soldiers who died afterwards.

Everyone deserve the truth to find peace. Nobody heals in lies. I wish they healed or heal.
As far as I’m concerned, this event had an impact later. For years we didn’t see much footages, except in few documentaries, as if it is some taboo, something we shouldn’t speak about. It still triggers me with overwhelming feelings, extreme sadness and pain when I see some of the old footages, and when it’s not, it’s anger. Guess it’s collateral trauma, like so many other people who lived it, wherever they were, and I can’t even imagine the pain it may remain for those who were at the place, or who lost someone beloved that day.

I think it also motivated me when I participated in charities and donations for PTSD for people (children, families, soldiers) in Ukraine and to support MEDEVAC teams. My grand-grandpa was resisting the Nazis during World War 2; I was raised in the Never Again mentality. It’s somehow obvious to help a People of common values, fighting for their freedom against a tyranic invasion. I saw horrendous things that happened to civilians thereby, the incredible work and humanity of first responders, and so if something can be done, it has to be done.

In these new "cold-war" times, we must stand together. Terror and tyranny should never prevail. We all are from different horizons, different backgrounds, but together we stand.

Thank you for the access to expression.