Reporter Editorial: The struggle of memory against forgetting
The nation will be in mourning tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 11, as it has for the past 24 Septembers.
The date in 2001 was the end of many things and the beginning of just as many more, marking the true start of the 21st Century.
Historians will tell you that Nov. 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated was the commencement of the 1960s, kicking off years of tumult, protests, demonstrations and hard-won social changes. Following this logic, the 20th Century didn’t become its own unique era until the “Guns of August” in 1914 when World War I began, ushering in the bloodiest century in history — at least to date.
Sept. 11, 2001, even though it was 19 months after the turn of the millennium, brought us truly into a new century when our world shifted like the ground with earthquake tremors. We have seen the birth of “Forever Wars” that have resulted in millions of casualties since President George W. Bush declared a “Global War on Terror” and something called “The Axis of Evil.”
We’ve seen the assault on civil liberties and freedoms eroded, and misinformation — from non-existent Iraqi “Weapons of Mass Destruction” to President Trump recently saying the war in Iran is not really a war, but in fact is “small potatoes.” That brings to mind something written by the great Czech novelist Milan Kundera: “The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.”
Too many leaders would wish we had faulty memories.
That’s why it’s heartneing to understand that Americans don’t forget the “last full measure of devotion,” as Lincoln said, that fellow citizens gave to their country in the 21st Century wars. And this week Americans will remember the heroism on 9/11 displayed by individual citizens and first responders.
The Island, for the past 25 years, has never forgotten the cloudless, sun-filled September day when Island volunteer EMTs climbed into two ambulances fully loaded with emergency medical supplies and drove west.
The teams — composed of Helen Rosenblum, Ed Boyd, Faye Rodriguez, Chris Drake, Ed Kotula, Peter McCracken, Bud Fox, Ken Klenawicus and Ben Jones — weren’t sure what they would find in the city. It was just necessary to go immediately and do what they could to help.
One ambulance crew was stationed under the Brooklyn Bridge; the second was sent farther north. “We were fully prepared, but by the time we arrived, there was really nothing to be done,” Mr. McCracken remembered. “We handed out respirator masks and helped the firefighters and rescue crews decontaminate.” He remembers the dust, the darkness and the quiet, with no traffic, no cars, and no people walking around. “It’s still unbelievable,” Mr. McCracken said.
The Island crews stayed at their posts throughout the night. Shortly before dawn on the morning of September 12, they headed back home. Though the crews weren’t able to help victims, Mr. McCracken is proud to have provided assistance to New York City’s first responders.
Worth remembering. And our duty to honor all first responders.
