Saturday, September 10, 2011

10 years since 9/11


My daughter, Katie, and I watched a special about the 9/11 attacks on the history channel last weekend. It stirred up many emotions in me, and afterwards,
I felt the need to make a scrapbook page about it. 
(I still have a headache & swollen eyes from crying.)
When my family and I visited Ground Zero a few years after the attacks, I was most affected by the story of "The Little Chapel That Stood." My sister, Karen, even bought me the children's
book written about it - by A.B. Curtiss.
My journaling reads as follows:
Throughout history, St. Paul's chapel has offered comfort and spiritual guidance. The chapel opened for worship on October 30, 1766 and is where the first president of the United States, George Washington, worshipped. The brownstone chapel survived new York's great fire in 1776. It is Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use, and it is the only remaining colonial church. Over the years, St. Paul's Chapel sat in the shadow of the towering World Trade Center towers. The entrance of the chapel was directly across the street from the towers, not more than 50 yards away.
When terrorists attacked the towers resulting in their collapse on September 11, 2001, St. Paul's Chapel miraculously survived, virtually undamaged. It became known as
“The Little Chapel That Stood.”
It not only stood structurally, it stood spiritually. In the days, weeks, and months that followed the attacks, the chapel served as a relief center for the firefighters and rescue workers. The chapel provided workers with refuge, food, medical attention, space to rest, and a place to pray. The iron fence that surrounds the chapel served as a place for family members of missing victims to post photos and messages to their loved ones. St. Paul's Chapel was a gathering place for everyone who needed physical and emotional support following the worst terror attack in the history of this country.
As the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, St. Paul's Chapel is still a place were the memory of the victims of the attacks in honored. When you look at the altar inside the church, you look back at the faces of all of those whos lives were lost. Their photos remind us all of our terrible loss. The faces are of mothers, fathers, husbands & wives, and brothers & sisters. Many worked in the World Trade Center, but some went into the building while everyone else was trying to escape. That day, 2,753 people lost there lives in the World Trade Center. 343 of them were firefighters, 60 were police officers, and 8 were private emergency medical technicians and paramedics. The faces of these people are represented on the altar.
St. Paul's Chapel provides an island of peace, quiet, and serenity in the midst of turmoil. It has done this for 245 years! It stands as a quiet and compelling place in a chaotic world.


12 comments:

  1. You gave me gooesbumps Sharon,so a touching story,Hugs Trish

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  2. AMAZING lo and AMAZING journaling Sharon... I too have visited that church and ground zero... it is the most humbling experience ever in my life... thank you for this.... {{{hugs}}} :):):):):):):):):):):)

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  3. What an amazing layout! Beautiful and moving.

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  4. This is very nice and a great story. Have you been to Shanksville Sharon? Very peaceful place!

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  5. Nice idea to make a page...I should do it too, but I know it will make me very sad. GOD BLESS America~

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  6. What a touching story, and beautiful layout, too.

    P.S. (I loved Mickey, too!)

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  7. Sharon, I don't know how I missed this beauty but wow....such a beautiful beautiful layout!! i visited ground zero just a few months after the attacks and remember that church being the only thing standing...such beautiful journaling!! this will be a great memento for years and generations to come!!! touching layout truly touching!

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  8. Sharon you are such a kind and gentle woman... this was truly beautiful, not a dry eye in the place!
    Hugs,
    Pendra

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  9. I had to tell you again how amazing this page and your journaling are Sharon. It's so very wonderful! An amazing tribute page, seriously.

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  10. Hey dear friend what a story that was That day, 11 September .. To get goose bumps and tiers.. keep it in my memory of those horrible days.
    Even though it's ten years ago. You think off people innocent loss.and you have made beautiful layout with this is so sweet of you so touching.

    hugs carla

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  11. Touching and beautiful and wonderful in every way. This is such a special page.

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  12. Oh, how beautiful. We got to see that chapel...very emotional, beyond words.

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