Commemorating 9/11

Would we be able to come together now like we did then?

Like most people who had already reached adulthood on 9/11/2001, the day is seared in my memory.

It was a beautiful Tuesday. I was working at the United National Information Centre (UNIC) in Washington, DC. That is part of the office of the Secretary-General. We received reports from all over the planet and I remember thinking that the United States was lucky to be protected by two large oceans. The kinds of violence and terrorism that plagued other places couldn’t happen here. It may be my memory playing tricks on me but I think I had that thought as I made my way that morning to Union Station to catch the Metro.

Once at work, my boss came in and asked, “Do you know what just happened?” Because annoyed is my default setting, I remember thinking, “I can’t know everything going on all the time” but all I said was “no.” The first plane had hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Like most people who just heard and didn’t see what happened, I assumed it was a small Cessna. When the South Tower was hit, we all knew it was not accidental. When the Pentagon was hit, I could see the smoke from my office.

I learned that day I stay calm in a crisis. Much like the military, our UN office had a chain of command. I was nowhere near the top of that…