Those of us who remember can think of February 26, 1993, as just another ordinary Friday, until we learned of the bombing of the World Trade Center in Manhattan. That night instead of watching my usual Knicks game, I was flooded with images both surreal and disturbing as news reports tried to cover every angle of the attack. I remember seeing the words "Terror at the Towers" splashed across the screen and thinking how could the world have come to this.
This first attack on the WTC, of course, seems nothing more than a footnote in history now, but it should never be forgotten because people lost their lives too. Also, it was a wake-up call that we Americans failed to heed, leading to the more remembered and far more devastating attacks on September 11, 2001.
Perhaps because the response was swift, there was no major loss of life, and the buildings seemed invulnerable after this attack, we quickly fell back into complacency. While New Yorkers especially remember the day, it always seemed like something we did our best to overcome. Even the perpetrators were caught and put on trial and sent to prison, so the story seemed to end there.
But, as we all well know now, the story does not end. Those backers of the terrorists who carried out the attack knew this was the target they wanted, and eight years later they would strike on a beautiful blue sky Tuesday morning and change our city, country, and world forever.
John DiGiovanni, Robert Kirkpatrick, Stephen A. Knapp, William Macko, Wilfredo Mercado, and Monica Rodriguez Smith (pregnant with her first child) died that day in 1993. It could have been many more had the terrorists had their way and toppled one building against the other. We cannot forget these people lost, and it is fitting that when the 9/11 Memorial opens this September, their names will be included with those killed in the 9/11 attacks inscribed in bronze for all eternity.
Article comments
1 - Dave-O
We already have a memorial site "Fresh Kills" this as you know is the site were they dumped the souls not found at ground zero.
Fresh Kills has become a important site in the 9/11 truth movement not only are these poor souls there. Proof of what happened that day has also been dumped there Steel Beams showing signs and recording effects of blasts, flash heating, termite, cut charges and so forth.
In their hurry to get rid of the evidence they actually created a depository vault for future legal action.
2 - Anti-Dave-O
SNORE!!!!!!!! Give it a rest already... Time to get back on your medication.
3 - Victor Lana
Anti, it's people like you who restore my faith not just in this country but in humanity. Thanks.