Lingering memories

As the United States prepared to mark the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC, there has been a strengthening of already-existing security measures.

There was a "credible" but as yet "unconfirmed" threat of a planned terror attack on Washington or New York, the US government warned the public on Thursday.

Streets in New York were closed, along with subway stations, while a "no parking" zone was enforced around ground zero, the site where the World Trade Center once stood. Police with sniffer dogs patrolled rail and road networks ahead of the anniversary, with security officials posted outside many buildings.

Despite the precautions, there was still a frenzy of activity around the building site at Ground Zero on Saturday. People shopped and sat on the benches looking onto the building area as the new "One World Trade Center" gradually climbs into the sky.

Nearby, wooden roses were on sale in the national colors of red, white and blue. The proceeds go to the families of fire fighters killed in the attacks. "Business is good," said the woman selling the roses.

Joy and sorrow rub shoulders

Two pretty girls in skimpy pink shorts photographed themselves laughing in front of a banner that carries the names of all the victims of the attacks. Two meters away from them, a young man zeroes in on one name in particular. "You saved so many," he writes, wiping the tears from his eyes. Many of the men standing around here are identified by their T-shirts as members of the police or fire services. Their eyes are red from weeping.

A block away, at Trinity Church, a poetry reading was held in memory of the victims. In the garden of the little church, which was built in 1766, many of the first responders who worked at the scene of the disaster were meeting for a barbecue.

They shared memories of how the church, which survived the collapse of the towers, became a haven of relaxation from their grim work. Here they could regain strength, drink a coffee and receive some kind words of encouragement before going once again "out into the hell," as one of the men, Charles Kaczorowski, put it.

For 10 long months, he worked in the rubble of the towers and now he wants to thank those who helped in the church, offering their support.

Confidence in the police

"Charlie K.," as he is known here, works today as he did then for the City of New York as a manager in the Department for Design and Construction.

"I see it this way - I got over Vietnam. I got over the first attack on the World Trade Center," he said, referring to the earlier attack in the 1990s. "I got over 9/11 and ground zero … I'm prepared for anything, but I have complete confidence in the New York Police that they are doing an outstanding job and I feel safe."

Nancy Scales Tarascio is another city dweller who has no fear. She is one of the 334 people who were to read aloud the names of the victims of the terror attacks at Ground Zero on Sunday. Along with the victims in New York, those who died in the attack on the Pentagon and those who perished aboard Flight 93 when it crashed near the Pennsylvania town of Shanksville will be remembered.

The ceremony will begin at 8:35 a.m. local time. Nancy's brother, Colonel David Scales, was among those who were killed at the Pentagon. He was 44 years old.

"We must never forget," said Tarascio. "It is very painful for us to know that there are people out there who wish us dead." The whole country was attacked, she said, and that is something that she believes should be remembered daily.

Tarascio is unable to understand people who say it should be possible to put those events behind us. "They obviously did not feel the pain," she said. So much has changed since the attack, she added.

"Everything is different since 9/11," she said. "We have to think about so much now - just look at the increased security measures."

There are also New Yorkers who have left the city and emergency workers who prefer to stay at home. Captain Scott Fried is one of them. The 52-year-old paramedic was the operations chief for a watch of the Fire Department in Brooklyn and coordinated the duties of 120 colleagues on that day in 2001.

The day after the attack he was at Ground Zero and became responsible for the retrieval, storage and identification of body parts. "It was very tiring and it was a very difficult time for all of us," he said.

After 1,500 hours of working at Ground Zero, he finally stopped counting the amount of time he spent there.

Painful memories

Scott Fried is not going to be in the city this weekend. He will be staying with his family in Long Island instead. He tries to avoid Ground Zero. In 2005, he had to work in the area on business. “I was suddenly overcome with sadness and rage and I was lost,” he said.

For 30 years he was a paramedic, but 9/11 changed his life. Since then, he has retired and concentrates on his family. The country has also changed, Fried said, and that is something that bothers him. "We have given up a lot of freedom."

He also can't understand why so many people are opposed to the building of a mosque in the vicinity of Ground Zero. "It was a bunch of fanatics who did it," he said, adding that this was no reason to give up freedom of religion and expression.

For a few hours at least on Sunday, such controversies like the construction of the mosque will be forgotten. There will be six minutes of silence - one for those who died following the initial impact, two for the collapse of the towers and two for those who died in the attack on the Pentagon and aboard Flight 193. President Barack Obama will be present as will the former President George W. Bush, who was in office at the time of the attacks.

Both will read texts, but it will not be a time for speeches. The day is meant to be one of commemoration, a day for the nation to draw closer together and forget the bitter political debates that divide Democrats and Republicans. At least, for one day.

Author: Christian Bergmann / rc

Editor: Sean Sinico