*
The
day of the tragedy, I was off duty. Being an NYPD officer, I didn’t
even wait for a call, I just went into the city as fast as I could.
When I got to ground zero, it was hard to imagine what had once
been there. It all looked like a bad movie. Between the horror of
what I had to see, plus the stench in the air, it was almost overwhelming.
The hurt I felt over the loss of other officers and firemen will
linger with me for the rest of my life. The stories I could tell
you of heroic acts by cops and firemen would be almost endless.
I wish to express my condolences to all of the families who lost
loved ones in the tragedy. We are still working diligently in the
recovery effort to give peace of mind to all of those affected.
My prayers go out to all.
Brian Winrow ’94
Levittown, New York
*
I went through some of the longest hours of my life until
I finally learned that my husband and others we knew had escaped
uptown and were unharmed. Some of our other friends and colleagues
weren’t as fortunate. The towers were not my favorite buildings;
I always thought that they were ugly. But I grew up watching them
rise up into the New York skyline. They were a touchstone—I knew
I was “home” when I saw them. I feel robbed of what they represent,
and still cannot quite believe that they are gone, along with
thousands of innocent people. Regardless, I have made up my mind
that I will do whatever I can to continue to support the ideals
and activities I hold most dear. Freedom has taken on a new significance
for me, for all of us.
Alison Blackman Dunham ’75
Brooklyn, New York
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*
I
express my deep sorrow to U.S. citizens and to the victims
of dreadful terrorism in New York, at the Pentagon, and
in Pennsylvania.
Tohru Murai G’69
Hachinohe, Japan
*
Professor Laurence Thomas ended class early. He invited
us to a local coffee shop to further discuss our feelings
in a more casual environment. It was perhaps the best discussion
I have ever been a part of, and I have to thank Professor
Thomas for giving us that.
Kurt Semder ’05
Valley Stream, New York
*
We have to remember that terrorists have no religion,
cast, color, or nationality—they are always terrorists.
Please convey my heartfelt sympathies to those who have
lost their near-dear ones. Let us pray for peace to the
souls of the people killed in the attacks as well as those
who died during rescue operations.
Nilmani Pramanik, Ph.D. student
Syracuse, New York
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*
The far-reaching consequences and pain of the events
of September 11 will remain with us a long time. As the
horror of that day is replayed by the media, and the personal
stories bring home the destruction and carnage, I plead
that we retain some sense of civility and perspective. People
filled with hatred and rage at the United States have done
this. It is imperative that we recognize that the majority
of people living here love this country (be they citizens
or not) and are in shock and disbelief. It was not just
American citizens who were maimed and killed on Tuesday.
To accuse or to hold responsible individuals merely because
they appear to be “foreign” or Muslim is to completely misunderstand
the nature of such international acts of terrorism. They
were meant to instill fear, lack of trust, and insecurity
in all of us. The reactions of unity and patriotism are
to be applauded; however, our efforts to seek justice must
not be the cause of random accusations and acts of vengeance.
We are a nation inhabited by people from other places actively
contributing to the society. It is our great strength. We
must remain humane in the face of this inhumanity.
Geraldine de Berly, Director,
SU English Language Institute
Syracuse, New York
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Frank Cammuso ’87 Reprinted by permission of The Syracuse Post-Standard
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