The Memorial to too Many Deaths

Kamon, Gang, & Yuki Tenshi: We will be working together on this memorial. Others may join us, but we started it. We'll each get a chance to say some words, then we'll give some words from others {Thanks to Washington Post.com} around the globe, as well as telling what happened.

Yuki Tenshi: I look outside my window, and though it looks like a normal day, it isn't. The pain of those dead, and of those who have lost others, rides the wind, At first, all I wanted was revenge. Now, all I want is justice...

Katmon: My mom works in DC, so you can just imagine what I was going through when I heard the news, but I didn't hear from her. I did my best to hide my tears, and it worked, until I got home. I heard the TV on, and my mom called "hello" from the basement. I lost it. I burst into tears and told her to at least call the school and tell me she was okay, next time. I still cry, just thinking about it...

Mrs. Ichijouji: I was home at the time of the explosion, and felt it rock the house. I had been listening to the radio, and they told me what had happened. I'd already heard about NY, but that didn't concern me, this did. I listened and hoped for the best...

Ken: I was with Dea and Vin when all this happened. Mrs. Ichijouji e-mailed us, telling us what happened. Dea got a ride from a friend and we got back ASAP. It was frighting. I knew some of the ppl who had been in there!

Dea: Vin and I were looking at old pictures, Ken was at my computer, fixing it for me. His call sent us running. We were all worried to death by the time we got back to Katmon's place...

Vin: I woke up the day after, and thought of it as all a bad dream. Katmon and angelkity983 coming back with a paper, pictures of the building gone and reports of the day before's events reminded me, and all I could do was cry...

Green: I got the e-mail late that night, and rushed home. Everyone was sitting before the TV, watching the devistation. What I wouldn't give to get my fireballs on those terrorists. They won't be welcome in Heaven any more, that's for sure...


Words from around the world...

Dear America! I come from Germany and I can't believe the things which happened yesterday. I couldn't believe, when I saw that the two towers of the World Trade Center fell down.
Too many people had to die, and I think of the families who lost their members. Germany is on your side!!!!!!!
Verena Tönnis
16 years old




First I've to say how sorry I am. This terrible event made me sick so I couldn't even eat anything since yesterday.
I curse all kinds of terrorist behavior. Thousands of innocent are dead. I'm really sorry for all mankind.
So all I want to say is God save all the people there. I wish you good days from God.
Reha Erbatur
Istanbul, Turkey




I followed the news here in London's financial community. I have close friends and many colleagues working in Wall Street and immediately tried to call them, but the lines were jammed continuously. Everyone was madly e-mailing and calling friends, transfixed by the live pictures. We were sent home in case the bombers targeted our Stock Exchange, but as many of us live within walking distance from that building we just didn't know what to do.
Only eight hours later did I learn that one my closest friends had escaped Morgan Stanley's offices alive. Everyone here has a similar tale. In this global business community your close colleagues are as likely to be on the other side of the world as at the next desk.
This morning, we have returned to our desks in a state of forced calm. We are determined to support our US colleagues in getting the financial system at least back to normal. We will not allow the terrorists to have their way in unleashing panic and chaos. I usually read the Post online over lunch.
I never thought I'd be writing in such a message. Suffice to say that in the hearts and minds of London, our thoughts and prayers are with you - we share your sadness and your anger.
Sabina Kalyan,
London




My name is Bas Van Egmond, I live in Katwijk in the Netherlands. Yesterday I came home from work and I saw the terrible attack on the news and I was shocked, how is it possible that people do things like this, not even animals are like this, the kill to eat, but these idiots kill for no reason at all, thousands off people went to work and didn't get home.
I hope that the American people will fight back and find the idiot who is responsible for this and bring him to America to get what he deserve. I will give my sympathy to the American people and hope that the can go on with their lives, and that the can live in peace in their own country and I know that most people from Holland agree with me.
Bas Van Egmond
Katwijk, Holland




I live about two miles from the Pentagon. When I opened my door to head for work this morning (the day after the attack), I instantly smelled the unmistakable, gut-wrenching smell of acrid smoke in the air. It was a palpable reminder of what our country went through yesterday, and what it will face in the days to come.
Not that I really needed the reminder. One of my cousins is a consultant who happened to have a meeting at the Pentagon yesterday. By twist of fate combined with the unspeakable acts of yesterday's terrorists, he and thousands like him will never return home to their families.
Our country must remember how it feels today, so that it will maintain the resolve necessary to seek out and retaliate against the perpetrators of yesterday's attacks. I know that if my personal resolve ever begins to falter, all I'll have to do is remember the smell in this morning's air.
Aaron Altschuler
Arlington, Va.




Driving home yesterday past the Pentagon I couldn't believe what I saw. The TV images didn't quite bring the images of the scene to the screen. I was horrified and started to cry worrying about friends who worked there. Upon arriving home, I changed from channel to channel trying to see pictures of New York fireman, hoping to see my brother.
It was horrible to see shots of the rubble of the towers and see a truck from his house demolished without knowing if he was trapped inside. Thank God, the call came after 9 p.m. from another brother that he was in a safe staging area. There are still four fireman from his house missing. My brother will be going to Manhattan tomorrow for a 24 search and rescue effort.
This morning driving into work, I again drove past the Pentagon and the fireman are still spraying water on the roof. The sight that brought tears to my eyes this morning was the lone American flag perched on the roof just a few feet away from the impact sight. I think this symbol said it all for me today that no matter what happens that we as a country will remain united, proud and strong.
Marcia Wheatley
Washington, D.C.




I work in the USA Today building in Arlington. I was running late for work and received a call from my wife. She said the Wold Trade Center was hit by a plane. I was in shock over what seemed to be a horrible accident at the time.
After arriving at work I raced upstairs to the 28th floor and saw on the news something that I never would have believed possible. The World Trade center was on fire. I was sickened by the video on the screen. I couldn't stand to look out the window and see the planes flying in and out of national. I went back outside to collect myself and called my wife.
Through tears and pain she told me a second plane had hit the second tower. I went numb. I dropped down onto the bench knowing with tears in my eyes what had happened. I looked up to the skies and to my horror saw another plane screaming out of the sky that looked so close I felt I could touch it . The plane disappeared behind our building then the ground shook. I immediately called my wife who was again in tears and asked her what had just happened. "You didn't hear?" she asked. "A plane has just crashed into the Pentagon."
After assuring her I was OK I hung up and didn't know what to do. 1000 Wilson Blvd. was being evacuated. People were crying and screaming all around me. The sound of another plane overhead brought more cries and yells from the crowd. People were scrambling to get cover or to just figure out what happened. Cell phones were in operable so no new news could be gathered on the situation.
I walked around the corner to see people crawling up a hill that leads down towards the Pentagon. They were dirty and sweaty and crying. I have never seen anything like this in my life. Being from New York and now living in Virginia I saw my childhood and my present ripped apart in a matter of minutes. I pray for all the families of those lost and for the people lost themselves. May god help and protect them in this terrible, terrible time.
John Mace
Arlington, Virginia




My name is Leor Galil and I am a high school student in Bethesda, Md. Yesterday's attack devastated many of the people at the school. Many teachers said they had not seen a reaction like this since the JFK assassination.
Some of the female students were crying. Most others on the other hand were completely worried about parents, family members and friends. They got out cell phones, or tried to find pay phones during lunch and called their parents. Many people had radios and were running around saying things like, the white house and capital were hit. Others were scared and jumped at every noise.
It seemed like a movie to me. I didn't hear about it until my third-period class. It didn't seem to make sense to me. As the day progressed, it got worse. One tower fell followed by the other. It really did feel like a movie. I couldn't believe this was actually real.
My family was planning a trip for winter break to go to NYC. I had wanted to go up the towers. As I left the school, it was let out over an hour early, I heard and saw war planes ahead as well as rescue helicopters. As I got home, I could constantly hear the planes fly over head.
The images I saw on TV were horrifying. I saw the plane go directly through the tower, as well as people jumping off. It is a day later, and I still do not believe it happened.
Leor Galil
Bethesda, Md.




Barbara Olson was my friend. Through the wild ride of law school and beyond, she inspired and infuriated me. Through the day and night, memories of her flood back to me ... Nike has nothing on the "just do it" philosophy. Everything I learned about going after what you want, I learned from Barbara.
She wangled the connections to get an internship at the prestigious Office of Legal Counsel and then persuaded my law school to give her a semester's credit. Shortly after her arrival there, she excitedly told me about an invitation to go running at lunchtime with someone important in the office. She'd told him that she loved to run, but confessed to me that she'd never been running. She went out that night, bought sneakers, and scuffed them up. Then, by dint of personality, did so well on the multi-mile run that she was invited to be a regular participant. In her spare time, she was the spark for our law review's special edition to coincide with the Bork nomination.
I learned from her that people are always in need of volunteers and that if you offer, people will let you do some pretty amazing things. Shortly after law school she was a volunteer prosecutor for The Athletic Congress. In addition to the daunting workload of a big law firm, she voluntarily wrote amicus briefs and got involved in political causes and institutions. The list of her accomplishments are too long to mention in a short space.
Barbara was not all work and no play. The twinkle in her eyes hinted at the breadth of her character. I believe I'm one of the very few who've ever seen the pictures of her youthful stint in a race car pit crew. There was absolute glee in her voice when she devilishly recounted presenting conservative pro bono causes to her liberal law firm. I experienced her generosity; she lent me her house when I first arrived in Washington. I remember the thrilled tour she gave me of her first office in the House of Representatives. And, I'll never forget her utter joy when I spotted her new engagement ring...
Through the tears, I have come to one realization. Barbara may have spent her life as a staunch partisan advocate, but her death makes plain that the political differences which divide us in this country are insignificant when compared to the political differences which divide us from the terrorists on those planes and the people who trained and supported them.
K. Krasnow Waterman
Tucson, Ariz.




I grew up in Washington and my dad works in the section of the Pentagon that was hit yesterday. I live and work in a law firm in Milan Italy now and when the news of the tragedy reached us, my entire law firm turned its attention to me, the only American.
Ten partners took to the phones trying to get an international phone connection. After an hour of fruitless trying they sent me home to my husband to keep trying. After another 2 hours of calls to my sisters in San Francisco and upstate New York and mother and brother in Fairfax, we found my dad alive.
Yesterday was the single worst day of my life and I felt an entire range of truly manic proportion emotions. I have never felt such extreme panic as when I could not reach anyone and overwhelming relief when my dad turned up safe and all the while I felt just an overwhelming sadness, almost numbness.
But I must say to everyone back home, the world really cares. Every Italian I know called me last night to express their grief and sadness. My firm offered to help me and my family in any way possible, even the old Italian woman who works in the cafe on my street stopped me this morning and hugged me and told me how sorry she was for all of us Americans. I have heard from no less than 5 Italians who stated that they feel like they share a special connection with Americans and that they take this attack very personally. While I cannot imagine the grief back home, it is palpable here as well.
Jean Steadman Di Marco
Milan, Italy




I substitute teach at a rural high school in far northern California --about 22 miles south of the Oregon border on I-5. I worked Five periods of freshman/sophomore English yesterday, and was given permission to leave the news on throughout the day and discuss what was happening with the students.
Keep in mind, these were 14 and 15 year olds; they were not yet born during our conflicts in Iran, or when Sadat and Begin made their tentative peace, and they were in preschool during the Gulf War.
The most -repeated questions I heard were "Why would anyone want to do This to us?" and "Why were the Palestinians dancing in the streets? We haven't done anything to them."
I spent the day explaining the short form of the differences between Western and MidEast cultures, what jihad means, why suicide bombing is An attractive and honorable option to someone taught to hate from the cradle, and the steadfastness of our Israeli allies during the Gulf War. The students had no idea that Israel is so much hated by the Arab nations that a Muslim people would hate us too ; or that ,for the sake of our allies in The Gulf , Israel submitted to bombings and death without retaliation. There was not enough time in each period to really make sure the Students understood what was going on. Their grasp of world history is too vague.
Kathleen M. Dias
Yreka, Calif.




I'm a George Washington University student, just moved into my house in Arlington two weeks ago. Yesterday morning I woke up to the house shaking as the plane that crashed into the Pentagon flew overhead. I quickly got online, only to find family and friends e-mailing and IMing me [sending instant messages] trying to find out if I was okay. I was basically trapped in my house all day, with all the streets near me closed off. Luckily, I was able to get in touch with most of my loved ones online to let them know I was okay, and was able to get in touch with my father and step-mother, who both work in Manhattan. The Internet is a miraculous invention, and yesterday it helped me keep my sanity. Friends from all across the country kept me company, and e-mails poured in on lists that I subscribe to from people not only across the country, but from all over the world. Canada, Australia, England and Germany, just to name a few of the countries. Walking out of my front door this morning was surreal, like something out of a movie. All I could smell was smoke, and the air all around was thick and hazy. As I neared the metro station, it only got worse, and I could clearly see the cloud of smoke still rising from the Pentagon. On a normally boisterous Metro car, there wasn't a person speaking, and the tension as we rode through the Pentagon Metro station was palpable. I don't think any of us are going to be the same for a long, long time, if ever.
Nicole
Arlington, Va.




I work in Falls Church Virginia and from our office windows when can see downtown D.C. We were watching the TV broadcast about the Twin Towers and just couldn't believe what we were seeing.
Then we all felt a rumble, which I later realized must have been when the plane flew near by. My co-worker started screaming about a plane going down and we looked at the window and saw the fireball and black smoke. We couldn't even see the Capitol anymore there was so much smoke. A couple of us started crying. And today I can't stop crying. I have a constant lump in my throat. I have never lived through anything like this.
As of right now all friends and family are accounted for except for my friend's fiancé. Please all pray for everyone who has a loved one missing. Thank you.
Diana Litzinger
Centreville, Va.




No words for this tragedy. Compassion, sadness, sorrow are too ... nothing.
I'm so shocked. In 1995, I took a picture of a little church from Battery Park in Manhatten. Yesterday, I saw it without the WTC, without those blue windows, without all those people who have died.
Dan Iancu
Romania




I am an American who lives in Mt. Vernon, Va., and works off Edsall Road. I am on vacation in Greece on the island of Crete. I arrived on the Island of Crete yesterday afternoon local time. Crete is 7 hours ahead. My fiance and I, Genny Morelli, were taking an initial tour of the resort when we stepped into the gift shop.
The clerk asked me if I was from New York. I wondered why because I really didn't think I was being unpleasant. He said that two planes "collided." I asked him if he meant that there were a mid-air collision but in broken English he said "No, crash World Trade building in New York ... One plane crash in Pentagon in Washington, D.C."
We were incredulous. We raced back to our room and spent the rest of our day glued to CNN. At breakfast today, a German couple came up to us and said that they knew we were Americans and that they were so very sorry for us. We said this was an attack on all peaceful people of the world not just us so we too are sorry for you. Everywhere on this island people are talking about it and the cafes are filled with people watching the BBC.
Charles A. Fazio
Crete




My son and I were hiking out in Great Basin National Park in Utah on Monday. As usual on any hike in the West, although we might be away from buildings or roads, we could still see one sign of modern times always, the trails ofjets in the air.
Tuesday on our way home we stopped to hike a bit at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. And looking up, we saw something was different, very different, completely different from our experience of hiking before: the skies were empty and still, no trace of planes above.
Peter Nurkse
Santa Cruz, Calif.




I will never forget looking out of my office window yesterday and seeing the heavy smoke coming up from the Pentagon. Nor will I ever forget the outpouring of kindness I've seen in so many places. A friend from Canada e-mailed to tell me that the lines there are 3 and 4 hours long, as people wait to give blood. My parents, who live just outside of New York City, called to tell me of a candlelight vigil in their town.
My heart goes out to all of you who have lost loved ones or who are waiting to hear of their fates. Know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. And please also know that the terrorists cannot kill our spirit. That is something they cannot touch. God bless all of you.
Diana McCord
Falls Church, Va.




As all the horrific events of yesterday unfolded I sat in my Crystal City office just blocks away from the Pentagon shocked and petrified. Not only were hundreds, if not thousands, of my fellow Americans hurt and killed, but fear had struck in the hearts of people world wide.
Terror had struck ... as, I suppose, was intended. But for me, and for many other Muslim-Americans and Muslims from Arab and South Asian descent, the fear was two-fold. For not only did I feel the sense of violation and loss that was felt around the globe, I feared the reception waiting for me and my fellow Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Americans by the general public.
Most everyone, myself included, feel that yesterday's evil events were the work of an Islamic militant group. I dreaded the ignorant comments and abuse that I knew would be directed to anyone who was wearing ethnic clothing from those regions of the world, for any woman who wore a scarf over her hair, and for anyone who happened to have the "wrong" color skin.
I pray that people remember that we too are Americans and that we too have been hurt by these events and are scared by the enormity and evil of what has occurred. Like all other Americans, we pray for the fallen and for the families of those who have fallen. Sincerely,
Fatima N. Riaz
Crystal City, Virginia




I'm from Brooklyn and still have relatives in the city, but I now live in Alexandria and work in DC. I heard that the Pentagon had been hit. I was on Route 1 just outside Crystal City and saw billows of smoke in the air.
I have never been so afraid in my life. I made it home and was able to call my job and learned that my family had called to say that they were all fine. Though I was relieved, I was still badly shaken. I think it will be a long while before I resume any semblance of normalcy.
Marla Shepard
Alexandria, Va.




I was at a Washington, D.C., doctor's office when it happened. A fellow patient arrived and told us about the first WTC. I turned on my walkman and reported developments to those in the office as they were reported. Rumors that the Capitol, the State Department and the New Executive Office Building were hit made me nervous to continue to work. I thought it was a joke when the patient first told us about it. The WTC IS New York's skyline, how could something happen to it?
I had trouble reaching family and friends on my cell phone, but managed eventually to get through. I walked to the office on Thomas Circle (from Foggy Bottom) but saw coworkers about a block from the office--it was closed, and I was told Metro was closed. Not sure how I'd get my son on Telegraph Road and home to Kingstowne. Saw another co-worker who uses the same Metro, so we walked along M, crossed the Key Bridge, took the Parkway bike path to the airport. Saw the Pentagon through the trees -- a lot of smoke, but we couldn't see any activity from the east side. The police had blocked the airport, wouldn't let people walk around it. We hitchhiked from the north side of the airport into Old Town, where my coworker called his wife to pick us up. My normal 1-hour commute turned into 3.5 hours.
Had to explain this insanity to my 6-year-old. I got him out of school And just hugged him like crazy. I'd figured he wasn't ever in danger, but the whole situation just makes you appreciate life more.
Mary C. Newman
Alexandria, Va.




A Ukrainian-American based in Kiev, I felt the same devastating shock as when I first heard about the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986.
Only then, I felt Ukrainian and very glad to be in America. Today, I feel American and very glad to be in Ukraine.
Mary Mycio
Kiev, Ukraine




I watched with great horror as our nation was viciously attacked by an unidentified terrorist group. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families. Our admiration for law enforcement, firemen, emergency personnel, and the medical teams who either lost or risked their lives is of the highest degree.
My prayers are for them and for our nations leaders as they provide direction for our country through this great tragedy. I offer two suggestions: 1) to call for a "Lights On America" where motorists all across the nation turn on their headlights for a week of remembrance for the victims ... and to show support for the families of these victims ... and to applaud the valiant efforts and sacrifices of rescue workers.
2) to call for a grassroots effort to finance and rebuild the WTC as soon as possible. Whereby, children all across the country bring pennies, nickels, dimes and citizens from every state be asked to contribute toward the rebuilding of this landmark as proof of the indomitable spirit of the American people. I humbly thank you for this opportunity to voice my thoughts.
May God bless the cities of Washington and New York. My prayer is with you all.
Pastor Monty A. Hilliard
Quaker Avenue Baptist Church, Lubbock, Tex.




I am a South Asian working in the City. In deference to the traffic situation yesterday, I chose to walk home to Alexandria. I had two encounters on the walk home:
On the Memorial Bridge, a man on a bike approached glowering and, without a word, pointed accusingly at me, thumbed back at to the burning Pentagon and then pointed at me again. We passed each other without further incident.
A couple of hours later, just outside Alexandria, a young man on a bike rode up to me and offered some water to drink. I was parched and accepted gratefully. Without urging or instruction, he'd chosen to respond to the situation by filling up a half dozen plastic bottles and ride up and down the bike path along the parkway with refreshment for people walking in from D.C.
Samir Desai




As an American living in Spain the scenes from New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania were a shock. Americans should, however, welcome the news that public opinion in Spain is squarely behind the U.S. on this one. We must, as the "Post" editorial says this morning, treat this as another "Pearl Harbor" and hit back at the enemy with implacable determination.
We will have to sustain this will to act over a period of years, and be willing to take any and all actions necessary to accomplish the mission. It is very likely that this will mean more deaths, both of American service men and women and of people in other lands. Many cries will be raised against our taking decisive action, both at home and abroad.
For once, we have to ignore the Pollyannas and Casandras and press ahead. The United States has to disregard calls for patience, restraint, and inaction in the face of this debacle. When we know where we should strike, strike we must! And our government should not forget an old adage, "The friend of my enemy is my enemy." Countries around the world should contemplate the importance and significance for them of that policy.
Paul R.Wisgerhof
Madrid, Spain




I was finally able to cry this morning. I am a native Washingtonian. This is Day Two and I'm still reeling in disbelief although reality is setting in -- I'm beginning to cry. Me? Crying? Don't know why this has affected me so deeply. The tears just come.
Late last night I spoke to a friend of mine -- a native New Yorker. He had just returned home to shower and change into fresh clothes. He had spent the day from 9:45 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ferrying people from Battery Park to the "other side " of the Hudson River-New Jersey. A triage center had been set up to help with the victims. He told me of what he'd witnessed that day, that all else in the world paled by comparison, that "things don't matter," love and people do and that the many he'd helped held on to hope when in reality there wasn't any to hold on to.
It's devastating. I've been glued to the media since yesterday morning. The hardest thing is wanting to help but not knowing how. I believe I'll lay flowers at the Pentagon this week and give blood if still needed and ... I'll pray.
Annette Becke
Silver Spring, Md.




In the midst of tragedy yesterday, I spent the day, along with hundreds of others, volunteering and giving blood to the red cross in Rockville, Md. Approximately 40 people were waiting in line at 1:30. At that time, only three Red Cross staff were on duty -- two people were taking blood and one person was trying to communicate with those in line. As the day progressed and the call for help increased, more and more people came to assist. By 2:30 the line to give blood was out the door.
The Red Cross was waiting for reinforcements and promised to have more staff by 3:30. Those waiting on line began to help the staff by collecting names, handing out numbers, and doing all they could do organize themselves-it truly was a "democratic anarchy." People began taking donations and bought food and water for those waiting in the heat outside. Pizzas were ordered for the Red Cross staff that had been there since 8 a.m. More pizzas were ordered as the day wore on. Domino's even doubled the order for free when they learned where the pizzas were going. More donations were made to stock the shelves of the Red Cross so the canteen would be filled after people gave blood. People just reached in their wallets-- 5s, 10s, and 20s were being given to a group of students from the University of Maryland who volunteered to shop for more supplies.
By 3:25, more Red Cross staff arrived. People cheered and clapped. When the first person was called to give blood, people cheered even louder. I have never seen anything like it before. People were kind, patient, generous, and willing to help in whatever way possible. Truly amazing. This terrorist attacked certainly killed thousands of people. It did not, however, kill the human spirit or the pride that comes with being an American.
Jodi Finkelstein




I am an American citizen living in New Delhi, India. I went to graduate school at Columbia University. I have been through the World Trade Center many times. I have shopped there, taken trains through there. My husband worked in one of the Towers for three years. I often met him there after work. One of our most exciting dates , was when he took me to "Windows on the World" for dinner.
I cannot believe that the Towers are no more. But, more than that I cannot believe what we humans have come to. The image of what was done in New York and Washington just reeks of such hatred.
Today, I am sad not just for all the innocent people who lost their lives, but also for the loss of innocence. I have been living overseas in various countries for the past 13 years. Living overseas, there is always some uneasiness. Things are just not the same , you are always a little bit on your guard. But every summer when I landed at Newark Airport , I'd breathe a wonderful sigh of relief. I always felt, "I'm home. This is familiar. I'm safe. " I am sad that I will never feel like that again.
Cheryl Williams Thompson
New Delhi, India




Katmon, Gang, & Yuki Tenshi: But remember, nothing will split this nation, unless we let it. Hold on to your faith, and you hold on to the bonds of all the United States and those who support it. We will stand tall, and God bless us all...


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