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Supported by New York's governor, George E. Pataki,
contributions to the fund aid in World Trade Center emergency response
and victim support efforts and will work in coordination with The
September 11th Fund and The Twin Towers Fund established by the City
of NY. |
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| If you ever wanted to meet the most typical,
bitter, 'leave-me-alone' New Yorker you could find, you could just
come to me. Until today, that is. Just days after the most horrific
terrorist act in the United States occurred right here in my New York
City, I headed out with my camera to document the amazing love, support
and patriotism which has surfaced in light of this tragedy. Yesterday
I walked up just seven blocks from my apartment to Union Square. This
busy area usually filled with people rushing for the subway was at
a silent stand still. Two huge circles had formed, one surrounding
chalk writings on the ground consisting of poems, letters, grievances
and prayers, and the other surrounding the most brilliant arrangement
of candles, flowers, letters, incense, American flags and pictures.
On one side was a wall of pictures and personal information about
those missing. To the other side was a booth set up by NYU students
to collect items for the rescue workers. I photographed my two rolls
of film I had brought with me in about 10 minutes... I was overwhelmed.
While holding back tears and listening to sad stories in the air around
me, I shot images of this amazing memorial... and wished I had more
film. |
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| Today I ventured out again with my camera's eye
and three rolls of film. Little did I know of the experience I was
about to have and how much more overwhelmed I would become. Washington
Square Park is, needless to say, an eccentric area full of the most
interesting people, young and old, local and tourist, of all kinds
and colors. The second I entered the park and spotted the memorial
circling the famed arch, I knew the emotions of this tragedy would
hit home. Although I am extremely fortunate enough to have not had
any of my own friends or family hurt at the Twin Towers, I felt as
though that was my entire family standing there grieving. I quickly
shot off my first two rolls of film on the amazing array of candles,
flowers, letters, pictures, poems, prayers and American flags that
surrounded the entire arch. Again, I had to hold back tears to focus
the lens of my camera. Halfway through shooting my third and last
roll of film, I heard a marching band playing "God Bless America"
approaching the center of the park and I ran to photograph it. As
a photographer, I should have known better then to finish off my last
roll of film before the band completed its performance. The band continued
to the center of the park and stopped. The crowd surrounded. They
applauded and cried at the same time. It was the NAPS marching band
from Alabama and they had come to show their support. Two band members
carried shovels while the leader proudly held the American Flag. Then
I saw the most amazing, emotional, loving thing I have ever seen...
and it was not through the eye of my camera. The bandleader left his
post, American Flag still tightly in hand, to hug and comfort a young
girl weeping. He held her for what seemed like a century as she broke
down in tears, clasping a photograph of someone she had lost. I looked
around and realized I was not the only person crying. Then I realized
I was not photographing this... nor did I have film to capture this
moment even if I could. As a photographer, that bothered me. As a
person, I will forever have that image burned in my brain without
the need of tangible prints. After experiencing this breath taking
moment, I thought it would be wonderful to capture the rest of the
marching bands' performance and support on film... but remember I
had none left. I let down my guard, threw out my New York bitterness,
and turned to a fellow photographer next to me. I knew at this time
he was not only experiencing what I was as a photographer, but he
was my fellow New Yorker, fellow American and fellow supporter in
this time of tragedy. I asked kindly to buy a roll of film from him.
In an instance, he handed me a roll and would not accept any money.
I begged him to let me replace the roll of film but he would not hear
of it. I then frantically placed the roll of film in my camera and
shot off half of it in about 30 seconds of the amazing scene in front
of me. |
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| At this point I do not know what touched me more...
the kind photographer, the girl, the band or the entire community
applauding and weeping together as one. When the crowd cleared, I
searched for the friendly photographer but could not find him anywhere.
Then, in my head, I started to write this story in order to thank
him. Since I could not replace that precious roll of film for him,
I hope to thank him through this story and the images I created. He
will not be forgotten, nor will this day, simply because you will
no longer find the bitter New Yorker in me. And I am not sure which
will last longer... the images in my head or the images on the film. |
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