The list of collapsed buildings (as confirmed by the New York Times through Saturday, 2001.0915) included all seven buildings of the World Trade center complex � including WTC 6, the U.S Customs House to the north; WTC 3, the 22 story Marriot World Trade Center hotel just west of Tower Two; and WTC 4 and 5, the Plaza Buildings to the east (although satellite images suggest much of WTC 5, the north Plaza Building, was still standing). Other nearby buildings were significantly damaged, including the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and One Liberty Plaza, a 54 floor, 743' tall building across Church Street to the east.
About 2800 people died in the disaster. At the time the recovery and site clearing process officially concluded on May 30, 2002, 1796 people still remain unrecovered. 1.8 million tons of debris was removed from the disaster site.
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An Email I recieved:
September 12, 2001
Dear Osama Bin Laden, Yasser Arafat, and Sadam Hussein, et. al.,
We are pleased to announce that we unequivocally accept your challenge
to an old-fashioned game of whoop-ass. Now that we understand the rule
that there are no rules, we look forward to playing by them for the
first time.
Since this game is a winner-take-all, we unfortunately are unable to
invite you to join us at the victory celebration. But rest
assured that we will toast you -- LITERALLY.
While we will admit that you are off to an impressive lead, it is
however now our turn at the plate.
By the way, we will be playing on your court now.
Batter up.
Sincerely,
The 270,000,000 citizens of the United States of America!!
WHERE WAS GOD?
(God speaking back to us)
I know you're mad at Me right now. That's all right. People have been mad at Me before and will be again. Being mad is part of being human. It's all right to be mad sometimes at injustice, for example, or the lack of charity.
You probably think I am unjust and uncharitable when an airplane goes down like that. All those people lost. The children gone. It doesn't seem right; it can't be loving. You ask, 'Where was God?' Why did He allow that to happen?"
"I allow it to happen because I allow you freedom because I love you so much. I want you to be free to decide when to dance and sing. Free to determine when you will come to Me in faith and hope. Because you are free, some of you choose not to dance or sing. Some of you select hatred over love, revenge over forgiveness, bombs over a helping hand. As you choose, I watch. I do not disappear. I listen to both the songs and the bombs. AND I REMEMBER."
"Where was God?" you wonder...I was there on the airplane. I whispered in the ear of a little girl, 'Don't be afraid, I am with you.' I held the hand of a business woman as tightly as she clutched mine. I cradled a pilot against my shoulder as if he were a baby again."
"Amid the paralyzing fear, I was there, as I was there with my Son in the garden. Amid the unbearable pain, I was there, as I was with Him as He was whipped. Amid the terrible realization that life was ending too soon, I was there with Him as He hung on the cross and asked, like you, "My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
"I had not forsaken Him. I did not forsake them. I was there as they fell, and as they rose to eternal joy. I listened to their anger, answered their questions and showed them why they had been created. Not to end that way, but to live with Me forever."
"In an instant, they came into existence. As you did. In an instant, they left this world. As you will. But beyond that last instant, I kept my promise...a little girl dances, a business woman sings, and a pilot keeps his wings forever."
~Author Unknown
