“What was really attacked on September 11th was the
idea of New York City and America itself—a beacon of freedom, diversity, and
equal opportunity. That spirit is intact and undaunted. In fact, our devotion
to those ideals has only been strengthened by the selfless heroism we have
seen.
“We now recognize that we are all part of a larger
narrative, and while our city may never be the same, we will be better and
stronger as a result of all we have experienced. Much has been taken from us,
but much remains; and even in the dark, a great deal of light still shines upon
the city of New York.”—John P. Avlon, “The Resilient City: New York After 9/11,” The
Daily Beast, Sept. 11, 2014
The attached image is of the “Survivor Tree” from
9/11, the only tree to survive from that awful day. It has taken on deep significance
for the city as a symbol of the same kind of resilience that Avlon—the chief
speechwriter for Mayor Giuliani, responsible for writing or editing eulogies
for more than 400 firefighters, police officers, and other rescue workers
killed on 9/11—writes about above.
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