The Statesman Found at 9-11

It’s been 25 years since the attack on the New York, World Trade Center in 2001. On many occasions, I would be called to work there for one of the corporate clients. On this day, I wasn’t called.

When the airplanes crashed into the buildings, family, friends and acquaintances were calling to see if I happened to be there on this day, and were relieved to hear I wasn’t.

The days and weeks that followed the tragedy seemed like a never-ending state of mourning. 

It took weeks to clean up the site. Slowly going over every piece of rubble, looking for and extracting any human remains.  This was a tedious task that couldn’t be rushed. Cadaver dogs always double-checked each truckload of debris that exited the grounds. 

I was hired by one of the cleanup companies, J.F. Lomma, Inc. to make a video/photo record of “a day of the cleanup”.  This was not for publication or advertising, just a company record of the effort and their participation during this tragic time.

As I was walking at the site, I came across a small rubber plastic toy a few inches tall.  At closer look, I found it to be the likeness of David (Davy) Crockett. (1786 – 1836) American politician, militia officer and frontiersman. 

Davy Crockett was one of the 182-257 who died tragically at the Alamo on March 6, 1836.  The estimated loss on September 11^th, 2001:  2600 died.

This toy that either dad or mom took to work and placed on their desk, and with every glance, remembering the one who gave it to them.  I’ll never know who this toy belonged to. I’ll never know if they survived or perished.

My Davy Crockett toy is battered, but still able to stand by itself. I equate this shabby toy to the horrors I witnessed at the World Trade Center.  It’s value? Monetarily, nothing.  To me personally, priceless.