NEW CANAAN, Conn. The fear, sadness and heartbreak of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, are unforgettable for Wendy Hilboldt, who went to New York City on the day of the attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers.
We had no idea what was ahead, and we were anxious to help, said Hilboldt, a member of the New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
But she and others speaking at New Canaan High School on Tuesday also feel a sense of hope, improved communication and a desire for more understanding. New Canaan High commemorated the events surrounding the deadly terror attacks on Tuesday with a Ten Years After symposium. The event offered students who might have been too young 10 years ago to remember how they felt that day or what has changed since then.
Hilboldt said she has learned a lot about how people felt who responded to help to the day. She still gets emotional hearing "The Star-Spangled Banner" or "God Bless America."
Emergency response has changed for the better in the years since Sept. 11, she said, and New Canaans Emergency Operations Center has become a model for other communities. Much of that expertise was on display as the town coped with power outages last month after Hurricane Irene.
Amer Nimr, a trustee at Greens Farms Academy, recalled his sadness as well as his fears about how Americans might treat people of Middle Eastern heritage after the attacks. In seeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Nimr said people cannot have empathy only for people with whom they identify. There are bad people in this world, he said. But we have to realize that there are more good people.
The events of Sept. 11 and the bravery of first responders such as Hilboldt inspired the Rev. Nicholas T. Porter of Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport to create Kids 4 Peace USA, a leadership camp attended by American, Israeli and Palestinian children to rebuild a bridge of trust and communication that was fractured after the attacks. Theyve laughed, cried and argued. Two of them have even played kissy face, Porter said, generating a few light laughs from the audience.
Porter said repairing damaged relations is one of the breakthroughs of the decade since Sept. 11. Do not be afraid of sacrifice or the hard work of reconciliation, he said. Its not falling down that makes failure. Its not getting back up.
To contact Melvin Mason, email mmason@thedailynewcanaan.com.
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