SUNY New Paltz Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni,
This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people that day, affected so many lives since then, and changed the course of 21st century history and America’s place in the world. Even as the current pandemic is rightly receiving much of our care and attention, the legacies of 9/11 continue to imprint on our lives. I hope we each take time to reflect on this day and its meaning, past and future.
On Saturday morning, our chimes in the van den Berg clock tower will ring five times each at 8:46, 9:03, 9:37 and 10:03, the times of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash of the diverted Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa.
Saturday takes on special poignancy with the recent end to U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan, which began in October 2001 in direct response to the 9-11 attacks. This became America’s longest war, accompanied by the war in Iraq (2003-2011). The human toll of this military action on American service men and women, allies, and civilians has been enormous. Many New Paltz students, employees, and alumni served honorably in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We honor their service and sacrifice.
Members of our extended campus community lost friends, colleagues and family members that day and in the aftermath. Our youngest students were not yet born in September 2001; others were very young and have no memory of this event or its immediate consequences. All of us continue to live with the legacies of that day. Dozens of New Paltz students who lost a parent in the attack, or later from an injury or illness caused by the attack, have been supported by World Trade Center Memorial Scholarships over the past 20 years, a sober reminder of the lingering personal impact of this event on our campus community.
We honor first responders to the 9-11 devastation and their families; many have died, on 9-11 and in the years after, and others continue to deal with significant lingering health impacts from their call to duty. Their actions contributed to the successful evacuation of thousands of people from the World Trade Center, one of the largest emergency evacuations ever. I was captivated to learn of the 20th year reflections of members of the Mohawk Ironworkers who responded to the call for 9-11 recovery. Earlier generations of tribal members had built the New York City skyscape dating to the early 20th century, including the Twin Towers. These skilled workers responded to the call after 9-11 to help disassemble the wreckage, initially to find survivors but far more often to find remains to return to family members. They applied their iron-working skills in ways none of them ever thought they would, and are haunted to this day by their experiences. On Sept. 11, our thoughts are with these and other recovery team members and first responders as they carry those memories and, for many, health consequences of their heroism.
This blog post by Dr. James Halpern, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Founding Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health, recounts his experiences leading an American Red Cross mental health team in the aftermath of 9/11 and shares valuable perspective on preparing for and responding to disaster.
Please take a few moments Saturday morning to reflect on those we’ve lost and those affected by this national tragedy.
Sincerely,
Donald P. Christian
President
