The Surreal Echo of 9/11: 25 Years Later in the Land of Liberty By Ryan Scott Taylor
I cannot believe it has been 25 years since 9/11.
This year also marks the 250th Anniversary of the United States, and I honestly do not think the relation between these two milestones could have been more precise. We are looking at 1776 to 2026, and 2001 to 2026 a quarter of a millennium of American history standing right next to a quarter of a century since one of its darkest days.
The memory is still so entirely real to me. I remember watching the events unfold on the live stream. We saw the aftermath of the first plane, and then, while we were watching, we watched the second smash into the tower like it was a movie. But it wasn't a movie. The horror and chaos emanated right through the screen, billowing out just like the dust when the towers finally collapsed.
The news was crazy, broadcasting on all channels across the sea while my family and I were living in South Africa. It happened just 21 days before I started my mission. Sitting there, watching the world change from an ocean away, my connection to the USA became so surreal.
Who would have imagined that the events of that day would lead to where we are now? Who would have thought that a quarter of a century later, I, Ryan Scott Taylor, would stand on the land of liberty in the USA, witnessing this moment firsthand.
Today, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of this enduring country, but we do it with heavy hearts and deep reverence. Here is to those who lost loved ones, family, and friends in the 9/11 attacks. We honor the 25th memorial of those 3,000 lives lost on that tragic day, and we will never forget.
Ryan S Taylor
