Remembering Those We Lost by Peculiar Medinus

 

My writing has adhered to recounting the significance of days and their impact on a writer’s life. Today, I will not deviate from this pattern because the events of this day several years ago have a grip on the life of a writer. Pen and patriotism are not merely alliterative. These words have a broader significance. To spare readers a lengthy blog, I’ll skip treating the topic of patriotic writing and instead focus on the effect of Patriotic Day on a writer’s life.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary copy of Philip Yancey’s Soul Survivor at LittWorld 2022. As my curious hands danced through the pages, I saw that the preface was not the original intention of the book, yet it became associated with the events of September 11, 2001. Though published in a variety of formats, the introduction of Soul Survivor, subtitled: How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped My Faith Survive the Church, took me to the scenes at the World Trade Centre. The book has been written, and September 20th, 2001, is the planned publication date. A great deal of effort has been put into the release of the book. The author had been scheduled for media appearances and tours prior to the ill-fated event. The terrorist attacks were the focus of the media, and travel was disrupted. Though the media tour and media appearances were prescheduled events, the one event that touched the world invaded the media.

The preface to Soul Survivor effectively carved out a shift in the author’s perspective and portrayed various acts of patriotism, including rescue operations and philanthropic contributions. The writer was inspired by the display of unity among Americans and other nations of the world, which evoked a strong sense of loyalty and solidarity. The New York Times suspended its publishing sequence to run obituaries on each victim of the Twin Towers tragedy for months. According to Yancey, there was minimal distraction, allowing heightened concentration on what matters most. He realigned his perspective, giving greater weight to the events of September 2001. As writers, can there be no emergencies or events that cause us to redirect our focus from our writing goal?

As writers, can there be no emergencies or events that cause us to redirect our focus from our writing goal? 

2016: At Ground Zero with My Sister

In 2016, my older sibling took me on a long drive from Massachusetts to Manhattan. Ground Zero had
some significant changes since the World Trade Centre tragedy, but that moment was remarkable for me after losing our brother a few months earlier. He was not one of the 9/11 victims, but we could empathise with everyone who lost a loved one to the unfortunate event. There are a variety of ways we can observe this significant day as writers, from reflecting on personal experiences to commemorating victims and celebrating heroes—those who put their own safety aside and risked their lives for others. All of which should help us preserve the memory of those we've lost while providing comfort for those still living with grief today. Patriot Day is a powerful reminder that we are all connected by our shared humanity.