I grew up in New York. I know people assume that means New York City. NYC is a world away from the town I grew up in. One quick blink and you could miss my small little hometown. Yet the city is my backyard. I love visiting the city and all its grandness. It is HUGE. I love the hustle and bustle, but it is not home. In my fourth-grade year, we had a chance to partake in a trip to NYC. Of course, the statue of liberty and many other things were on our agenda to visit. You always remember your first experience more vividly, at least this was my case. Culture shocked and AWW inspired, I was. I most looked forward to going to the World Trade Center. It was the tallest building. Riding an elevator up 108 stories seemed a bit scary, primarily since I was never fond of elevators. I remember the ride surprisingly not taking as long as anticipated and my stomach flopping with the fast movement. The teachers were right... people of NYC had their own pace: fast and faster. The shops, the stores, but what amazed me most was sitting in the bench seats trembling with fear of heights and looking down to a whole other world. Yellow cabs were the size of matchbox cars, the people were no larger than ants and being that high up left me feeling the sway of the building moving. How does steel flex that much? The whole time, I was just watching, lost in amazement. It was and still is the sight and place I remember most from our visit.Fast forward to the year I was turning 23. I taught a preschool class for 3-4 year-olds. The TV was on and my co-workers were staring at the screen. I watch in disbelief. This does not happen to America. I remember having at least 10 friends unaccounted for because they worked or lived close to ground zero. I also had 5 families throughout the morning come to me with similar statements such as this one, "I am not sure how this day is going to end for us... If I can’t get back here, can you make sure they are ok?"
Yes, I will stay however long is needed. Waiting to hear if the kids you love like your own family are ok makes time stop. Keeping up with news and trying to keep them away from it all just became my most important job. By the end of the day and into the week, they all returned and as for my friends, they were located.My safety changed that day. What always will stay with me is I know what it took for the people to jump from that height seeing with my own eyes how grand it was. They are always in my prayers. I have been to the 9/11 museum one other time. Going into the room where all the faces are, knowing the path of my life is always for a reason. My husband resigned because of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. He was a firefighter/paramedic. Pair that with being Army Infantry- It was not IF he would go to war. It was always a case of when. Going to these kinds of places that will affect you much more profound and different than some is so much more comfortable with a group of people. Everyone in our group knew this is the place where it started, and it would feel much like a band-aid being ripped off. It was important to go there and be a part of this whole retreat. NYC is not a place we can just visit anytime. It triggers every one of Nathan's components he deals with. But having the strength to do it with a new tribe to help us is key to keeping the momentum of being able to take another step forward. I read something this week that said Wellness without we is just illness. It stayed with me. Everyone from the trip will stay with me. Thank you for the adventures and even joy.
Nathan knew firefighters and 1st responders that were hurt and killed in the past. He personally knew someone from firehouse 10 whose brother lost both legs while saving lives that day. He has lots of layers, and most do not know that. Protecting life and taking is a double sword that stays with him. He knew this trip would not be easy. Even through all of that hesitation, Nathan still had the courage to sign up to attend. He was brave enough to show up and to do the hard work. He also found the courage to venture out alone with me to the one place he most wanted to go to. So that is what we did. Katz, here we come! We rode the subway, took detours because the F train is being worked on, had a long walk to Chinatown and we made it! Check one food place from his food show bucket list off. Finding Joy in the storm is just part of the journey. We are glad to have had this chance, thank you for making our lives a little kinder.-Melissa Johnson; Heroes Thanking Heroes representative, veteran caregiver and attendee of the 2018 Heroes Freedom Weekend.
To learn how you can help support our mission in rebuilding the lives of severely wounded post 9/11 veterans, visit the Coalition's website at www.saluteheroes.org
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