Report From Ground Zero

Report From Ground Zero

Adult nonfiction
My most vivid 9/11 memory was from the day after. When I
arrived at Adam's nursery school to take him home, one of the
assistant said the teacher had to talk to me. She was concerned about
Adam. During centers (free play) time he had carefully constructed
two tall towers and then, with the class watching, had smashed a toy
plane into them. Was he acting out? Was something going on they
should know about? I reassured them that play is how children process
and interpret confusing and frightening events in the world. He was
also, it turns out, explaining to the other kids why their parents
were so stressed. These very loving moms and dads (who evidently had
no older kids in public school) had not let their children know a
thing about the World Trade Center, thinking it would be too scary.
They could not, however, hide their own anxieties.
This is the same Adam who, at three or four, walked away from a
bad bike riding fall. On his own initiative, he bought his seriously
broken helmet to school for sharing time to show his classmates why
they should never get on a bike without one. He's putting himself
through college as a fire fighter and EMT. If not for Adam, I would
never have read Dennis Smith's Report From Ground Zero: The Story Of
The Rescue Efforts At The World Trade Center. I would have been too
much of a wimp to engage in a real life story with so much horror and
tragedy.
I am so glad I read the book. Before I did the sheer numbers
(of victims, monetary loss, devastation) overwhelmed me. It all
seemed too large for me to wrap my mind around. Smith, who is a
published author as well as a firefighter, breaks it all down for
readers, making it up close and personal. He gives us a day by day
account of the tragedy and its aftermath, generously sharing his
thoughts and feelings as well as the unfolding drama. He also gives
many colleagues--firefighters and other first responders--the chance
to tell their stories.
I was horrified by what they had to face. If Dante was updating
his Inferno this book could have inspired him to create another ring
of Hades. First responders had to not only experience things nobody
should have to, but to react in highly volatile, unpredictable
situations, knowing the slightest slip could lead to their deaths and
those of beloved colleagues and innocent civilians.
I was struck by the profound sadness. Readers are reminded that
each of the victims was a unique individual with a precious life
missed immensely by friends and family. Some of the companies that
responded suffered such huge losses. The people in those companies
had relied on each other for years. The mind picture that will stay
with me the longest was that of those poor first responder fathers
searching desperately for their first responder sons.
Report From Ground Zero serves up lots of food for thought.
On a personal note, some of my daffodils have been blossoming,
transforming practically in front of my eyes on this warm, sunny day.
A great big shout out goes out to our first responders who risk their
lives to save us.
jules hathaway



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