Day
4, Sister Tzu Ding Shih's Diary, September 11 World Trade Center
Terrorist Attack
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Reported by Tzu Ding Shih,
Commissioner, New York Branch Office
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> Day 4: 9/14
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September 14, 2001
Today is Remembrance Friday. No
wonder God wants to cry! Around 10 in the morning the rain
was still falling, as if the sky were crying for this disaster
at the beginning of the new century. It's been four days since
the 911 disaster, and families are starting to accept the
reality of their losses as their hopes diminish. Many people,
holding flowers tied with yellow ribbons, went to churches
or temples. In the rain, they walked toward the sanctuary
of their hearts to face their sadness and to comfort their
injured souls. New York Tzu Chi people were no exception.
Brother Lin Chi-yee led us in the recitation of the Amitabha
Sutra, and gave the merits to the people who perished in this
disaster in the hopes that their souls would find peace.
After two in the afternoon, Sister Tzu-shiang and Brother
Chi-young went to Brother Lee Yang-der's house to visit his
mother and wife and to bring them some monetary assistance
and comfort. Sister Mei-je said that after Brother Lee died,
she felt so down. Luckily, Tzu Chi people called her every
day or came to visit her, so she felt less alone. Now, she
has been touched by the Great Love of Tzu Chi, and she will
stand up and be strong again!
Around five in the afternoon, New York Tzu Chi people received
the news that people in the disaster area needed hot soup
because the temperature had dropped rapidly and the cold wind
was relentless. To maintain their energy and warm themselves,
rescue workers hoped they could have some hot soup. When this
news arrived, volunteers from New York and Long Island started
their preparations immediately. Soon after, 15 gallons of
corn chowder and 30 gallons of minestrone arrived at the office,
and Brother Chi-yee, Sister Tzu-fu, and other volunteers delivered
the soup to the disaster area. They drove to Canal Street
and saw many policemen, so they left a pot of soup with them
to warm themselves.
Around 7 at night, people all over America lit candles in
their homes, by the roadside or in parks. Together they prayed
for the victims of the 911 disaster and stood in a moment
of silence. On our way home, we could see many people with
candles in their hands, standing silently in the wind. The
sky was dim, and the candlelight reflected on each person's
sincere face was a touching sight.
When I got home, I saw that a candle was already lit in our
living room window. My children lit it to mourn Brother Lee
Yang-der. They grew up in America, and they were very sensitive
and thoughtful. I could see that they were sad, and with the
candlelight we offered our most sincere prayers for our unfortunate
friend.
