How lives were touched by events of September 11

There are some events in life none of us will ever forget, experiences which will remain ingrained in our memories forever like a snapshot that constantly replays vivid images of that day - September 11 is one of those days.

When the monumental Twin Towers in New York came crashing down on September 11 last year, the shock of the disaster reverberated across the globe, including Malta.

When the first plane crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center it was 8.45 a.m. in New York and 2.45 p.m. in Malta.

American Ambassador Anthony Gioia had just taken up his post at the US Embassy in Floriana, when he received a telephone call urging him to immediately tune in to CNN.

"I watched in horror as the second plane hit the north tower. I wondered how far these attacks would go as I recalled the attacks against other embassies. Time seemed to stand still as the embassy started to respond to ensure the safety of the staff," Mr Gioia recalled.

But once he had done his job and ensured things were under control at the embassy, his thoughts immediately raced to his family and friends at home in Buffalo, NY.

"I also thought of Donna, my wife. She was visiting the neighbouring island of Gozo with friends from the US, and I hoped that they would be safe," he said.

So one year on how has his life changed?

"Within hours of the attack, America had to reconsider the entire thrust of its foreign policy, and my role as US Ambassador became much more different than I ever would have expected," he said.

"Much of my time since then has been spent securing Maltese support for the worldwide effort to eradicate the threat of terrorism. I am very gratified that the Government of Malta was among the first to offer its support in this battle, and that its support has been unwavering since then," he said.

Though Mr Gioia is still saddened by a tragedy that affected so many lives, he has also been inspired by the heroic acts of so many people who responded to the attacks.

"I am also proud of the solidarity the American people have demonstrated in the aftermath of this attack.

"Finally, I am especially grateful for the countless expressions of sympathy and solidarity we received from the people of Malta. This support from the Maltese has made my family and I feel safe and welcome during a very difficult time".

Meanwhile, at the same time, but in a different place, the Islamic Centre's Iman Mohammed Elsadi was also tuned in to the news, but on the Al-Jazeera satellite television channel - a daily ritual.

"It was horrible and unbelievable watching some people jump to a certain death to escape. I was shocked and heartbroken, the same way I feel when I see Palestinian victims and those who befall any form of injustice," he said in a pensive voice.

The first thought that raced through the head of Iman Elsadi was the fervent hope that the perpetrators of the attack were not Arabs or Muslims.

One year on the Iman hopes that such horrific attacks will never take place again or anywhere else in the world.

"People now look at us differently and the terrorist attacks of 9/11 have had a very negative effect on the Islamic world and the relationship between Arabs and Westerners," he said.

"There are more than one billion Muslims all over the world who are peace-loving. We are not responsible for what happened."

The perspectives of this event vary from one person to the next and each individual has a story to tell.

Toni Sant, who is one of the directors of MaltaMedia.com, was studying and living in New York, where he still is, when the planes crashed in the Twin Towers.

On that fateful day he was getting ready to go to New York University, situated just a few blocks away from the World Trade Centrer.

Like many others he instantly assumed it was an accident, but the second attack left no doubt in his mind that it was a deliberate terrorist attack.

His first reaction was to call his parents in Sliema to assure them he was safe, then his journalistic instincts kicked in and he contacted his colleagues at MaltaMedia.com to cover the story from a Maltese perspective doing webcasts and giving interviews.

So how has his life changed in the Big Apple?

"Well, I am seriously tempted to say that not much has really changed. But then I remember the loss of so many innocent lives; the ensuing military action in Afghanistan; the possibility of a strike on Iraq; the certainty that there will be another attack on the US and I realize how fragile everything really is," he said.

"Sure, my life in New York City is practically back to normal. Of course walking in downtown Manhattan is weird without the towers... but New York is great for making do."

Today, Mr Sant will be attending a vigil organised for pacifists in Greenwich Village called Our Grief is a Cry for Peace.

"But need I add that as much as I detest what the terrorists did last September, I can never condone the use of military force in the name of peace," he said.

Maria Frendo, the leader of the Laudate Pueri Choir of the St George's Basilica in Gozo, was getting onto a plane in New York bound for the UK after spending a couple of weeks in the city, giving three concerts in three major venues.

"When we got to Heathrow, our plane to Malta had been delayed and we took a tour to Windsor. We were in a pub sipping tea when all of a sudden our attention diverted to the flash news on Sky TV," she recalled.

"Watching the second plane hit the towers was an appalling, scary sight. All of a sudden we went crazy trying to contact the rest of our group who had remained in New York and who had planned to visit the World Trade Centre that same morning," she said.

Education Minister Louis Galea was also with the group and had just arrived home when he turned on the television to witness the second plane crashing into the centre.

His initial feeling was one of helplessness.

How have the attacks changed their lives?

Dr Galea said that rather than change his life, the attacks changed his vision of the world and made him more conscious of the vulnerability of society.

Meanwhile, Ms Frendo was filled with a sense of numbness after the attacks. When she recalls the memories of the 9/11 she feels physically sick and one year on she has learnt to try not to take life for granted.

Television presenter Peppi Azzopardi, who together with his team from Xarabank flew to New York to get live coverage of the event, also feels sick when he recalls the powerful smell of dead bodies, burnt steel and gases that engulfed him when he reached Ground Zero.

"The television clips which broadcast the horror can never capture or reproduce the sickening smell. When I think of 9/11 I can still recall the smell - it was terrifying," he said.

When he heard the news on television at the office of Where's Everybody?, it was such a surreal experience that Mr Azzopardi felt he was watching a film.

"The first thoughts that raced through my mind was what the people inside the towers were thinking and who they were thinking of at that point in time," he recalled.

Mr Azzopardi said that all tragedies change one's life and though September 11 was a shock to the senses, the suffering he witnessed when he visited Palestine have also been hard to erase from his memory.

"Each incident shows how we no longer attach value to life, be it our own or that of others. There is a deep emphasis on individualism in this day and age."

One year later the debris in Ground Zero is gone, but the pain, hurt and memories will spring to life whenever the words September 11 are uttered.

The British High Commission will today hold one minute's silence at 11 a.m. in honour of the September 11 victims.