SoInspired

I was recently the substitute teacher for a 5th grade class. Every September, following 2001, the 5th grade classes perform at their school's patriotic class. The day I taught the class, their principal invited all the 5th graders into a small auditorium. He had chosen two books that were significant to 9/11 and the twin towers and read them to us. I was unaware of either of these stories and wanted to share them.

In the book entitled September Roses, Jeanette Winter tells the story of the memorial created by two sisters from South Africa. Here is an excerpt:

"A tribute to the memory of September 11

On September 11, 2001, two sisters from South Africa are flying to New York City with 2,400 roses to be displayed at a flower show. As their plane approaches the airport, a cloud of black smoke billows over the Manhattan skyline. When they land, they learn of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. All flights are canceled; the sisters cannot go home, and they are stranded with boxes and boxes of roses."

The story tells us that these two sisters were stranded at the airport. Planes were grounded and there were no hotel rooms to be found. Members of a local church decided to visit the airport and offer shelter to those in need at their member's homes. A church member approached these two sisters that were sitting in the airport next to boxes and boxes of fresh roses. They asked what they could do with their flowers. He drove them to Union Square where they created a rose memorial in the shape of the twin towers.
I was so touched by this story.

The second book was about Philippe Petit, a tightrope walker, who in 1974 performed a daredevil walk, including a handstand, between the twin towers. It was very entertaining. I've since googled him, read several excerpts and watched a youtube.