Flight 175 and The Fallen Man

Last night I watched some programs about the 9/11 attacks. Yes, most of it I have seen many times but one of the shows was about Flight 175. This was the second plane that hit the World Trade Center.

Most of the programs I have watched in the past focused on the towers, Flight 11 and Flight 93. Since the show focused entirely on Flight 175, I watched an in depth story of that flight that I have not heard.

Last night while lying in bed I thought about all those, who six years ago, also on a Monday night spent the last moments with their loved ones. This Tuesday morning when I woke up I couldn't help but keep track of what time it was and what was happening on that horrible day.

Another show that I tuned into was called The Fallen Man. The show talked about the controversy of running the picture of a man falling from the towers. Many people died this way on that day, either by jumping or falling, but this one picture that was captured horrified many who saw it in the newspaper. Then it was never seen or talked about again. It disappeared.

The story of The Fallen Man focused on the photographer who took the pictures and someone who wanted to identify this one man falling from the towers. He set out on a quest to do so. He thought he found his identity. He talked to the family of a man they thought it was who worked in Windows of the World restaurant. The family, for religious reasons, could not accept that this was the husband and father. One of the daughters basically said by the media telling them that their father jumped was in fact telling them that he was going to hell since suicide is a sin. They wouldn't even look at the picture.

It turned out it was not that man they first thought and eventually found out who they think it is. The man's sister talked to reporters and it was very moving. The most important thing she said was that it really doesn't matter who the identity of the man in the photo is, it could be her brother. She said that she thinks the picture symbolizes all the horror of that day.

I can understand how some people would think it not appropriate to put that picture out there for all to see. But, I don't really look at it that way. I know its just so horrible to image having to make that decision..burn or jump. Its really hard to go there in your mind and think about the suffering those individuals endured.

It did happen though. People did jump, did fall.

Comments

[Karen]

I can't imagine how someone could construe jumping, in that place and time, to be "suicide". The choice was between a hideous death and a quick one. That people could master their fear of death enough to actually make that choice and jump is downright commendable.

[Jay]

Commendable let me see u jump off some shit it's horrible no other word

[chris]

So your a burn to death kinda guy then?