The time—8:46 Eastern—the date, September 11, 2001. This time marked when the first plane went into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, setting off a chain of horrific events that left a wake of utter chaos, and permanently altering the course of America’s history.
Now, 23 years later, the effects of this devastating terrorist attack are still very much felt among communities within the state of New York, the United States, and beyond, including West Palm Beach. Each year, Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), like many other organizations, finds ways to reflect on the day and honor those who lost their lives.
Workship Seeks to be a Light for Those Hurting
PBA, through Worskhip, its distinctive community service program that responds to human needs with Christ-like action in the community and the world, in an effort to make more bearable the spiritual and emotional weight that 9/11 holds, partnered with United Way of Palm Beach County to use the remembrance as an opportunity to offer a glimmer of hope to individuals currently facing crisis.
The Workship opportunity supplied participating students with the opportunity to colorfully illustrate and carefully personalize parchment “Stars of Hope” and provide an accompanying and encouraging “Message of Hope.”
Workship Coordinator Grant Rowlette shared that the project was intended to not only “commemorate lives lost [and] sacrifices [made]” during the course of the 9/11 tragedy, but to additionally “bring light in the midst of darkness.”
The “darkness” he is referring to can unmistakenly be identified as the great sorrow and suffering that is inflicted upon those who are victims of any sort of disaster, tribulation or immense loss.
Rowlette added that he believes the Workship project to be an act of obedience towards “one of our mandates [to] love our neighbor as ourselves,” (Matthew 22:39).
Our Stories, the PBA Connection
The effects of most catastrophes are long-lasting and have wide-ranging impacts across generations and cultures. This is especially true for two PBA freshmen, Gianna Bulzomi and Hudson Miller, who participated in Monday’s project. Even though 9/11 occurred before they were born, it has had a significant impact on their lives and upbringings.
Gianna Bulzomi, A Lifetime of Remembrance
Bulzomi, a New York native, shared that living in such proximity to Ground Zero caused her, and her entire community, to constantly live in remembrance of the events of that day.
She recalled the “Tribute in Light” World Trade Center memorial, two powerful vertical beams of light comprised of 88 individual search lights that mimic the dimensions of the original buildings, as a symbol that served as a frequent reminder of the events of 9/11.
Additionally, Bulzomi’s emotional and cultural connection to September 11 runs even deeper, as she also shared that her aunt and uncle were members of the NYPD in 2001, serving during the height of the terrorist attacks.
She said her father is in possession of several paper documents that belonged to WTC office workers.
“The wind carried them to his boatyard,” Bulzomi explained.
Hudson Miller, Inspired by Hometown Bravery
Miller, a Minnesota resident, holds a vastly different attachment to 9/11.
Hailing from the city of Bloomington, some 1,200 miles from Ground Zero in Manhattan, NY, his connection has less to do with what happened on 9/11, but what did not, and who was responsible for it. He referred to the actions of Thomas “Tom” Burnett, Jr., and others who prevented even greater devastation.
Burnett, also from Bloomington, was Vice-president and Chief Operating Officer of Thoratec Corporation, a medical device company.
Overall, Burnett was a high-achieving, yet unassuming, hardworking, family man.
That was until he boarded United Airlines Flight 93, bound for San Francisco, where his courage caused him to become immortalized as an American hero.
Burnett and fellow passengers, led by Todd Beamer, joined together in extreme bravery during the hijacking of their flight to forcefully redirect the plane.
Burnett’s heroic actions averted the terrorists’ planned devastation of what many believe to be the United States Capital Building via aircraft collision.
Miller said that while the remembrance of 9/11 brings “sadness” to his heart, the courage displayed by average citizens that day, such as those of Tom Burnett, fills him with “hope…[and] faith for the future.”
The world changed on September 11, 2001, and here at PBA, we will never forget.
We are committed to shining a bright light amid the darkness of despair, united under the mission of hope for a better tomorrow.
To learn more about PBA’s Workship initiative, and for opportunities to serve, visit https://www.pba.edu/campus-life/christian-community/workship/.
