We Are
Changed

A year ago, we were different.  There is no other way to approach the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  It is much as if our lives are cleaved in half -- before that day, and after.  And since that day, we are changed.

In the past year, it has become more important for all of us to hug our family members and friends.  We have a new wariness that was not part of our mental picture prior to that time.  We think twice -- or more -- about doing things we used to take for granted, like taking a job in a tall building or getting on an airplane.  We fly the flag a lot more often, sometimes for no other reason than that we have been touched anew at the shortness of life and the freedoms we share here by seeing a picture or a video clip of that terrible day.

We also have new definitions for the word "hero."  We lost a lot of heroes on that day.  Fire fighters.  Selfless citizens.  Military people.  Simple airline passengers.  And a photographer named Bill Biggart who continued to move forward, who felt that documenting this crime against America would be more important than personal safety.

We join you as you honor the heroes and fallen victims of September 11.

Jim Nixon,
The Cleaners

The Photos

The photos you see above are by photographer Bill Biggart, who was crushed when the second tower collapsed on September 11.  Amazingly, some of his images were recovered from his equipment (bottom photo) and we have a record of a sensitive man's final glimpses of an earth-shattering event.  Like the firemen and rescue workers, Bill was a professional to the last moment of his life, and did the only thing he knew how to do in a situation beyond description -- he recorded it.

Click on any part of the image above to go to a website that contains all of Bill Biggart's final photos, as well as a moving video interview with his friend and fellow photographer, Chip East.

Links

If you search the interner for information about September 11 and related topics, you will discover there are well over 85,000 sites.  The following few sites are a selection to give you perspective, remembrance and information.

• Brotherhood -- A book of moving photos of firefighters and rescue workers who fought the first battle in the war on terrorism.  Site includes a scrolling list of the names of the 353 firemen who were lost at Ground Zero.  Links to purchase the book are included.
• How the Victims Have Been Helped -- Hundreds of millions of dollars in cash assistance and services have been given to over 100,000 victims of the 3 attacks of September 11.
• Linking Victims to Help -- A government site to help victims understand and access funds and necessary documents.
• How We've Changed -- A government site including legislation that has been passed in the wake of the terrorist attacks, links to victim benefits and assistance, how to protect yourself, how you can help, and Homeland Security.