September 29th VRT 6.30pm           (please click on images below for full size)

CyberJak, from Upstate New York, was deeply affected by the terrorist attacks in New York. He first heard the news while at the Activeworlds Gateway. He lost a close friend to the family in one of the World Trade Center towers. His initial reaction was disbelief and horror, thinking it must be a horrible joke. He believes the tragedy has made people stronger, more united, "it has amazed me..... to see people from all over the world, united in mourning for those that perished without regard to race, religion, ethnic background or origin of birth. Just as Humans". When asked what he was going through his head when creating his memorial, he said "That life on this world is precious and short, and that we never realize just how much we are going to miss a loved one, till they are taken away from us". He has taken comfort from his friends in Active Worlds, saying "I was so thrilled to see such a wonderful sight of Open love , that I just cried. ( I may be a man, but I'm allowed to cry too :)".
CyberJak's build is in Memorial World

September 29th VRT 7.20pm           (please click on images below for full size)

Shakes, who is from England, was also in Activeworlds when he heard news of the tragedy, and saw in those around him the same shock he was experiencing himself. He was struck by the fact that he was watching events unfold along with so many other people. Like others, he is coming to terms with the tragedy by being supportive and helping out where ever he can. He also sees that the horrendous events have shown how truly resilient the world is.
Shake's build is in Memorial World

September 27th VRT 2.00am           (please click on image below for full size)

Lord Christopher, from Southern California, and KayHeart from North Carolina both were shocked on hearing the news. Lord Christopher's mother called him, telling him to turn on the television, which he did, just in time to see the second plane crash onto the South Tower of the World Trade Center. KayHeart was visiting Disney Land, in Florida, when she heard rumors about the attack. She thought it was all a joke, until the park began to evacuate. Both KayHeart and Lord Christopher are members of the world Castles, and both have noticed a sense of unity there and in other worlds. They have also noticed that some people just wanted to vent their frustrations and anger at the terrorist acts. People are also sharing their feelings in positive, constructive ways. KayHeart says she is seeing more patriotism and flying "Old Glory". Both think events have brought people closer to God, strengthening in some what had become a weak faith. Christopher sees the nation as a whole becoming stronger, and has confidence in President Bush's stand to beat down terrorism. They are amazed by the dedication of the rescue workers tireless efforts. Both Christopher and KayHeart take comfort from the memorial builds, saying they have "lifted their spirits".
Lord Christopher and KayHeart's build is in Memorial World

September 28th VRT 2.20pm           (please click on images below for full size)

Awakened by her husband on September 11, 2001 in their Nevada home, LizLiz at first thought it was a movie. "I couldn’t even believe it! Then I was sad for the people who lost their loved ones." Motivated by her thoughts of others, she explained about the memorial build she has created, "I built this memorial here to kind of allow people to come and meditate in silence for their pain. I noticed that many people didn’t seem to feel the impact as soon as others and that some didn’t even know how to grieve."
"The catalyst of LizLiz’s compassion & understanding for what others are facing with the recent tragedy comes through her own experiencing of loss at an early age in England. "I was a child during the Second World War. I remember the bombing of England. The worst thing for a child is to see buildings being destroyed. The solidness of the building and how fragile it can seem when destroyed is horrible for anyone." She noted that the hope she has for her memorial building is one of that it is an opportunity for others to heal …it has helped her to heal faster. "There is much love in the building of it," concluded a caring LizLiz.
LizLiz's build is in Alphaworld

September 28th VRT 2.00pm           (please click on images below for full size)

While having an afternoon meal in a cafe in England, Sea SwaLLow heard news of the attacks on the US. The owner of the cafe was worried about a friend who worked in the World Trade Center. And Sea was concerned about the parents of a friend who was on holiday New York at the time of the attacks. She was touched deeply when she heard the news that a close friend in AW had lost 2 family members in the horrific tragedy. She said she and her friends in the UK watched in utter silence as events from the US poured in. She spent a long moment at one memorial build, just listening to the music before she began her own build in Memorial world, saying she found calm in the build & it's music. Sea was on Gate Keeper duty that tragic day, she saw various stages of shock flow though out the Gate Way... anger, fear, grief, disbelief. She saw that people just needed to talk about the what happened, young and old alike. She has vowed to carry on her day to day life without fear, refusing to let the terrorists win.
Sea SwaLLow's build is in Memorial World

September 29th VRT 8.30pm           (please click on image below for full size)

Dmc2u, from North Carolina, woke up to hear two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center. He compared the news coverage of the planes explosions to that of the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion in 1986 . It was too horrible to believe. He is heartened to see the unity in AW and in the real world, he says "AW is just one venue where people have pulled together in this crisis.....In the " real world " the things that are being done is an incredible showing of how Americans pull together to help those in need". Dmc2u takes comfort in the knowledge that if needed, there is always someone here in AW to talk to, someone to offer support and friendship. He offers is prayers to the victims and their families in such tragic times.
Dmc2u's build is in Memorial World

September 28th VRT 12.30pm           (please click on images below for full size)

InSaNiTy was at his home in Texas when he saw the South Tower hit by the second plane. Again the word disbelief is the only way to describe the initial reaction. He compared it to a real life "Towering Inferno". He says, "I instantly was turned away from the thought of ever watching another action film because the real life drama was beyond words other than horrific". He recalls his childhood home outside New York, "My folks built a bay window in the dinning room that overlooks the city skyline from the Jersey hills. I grew up watching those towers go up." As the initial shock wore off, he heard the words of anger.. and became alarmed, fearing more deaths would follow. He urges, "we cannot become an angry mob". He hopes that peace can be found with out more loss of life. InSaNiTy finds solace in helping others find peace. He believes we are all of one world and because of that we are all the same. When asked what he was trying to convey through his build, he said, "I built this with multi colors to represent that although we are of many colors, we all live under the light of the same sun". He put special thought in to his choice of music for his site. "Sleep Now" by Caroline Levelle. A truly moving song, used to touch our souls.
InSaNITy's build is in Alphaworld

September 28th VRT 2.15pm           (please click on images below for full size)

OneSummer, from Northern California , has been deeply involved in the memorial builds in here in AW. When asked by AWCom to help with the construction of Memorial world, she says her heart became "overwhelmed". During her time in Memorial world she has seen so many people come together, lift each other up, comfort each other. She has found comfort in posting visitor's words on the Memorial Wall, discussing the issues, remembering the loved ones that were lost so quickly and with no warning. She hopes that the memorials have a positive affect for those who visit them, as well as those who built them. Her greatest fear now is that aggressions could escalate to germ warfare, but she concentrates on the good things coming from this tragedy...the solidarity.. the strength. She feels these memorials help spread love & kindness. She has seen people become more gentle. When asked what her build here was to convey she said, "feelings of hope, love of fellow man...Good feelings, ones we need now, above all else".
OneSummer's build is in Memorial World

September 29th            (please click on images below for full size)

The world stopped…and I knew it wasn’t just my world that had stopped. This was a situation which had just put new meaning into the phrase we so often use to describe the dilemmas in our own personal lives…."the world stopped". In some manner throughout the global world for each and everyone...this was a "the world stopped" of such magnitude, was it comprehendible?.
I learned of the news from my brother’s wife when I had phoned her to catch up on information about my brother who was in Berlin on company business. Her announcement about the crashes into the World Trade Center prompted me to immediately turn on the news. I wasn’t prepared for what I viewed. How would one be able to prepare for such? Together, by phone, she & I shared "the world stopped". Together we had counted four crashes.
My mind comprehended what had come about, yet my heart rejected the existence of such. There was much struggle, conflict within and I could feel my heart pounding. Later when I went into Activeworlds, it was as it was in the global world….."the world had stopped". Of course it would be the same, are we not a Community of people? Many things were spoken expressing bewilderment, hurt, betrayal, grief, horror and retaliation.
My feeling at that very moment was one of sadness beyond description. Sadness for all and the reality of what we were all just beginning to face. How horrid this is which has brought about such catastrophic proportions of death and grief for the living. We hear of the light showing through the storm and so it was also in Activeworlds. Many, many people offered their compassion by listening and consoling others. Putting their own needs on the back burner, those with PS in worlds feverishly worked to console others. In the midst of my sadness, my heart was touched with gratitude for them. They truly were on the front lines of giving emergency care.
The memorial I built is a simple style in one color…gold a color which we associate with royalty and a large flame extending from the base representing tribute. It is a tribute which encompasses all… those taken from us, those among us who have lost loved ones and friends, those who are giving of their time and energies in searching and putting life into order and for others be it those of the global world or the AW Community. I often think of how building creation is similar to words. Words can be so eloquent, so powerful…even bringing forth a glimpse into our inner being….yet there are those times when words are not enough. This is one of those times.
Maggie4Real's build is in Memorial World

Article by Maggie4Real

September 29th VRT 6.50pm

CabLeCar gaL o, was in her home in California, when she saw the reports of the attacks on the East Coast. She immediately woke up her roommate to watch the tragedy unfold. She, like the rest of the world felt utter shock. After driving her roommate to work, she returned home and sought comfort in her friends and fellow Gate Keepers at the AW Gate. She was greeted with hugs by friends from across the world, who felt the same sorrow as herself. She said the events have made her feel closer to her online family, and made her stronger as a person.
CabLeCar gaL o's build is in Memorial World

September 29th            (please click on images below for full size)

On September 11th, my life, along with so many others was forever changed. We saw with our own eyes as the United States of America was attacked, on it's own soil. We watched as 1000's of people, our brothers and sisters disappeared in a flash of flame. The world collectively held it's breath, praying this not be real. Then when we could hold our breaths no longer, we exhaled with a scream of fear, indignity, anger, revulsion, and overwhelming grief. Our voices where ripped from us by the unbearable pain of witnessing what had always been an "Untouchable", being beaten down. As Americans, we were transfixed as we watched one plane after another crash, wondering what heinous act would followt. Were there more attacks waiting for the West Coast, waiting until it's buildings were full with our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons & daughters. I saw the towers, burning & broken, but still standing and I thought "Ha!, You didn't take down the towers". Minutes later I watched the 1st tower I fall, I was frozen... thinking that couldn't be what I thought it was. It could not fall... I cried thinking of the rescue workers around the structures, the people who were on the roof, ones trapped inside the building itself. I watched the 2nd tower, praying.. please?.. no more?.. Then the second tower began to collapse.. I was on the phone with my sister in law.. saying aloud over and over again, "No! No! No!", as if I said the words with enough conviction it all would suddenly stop. Too many lives gone, with no chance of survival. So many innocents destroyed for some unknown reasons. I felt so utterly alone. I was scared, horrified, in a state of shock I had never experienced before. I turned on my computer and sat at the AW Gate. I didn't say anything.. I just sat. I listened to others, who were expressing the same feelings I myself felt. Suddenly I wasn't as scared, I wasn't alone. There were others who understood the fear, the uncertainty... I heard about memorial builds being put up, just hours after the attacks. I was amazed at how quickly the people of this "virtual" Community were bouncing back. Yes they were limping a little, but they were moving, they were holding out their arms to each other, they were finding their strength again. My memorial is to remind me of your strength, of your courage in the face of the worst of evils. Of the true goodness inside each of us that comes to bear when it is most needed. I thank you all for showing me that we are good, we are strong, we are able to climb up from the ruins and say, "We will not be beaten down! You have done your worst and here we stand!"
Meranna's build is in Alphaworld

Article by Meranna

September 29th VRT 6.30pm   (please click on images below for full size)
Build by Aleena

Capaboo was at home in Massachusetts on the morning that America forever changed. She had just turned on Good Morning America and was greeted with news of the first crash into the World Trade Center. Her first thoughts were not of terrorism, but that there had been some terrible accident. Then, as she watched in horror, the second plane exploded into the South Tower, and she knew.... America was under attack. Like many other Americans, she wondered what would be next. Then news of the Pentagon came in, then the plane crashing in Pennsylvania. What would be next? The memorial pictured above, built by Aleena, was one that touched Capaboo particularly., especially the words on the memorial... "If Tears Could Build A Stairway, And Memories A Lane, I'd Walk Right Up To Heaven And Bring You Home Again. As a parent and a grandparent........ What else is to be said??? For all the parents and grandparents who grieve......" As an ETL, Capaboo has seen the Gatekeeper "family" become even closer in such tragic times. "The GK's from around the world have offered so much support to us and the AW Community. I am so proud of the way they have responded, and the assistance they gave everyone immediately after the attack." In reaction to the memorial builds she says, "They are wonderful demonstrations of the caring of the AW Community". She believes strongly that though we may feel vulnerable now, strength & unity will prevail.
Aleena's build is in Memorial World

Memorial Listings

Caution











Strength












Hope











Friendship













Aspirations











Courage











Encouragement











Future












Togetherness

Laughs











Kindness











Love












Dreams











Destiny











Stranger











Wisdom












Determination











Unity











Forgiveness