In one swift attack on the Twin Towers, al-Qaida-associated Islamic terrorists murdered 2,752 innocent people nine years ago today.
America went into mourning. Flags were lowered to half-staff. Members of Congress gathered on the Capitol steps and sang an impromptu prayer, God Bless America .
It was a dark, black day.
Houses of worship around the nation held prayer services seeking reassurance, answers and solace from God.
In the midst of the death and chaos, a Brooklyn-born laborer went into Building 6 to begin removing the rubble at the seven-building World Trade Center complex.
On Sept. 13, Frank Silecchia made his way through the smoldering ruins. He stopped and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. In front of him stood a 2-ton, 20-foot cross of steel that had plunged through the madness and mayhem.
Silecchia testified to reporters, "When I first saw (the cross), it took my heart, and made me cry for about 20 minutes. It helped me heal the burden of my despair and gave me closure on the whole catastrophe."
Silecchia spray-painted these words on a nearby wall, "God's House," and added a directional arrow pointing the way to the cross.
Silecchia led the Rev. Brian Jordan to the cross. The priest is from St. Peter's Catholic Church on the corner of Barclay and Church streets, which is one block north from ground zero. Silecchia asked Jordan what he saw. The priest replied, "Frank, I believe that is a cross. We are all anxious for some type of God's presence."
That cross became a powerful symbol of hope and comfort for rescue workers tenderly taking human remains out of their grim tomb for proper burial. Moreover, many workers hauling away the wreckage stopped at the cross, prayed, and wrote their names on it.
On Oct. 3, 2001, the cross was removed from the shattered shell of Building Six and placed on a 40-foot pedestal to be easily seen by all. It has been the backdrop for many memorial services at ground zero. Richard Sheirer, the head of New York City's Office of Emergency Management, said: "This piece of steel meant more to many people than any piece of steel ever. It goes beyond any religion."
Today, the cross stands one block away from ground zero, facing Church Street next to St. Peter's Church. Jordan, who blessed the cross on Oct. 4, 2001, is the keeper of the cross. It awaits installation into the World Trade Center memorial, which is under construction.
The administrative secretary at St. Peter's told me: "People continue to gather around the cross to pray and remember. Some leave flowers and written prayers."
That cross at ground zero shines as a beacon of God's love because it was on the cross where Christ embraced our pain and suffering. The light from the cross bestows comfort in tribulation, hope in despair and life in the midst of death.
The Rev. Dan White is the pastor of North Columbia Church, Appling.
Read more about the cross at ground zero, the Rev. Jordan and the ministry of St. Peter's Catholic Church at The Whiteboard, the blog of the Rev. Dan White, at augustachronicle.com/blogs.
I'm quite surprised the ACLU did not file suit to have this cross dismantled or removed from ground zero. After all, it is a Christian symbol on public property. Can't have that now, can we?
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