Nubble Lighthouse photographed a couple of hours after 9-11
20 Years Later: Remembering 9-11 Through A Lighthouse Image
Many of us remember that day 20 years ago and what we did as it has profoundly touched our lives. I remember teaching at a local college that morning and had made plans after class the day before on the tenth, to take photos of an exceptionally high tide at my favorite lighthouse a half hour away, Nubble Light, also known as Cape Neddick Lighthouse, in York, Maine. You see, there had been an ocean storm created by Hurricane Erin, a powerful storm hundreds of miles out to sea that would not make landfall on the coast. It was just south of New England, stirring up some wild surf for high tide.
I came back from teaching a class at a local college. I shortly found myself barraged with emails from colleagues to check the news regarding the two planes that had crashed into the towers, and soon after, one had crashed into the Pentagon (I had not known about Flight 93, which had crashed in a field in Pennsylvania). The visuals caught on the news that we all saw were unbelievable, knowing that lives had been lost but not knowing at that point the future events that would unfold later as the towers collapsed. I decided that I needed to go to the lighthouse.
I arrived at Nubble Lighthouse about a couple of hours after the planes had crashed into the towers and noticed the flag had already been ordered at half-mast for victims of the disaster. No one else was around (which was strange), and it was a warm, sunny day. Technically, the lighting was lousy as it was near noon, but I didn’t care as the surf was crashing all around me. There was a sense of danger as I set up to take some images close to the shore while walking along slippery rocks, but for all the movement around me, the lighthouse stood firm as our nation’s protector, with the flag still visible. It gave me a sense of peace and appreciation of the beauty around me.
The image I found involved a softness of the waves crashing in the foreground with the sharp clarity of the lighthouse in the background. The lighthouse showed perseverance, resilience, strength, and protection. The image is nothing fancy, but it helped me to grieve when I felt helpless about the incident, as many of us did that day. I stayed at the lighthouse for hours, staring out at the ocean’s churning waters and observing the lighthouse. I found myself praying for the victims at times.
I keep a print of it on the wall in my office at home, with an inscription on the bottom that reads “Remember 9-11.” It is a gentle reminder to never give up and remain steadfast.
We all have different ways of how we dealt with the tragedy of September 11, 2001, this is mine and I wanted to share this image and my simple story.
Remembering 9-11, 15 Years Later in 2016
Mural at a Firehouse parking lot in my local city in New Hampshire. The image was taken on 9-11-2016
I live near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, hundreds of miles from where the events occurred, but almost every day, I pass by one of our firehouses where a mural was created in memory of those firefighters and other victims of the tragedy who lost their lives that day in New York, the Pentagon, and on a field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania where heroes of Flight 93 thwarted an attempt to crash into the Capital building. I took a simple shot on the 15th anniversary of 9-11. We all know these same acts of appreciation and gratitude are depicted throughout our country in neighborhoods, towns, and cities. They are consistent reminders of those who gave their lives and will never be forgotten. Since the event, We have been a more secure and stronger country, and the cost of the freedoms we hold so dear will always have a price.
Remembering 9-11, Twenty Years Later in 2021
Remembering 9-11 at Portsmouth Head Lighthouse in Maine on 9-11-2021
As had occurred 20 years ago to the day on 9/11/2001, when Hurricane Erin was churning up the seas hundreds of miles away from the eastern coast, just south of New England, this year, Hurricane Larry had just passed just north of the New England coast, and was up in the Canadian Maritimes, hundreds of miles away from the shore and was also still churning up the seas.
I decided to go up to Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine’s oldest lighthouse, about an hour’s ride, and take photos at high tide, demonstrating symbolisms for freedom, security, endurance, and resilience, remembering 9-11. There were hundreds of people enjoying the day and taking pictures of the surf crashing on the rocks around the beacon. Although not as turbulent as Hurricane Erin, Hurricane Larry still provided a great site at high tide on a beautiful blue sky day with clouds. It was a relaxing day as my wife enjoyed hanging out by the shore and reading while I took pictures and talked to tourists. As was done 20 years ago, performed annually on this date and many others, the flag was at half-mast to remind us of the sacrifices many had made for our freedom. I and many others I observed paused in front of the flag to give silent respect.
Flag at half mast on 9-11 at Portland Head Lighthouse in Maine
Give of yourself to benefit others, hug those you love, shake hands with those around you and accept them for their differences, and thank those firefighters, policemen, and those in our medical community who sacrifice their lives each day for our local security. Thank those in the armed services at home and abroad, and above all, thank and remember those families who support sending their loved ones in harm’s way to preserve our freedom. Above all, let us not forget those who died or were wounded on that day 20 years ago. Let there be peace among us.
God bless America, and God bless us all!
Regards,
Allan Wood
Books to Explore
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted Coal Schooners of New England. In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies and measured longer than a football field! This self-published book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships.
Available also from bookstores in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
Enjoy a 10% discount on the hardcover version. Printed and distributed by IngramSpark.
Book – Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions in Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. This 300-page book provides memorable human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses. You can explore plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions, including whale-watching excursions, lighthouse tours, windjammer sailing tours, parks, museums, and even lighthouses where you can stay overnight. You’ll also find plenty of stories of hauntings around lighthouses.
Book – Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions in Northern New England: New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. This 300-page book provides memorable human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses. It also describes and provides contact info for plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions and tours. These include whale watching, lighthouse tours, unique parks, museums, and lighthouses where you can stay overnight. There are also stories of haunted lighthouses in these regions.
Book- New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues & Other Tales
New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues & Other Tales contains over 50 stories. This image-rich book also contains vintage images provided by the Coast Guard and various organizations and paintings by six famous Coast Guard artists.
You can purchase this book and the lighthouse tourism books from the publisher Schiffer Books or in many fine bookstores such as Barnes and Noble.
Copyright © Allan Wood Photography; do not reproduce without permission. All rights reserved.
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