Thursday afternoon, those in Hoboken began to confront the myriad of conflicting emotions brought about by the terror of the World Trade Center collapse.
Hundreds of handwritten letters and red carnations lined the river’s edge of Sintara Park as many in the community came out to begin the grieving process. Covered by the backdrop of dozens of the Hoboken Charter School’s students holding American flags, teary-eyed residents and children wrote down their thoughts and emotions.
"Good bye, you will be missed," said one note signed by 12-year-old Kimberly on a large red card decorated with rainbows and American flags. "You have been good citizens and good Americans and will never be forgotten."
Some of the cards emoted loss, other anger and many pride and resilience.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with every family member that lost a son or daughter, and with every wife that lost a husband," said another. "It is dark day, but we will always remember you and we will always pray for you."
"We’re all grieving," said Hoboken resident Mary Becker as she dropped a flower at the impromptu memorial. "Even if we didn’t have a loved one in the buildings, we’re grieving as a community and a nation, and it is the time we all come together as a people."
"We have to come together," said Union City resident Rosemary Cortez. "It’s the only option that we have. We have had a great loss, but we are a strong people and we will rebuild bigger and better in the future, but we will never forget. We are a proud people and we will overcome."