Pain of Sept. 11 still ripples through America 25 years later

They are three different New York City buildings, each with very different purposes. Yet together, they symbolize why the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, still resonate so painfully after a quarter-century.

America is no stranger to tragedy and collective sorrow. From wars – a Civil War, even – to presidential assassinations, fires, hurricanes, floods and what seems to be an unrelenting torrent of gun violence, our nation has seen its share of horror. But 25 years after the nation’s deadliest terror attacks – an event known simply by two numerals, “9/11” – the pain seems especially raw and personal.

One reason for the continuing pain is that three deep scars from that tragedy remain unhealed. And to understand those scars, you need to consider the significance of those three buildings in New York City: the morgue, the hospital and the courthouse. Each is a real-time reminder of how the 9/11 attacks are still very much a part of present-day life.

The morgue – the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office – is still trying to identify victims. The hospital – Mount Sinai Medical Center – is still counting the dead from the shocking increase in people now dying from…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/