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Originally Posted by scuba875
Thanks Denver.
I went with some friends and family members all who are Police officers or firefighters. I am a volunteer fire fighter. My cousin went with us and he handed out water and food. He was an 18 year old high school senior at the time. He joined the Marines the day we got home. That just gives you an idea of what an emotional experience it was.
The police got sent to guard the UN building and the yard where the ems and police vehicles were sent as they were dug out. They actually had someone steal a damaged fire truck if you can believe that so they had to put police on the yard.
We did different things but mostly we removed debris. It really didn't matter what I did, I just felt like I had to go. We were not even sure if we would be allowed to help but we packed up all our stuff and left at 4 am on the 12th.
I can't even put into words how big the area affected was. Seeing it on tv and then actually being there were two different things. Tv didn't even begin to do justice to just how bad it was there. The smell is something I will never forget.
I had mixed emotions after getting there. It was the most horrible experience I have ever had and yet it was also a good one. I know that might not make any sense. The only way I can explain it is like this. I got see the worst in people but even more important I got to see the best in people.
We met people from all over the world who came to help. The New York people, who would walk up to you on the street hug you and say thanks. The restaurants would not take our money, the wait staff would not take any tips from us and the hotel refused to take any money for the rooms.
It was truly on of the things in my life that I am most proud of doing.
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my roommate and I headed over to the convention center to volunteer. the # of people waiting in line was staggering! as we were waiting in line, we could see that almost all of them were skilled workers, such as construction, carpenters. we decided it was best suited for them. we headed back across the river to hoboken, feeling a little useless. so we decided to hit a bar and drink, nothign else to do becasue the market was closed. but then we heard about a need for volunteers to load boats and ferrys in jersey city to deliver goods, so we did that for 2 days.
let me tell you, i have read about depression and fortunately never had it. but living in that area was by far, the closest ive ever been to being seriously depressed. just seeing all the memorial services, trucks moving dead members of family belongings. the market being closed all week but never a declaration so just sittign around waiting to hear when id go back to work. it was depressing