Date: Sep 11

Of all the people who died needlessly that day, the ones I cannot get out of my mind are those who decided to jump off the towers. USA TODAY estimates that at least 200 people jumped to their deaths, far more than can be seen in the photographs taken that morning. For those who jumped the fall lasted 10 seconds. They struck the ground at just less than 150 miles per hour — not fast enough to cause unconsciousness while falling.

Nobody survived on the floors from which people jumped.

Ultimately then, those jumpers did not change their fate but did choose when and how they met it. Remarkable. Not only did they manage not to freeze with fear, but they also did not fall prey to false hopes or dream of last-minute heros.

I just hope that - when the time comes - I too can find the strength of body and mind to meet fate head-on.