September 11 is a day that will be etched not only in the history of the United States but in the entire world. Many things have been said about this event; theories, fictional stories, iconic images, among others. In relation to the latter, there is one image, some heart-wrenching, others devastating, but it has endured over the years, the photograph of Marcy Borders.
The Photo of Marcy Borders on 9/11
The protagonist of the photograph is Marcy Borders, an American legal assistant who worked at the Bank of America branch located in the World Trade Center. She was born on July 19, 1973, and sadly passed away on August 24, 2015.
Marcy Borders was mostly known for being a survivor of the harrowing events of September 11, 2001, when Al Qaeda attacked the World Trade Center.
Photographer Stan Honda captured an iconic image of her that day, earning her the nickname “Dust Lady.” Reflecting on the lasting impact of his photograph, Honda said:
“Over the years, it has seemed strange to me to think that my photo has a lasting impact. I never imagined I would capture an image like that. I believe people identify with it because it represents a person trying to face the chaos of that fateful day.”
In 2011, Marcy Borders revealed how the trauma of September 11 led her to suffer from ten years of depression and addiction. She described it as if her soul had been destroyed along with the towers.
Tragic End
Tragically, in August 2014, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which she attributed to the exposure to toxic dust during the collapse of the World Trade Center.
Despite not having surgery and needing more chemotherapy, her medical bills had already piled up to $190,000. She couldn’t even afford her prescription medications. She strongly believed her cancer was related to the toxic exposure and stated:
“I definitely believe it because I haven’t had any other illnesses like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.”
Marcy Borders lost her battle with cancer and passed away on August 24, 2015.
Just one face on a chaotic day that haunted Marcy Borders throughout her life. It’s incredible to think that more than 20 years have passed since that tragic event.