9/11 Anniversary: Where Were You - Page 11

candys mine · ‎08-20-2012

It was an absolutely beautiful September morning. I turned off the news at home and walked the 20 minutes to work. In that 20 minutes the world had changed forever.

sunala · ‎03-09-2010

I've probably posted this 15 times since it happened, once every year.

I was asleep and my friend called me and told me to put on the TV. I couldn't understand what I saw. He was yelling that the World Trade Center was on fire. It took me a few minutes to understand what was happening, but this was before the second tower was hit. The rest of the morning is a blur. I know my hubby and I watched our local NY channels all day, and saw the horror unfolding.

When my mailman came to the door a few hours later, we both cried as we hugged. We could smell the stink of burning plastic; it smelled like when you leave a pot on the stove and the handle starts to melt. I smelled that odor for many days to come.

Everyone on this board was so kind and loving. We were like one big family, even between people that didn't talk to each other for whatever reason. It was wonderful to be with a group of QVC friends who supported each other. I wish it could have stayed that way.

I remember sleeping with the tv on 24/7 for weeks after, just in case something else happened.

I think of that day more than I should. I cry for the people that lost loved ones, and pray for those who are sick and suffering as a result of that day.

May this never happen again.

"That's a great first pancake."
Lady Gaga, to Tony Bennett

twinsister · ‎03-12-2010

I was at work -my building was right across the street from the World Trade Center. When the first plane hit the noise was like nothing we had ever heard before Looking out the window, we couldn't believe what we saw.. There were already people injured on the street below. At that point, we thought it was just a horrible accident. I went back to my desk to call home and tell them when there was that explosion again from the second plane hitting. We knew then this was no accident. Watching those poor people trapped above the fire floors waving for help was awful. Then I saw something I will never, never forget. A man in a gray suit jump from around the 100th floor to his death. To this day I can still see him free falling. We were then told to evacuate our building since we didn't know if there were any more planes on the way. The landing gear from one of the planes was right in front of my building. It was total chaos in the streets. People were screaming, crying and police and FBI agents were yelling at everyone to walk north towards uptown. I remember just standing there frozen with my coworkers watching as multiple fire engines roared past us and the sounds of sirens was deafening. Most of those brave guys didn't make it out alive. It took me four hours to walk home from Manhattan to Brooklyn. When the towers collapsed the Brooklyn Bridge shook and there was grit and dust raining on us. I still have the sweater, pants and shoes I wore that day and so do most of my female coworkers. We were discussing this months after and it was strange how we all saved those clothes, but we all said we would never wear them again. For some reason, I can't throw them out. My building suffered a lot of damage during the attacks and it was six months until we could return to work there. I'm retired now and I haven't gone back to see the memorial.

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

Teaching a class. Guidance counselor was running from room to room telling teachers that there was an attack. Parents began picking up kids but were told to say it was a doctors appointment. (We live 65 miles west of DC)) I got a call from my daughter in NYC who told me she was safe, her sister in NYC (in college) was safe. She contacted my other two daughters, one in DC and one near the PA site and said they were safe. At this point I did not know what was really going on until I was able to go to the faculty room and turn on TV. So all four were near enough to have worried me if my oldest daughter didn't make the calls and then call me to reassure me.

We had visited the towers only a few weeks before and the vision of them in one piece is still in my memory.

sunala · ‎03-09-2010

@twinsister wrote:
I was at work -my building was right across the street from the World Trade Center. When the first plane hit the noise was like nothing we had ever heard before Looking out the window, we couldn't believe what we saw.. There were already people injured on the street below. At that point, we thought it was just a horrible accident. I went back to my desk to call home and tell them when there was that explosion again from the second plane hitting. We knew then this was no accident. Watching those poor people trapped above the fire floors waving for help was awful. Then I saw something I will never, never forget. A man in a gray suit jump from around the 100th floor to his death. To this day I can still see him free falling. We were then told to evacuate our building since we didn't know if there were any more planes on the way. The landing gear from one of the planes was right in front of my building. It was total chaos in the streets. People were screaming, crying and police and FBI agents were yelling at everyone to walk north towards uptown. I remember just standing there frozen with my coworkers watching as multiple fire engines roared past us and the sounds of sirens was deafening. Most of those brave guys didn't make it out alive. It took me four hours to walk home from Manhattan to Brooklyn. When the towers collapsed the Brooklyn Bridge shook and there was grit and dust raining on us. I still have the sweater, pants and shoes I wore that day and so do most of my female coworkers. We were discussing this months after and it was strange how we all saved those clothes, but we all said we would never wear them again. For some reason, I can't throw them out. My building suffered a lot of damage during the attacks and it was six months until we could return to work there. I'm retired now and I haven't gone back to see the memorial.

@twinsister I am so sorry you had to endure such a horrific experience. Thank G-d you were okay physically.

"That's a great first pancake."
Lady Gaga, to Tony Bennett

CLEM · ‎03-09-2010

I was at work at the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania. One of my co-workers came into my office and told me that a plane flew into one of the twin towers. I assumed it was a small plane like the one that hit the Empire State building some time back and so I just kept on working. But then she came back and said that they had gotten a TV out and were watching it and that another plane had just flown into the other tower. So I went and could not believe it. A short time later the hospital was organizing and getting everything ready to receive the hundreds of people needing care who were supposed to arrive by helicopter. All our doctors and nurses called families telling them that they were needed and possibly were also going to New York. After a few hours the office staff went home but I stayed for a few hours and when I finally went home by bus, I was the only one on it. The City seemed deserted and when we passed by the Red Cross Building, there were ambulances from all the neighboring suburbs ready to lead a caravan to New York as soon as New York gave the go ahead and on the way through NJ all the ambulances from all the small towns were to follow behind.

The sad thing was that nobody was needed and to this day, every time I pass the Red Cross building, I see all the ambulances. Can't get them out of my mind. I think the terrible part was that they were NOT needed.

roeroe1005 · ‎03-13-2010

I will never forget:

At the time, I worked for a very large food company. The night before we had a terrible rainstorm (live in NY, 1/2 hour north of the city). That Tuesday morning was a beautiful day.

I walked into my boss' office (a SVP) about 9a, he already had the TV turned on to CNBC and on the screen there was fire coming out of one of the towers. At first I thought I was looking at a replay of the first bombing, but that was in February and it was snowing.

I said to my boss - What the heck is that?? He looks up & we just sat there with our mouths opened while all this cr*p went on out there.

My friend Gina worked in Tower 2, but she worked in a sales job and did not go in. She and I were leaving on an 8:15a flight to Los Angeles the next day as our friend Cathy, who worked for ABC, invited us to the Emmys. Obviously that never happened.

The worst was that my parents thought I was leaving Tuesday morning instead of Wednesday. And they could not reach me as our phone lines were messed up. So for several hours in all this confusion, they thought I was on one of those planes.

My boss told me to go home, but I remember being terrified to get on the road. What was going on out there?

I am still oxox · ‎03-09-2010

I kept the shoes I wore when I left my building I worked at Broadway and Beaver, the sat on the shoe rack with the dust on them for months. I was lucky to have them in the office since I wore sandals into the office that day and I knew it was not be wise to wear them when we left since I did not know what we would find out the. My feet and heels were red for months after, from the ash that rubbed my feet.

Till this day I have no memory of sounds other than the two towers collapsing.

@twinsister wrote:
I was at work -my building was right across the street from the World Trade Center. When the first plane hit the noise was like nothing we had ever heard before Looking out the window, we couldn't believe what we saw.. There were already people injured on the street below. At that point, we thought it was just a horrible accident. I went back to my desk to call home and tell them when there was that explosion again from the second plane hitting. We knew then this was no accident. Watching those poor people trapped above the fire floors waving for help was awful. Then I saw something I will never, never forget. A man in a gray suit jump from around the 100th floor to his death. To this day I can still see him free falling. We were then told to evacuate our building since we didn't know if there were any more planes on the way. The landing gear from one of the planes was right in front of my building. It was total chaos in the streets. People were screaming, crying and police and FBI agents were yelling at everyone to walk north towards uptown. I remember just standing there frozen with my coworkers watching as multiple fire engines roared past us and the sounds of sirens was deafening. Most of those brave guys didn't make it out alive. It took me four hours to walk home from Manhattan to Brooklyn. When the towers collapsed the Brooklyn Bridge shook and there was grit and dust raining on us. I still have the sweater, pants and shoes I wore that day and so do most of my female coworkers. We were discussing this months after and it was strange how we all saved those clothes, but we all said we would never wear them again. For some reason, I can't throw them out. My building suffered a lot of damage during the attacks and it was six months until we could return to work there. I'm retired now and I haven't gone back to see the memorial.

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive what could go right.

QVCPhobe · ‎05-17-2010

I was at home getting ready for work. My mom called and told me that planes were flying into buildings and she was upset. I had CNN on at the time and it seemed unreal, like a movie. I had to go to work and we who were there in court (I was a social worker) stayed there until the afternoon. Everything was closed and downtown was deserted. My husband was not released from his job until the end of the day. It was such a sad, sad day.

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

It is almost eerie to read the stories in this post. I thought I would copy an article here from our daily newspaper in Halifax, Nova Scotia that talks about one experience at our Canadian airports as a result of the attack. There were many friendships forged from this horrible event. We pray we never witness another like this one. LM

Newfoundlanders to gather to commemorate 15th anniversary of 9/11

THE CANADIAN PRESS | UPDATED SEP 9, 2016, 6:09 PM

Dave Gallant, president of Red Knights Chapter 1 in New Brunswick, kneels beside a steel beam from the World Trade Centre which was recovered after the 2001 attacks. The beam will be presented in Gander, N.L., as a thank you to the people of Gander who sheltered stranded passengers due to closing of the United States air space on September 11, 2001. (CP)
GANDER, N.L. — Fifteen years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a Newfoundland town that hosted nearly 7,000 plane passengers will pause to reflect on the tragedy and their unexpected connection to it.

The Town of Gander is hosting several events commemorating the 15th anniversary of 9/11, with thousands expected to attend an ecumenical service, including U.S Consulate General Steven Giegerich and the province's Premier Dwight Ball.

"There's been a very, very strong bond formed between the region and the 'plane people'," said Debby Yannakidis, chairwoman of the Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce.

"The town, and the region, will always pay our respects to 9/11."

Thousands of passengers were stranded for three days in Gander when all flights were grounded, and the people of Gander provided food, lodging and other assistance.

In a statement Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman said the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canadians in general "demonstrated profound and heartfelt kindness" in the aftermath of 9/11.

"The unbreakable bond between the United States and Canada was never more evident than on that day 15 years ago and in the days that followed," Heyman said.

"I reflect often on the generosity Canadians extended to the thousands of passengers from the United States and elsewhere whose U.S.-bound flights were diverted to Canada immediately after the attacks."

Yannakidis said Sunday's ceremony, organized with the Canadian National Day of Service Foundation and Wounded Warriors Canada, will commemorate the tragedy but also raise awareness about PTSD.

"Obviously on the date itself, there was a lot of people as first responders... who have experienced PTSD because of traumatic events," said Yannakidis.

Robert Pilon, who has portrayed the title character in the Phantom of the Opera in Toronto, will sing at the service alongside local choirs.

A piece of steel beam from the south tower of the World Trade Center is also en route to the airport in Gander, a thank you gift from a foundation named for a New York firefighter killed while helping to rescue people from the towers.

An inscription on the pedestal reads: "This piece of World Trade Center steel was presented to Gander International Airport by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation on Sept. 11, 2016 in gratitude for the profound humanitarian role the airport and people of Gander played in the wake of the attacks on 9/11.''

It's being towed by a truck donated by GMC, and escorted by current and former firefighters on motorcycles. A ceremony with the one metre by one metre beam will be held after the ecumenical service at the Gander Airport.

The events in Gander inspired a musical — Come From Away — which is headed for Broadway next year.

Written by Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the production tells the heartfelt stories of the local residents who opened their homes to the thousands of passengers left stranded after the attacks.

Sankoff and Hein travelled to Gander on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and collected thousands of hours of interviews, now memorialized in the 100-minute production.

The musical, now playing in Washington D.C., is headed to Gander for two benefits concerts on Oct. 29.

— By Aly Thomson in Halifax.

The Canadian Press