Community Chat

[Boehm Collector]

I know two Port Authority Police officers who lost their lives trying to save others.   I used to work with them as the Prosecutor in a local municipal court.   One was a friend.... the other  an acquaintance.  But they were both dedicated police officers.  I think of them often. 

I was in court that day. All the port authority police rushed to ground zero.  I was sick when the towers collapsed knowing that many of those PO were probably killed.   But we were hopeful that some could have survived.   The bodies of the two that I knew were never found...... just the badge of one was located a few days later.  

[Othereeeen]

I have the issue of Time Magazine from that week.....I just took it out and looked thru the first several pages and it's STILL so terrible I can't look at the whole issue at once....

[Boehm Collector]

One of the Port Authority Police Officers I worked with who was killed had a two year old son.   He was crazy about that little boy.  Every time I saw him he would show me photos of his son.    He worked with the commercial vehicle unit.   After that terrible day, I would often ask how his wife and son were doing.    One day, the following May, I was told that his wife had given birth to a little girl.   They had not known she was pregnant on Sept. 11th.    I burst into tears in the court room.   That little girl is now 21 years old and never met her Dad.   So very, very sad.  

[Mersha]

It was such a horrible, tragic event for the country.

I was at work and when the Pentagon was hit, my husband called me, told me get myself home quickly and stay there.

I recall watching the news coverage and wondering how on earth this country could ever possibly recover from this horrific event.

The one thing that came along that gave me hope and the feeling we could get through is when the NY Yankees played their first baseball game after 9/11.

Officials thought long and hard if the game should happen so I am happy they decided it was a good thing.

I believe so many appreciated that one game so much.  It was a touch of normalcy in world gone mad.

[Oznell]

How much it must hit home for you, @beach-mom ,   and @Boehm Collector , and others,   actually having acquaintances and friends among the lost.   Hard to comprehend how many, and how far-reaching, the losses.

[spiderw]

I lived and worked in the city across the Hudson River and saw the Twin Towers attacked and the buildings go down.  It was horrifying, tragic and frightening and will always be a memory I will never forget.  I used to eat and shop at the Towers often and it was  such a shock to everyone that this happened..  I also remember being at the Waldorf Astoria lobby listening the someone playing the piano, songs related to Manhattan while in the distance bagpipes sounded at St. Patrick's church honored a fallen fire fighter.

There were so many heroes during that time, policemen, firemen, citizens, so many more.  As each 9/11 comes I still cry hearing the names of those who died, you never forget.

[beach-mom]

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@Oznell wrote:

How much it must hit home for you, @beach-mom ,   and @Boehm Collector , and others,   actually having acquaintances and friends among the lost.   Hard to comprehend how many, and how far-reaching, the losses.

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@Oznell - It does every year. I remember that day, as all of us do. I never went in. We stood together in our neighborhood. We didn't know for sure he had that route until mid-morning. Everyone was wondering what to do about picking kids up from school. I left mine there; some decided to go get theirs. I actually called another friend whose DH is also a pilot. Her phone was busy, but I finally reached her, and her DH wasn't flying that day. Then a neighbor came running out. Her friend had called and said there were a lot of police cars in front of my friend's home. I knew. 

I didn't know what to do. I wanted to reach out, but I didn't want to get in the way. Later that day one of her neighbors saw her mother-in-law there. It was a whirlwind. I saw her about a week later, and have continued to see her throughout the years. Her life obviously has changed, and she is away a lot. 

ETA: She knows a lot of course, as all of the families do. I just want to share one thing: the cockpit crew did not give up without a fight. I think though everyone would already know that.

[Carolina925]

@Hazelfaye , thank you for sharing your story. I'm thankful that your men were safe. Again, I just can't imagine the pain.

[OKPrincess]

@Oznell 

DH and visited NYC for the first time this past July on a bus trip. We spent three guided days in Manhattan.

It was so important for us to be at the 9/11 Memorial and museum as well as One World Observatory. 

We stood in silence reading the engraved names and staring at the waters falling down the sides of the walls in the ground where these mighty towers once stood.

While we were at the top of the One World Observatory, we were reliving the images from that day.....the long crowded streets, the Brooklyn Bridge where thousands of people walked to NJ covered in ash, crying.

We will never forget that day.  We spent yesterday from 7 am until 11 pm watching the History channel listening to survivor stories and watching new coverage as it happened.  Every person who shared their story was worth our time to sit and listen.

We are forever thankful to have spent precious hours at the 9/11 Memorial, museum and observatory. 🥹🇺🇸

[Estellee]

Thanks to everyone sharing their recollections. I will always remember where I was when I got the news, never forget !