Remembering 9/11 21 years later

[stew86MCSS396]

Thank you all for serving!

Like you said we all remember exactly what we were doing at the moment and I can't believe I've been telling this story every year for the past 21 years. Rather than get up before the sun to start a shift, was slated to go out on a mission later that afternoon so I was able to sleep in that morning but had set my clock radio to awaken me to music/news. Now the radio personality that was on, is my high school classmate, class clown loud and annoying at times, pursued a career as a comedian but also had a morning radio spot. So imagine listening to this fool speaking in our native tongue/slang "Ho brah! I no can balieve dey wen fly 2 planes into the world trade centa!!!" I was like, "what is this fool talking about..." Turn on tv and the oh sh*t moment hits. Called work to find out if the mission was still on and if they needed me to come in. Also remembered the ~3 mile stretch of cars trying to get onto the base.

One of the daunting reality was most of our pilots at the time were part time and their full time jobs flew for a commercial airline. Each plane had to hold their position in the pattern and was interrogated by a fighter plane being flown by someone they know/work with, one by one escorted to land.

Can't remember how many years after, had an opportunity to go to ground zero. It was still the remains of the rubble and they had a little walk through museum with letters to loved ones lost.

 

[Bonnewagon]

The closest victim by me was Moira Smith. She was the only NYPD female police officer to perish at Ground Zero. She was survived by her 2-year-old daughter and her husband. She grew up in Brooklyn and married Jim Smith from the next block over from me next to my Sister's house and was a friend of my family. They found her badge and medal rack near her body in the debris. An NYPD Mobile Command Center sat at their Mother's house for over a week consoling the family. They also named an NYPD Police boat after her. This badge is on display at the 9/11 museum. If you are even in NYC go see the spot where the buildings stood. It is awesome to behold. Be prepared to cry.

 

[mikester]

Another sad part of all this are the countless responders that have died from the cancers they got due to being exposed to the toxic materials at the site.

 

[Maverick's_Monte]

Last year for the 20th anniversary my high school had a visit from the 9/11 moving memorial as well as a number of speakers to commemorate the anniversary. This included a number of FDNY veterans including Lt. Joe Torrillo, Robert Reeg and John Morabito. I had the honor and privilege to meet and talk with some of these men and one remark stands out and provided gruesome affirmation of what many of us knew. We were making polite conversation and sharing memories of that day and I shared that I remember the news coverage that day did not shy away from the fact that there were people jumping and that always stuck with me (I was a junior in High School on 9/11/01). One of the FDNY veterans informed me that the first firefighters to perish on 9/11 did not die from the building collapsing or some other hazard encountered in the course of their duty, rather, they were crushed by those who jumped.

 

[Longroof79]

The closest victim by me was Moira Smith. She was the only NYPD female police officer to perish at Ground Zero. She was survived by her 2-year-old daughter and her husband. She grew up in Brooklyn and married Jim Smith from the next block over from me next to my Sister's house and was a friend of my family. They found her badge and medal rack near her body in the debris. An NYPD Mobile Command Center sat at their Mother's house for over a week consoling the family. They also named an NYPD Police boat after her. View attachment 206731

Mark,
Many of us from the NYC area were affected in one way or another or knew someone who was directly affected. A friend of mine who was a firefighter told me that he attended many funerals for fellow firefighters and first responders and how emotional it was. I think we also lost a few neighborhood people in the towers,
Thank you for sharing your facts and memories. This day should never be forgotten, nor the innocent people who lost their lives in 9/11.

 

[Longroof79]

Another sad part of all this are the countless responders that have died from the cancers they got due to being exposed to the toxic materials at the site.

Thank goodness for people like Jon Stewart who fought hard for medical compensation for the first responders who were at Ground Zero. How in years later were forgotten by our politicians. Shame on them.

 

[mclellan83]

I remember being up at college and hearing the news in my dorm between classes, even at my small university they were starting rumors on how there could be an attack made there. I really do feel bad for all the lives lost and even more for the affects on many more people, just wish some would focus more critical thinking in some of the other events in that happened during that time as well.

 

[mikester]

 

[Bonnewagon]

This the last ever picture of PO Moira Smith. Helping to save lives and then going back for more. I'm sure there are thousands of stories just like this telling the tales of heroism and selflessness on that awful day. Whatever you think of Shitty City remember that the people here are just like Americans everywhere else. When the chips are down they stand up. In Casablanca when the nazi asked Bogart what he thought about "Can you imagine us in New York"? Bogey replied- "There are certain parts of NY I would advise you against invading".

 

[Longroof79]

This the last ever picture of PO Moira Smith. Helping to save lives and then going back for more. I'm sure there are thousands of stories just like this telling the tales of heroism and selflessness on that awful day. Whatever you think of Shitty City remember that the people here are just like Americans everywhere else. When the chips are down they stand up. In Casablanca when the nazi asked Bogart what he thought about "Can you imagine us in New York"? Bogey replied- "There are certain parts of NY I would advise you against invading". View attachment 206774

That's a classic line. I love that movie.