20 years ago today America faced it's worst tragedy in the history of their country. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York. One plane crashed into the Pentagon, Virginia. One plane headed towards the White House but was bravely redirected by passengers and crew and crashed in a field in Southern Pennsylvania.
Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks that day. It is the individual stories that makes this a tragedy we will never forget. This post will highlight 5 stories from that horrific day in order to get a deeper understanding of the personal loss.
Andrea Haberman was sitting on the 92nd floor of the North Tower on September 11th. It was her first trip to the World Trade Centre and she arrived early before her 9:00 am meeting. Once she arrived she took out her phone to call her fiance as part of a routine game they played each day, to see who could be the first to call each other in the morning, when the other was out of town. Andrea won. But it would be her last call to her fiance, Allen Kolodzik, as 40 minutes later American Airline Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower. Andrea never escaped. Months later, her phone, which she had made her final call on, was discovered at Ground Zero.
Robert Joseph Gscharr was working on the 92nd floor of the South Tower. After the attack he called his wife to tell her he was "ok", and he would see her later. Robert did not survive the collapsing tower. A year later his wallet and wedding ring was discovered in the wreckage. Inside his wallet was this remarkably well kept $2 bill. Robert and his wife, Myrta, carried around a $2 bill each, to remind each other that they were two of a kind.
(Remains from American Airline 11)
Madeline "Amy" Sweeney, flight attendant on American Airline 11 died as her plane, which had been hijacked, crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 am. Before the fatal crash, Amy called American Airline Flight service at Logan Airport. She reported the stabbings that had occurred by the hijackers as well as their erratic driving of the plane. Due to Amy's brave calls and the information she provided, the hijackers were later identified and evidence was clear that the attacks were linked to Al-Qaeda. Amy's last words were:
"I see water. I see buildings. We're flying low. We're flying way too lay. Oh my God"
This ID card belonged to Abraham J. Zelmanowitz. On the morning of September 11th he was working on the 27th floor of the North Tower, along with a wheelchair-bound friend, Edward Beyea. When everyone was evacuating after the attacks Abraham decided to stay behind to remain by Edward's side. Coworkers informed the emergency services the two men were trapped inside. Firefighter Francis Burke arrived at the scene to assist the men, it was then that the South Tower began to collapse. Francis was just one of the 412 emergency service workers who lost their lives.
Danny Suhr was a New York City firefighter. Before heading into the Towers to help trapped victims Danny called his wife Nancy:
Hey Baby its me, just called to tell you I loved you, I'll talk to you later.
As Danny and his fellow firefighters begun entering the North tower a female, who had jumped to escape the fire, landed on him. Nancy remembers him fondly for his bravery. Whether he had been hit by the jumper or not, it is likely Danny wouldn't have survived 9/11, as he would have been crushed in the collapsing North Tower. Nancy continues to listen to Danny's last voicemail daily. Danny was one of hundreds of firefighters who bravely rushed into the burning tower to save victims, and never made it back out.
It is imperative that we remember accounts such as these as we think back to 9/11 and reflect on the tragedy. Not only thinking of the lives lost that day, but also remembering the lives lost since.
2,000 emergency service workers have since died due to 9/11
Whilst helping to clean up at Ground Zero emergency service workers breathed in the toxic fumes which after caused diseases, the most prolific being cancer. People continue to suffer from burns, kidney failure and leukemia. The scars of 9/11 are still deep in our society, which is why there are charities that continue to support the victims and their family (see below).
To end this blog I want to quote Melody Homer, who's husband Leroy was the pilot of flight 93 that was hijacked and crashed in Pennsylvania.
"If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate"
9/11 Charities:
FDNY Federation = https://www.fdnyfoundation.org/
Tuesday's Children = https://www.tuesdayschildren.org/
Voices = https://voicescenter.org/
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