Thursday, September 08, 2011

We never forgot

Where were you during the 9/11 attacks?

Sheri Cote:

On Sept. 11, 2001 I was working at the Chamber’s office in New London when we heard about the attacks. A couple of memorable happenings from that day were:

I took a call from a woman who called the Chamber to ask if we thought it was safe for her to drive across the Gold Star Memorial Bridge. (What would your answer have been?)
I was serving as the Ombudsman for the Coast Guard Barque Eagle and had to go to the ship for a briefing about plans to get the ship away from land and then I had to be the one to relay that to the other wives :( The Eagle was motored out and I was very concerned that they could be another target because, unlike a submarine, it couldn’t go below the water and be hidden.

It goes without saying that our hearts are very heavy as we approach the 10th anniversary of the events of that day.

Denny Hicks:

I was in a conference room in the main Administration Building at the Millstone Power Plant when the Vice President’s Executive Secretary interrupted our Director’s meeting with a report that a plane had just impacted the World Trade Center. My son, a Naval Officer, was stationed in the Pentagon and we heard reports of a crash there also but were unable to get any detail so my wife spent several long, long, hours attempting to learn his status until he called that he was OK—they had evacuated the Pentagon via the subway system and he had been without communications.

Ron Haubert:

I was working at the Norwich Bulletin when a reporter came down to say a plane flew into the World Trade Center. A colleague said it probably was a small plane. Another reporter came down and said we should go upstairs and view this.

Bruce MacDonald

I was in my office at Foxwoods when our receptionist, the usually unflappable Rita, called with an urgent request—more like an order--to turn on the tv in my office. She may have said something about a jet crashing into the World Trade Center, but what I most remember is the tone in her voice.

I watched transfixed as one tower fell and then the other. I don’t remember coverage of the Pentagon attack or the Pennsylvania crash site, just the towers. The tv remained on in my office, but at some
point I had to turn away. There wasn’t even a pretense of getting any work done for some time. We were left to wonder how and why this happened.

I don’t believe I knew anyone there that day, but I knew the grandfather of a young Stonington boy just starting out his career who died there. I don’t believe my friend was ever the same. I had another friend, a former ironworker, who had helped erect the twin towers. He later told me he was reduced to tears at the sight of them crumbling to the ground.

I recall a visit years earlier and marveling at the sheer size, the enormity, of the complex at the southern tip of Manhattan and the long trip to the top. Since the tragic occurrence a decade ago, I have visited the site a couple times. Standing there, I tried to imagine the horror of that day, but came up short.

My employer at the time, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, had a pair of high-speed ferry boats operating out of Glen Cove Long Island, a short distance across the water. They were thrown into the epic evacuation effort. I don’t remember the conversations I had with the officers and crew afterwards, but the sadness in their faces is hard to forget.

All the deaths that day and in the wars that followed leave me numb when I think about them.

Deb Martinez:

I was working in our restaurant in New Hampshire, when someone came in and asked me if we had heard about the trade center being hit by a plane. We got to a television in time to see the footage of the second plane hitting the building, and watched, frozen in disbelief for the rest of the day. It was like the whole world stopped for that day…and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

Lori Thompson:

I was on my way to work at the Mystic Fire Department. I was listening to WCTY radio, listening to Jimmy & Karen in the morning, and as I drove into the parking lot, Karen had breaking news that a small plane appeared to have hit a building in NYC. A few seconds of discussion took place and I recall feeling very uneasy about the news. I quickly parked my car at work and walked upstairs to my office, which I shared with the Chief. He and one of the firefighters were in the office staring at the TV. We discussed how terrible this was as we then witnessed the second plane flying into the twin tower and the ball of flames that appeared. It was totally unbelievable. You knew that very moment it was intentional. As we continued to watch, others came into the office to watch and express their opinions. Someone actually placed immediate blame on Osama Bin Laden...that was the first time I ever remember hearing his name. We continued watching throughout the day and I eventually left to go home to be with my kids. In the days and weeks that followed, the fire department was very active with emotions as a few known firefighters had lost their lives that day. When firefighters refer to each other as brothers, that is an understatement. They are family! My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one, and for those still feeling the effects. I personally will be spending the 10th anniversary with my family....there is a part of me that fears this day and what could possibly be.

Bambi Poppick:

I was living in Fairfield and I had just dropped my daughter off at school. I got a call from my next door neighbor who said a plane has crashed into one of the towers. We initially thought it was a small private plane. When we saw the news and realized it was a commercial jet we panicked because about 1/2 of our friends neighbors worked in NY city in the financial district. We lost several friends that day in the towers and a family in one of the planes from Boston.

Matt Lipman:

I first heard about the attacks in my English class, during my senior year at Waterford High School. Our principal made an announcement to students and teachers over the PA system, notifying us about the first plane, which hit the trade center. I remember a sense of panic among my peers during lunch period. I also remember that playing in band took the events off my mind, but thoughts were immediately back when class ended. This is not something I can easily forget.

Comment by Maria Fisher-Proulx | Friday, September 09, 2011, 09:17

I was in Florida, vacationing with my husband, mother and father. My husband and I just came back to the condo from a walk, when my father told us a plane hit the trade center in NYC. We sat down to watch the report on the news, when we saw the 2nd plane hit. I will never forget how I felt on that day. I never want to feel that way again.

Comment by Tony Sheridan | Friday, September 09, 2011, 17:13

I was working at Millstone. I was and still am highly impressed with the immediate outpouring of concern expressed by the employees for the victims’ and their families. In a matter of a few hours we collected over $8,000 that was donated to the Red Cross. Everyone wanted to contribute to the cause. The good will and concern shown that day is a great reminder of how fortunate we are to be a part of this great community and country.

Comment by paula widstrom | Friday, September 09, 2011, 17:55

I was standing in my kitchen preparing a boating picnic to share with relatives visiting here from Sweden and Finland. My husband was outside doing last minute touches to the gardens in preparation for their initial arrival. I watched the first tower fall and was confused thinking it was a small plane and a terrible accident. I then saw the second tower get hit and knew it was no accident. I yelled to my husband to get in the house and watch. My husband was so shocked he thought we could still use the boat later that day, and yes, we were the idiots the Day took pictures of at gunpoint by the Coast Guard while we had a boatload of Europeans aboard. We were checked out and sent to the boat launch for removal from the water. Our family had to stay here longer as the no fly zone was in effect for safety. We haven't seen family from Europe here since, but a trip is planned. I remember how weird the skies were during the no fly zone time period.

Comment by craig ferrer | Saturday, September 10, 2011, 08:27

i was on 35th street manhattan getting coffee on the street outside my office and looked up and saw a low flying plane coming straight down the center of manhattan. minutes later the north tower was struck. although i was clearly safe from the carnage that day, listening to the radio and seeing the smoke from the towers, watching people zombie on the streets afterwards, caused me to pause for hours. there are 10's of thousands of stories none less significnt than the next.

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