Remembering Sept. 11

Tanya Carver September 8, 2011 at 03:29 pm

Paul, in my opinion, we lost our sense of security. Terrorism happened outside US soil. I do a large amount of flying and this type of travel has dramatically changed since 9/11. Every year, there are more regulations and restrictions being implemented by airlines. Remember before 9/11 when you got food while you were flying, not anymore. Food is extra and now baggage is extra.
On a personal level, I was born on 9/11. I know my husband nor my children will never forget my birthday, but there's a sadness in the air throughout that day so even if you are out celebrating, people have a tendency to say "Oh I am sorry". I do celebrate, and I am thankful to those individuals who continue to fight for our freedom. By the way, KOG will have a candle light vigil tomorrow night at Schreiber's Farm during our Pig Roast Event.

Kathryn Hebert September 8, 2011 at 05:21 pm

I was home on maternity leave with my adopted daughter Anna who was 1 years old at the time. My husband, Jay Hebert, a firefighter in Norwalk called me to turn on the TV and asked if my brother, Adam Lewis was working. Adam worked in the 2nd tower on the 89th floor as a bank trader for Keefe, Bruyettee and Woods. I turned on the TV and saw that the 2nd tower had been hit. Not sure how long i stood there, but long enough to see the 2nd tower collapse. It is was like I was in slo-mo, a bit of a blur. Adam was 36 years old with four children, the youngest at the time was 1.
My perspective on the past 10 years is that it ihas been very difficult, not only from a personal point of view but also globally and from our nation. We still encounter anger and divisiness. We need to work together to turn all that anger into something positive to improve ourselfves and our communities. It is an evoluition, albeit a slow process. For me it is still quite painful, but I am always amazed at that the good in people is far greater than the evil in a few. Let's continue to work together. I am confident and hopeful the next 10 years will bring about positive change.

Dorothy Hoff September 8, 2011 at 07:58 pm

Overwhelming sadness. Listening to personal stories of local people who helped at Ground Zero, with amazement and gratitude for their strength. Flags everywhere. People being extraordinarily nice to each other. So much changed that day, but thankfully, the good in people prevailed. Thanks for all you do Paul to keep us informed and thoughtful!

Karen C. Pierce September 8, 2011 at 08:39 pm

When we were pulled from our classes and informed of the planes hitting the towers, we were also told to keep the info from our students. A few members of the staff who had family were relieved so they could contact family working the area.
Then I was called to the office, the Pentagon had been hit...my nephew, a Captain in the Air Force served in the Pentagon. (It was the Army wing that received direct impact.) My nephew shared that once the situation was "under control" he received instructions to make three phone calls as soon as possible: spouse, parents, and grandparents, then get back to their brothers and sisters in arms. What grace, valor, and honor was evidenced in the face of such a heinous act.

jim laguardia September 8, 2011 at 09:20 pm

I was at home with my daughter getting ready to go into work at the Stamford Hospital and being told not to come in because they were clearing cars out of the lot in anticipation of many helicopters with patients that would be landing... then the hours went by and sadly those patients never arived, as of the last time I was there I could still see the faint marking of the big H they painted, and it was a reminder of just how many people did not make it out.

Christine E. September 8, 2011 at 10:10 pm

I was driving to my Math Class in college and heard over the radio that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. The people on the radio, at this time, were broadcasting that a small commuter plane had accidentally crashed. I parked my car and went to class. About ten minutes later, someone had heard what was actually happening, and our class was dismissed. Slowly students poured into the Student Center one by one, fixated on television screens and standing in silence because what we were watching on TV did not look real. My father, who works for a Datacommunications Company that has a contract with the Government, had just recently installed equipment at the Pentagon the weekend before. He got word that the group of guys he had been working with to install the equipment were in tbe building exactly where the plane had hit. I remember his sadness. Eventually, I made my way to work, where I had learned that no one had been able to reach one of our clients, who worked in one of the towers. Hours and hours later, we heard that he was located, but most of the people in his company had perished. He explained that when the plane hit the 1st tower, everyone was told to "stay put". He ignored that request and chose to evacuate along with 1 other coworker. It is that reason alone that he is alive today. Sadly, the effects it had on him were heartbreaking to watch. I will never forget that day. Ten years? Unbelievable. Feels like yesterday.

Bonnie LaLiberte September 8, 2011 at 10:11 pm

I was at home with the kitchen TV on washing out morning coffee cups and getting ready for work. I saw the first plane hit the tower, thinking it was a terrible accident, and realizing I was late, jumped into the car and drove to my office. While enroute, I heard that another plane had taken down the 2nd tower. I felt utter shock and disbelief. I walked into my office where my co-workers were and asked them if they'd heard about the towers falling, and they said no. We called the owner of our company and one of them brought in a television and hooked it up so we could see updates (we weren't allowed to have Internet on our computers so the others were totally unaware of the news I had brought them). We heard the terrifying news over and over and then heard about the PA plane going down and the Pentagon attack. We scrambled to contact family members and friends who worked in NYC. The following weekend we all went to church, holding hands, with tears flowing, praying for the safety of those that worked in the towers and for our nation. My heart still hurts for all the people whose loved ones did not come home.

BJ Forlenzo September 8, 2011 at 11:20 pm

I don't remember September 11th - the actual day, anyway. I was on a morphine drip at Stamford Hosp. less than 24 hrs after a major surgical procedure. Yes, I saw it on the tv from my hospital bed - but I only remember telling my sister on the phone that a small plane hit one of the towers and everything would be okay. I can honestly say that that was the last time I actually felt that "everything would be okay". The rest of the day is a blur and I realized the horror when my son showed up at the hospital earlier than expected from high school. It hit me when he told me they let all the schools out early in Norwalk and that several of his acquaintances in school had a parent working in the towers. Then the hospital staff sent my roommate home and told me they were clearing out patients for the influx on injured they expected from Manhattan. They took me off the morphine and the reality of the situation finally hit my somewhat cleared head. That night I could hear all the tv's in all the hospital rooms on that floor on very loud. I got out of bed and walked to each and every empty room and turned the tv's off - wondering where all the injured patients were!! I then spent the next 48 hours with Peter Jennings - neither of us slept a wink. One of the hardest parts of post 9/11 was opening the Norwalk Hour everyday and seeing more and more obits. Actually, they were the lucky one's - they had remains to bury. One of my closest friends had nothing of her sister.

David Deschenes September 9, 2011 at 02:50 am

I was living in Norwalk and working in the City at the time. One of the things I'll remember from that morning is being on the train and suddenly everyone's cell phone starting to ring at the same time. At first everyone laughed, then we were a little spooked as everyone answered their phones; which then turned to shock and disbelief as a whole train car of people heard the news at around the same time. We were stopped at 125th Street as they took over the city bound trains for emergency personnel. I'll always remember that huge thick column of black smoke we could all see rising from lower Manhattan. By the time I got back home the first tower had fallen. Over the next week, there was a car in the commuter lot that didn't move. We held on to hope that maybe it was just abandoned. Then we learned that the family had come to claim the car as they accepted the fact that their husband and father were among the missing. There were several of these cars in the Westport commuter lot from what I heard. I was told that some refused to believe that there loved one was gone and they wanted the car to be there so they could get home if they made it back. So sad.

George Stockwell September 11, 2011 at 11:30 am

I was on my way to school only to discover it had been canceled for that day--not because of the attack. It seems a delivery truck somehow snagged the power lines going to the school and pulled them down.
I was told at the school to go to the central office to help phone parents to inform them of the cancellation. It was at about 8:45 on my way home when I heard of the attack on the World Trade Center. I stayed glued to the TV for the rest of the day. Quite frankly, the reality of terror up to then was not uppermost in my mind. It was always a terrible thing that happened somewhere else. But since then I have found myself worrying for my children and grand children. Will they always be safe?

law September 11, 2011 at 02:35 pm

I was in my family room when the plane hit. I called my husband to come in and verify that it was the world trade that was hit. His comment after looking as the screen was my god, Mike Jacobs is there. He was, and died. Only 5"'s of his leg were ever found. He lived across the street from us. I got up every few hours looking for his car to return to his driveway, but it didn't. I watched the events unfold thanking god that my husband had not gone to work that day because he didn't feel well. He was there beside me, and I couldn't have been more thankful. As I listened, I kept hearing how this would "change our lives". I didn't understand what they meant, but now ten years later I do. They were right. We took care of Mike's house, mowing his lawn, trimming his bushes, everything he would have done, we did, until it sold 3 years later. His children lived in N. J. and didn't come up very often so we stepped in to help them, but mostly just for Mike. I really felt like I sucked in a large breath and didn't exhale until the house was sold. I still have trouble accepting that he is gone. We weren't related, just neighbors. Miss you Mike!

Sam Mihailoff September 11, 2011 at 06:35 pm

I was at work, boss was on vacation..."Sam you'll be acting supervisor for the next two weeks" GREAT, I really hated that, being a hands on type of educator with no desire or aspirations to be anybody's boss. What I remember was of course the shock, disbelief, and horror of most staff although they were still functioning valiantly under the circumstances, but sadly the perfect excuse for some to just kick back and watch TV and ignore the developmentally challenged and emotionally disturbed individuals in their care. Takes all kinds.

Alex Tytler September 11, 2011 at 08:52 pm

In a sad way a small group of people with a plan and using our own assets changed the american way of life. Will we ever recover from the financial disaster the country is in? It can be traced back to policies put in place as a direct result of the attacks. I heard it on the radio that clear beautiful Tuesday, and can't believe where it has taken the country in 10 short years. It changed the order of world power. 32 people from my hometown didn't come home that night.

Geraldine Carley September 11, 2011 at 09:41 pm

Teaching in a school in which a dozen or more students had to be quickly taken under the guidance counselors' wings was the part that hit the hardest for me, knowing that their parents were in jeopardy. One of our teachers was paralyzed with anxiety, knowing that two of his own children were working at Chelsea Pier doing triage. He was trying to stay calm that day for his own students, but it was all we could do to make sure he was also watched over. The sense of loss for the innocent ones seemed surreal and just plain unfair.
I remember planes flying over our house for days on end, more unnerving than comforting. I remember Scott Simon from NPR reading tearfully from Whitman's "Song of Myself" and Jon Stewart barely able to keep from crying on the first Daily Show after the horrific event. I remember George Bush telling us to put flags on our cars as if that would bring back the dead. I remember firefighters in one small town (one which I passed through daily on my way to work) stopping cars to collect money for the NY firefighters. This went on for weeks, maybe months until I wondered if all the money was really going to a good cause or was becoming a local fund raising effort. Anyway, there were the heroes, both human and canine, and as is always the case, the ones who exploited 9-11 and the ones who did the hard work of helping and healing.

Steve Elson September 12, 2011 at 03:40 am

"I remember George Bush telling us to put flags on our cars as if that would bring back the dead."
Incredible, managing to get a jab at President Bush during today's remembrance of an attack on our country. Do you really think Bush thought a display of patriotism would "bring back the dead" or are you just repeating what you heard from Oblerman\Mathews\moveon.org?

John F. September 12, 2011 at 03:57 am

9/11 has nothing to do with airlines charging more for baggage and charging for food. That has more to do with the airline industry facing rising fuel costs and mismanagement over the years as they grew too big and their margins have shrunk. The airlines also have not been passing more regulations and restrictions, the government has.