10 years ago today….
I was walking back from lunch with a client just by the steps to the Lloyds Building in the city when we heard a few whispers that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center in New York City. The whispers got more frantic and we walked into a nearby office and watched the tragic drama unfold on a television.
My client had a sister in New York and was desperate for news of her, while I thought about my colleagues that occupied 8 of the top floors in the No. 2 South Tower. 176 of whom sadly lost their lives, 2,606 altogether at the WTC site and 2,977 in total not including the 19 cowardly hijackers.
That terrible day still doesn’t seem real, it was so horrific that even the most creative of film writer hadn’t thought of a plot so deplorable.
In 1996 I came pretty close to working in that South Tower but someone upstairs was looking out for me because it didn’t happen, but still I had spent quite a bit time on the 105th floor before 9/11 watching out of the window at the helicopters and clouds gliding silently below.
What happened on that awful Tuesday morning stunned me like everyone else and I thought I realised the magnitude of it all, but I didn’t fully until I moved to the U.S. a year later. Almost everyone I have ever met, particularly in NYC has a story of that day to tell. Some are happy to talk about it, some are not.
My boss in Chicago was one of those that was badly affected by 9/11 and rarely talked about his memories from the day. We became close and he did tell me his story a couple of times. He was supposed to be on that 105th floor that morning, but due to a meeting room double booking, he and others were in a hurriedly rearranged meeting room across the street in The Hilton Hotel instead. That breakfast meeting lasted 15 minutes before everyone was at the window appearing in a bad dream.
There are thousands of these accounts, but like London, New York and it’s people are made of tougher stuff and today will be a day of reflection and pride as the National September 11 Memorial opens where the Twin Towers once stood.
I’d like to echo the comment regarding the spirit of the people of New York. I was in Manhattan a couple of weeks ago for the “hurricane” and despite the city being effectively closed, those small shopkeepers and restaurant owners that were still open referred to the spirit of 9/11. They survived that and they felt like they could survive anything.
Oh and give a smile to the TSA Officers the next time you pass through security. We wish they didn’t have to do their jobs but they do. The monitors at McCarran last night had a simple, touching tribute to the victims. For my part – Rest in peace and never forgive or forget.
CA – glad you included a model of the WTC memorial. All I have seen on TV recently was one of the “waterfalls” which was a bit confusing. The aerial view of two make it clear eg the footprints.