Remembering September 11, 2001

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The following is from this weeks GCS Express…

It’s one of those days in American history that will forever be ingrained in our minds. It’s almost inconceivable to imagine it was ten years ago. Just like when man first walked on the moon or when President John F. Kennedy was assassinted, Americans remember where they were that day.

We asked our Salisbury team if they could recall what they were doing when they heard about the attacks. Their memories are as clear today as they were ten years ago. Some are sad and some, too bittersweet to almost believe.

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Tony Burkett, Script Developer “Oddly enough I was sitting in this very same building at Telespectrum working in campaign support when it happened. Funny how things come full circle.”

Christine Hatfield, Script Developer “I was sitting at my desk, scripting, at Telespectrum! It seems like yesterday. I cannot believe it has been 10 years, either. I get just as sad every time I think of it.”

Crystel Prugh, CSD Team Lead “I was at my mother’s house with her watching it on TV.”

Holly Czuba, Marketing “I was in one of my very first classes as a freshman at UNC Chapel Hill.”

Shaun Connolly, Application Developer “I was a full time student at Mitchell community College in Statesville, NC. That particular day I was on my way home to have lunch before my next class. It was all over the news as soon as I walked in the door.”

Bryan Overcash, COO “I was in Indianapolis purchasing furniture for our first contact center in Oak Hill, WV. I was scheduled to fly back to Charlotte later that day (Tuesday, 9/11/2001). That morning, I was on a treadmill in the hotel fitness center when news came on that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.”

Maria Bassett, Benefits Admin “September 11, 2001, was our 25th wedding anniversary and my husband and I had both taken the day off from work to do something special. My mom called to tell us to turn on the TV to watch what was happening and as a result, spent most of the day in front of the TV.”

Bucky Cline, VP of Human Resources “I was working in an office complex in Greensboro and remember what a perfectly clear, beautiful day it was. We received a call that morning and were told that on TV they saw that a plane accidentally crashed into the World Trade Center. We got a TV hooked up to see the second tower hit – so at that point we knew it was not an accident. My wife, Ann, was recovering from surgery and I was spending partial days with her and like everyone, found myself glued to the television over the next few days.”

Laura Jollay, Marketing Coordinator “I was a sophomore in high school. I had just walked in to my second period English class. We turned on the tv and saw the second plane hit live. We watched the news in every class the rest of the day. I just remember being scared and confused. All of our after-school activities were cancelled and we were told to go home immediately.”

George Simons, VP of Marketing “September 11, 2001, was a bittersweet day for our family. Late in the night of September 10th, our daughter Ellen was born. That morning we were in the hospital notifying family and friends of our new addition as the drama of the terrorist attack unfolded. I remember talking to people on the phone who, understandably, could barely focus on our good news because they were so upset. There we were, sitting in the hospital room full of personal happiness, while watching the nation’s human tragedy unfold on TV. I still remember the realization that this was an orchestrated attack when I saw the second tower struck. Our minister came to greet the new baby, arriving shortly after the first tower fell. He was in such shock at the horror, he could barely speak. Our two young boys came in a while later and we turned off the TV. My wife’s parents arrived mid-morning, having drove all night from Florida, totally unaware at what had happened. They could tell something was up by the buzz they encountered at gas stations and food stops along the way, but because they were listening to music in the car, they had not heard the specifics concerning the attack.

It is a bit ironic that I was born in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis (that’s the Kennedy administration, 1962, for you young ‘uns.) I remember my Dad recalling how he lamented bringing a child into such a crazy world. To this day, reminders of 9/11 always bring mixed emotions, corporate sadness at the tragedy of 9/11 and personal happiness at Ellen’s birth of 9/10. The world is still a bit too crazy sometimes.”

Do you remember where you were on 9/11?

Unknown facts about 9/11:

• Not just two but three buildings fell on that day. The damage from the Twin Towers caused the WTC Tower 7 to collapse, as well.
• 185,101 tons of steel were results of the collapsed buildings. Most of it was sent overseas and the rest were used for memorials.
• It took 99 days to extinguish all the fires at Ground Zero.
• Number of people who survived the tragic event: Twenty. 20 people were rescued from underneath the rubble, found alive after being buried on an average of 20 hours. Only four people managed to escape the south tower as it collapsed.
• No criminal investigation was ever conducted.
• Americans weren’t the only ones that died in the 9/11 incident. Out of 372 foreigners, 67 were British and more than 80 other nationalities suffered.
• Cantor Fitzgerald, a global financial services firm headquartered in NY on the 101st and 105th floors of the WTC lost 658 workers out of its 960 employees. After the incident the CEO called one of his colleagues and said: “We could shut the firm and attend our friends’ funerals, or we’re going to work harder than we’ve ever worked before to help their families.” 10 years later today, the company has handed out almost $180 million for the families of the deceased.

Let us never forget.

Related articles

• September 11 in Pictures (businessinsider.com)

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