story206.xml
Title
story206.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-03-10
911DA Story: Story
On 9/11 I was working as a volunteer patient advocate in the ER of Loudoun County Hospital when I heard "airline..crash..World Trade Center.." on TV. For thirty-five years I was a flight attendant & union representative at United Air Lines and my ears pick up the word "crash" automatically.
I went to the Waiting Room and turned up the news in time to see the second impact. I am a realist and not easily sent into denial but my immediate reaction was that someone had hijacked the TV station. Visions of King Kong and the Empire State Building flashed through my mind.
We then heard about the Pentagon and incorrect other incidents and were told to set up for mass casualties. We are fifteen minutes from Dulles Airport and were told that another aircraft was hijacked and enroute. The next few hours were spent getting ready and discharging non-critical patients. However, med evac was unable to get into the air because of restrictions and the travel corridors were massive traffic jams. The ER staff went into high gear. Although the preparations were unnecessary the teamwork was exceptional.
By the next day in Leesburg there were armed guards and military all over even in our supermarkets since we are close to the FAA facility. 9/11 became not just an infamous date but a 911 Emergency Call to the hearts and minds of all Americans.
My age is sixty-two. I have lived through World War II and was a military dependent in Germany and recall the destruction there from the bombing. During the cold war while living in California I was taken to see an A bomb blast and remember the drills and bomb shelters. While living on an Air Force base in Texas I remember the husbands and fathers who did not return from the war. As a flight attendant I was priviledged to fly soldiers into Vietnam (MAC). During the Gulf War I again transported soldiers to and from Saudi (CRAF). I thought about those wars, the soldiers, the casualties, and about the world that my daughters would inherit. I worried about my youngest daughter in the Army Reserves and her boyfriend in the Marine Reserves.
As a former union representative I recalled the time I went to the FAA complaining that their "surprise" inspection was posted in Company dispatch along with descriptions of the inspectors and precautions to be taken. My complaints fell on deaf ears. On 9/11 I was also very angry because I knew this could have been averted. Also I was wondering where the FBI & CIA had been.
My thoughts were with the families of the crews. As a Hospice care worker I knew about long term problems and grief. I knew that those who had died had been taken into God's Arms but those who remained would suffer.
Near the end of the day I cried when I heard how many firefighters and policemen were lost. For a short time I was a volunteer administrative member of a Fire & Rescue Volunteer Squad. Having taken the training and gotten to know the "family" concept I knew what an impact this would have.
As a native New Yorker I was also very sad. I lived in NYC as a child and have visited more times than I can count. My Mom worked at Macy's when she was young, I have skated with my brother at Rockefeller Center, played in Central Park and love the Metropolitan Museum. Flying by NYC a million times and seeing the city from the ferry to Staten Island are among my happiest memories.
My parents, now in their eighties, are two of the most patriotic people I know. My Mom complains everytime she goes into a government or civic building and does not see a flag. They have complained about our lack of patriotism as a nation.
Two weeks after 9/11 I drove two-thousand miles across the country to and from a Reunion of the 1957 Central High School Class from Bushy Park AFB in London, England (most were military brats then). The display of red, white and blue across our country was wonderful. Our hearts and minds woke up and flags decorated our country.
My life has changed since that morning. I pray more, do more and travel more. Life is a gift and I am a grateful and proud American. Our freedoms will be restricted as a tradeoff for security. I may become annoyed but prefer security.
I start each morning with a prayer for world peace and world understanding.
9/11 is a History Lesson and I hope that we learn it well. Thank you for this site.
Celeste Brodigan
I went to the Waiting Room and turned up the news in time to see the second impact. I am a realist and not easily sent into denial but my immediate reaction was that someone had hijacked the TV station. Visions of King Kong and the Empire State Building flashed through my mind.
We then heard about the Pentagon and incorrect other incidents and were told to set up for mass casualties. We are fifteen minutes from Dulles Airport and were told that another aircraft was hijacked and enroute. The next few hours were spent getting ready and discharging non-critical patients. However, med evac was unable to get into the air because of restrictions and the travel corridors were massive traffic jams. The ER staff went into high gear. Although the preparations were unnecessary the teamwork was exceptional.
By the next day in Leesburg there were armed guards and military all over even in our supermarkets since we are close to the FAA facility. 9/11 became not just an infamous date but a 911 Emergency Call to the hearts and minds of all Americans.
My age is sixty-two. I have lived through World War II and was a military dependent in Germany and recall the destruction there from the bombing. During the cold war while living in California I was taken to see an A bomb blast and remember the drills and bomb shelters. While living on an Air Force base in Texas I remember the husbands and fathers who did not return from the war. As a flight attendant I was priviledged to fly soldiers into Vietnam (MAC). During the Gulf War I again transported soldiers to and from Saudi (CRAF). I thought about those wars, the soldiers, the casualties, and about the world that my daughters would inherit. I worried about my youngest daughter in the Army Reserves and her boyfriend in the Marine Reserves.
As a former union representative I recalled the time I went to the FAA complaining that their "surprise" inspection was posted in Company dispatch along with descriptions of the inspectors and precautions to be taken. My complaints fell on deaf ears. On 9/11 I was also very angry because I knew this could have been averted. Also I was wondering where the FBI & CIA had been.
My thoughts were with the families of the crews. As a Hospice care worker I knew about long term problems and grief. I knew that those who had died had been taken into God's Arms but those who remained would suffer.
Near the end of the day I cried when I heard how many firefighters and policemen were lost. For a short time I was a volunteer administrative member of a Fire & Rescue Volunteer Squad. Having taken the training and gotten to know the "family" concept I knew what an impact this would have.
As a native New Yorker I was also very sad. I lived in NYC as a child and have visited more times than I can count. My Mom worked at Macy's when she was young, I have skated with my brother at Rockefeller Center, played in Central Park and love the Metropolitan Museum. Flying by NYC a million times and seeing the city from the ferry to Staten Island are among my happiest memories.
My parents, now in their eighties, are two of the most patriotic people I know. My Mom complains everytime she goes into a government or civic building and does not see a flag. They have complained about our lack of patriotism as a nation.
Two weeks after 9/11 I drove two-thousand miles across the country to and from a Reunion of the 1957 Central High School Class from Bushy Park AFB in London, England (most were military brats then). The display of red, white and blue across our country was wonderful. Our hearts and minds woke up and flags decorated our country.
My life has changed since that morning. I pray more, do more and travel more. Life is a gift and I am a grateful and proud American. Our freedoms will be restricted as a tradeoff for security. I may become annoyed but prefer security.
I start each morning with a prayer for world peace and world understanding.
9/11 is a History Lesson and I hope that we learn it well. Thank you for this site.
Celeste Brodigan
Collection
Citation
“story206.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 24, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/10721.