story2839.xml

story2839.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

Some one walked through my office at about 2.30pm on Tuesday afternoon and said "two planes had crashed into the WTC". At first the stories we were getting were of "light" air crafts and I remember saying that the towers were most probably able to withstand an impact like that. A short while later, a colleague told me that they had collapsed and that it was a terrorist attack and that a lot more plane's had been hijacked. A couple of minutes later, my mum rang me at work to tell me the whole story. She told me about the Pentagon, about the flight 93 and also about the WTC. She was at home that day and saw the whole events unfolding in front of her. She also told me how many people worked in the WTC and that she did not think many got out. All I remember was feeling sick and told my mum I had to get back to my work. That afternoon, no-one in the office could comprehend what had happened. Not much work got done.

A short while later I telephoned my mother in law who was at work. I asked if she was near a radio and she said not. I told her about what happened. She had the same reaction as me, except she had been up the Towers about 18 months before on a lovely trip to New York. She loves New York.

On my way home from work, I visited my granddad, 70 at the time, who was in hospital after having a heart attack. I walked into the ward, thinking that they would not have such a thing on TV and as I walked in my first visions of the WTC on fire and then collapsing were in front of me. I walked over to my granddad and sat on the edge of the bed. I kissed him and we just sat their watching the TV. I hope no-one takes offence by this but my granddad did not have much time for the "Yanks", but I can now say that his attitudes have changed.

On the following Monday, I felt the need to go to church. In chester we have a cathedral, so I went there. I prayed. I then attended mass. I had not been to a church service (except for the usual, weddings, funerals etc) since I was about 13. It was strange. I suppose it felt good.

I have just been to commemorate those who fell on 9/11 at my local Town Hall with two work colleagues. Chester is a bustling small city but I was amazed to see how many people came to the square to pay their respects. I saw the Union Jack flag being lowered. The last time this was done was when the Queen Mother died, the time before that was when Diana died. I do not know of any other time.

My prayers are with all who need them.