rc_story39.xml

rc_story39.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2004-08-19

September 11, 2001 was a perfect September morning. Perfect weather, perfect blue sky, not a bad day to be going to work. I arrived to my office at 101 Park Avenue and stepped off the elevator on the 45th floor. I immediately knew something was wrong since the blinds were dramatically pulled back and a few indivdiuals were looking out the window in disbelief. The receptionist cautioned me before I looked out the windows and saw the twin towers engulfed in flames. The planes had both hit and now the towers were burning. Considering the clearness of that beautiful day, I had a perfect view to the horror. One senior partner remarked that the towers would hold "they were built to handle the worse." I didn't believe him. From the view I had, and the flames that I saw, I couldn't imagine how they could possibly hold.
I was able to call my dad by phone who told me that the news was reporting a terrorist attack. He was watching the news on tv and relaying the news of the attack at the Pentagon, as well as the downed plane in Pennsylvania. Some time later I heard a scream and ran over to the window. It was at that moment the first tower started to fall. It was at that moment I said a prayer for all those I feared dead. It was also at that moment I decided to leave for home.

I served as an American Red Cross volunteer for the 9/11 recovery effort. I worked the midnight to 8:00 a.m. shift at Ground Zero. I felt it was the very least I could do.

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