nmah5568.xml

nmah5568.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-07-11

My husband and I worked across the street from the Trade Center for years - our offices were in One Liberty Plaza - the black building you see in all the pictures. I quit my job at the end of July and I was home on 9/11. My husband went to work that morning and called me enroute to tell me he had forgotten his watch and was going to the Trade Center to buy a watch before work (he is watch-obsessed). A little while later, he called back and asked me to turn on the TV. I did and I started screaming - he asked me what was going on - he had heard that a commuter plane had hit the first tower - I told him that there was no way it was a commuter plane - it was much too large a fire - and to get out of there fast. He was about 3 blocks away and couldn't see the buildings though he was covered in debris. Being dedicated to his job, he said he was going to the office and would call me when he got to his desk. When I hung up with him, I called my sister in law - her husband (my husband's brother) is a lieutenant in the NYC fire department - my brother in law was not assigned to a particular fire house as he had just been promoted the month prior. I asked her where Steve was - he was on his way home - I told her to turn on the TV - she started screaming - we were on the phone with each other when my call-waiting beeped and - thinking it was my husband - I put her on hold - at the same time - the image on my TV was of the second plane about to hit the Trade Center - but my screen went blank. I didn't know what happened to the TV - my other sister in law was traveling into the city from NJ and wanted to know what was going on - she was trying to get into the Holland Tunnel - when I told her what I knew - she said she'd take the Lincoln Tunnel to make it to her meeting downtown - with me screaming at her to go home - we were disconnected (she never made it to NYC that day). I clicked back to my first sister in law - who was screaming into the phone that the second plane had hit when my TV went dead - and at about that time - my brother in law came home - She hung up the phone to talk with him - and my neighbors came over to stay with me until my husband came home or called. My husband did call again and was actually able to get home by noon that day. My brother in law went back to the city with many other firemen by bus from the old World's Fair site. Since then, my husband relocated to uptown NYC and has never been the same emotionally. He cringes at the sound of ambulances, fire trucks and helicopters. You see, he wasn't able to get into the office - and instead, stood on the corner for what seemed like forever and watched bodies fall from windows. He was then engulfed in all the blackness as the buildings came down. My brother in law was at the Trade Center for about 3 months. He was then placed on Funeral duty and then went back to the Trade Center until the end to search for body parts. He is also a forever - changed person. My family has been deeply affected - from losing friends to seeing the most incredible devastation. While our losses were real and continue to be real, our hearts and prayers are with those who never came home. We pray that those who were lost did not suffer - although we know that many did - and we pray that we never see such devastation again. We would like to thank the police and firemen of NYC - not to mention EMS, Port Authority members and all others who tried so hard to save lives while giving of their own. We are forever in your debt. And finally - Mayor Giuliani - while I was never a big fan - your composure and leadership during this time will never - ever - be forgotten.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be a part of this history. I dedicate this to John Reilly, Steven Reilly, our family and in memory of Peter Milano.

Melanie Paggioli Reilly
Oceanport, New Jersey

You're Missing (words and music by Bruce Springsteen)

Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall
Mama's in the kitchen, baby and all
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
But you're missing

Coffee cups on the counter, jackets on the chair
Papers on the doorstep, you're not there
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
But you're missing

Pictures on the nightstand, TV's on in the den
Your house is waiting, your house is waiting
For you to walk in, for you to walk in
But you're missing, you're missing
You're missing when I shut out the lights
You're missing when I close my eyes
You're missing when I see the sun rise
You're missing

Children are asking if it's alright
Will you be in our arms tonight?

Morning is morning, the evening falls I have
Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls
How's everything, everything?
Everything, everything
You're missing, you're missing

God's drifting in heaven, devil's in the mailbox
I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops

Those we lost, those who lost someone - and those who witnessed it - the living will never be the same.

No - we didn't - but no, our feelings about the flag and our country have not changed