nmah6362.xml

nmah6362.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-11-17

From the Grand Central Parkway in Queens, New York City. I was driving with other drivers who work for Auto Sunroof of Larchmont under contract to pick up Lincoln vehicles on display at the Stock Exchange on Wall St.in Manhattan. When over the Nextel system my son-in-law Tony Spadaccini, the Vice-President called his brother Dino and said that a plane had just hit a WTC building. I noticed some smoke from the direction of the WTC and I thought that it was a fairly good column of smoke to be seen from the Parkway. We continued toward the Triboro Bridge when Tony once again came the cell and told his brother that a second plane hit the tower. I then realized that this was not a random accident. Yet we continued to approach the bridge. In about five minutes Tony came on the Nextel and said, "Dino how far are you from the bridge?". Dino answered, "Five minutes". A short time later Tony came on again and said, "Dino, Come on back they're going to lock down the City". With that we got off the next exit and headed in the opposite direction toward the Whitestone Bridge. We made it to The Bronx side just before they shut it down. I owe my life to my son-in-law because I am a retired Captain from the FDNY and the WTC is just two blocks from the Exchange. I know that if I got to the scene I would have gone to the Eng.10/Lad.10 firehouse on Liberty Street, across that street from the WTC, suited up for fire duty,joined the Brothers and died with them. But God had other plans and by His grace I here today.

Yes, things that were important before seem to be less important today. I pray more. I am more patient now,less argumentitive and more accomodating. People differences seem unimportant. My life is better my outlook more optomistic. I cherish family and friends more than before 9/11. I realize that life is precious and everyone should care for each other to the best of their ability.

The sacrifices that the rescue workers made to save the many and those who died trying. Or as Winston Churchill said during the Battle of Britain, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".

Yes from Oct. 2001 to March 2003, 24/7. Yes, the Red, White and Blue looks better than ever.