story1760.xml

story1760.xml

born-digital

story

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no

2002-09-04

That day started as any normal working day for me. I work for BAE Systems, a major defense manufacturer. Sometime about nine a co-worker came up to me and told me a plane had struck the one of the World Trade buildings. I did not make too much of it, thinking it was just a small plane off course. He then told me that the another plane had struck the second tower.
At that point televisions had started to come on and people viewed what was happening in a state of stunned disbelief. I remembered how many times I had been in those towers as a messenger from 1978-1982.
I got home that night grateful to be with my wife and two young sons and with a deep sense of regret and sadness for all the families who had lost loved ones.
I later found out that a prior co-worker of mine, Dipti Patel, perished that terrible day. We started working at BAE Systems(then called Loral Fairchild)the exact same day(November 5, 1989).
Since the I have been down to the site of the World Trade Center twice. The first time was in February and I stood there on Church street with my mouth open for about 10 minutes. What a vast empty space-what happened to those two beautiful buildings and surrounding concourse?
I passed the site again this past May as part of the NYC 5 Borough Bike Tour and found my feelings being directed more toward rage and anger toward the demonic, satanic cowards responsible for this heinous crime.
I want to urge everyone to read "Last Man Down" by Joe Piciotto. It was because of the brave, heroic men like him that so many people were rescued that day.