[Untitled]

Center for History and New Media

My heart was broken. I have so many good memories of living in NYC in the mid 70's and the World Trade Center Towers are a huge part of those memories.

I was in the US Coast Guard and stationed on Governor's Island in 1976. I fell in love with my wife while we were there. I woke up every morning to a view of the south Manhattan waterfront. The Staten Island Ferry, The Governor's Island Ferry, Battery Park, FDNY Fire Boats, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Verazano Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the beautiful image of the Twin Towers. That's what I saw every day. How fortunate I was to be there at that time!

I was shocked and horrified when the towers fell! I felt so many different emotions. Sadness for those who lost their lives. Hatred for those who planned and executed the hijackings and attacks. Love and admiration for those called to action and who responded to ground zero. An overwhelming sense of pride in the days, weeks, and months that followed the attacks. Pride in America for dealing with the tragedy in a way that no other nation could!

I still feel those same emotions every single day. My life is forever changed.