World Trade Center Attacks 9-11-01 *Reuters

9-11-01 – A day that started out as a warm late summer day. The sky was blue which was complemented with a pleasant late summer breeze. I remember opening the back door and saying to myself, “What a beautiful day!” I was planning to go to New York that morning. I had walked into Coney Island Restaurant that morning and a police officer was standing at the counter and he was watching the TV screen which showed a plane had crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center. I asked him what was going on and he replied that it had to be terrorists because the jet pilots are trained to go into the water if something goes wrong (especially on the coast). I then saw live the second plane crashing into the other tower. Then the Pentagon got hit. America was under attack. Then the TV went blank and they had to put on the Spanish station which continued to broadcast the events.

The towers going down, the Pentagon getting hit, and the plane going down in Shanksville, PA. That day changed the course of history for years to come. So many people were in shock. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani became “America’s Mayor” faced with the responsibility of New York during this terrible attack on our freedom. President George W. Bush would later create the Division of Homeland Security in the President’s Cabinet. K.M.

You have to remember the day our country was attacked had many aftershocks. Immediately the tunnels, bridges, and major highways were shut down. Many people who either lived or worked in New Jersey, New York or other parts of the tristate area were stuck where they were. You were one of the lucky ones if you were able to make it home. Some people were able to take the last ferry back to Jersey. Every commercial, private, or business airplane had orders to land in a specific time frame or you were going to be shot down. Can you imagine what all these airports had to go through to accommodate all these unscheduled flights coming in. You have to remember that not only vehicles carry people, but they transport food and other necessary supplies. That means there were no deliveries being made. 

I remember businesses and residents opening their doors to those who were stranded on either side of the river, so Perth Amboy residents and businesses opened their hearts and homes to perfect strangers. I remember that one of my sisters was in the hospital, and the hospital had cots and beds in the hallways waiting for the injured to come in from the World Trade Center. Unfortunately, none of them were used. You never want to see a tragedy, but watching those towers fall, I was hoping to see those beds and cots filled. Even if those who were injured who filled those beds may have succumbed, they would hae been in the company of a caregiver. It would be better than having a piece of jewelry or mementos found in the ashes and ruins or not even found.

Not only were all the major highways and railways shut down, many businesses shut down as well. No one knew who, if, or when we were going to be attacked next. It was a domino effect. There were rumors flying everywhere of what was going to be attacked next. Colleges and other schools were being shut down. For the next few days it was chaos. 

We hope to never see anything like this again. C.M.

During the next days, everyone was in a daze, and no one knew how to address the situation including late night comedians. Sport events were cancelled. One thing held true – American flags were draped everywhere, and everyone was nice to each other, at least for a short time. 

Now, 18 years later, people are still suffering the aftereffects of the tragedy. Because of this tragedy, the 9-11 Victim’s Compensation Fund was started. (Affected first responders, residents, workers, teachers, and students along a certain perimeter are eligible.). Many 9-11 victims now have cancer and other related conditions. First Responder Luis Alvarez (53 years old) recently passed away after testifying before congress fighting for the 9-11 Victim’s Compensation Fund to continue.

We will never forget that day as long as we live. It was a day that changed the way we live, breathe, and think that looms over us like a shadow, always on guard that it would happen again. We must remain ever diligent to never let such a tragedy of that proportion ever happen again. C.M. & K.M.