We are commemorating all individuals who lost their lives and the heroes who risked everything on that September morning. We are remembering and reflecting.
We Asked Our Team Members:
What Do You Remember About 9/11?
Pamela Wishlade, Client Services Specialist – “…I still remember the anxiety and fear I felt just waiting. Times changed after 9/11. We went from being comfortable walking the streets of New York to being afraid to even look out the window or walk to the corner store alone. It took a long time for us to build enough trust where we were comfortable with our day-to-day living.”
John Muller, Director of Growth – “…the impact on my life at the age of 21 was profound and still a part of me today. It is hard to imagine a world before 9/11 now. Simple things have been forever changed. It is strange to think back on how long it has been, but it really hasn’t. We will never forget those that were lost that day. Whether you were close to someone, or not, we all lost something that day and grieve for the tragic loss of lives and remember those that were so heroic and continue to be.”
Diana Soriano, Conference Planning Specialist – “I remember I was at work with no access to TV or radio and my husband called me and said we have been attacked and for the longest time I could not understand what he meant, it just was not computing in my brain. He was trying to explain and I just didn’t understand and as I sit here at work today I still do not understand why this happened to our Country.”
Anonymous – “Watching the Today Show with Matt Lauer and Kattie Couric. I saw the second plane hit the tower live on TV. I was stunned. Everyone was in panic mode as we didn’t know what to expect next…”
Billie Woodard, Education & Training Manager – “…My mom, a native New Yorker, came to pick me up early, and seeing the worry about her loved ones – cousins who were firefighters, her best friend’s husband who worked in the Towers – was so palpable. I think for many of us, especially those who were coming of age at that time, there is the world before 9/11 and the world after 9/11, yet despite all of the fear and anxiety, I also remember feelings of resilience and unity.”
Anonymous – “School, Honor, Attack, American, Unity”
Michela Vaccaro, Marketing & Communications Manager – “I remember feeling confused and scared that morning. I was still in school, and my parents had to pick me up. I remember people praying together and hugging each other. Even though we had just been attacked, I felt closer to strangers than I ever had before.”
Melissa Axel, Leadership Team Assistant – “… I remember all of us sitting in the conference room just watching and crying as we watched the towers collapse. I remember them grounding all planes and the eerie drive home from work with no planes in the sky. I remember crying that whole day not understanding why this happened and who did it.”
Valerie Ensinger, Contracts & Claims Administrator – “…I felt shock, fear, anger, uneasiness, and overwhelming sorrow amongst a ton of other feelings. All I wanted to do was go pick up my 4-year old child at school and hug him and never let him go! Today, I try my best to appreciate every single day and appreciate and love my family, friends and co-workers as well as turning to my faith…”
Anonymous – “… I remember the exact location I was driving when I heard the news. When I look back at those pictures, seeing the Twin Towers, knowing I was standing at the top just a week ago, it still gives me chills. I have been back to the memorial site, it looks so beautiful, but I can’t help to imagine all of the heartbreak and tragedy that occurred in that spot.”
Anonymous – “…The next few days were so sobering and I remember feeling so sad for the firefighters and first responders and all that were lost and for those that survived and had to face those losses. Today I feel we live in the greatest country in the world and I am thankful for all our freedom…”
Bobbi Booker, HR Manager – “…When it was announced that a second “plane” had crashed into a tower- we turned on the TV – I knew it was a terrorist attack. To this day I cannot talk about it- still feeling the ripples…”
Mary Ann Stiles, Client Service Specialist – “…I wanted to leave work and pick up my daughter at school and just be with my family, but we all stayed at work and comforted each other and watched the events happening. I cannot even imagine the horror and terror of those that were in NY and to this day, don’t understand that level of evil.”
Anonymous – “…How do I feel now? So many feelings. Still shocked that our nation was so brutally attacked, at the same time so proud of how our nation came together and responded in unification. In retrospect, I also feel somewhat angry at our nation today. “Why does it take such an event/cause to unify our people”, when we are not as unified as we should be. 20 years ago, after this devastating attack, our country stood tall and strong, more unified than I had witnessed in my lifetime…”