9/11 Remembrance: What Were You Doing on That Day?

 

September 11, 2001. What were you doing that day?

The whole day was absolutely surreal. My wife and I returned from Maui and the NAHB Fall Board meetings the night before. We went to work like every other Monday. I was sitting in my office just starting the day when I heard a collective scream. I got up from my desk and walked down to a television in a conference room that was showing the aftermath of the plane hitting the first tower. As you can imagine and possibly recall, there was confusion as to why a plane would fly into the World Trade Center Tower. Terrorism was not something being discussed.

A Personal Loss

 

One of the good friends of the CEO of our business had a daughter working in the brokerage firm in the second World Center Tower. He quickly learned that she called her mother to report she was fine. A few minutes later the world watched the second plane fly into the second tower where this young woman worked. No one knew what to do or say. Continue working, go home? We did not know what to do.

Maui

 

We received a call from our friends that had decided to  stay in Maui a few days following the conference. Several flights from Japan to the US had been diverted to Maui. Some 3,500 people. Our friends were bounced from the hotel when the rates tripled. There were no flights to the mainland, only a hostel for a bed, and their children at home with friends. It took them a week to return home.

Chorus

 

The young woman our CEO knew was lost in the explosion of the plane crash. The memorial concert at the local high school was performed for her as she was previously a member of the chorus. Our daughter sang in this chorus that night. It was amazing to watch these young people show their strength at this time of sorrow. It was comforting and inspiring.

NYC

 

The CEO held planning meetings in the fall of each year. This year, 2001, he wanted to hold the meeting in New York City. The executive team agreed. Our spouses were invited to join us. This was in early October. The city was unusually somber and grey. We visited the crash site at the World Trade Center Plaza. The smell of noxious, dust was everywhere. There were large chunks of neighboring buildings missing with the office intact and in full view. To say it was incomprehensible seems like an understatement.

A concert in Madison Square Garden was scheduled to honor NYC Port Authority, NYPD, NYFD, and all first responders. Our CEO wanted us to support the event and attend the concert. It was sad and fantastic at the same time. The loss was palpable. As the night went on, so went the pride, strength, and spirit of all of those in the building. Performances by The Who, Paul McCartney, Adam Sandler, and so many more was a once in a lifetime experience. I remember feeling so humbled by it all.

9/11 Remembrance means so many things to so many different people. We see that each time we visit NYC and the memorial which is both beautiful and sad. I invite you to share your 9/11 remembrance story if you have one. I suspect it, too, is both beautiful and sad.