For those of us who were around at the time, the images and recollections of that evil and memorable day of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 are burned into our memories forever.
Webb Weekly remembers this day with the recollections and memories of several local residents who have their own memories of that historic and infamous day.
Jack Houston at the time was a professor at Fordham University in New York City.
“I remember clearly what happened twenty-five years ago on September 11, 2001. That Tuesday morning, I left my son and daughter at their schools in Clifton, New Jersey. I proceeded on my commute to my job at Fordham University in New York City. I was listening to 1010 WINS radio station, and I heard the very first report from the travel reporter. ‘An American Airlines plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.’
“I was traveling on Route 3 toward the Lincoln Tunnel, and as I approached the Passaic River Bridge near Rutherford, NJ — it was a bright and sunny day — and I could see the entire skyline of Manhattan, and the North Tower was on fire and smoke was rising from the building. Then, 17 minutes later, 1010 WINS Radio reported that the South Tower was hit by a plane — this was a United Airlines plane — it was 9:03 a.m. I exited Route 3 near the Meadowlands, and I returned to my home in Clifton, New Jersey, and the view of Manhattan was clear from my front porch with the World Trade Center Towers reaching destruction.
“The pain, sorrow, and suffering started immediately for everyone in New York City and throughout the United States, and for the first responders on that day.
“The suffering was remarkably close to me. About a week after the World Trade attack, we received information at Fordham University that thirty-six alumni and three students lost their lives. One of the students, Lloyd Brown, was a student in my history class. He was working at Cantor Fitzgerald Accounting firm on Floor 101 of Tower #1, where the impact was immediate. Lloyd Brown was an Army veteran, married with two daughters. Interestingly, Lloyd Brown called me on Monday, September 10, to discuss his academic plans and class schedule and his future steps for graduation and to help his wife and children for the future. To this day I pray and remember Lloyd, his final words to me, and his loss and sacrifice that is in my memory forever.”
Members of the local first responder community felt the tragic events of September 11 keenly.
Richard Whalen is the Chief of the Woodward Township Volunteer Fire Company, and this is what he remembers of that day.
“September 11, 2001, just like December 7, 1941, a ‘Day of Infamy,’ as quoted by FDR. How can anyone forget that horrible day, but some have. I know other firefighters, police and EMS, as well as myself, will NEVER FORGET.
“I remember standing in my living room painting, listening to the radio and hearing Gary Chrisman say something on the radio about the towers and a plane striking one of them. I turned on the TV and watched in dismay at what was unfolding. All things stopped for me that day; no more painting, eyes glued to the TV changing channels to get information. As the morning went on, the second plane struck, then the Pentagon, and then Shanksville.
“When the towers collapsed, I just stood there in disbelief, crying and hugging my wife, Sherry. I can remember seeing those towers being built from the NJ Turnpike when traveling to my grandmother’s house in the Bronx, and now they are gone!
“Then all phone calls started from other firemen, meetings at the station, getting ready to respond to New York City if called. The response to the city never materialized, but we wanted to go. We wanted to go help our brothers and sisters of the FDNY search for the fallen and lost in the collapsed buildings.
“A lot of emotions and action were to follow over the next few days, weeks, and months that continue to this day! Even though this happened 25 years ago, it seems like yesterday.”
Susan Swank Caschera, president of the Loyalsock Township Volunteer Fire Company, has her own unique memories of September 11, 2001, and the days following it.
“Like most of the world, seeing the planes fly into the Towers brought a gasp and shock. Questions flew through the mind: how did this happen, who did this, what can I do?
“I had the honor of helping at ‘Ground Hero’ for two weeks as part of the Susquehanna Valley Critical Incident Stress Management Team’s response to the invitation of the Port Authority Police Department.
“You might think that I made a mistake — “Ground Zero” — but NO — there were no ‘Zeroes’ at the World Trade Center that day.
“Everyone involved was or is a hero, contributing to helping others.
“Most Americans and people around the World felt the need ‘to do something.’ Many did. One NYC resident handed out handwritten thank-you notes to workers every day. Philanthropic agencies sponsored volunteers to serve food to the workers supporting NYC restaurants who prepared and delivered the food to Respite Centers surrounding ‘Ground Hero.’ While we ate, we read motivating messages from elementary school students and enjoyed their pictures of firetrucks. One volunteer cheerfully handed me hot chocolate the first night I was there, inquiring about my day. I stopped at that trailer every night. Police officers from around the US used leave time to help patrols or chauffeur responders to ‘Ground Hero.’
“After a long, busy day while riding in the backseat of a Massachusetts police cruiser, our chauffeurs suggested that we roll down the windows and scream as we drove through the vacant Holland Tunnel. It was a relief. Firefighters from around the World sent representatives to help. From home, co-workers donated candy for our team to use during encounters.
“One early day walking around the sixteen acres of ‘Ground Hero,’ two of us stopped at St. Paul’s Chapel. This is the chapel that borders ‘Ground Hero,’ but sustained no damage during the collapse except for being showered with dust and shreds of paper. It served as a haven for workers to rest, eat, and replenish. Brother Tom had just received a shipment of hard candy and offered bags to us to take back to another Respite Center”.
“As we carried our bundles, we’d encounter workers at the pile and continued our task — talking. They asked: ‘What’s in your bags?’ Of course, we shared the candy. This facilitated our conversations geared to mitigate the stress response. What a sweet technique we discovered. Our teams became known for our candy. The dust from the pile was drying. Workers found that hard candy helped.
“As our time at ‘Gound Hero’ drew to a close, departure elicited mixed emotions: who would care for these workers, why can’t we stay longer. For teams that followed, we shared our candy introductions, and our friends, co-workers, and families sent more candy to the two subsequent teams. (I had the privilege to return two additional times.) Workers signed our hard hats as we said our goodbyes. Even today, I read those heroes’ names and remember. Also, fellow team members have died since our response. I will never forget — please don’t you.
“On Friday, September 11th, members of the CISM team will reflect on their time at ‘Gound Hero’ at South Williamsport, where a piece of the tower rests, reminding us all of what heroes do.”
Mike Rafferty is the former Mayor of Williamsport and a former Webb Weekly editor, and he remembers the day this way.
“I was preparing to go into the office when the news was flashed on TV that a plane had crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. I was astonished because it was such a beautiful day. I couldn’t imagine that a pilot couldn’t see the tower as he approached. It was just unbelievable. It wasn’t very long until the second tower was struck, and it became obvious that these were not accidents. We had a TV in the mayor’s office, and many of the City Hall workers spent much of the morning with me watching the events unfold. Twenty- five years later, I still can’t believe what a terrible day that was. All those beautiful people. My heart still aches.”
The writer of this story has his own recollections of the day. I was a reporter for the Sun-Gazette at the time and was getting ready for work. I was supposed to work that day at 10:30 a.m. Shortly after the second plane hit, I received a call from one of my editors, Laura Janssen, to come in early. At about the same time, my dad received a call from my mom, who was visiting her brother in Louisiana, and they were getting ready for her to go to the New Orleans airport for her trip home. She was wondering what to do. While my dad was considering what to do, the second plane hit the tower, and my dad said, “That’s it, you’re staying down there till we can figure this situation out. Shortly thereafter, the FAA grounded all planes in the U.S.
When I arrived at the Sun-Gazette, it was a beehive of activity, and there was great excitement and a strong sense of purpose. The edition for that day had already appeared on the street and in homes, and it was decided to put together an extra, an afternoon edition. To the best of my knowledge, the Sun-Gazette had never put two editions out in one day, so it was an interesting challenge.
All the reporters were given various assignments relating to the local reaction to the awful news. I was given the task of getting the reaction of the local educational community. I interviewed students and some faculty at the Pennsylvania College of Technology and at Lycoming College.
I was very proud to have had a story featured in this epic and historic edition of the Sun-Gazette.
None of us had time to contemplate the awful nature of what had happened in New York, Washington, and Shanksville. That may have been a merciful thing. But it is a day we will never forget.
