Reflections and Remembrances by MPW Staff
Throughout history, there have been Moments that deserve a capital “M.” They are the ones seared in the hearts and minds of an entire population. Some are inspiring, some are tragic: The Boston Tea Party, the Lunar Landing, the Assassination of President Kennedy, the Tear Down of the Berlin Wall. Each generation has one to call their own.
Sadly, the terrorist attacks of 9-11 belong to us. All of us. We each have a thought or a feeling that will forever be attached to that date.
We Remember.
I wish I could remember HOW it was that we learned something was wrong. But before long, we had pulled a tiny tv out of storage and got it plugged in at the office. We all stopped in for updates when we went past. One of our co-workers had a child in the air that very morning (she was safe, but her flight ended up being grounded for days). Our normally chatty office became rather somber very quickly. There was a real knot in my stomach combined with utter disbelief that anyone would do such a thing intentionally. That had to be a mistake, right? Honestly, I think I was less impacted initially than in the days the followed – when the ghastly losses and human toll became more and more real. – PJT
I was working for CMSU and was driving between Northumberland and Danville when I heard the news on the radio. Stunned of course. Upon my return to our office in Danville we spent the remainder of the day following the events on the news. It was very hard to comprehend at the time. We just sat quietly trying to understand the ramifications of it all. – BMW
September 11, 2001, I was at home, in bed, watching Good Morning America when they switched over to the news that the first plane hit the tower. I was a first semester freshman at that time as well. The English Comp professor had us write about our feelings over the attack. I remember wondering if some of the people involved realized they were not going to survive the events of the day. For me, September 11th definitely made me think about living each day as if it was your last and making sure we tell our loved ones that we love them. – DMS
I was working. I remember the supervising attorney calling all of us to the conference room to watch in silence. Surprised at first, I quickly realized what was going on as he turned the TV on. My thoughts were to run and pick up my 1-year-old son from daycare and snuggle him tight and thank God we were still here. I prayed a silent prayer for all the people involved and watched the news unfold. It made me think about how life can change in the blink of an eye and how precious it is. I felt very fortunate that I could still go get my baby from daycare. All those families that were destroyed that day and all those lives lost such a horrible tragedy. There was total silence in the office as we watched in shock and sadness. Eventually we did close the office and go home early to allow time to process and hug our loved ones. – AMH
I was a young associate with the firm in 2001. On that day, I was traveling with a co-worker to a signing appointment in Mifflinburg. We were listening to the radio broadcast. We thought we were being attacked by another country. I remember seeing one of the tower’s collapses while I was in the client’s house, watching the tv. When we got back to the office, the staff was back in the conference room watching the tv. We were all stunned and in disbelief. – MJP
On the morning of September 11th my oldest daughter and her husband were flying from Baltimore to Seattle. I was at work at the Williamsport office when I learned that planes were being hijacked. I rushed home and watched the video of the planes flying into the New York towers. They announced that additional planes were suspected of having been hijacked. Fighters were being scrambled and might have orders to shoot down commercial flights. I paced back and forth, watching the TV coverage, and praying. I prayed for my daughter’s safety. I prayed for the poor people on the planes and in the twin towers.
In the middle of the afternoon my daughter called. They had diverted her flight to Minneapolis, and she was going to be stuck there for a while. But she and her husband were safe. Thank God they were safe. – JAM
I was in my great aunt’s kitchen doing some cleaning as she was in the nursing home for rehabilitation. I had just removed a multi-generational family sterling silver and glass piece from the hutch to clean it. The newscaster on the mini-10-inch tv told of the attack and I almost dropped the family heirloom. – TAW
I was at work when one of the electricians came into the office and asked us to get on the internet. We then watched on the internet as this horrific event unfolded. I remember we all went silent and tried to digest what was happening. I remember that I just wanted my family to be with me. This after just trying to heal from losing my first cousin and her husband in Flight 800 five years prior. – LMH
I was in Bucks County about to head out the door to meet my supervisor. The TV was on, and I saw the first plane crash into the tower. I was horrified at the destruction but had to leave and thought it was a just horrific crash. My car radio wasn’t working and when I met my supervisor, he had tears in his eyes and told me what had happened. Instead of working we went to a business and watched TV. He called his team and told everyone to go home. I was so shaken it was difficult to drive home.
A couple months later, I visited Ground Zero. I cried most of the time that day. The destruction was just unfathomable. The thought of so many lives lost was unbearable. I never thought anything like these attacks would/could ever occur in our country.
My neighbor and friend worked in The Towers; he was late getting the train that day because his wife insisted, he take the trash out. He was walking from the subway to his office when it happened. He has never been the same. He lost many friends and co-workers that day. – JH
I was in the cafeteria in the Berwick Middle School with the students from my Life Skills Support classroom where they were completing their morning job of cleaning the tables. I was in total shock when I heard the news, and my first thoughts were of my family and how to find the words to explain this to my students. – PKP
I can still vividly see the small tv my co-workers and I huddled around, watching in disbelief and horror at images none of us will ever forget. I remember feeling saddened about the loss of life and the loss of innocence, outraged upon learning it was a deliberate attack, and proud as our nation became more unified. – AKH
I was sitting in my attorney’s office watching it on tv. My mom and I were in shock and couldn’t believe it was real. – SAR
I was in Michigan for college. I was getting around to go to class and my roommates had the TV on. They called me in, and I saw the North Tower shortly after impact. I watched the second plane hit the South Tower and thought it was a movie. I was completely shocked and confused when my roommates told me it was happening live. I will never forget what I witnessed. My heart broke and breaks today for the men and women who were affected by this grotesque attack. – HK
Communal remembrance is a way to honor all the lives forever impacted. We at MPW have shared our own personal touchstones from that day. We welcome the same from anyone who would like to join us.
