Memories of Being in NYC on 9/11/2001 Twenty-Three Years Later
It started out as a picture perfect, cloudless and warm Tuesday in New York City twenty three years ago today before the events of that day would change the world forever.
9/11 Twenty Three Years Later
I almost did not write this post as I had second thoughts but I felt I wanted to share my memories of a day I will never forget. On 9/11/2001 I was right in the thick of it in a production studio in Manhattan. It was a beautiful cloudless Tuesday which on occasion I can recall as vividly as if it were yesterday.
As I mentioned I was at a TV studio preparing to do The People's Court television show before all hell broke loose. In the control room we watched the mayhem unfold. In fact, I vividly recall watching Channel 4 News in a live report from the World Trade Center area when, during the actual live report, the second plane hit the second tower. The shocked reporter just took off running and so did the cameraman.
Cell phones did not work. Neither did landlines for that matter. The only way I got word to my wife about my situation was sending an email via AOL. Does anyone have AOL anymore? I had no idea if the email would even reach her.
In the studio we simply did not know if we should stay or go. What was a safer choice? After the plane hit the Pentagon the director, Kit Carson, turned to me and waved goodbye adding, "Good luck, get home safe."
Home for me at the time was Bucks County, PA, 90 minutes to the south via Penn Station. So I headed in that direction. The studio was at 37th Street and 5th Ave. and I could look south and see the brown smoke rising above the towers. As I walked toward Penn Station I passed by several churches with hastily posted signs on which someone scrawled with a sharpie, "Come in and Pray." At one church I saw people actually kneeling on the sidewalk praying.
As I got to Penn Station it was bedlam but I saw a line of people going down an escalator onto a train. I joined them. I didn't care where the train was going - just out of Manhattan. As I got on and actually got a seat before the aisles filled up there came an announcement, "Attention all passengers by order of the NYPD, Penn Station is now closed. All must exit to street level and exit the building."
A collective groan was heard on the train as we all made our way out. My next thought was - water. There must be a boat I could get on. So I headed up 8th Ave. then onto 10th. Coming toward me down the avenue were thousands of people headed to, now closed, Penn Station. As I made my way up 10th my next thought was cash. I was going to take as much cash out of an ATM as I could before they too were shut down. I dashed in a deli and took out as much as I could and then continued north.
Once I got to 12th Ave. I saw a line of about 500 people waiting to get on board a Circle Line boat. I jumped right in behind them. We all boarded. The stuffed to the gills ship slowly pulled away from the dock. At that moment there was almost an audible sigh of relief. The boat was headed over to Weehawken, NJ and you could turn and look across the Hudson and see the Towers engulfed in brown smoke. You could also smell it. It smelled like an electrical fire. People on the boat were actually joking around trying to mask their fears. No one knew what the hell was going to happen next but at least we were off Manhattan.
When we docked at Weehawken I ran to a payphone to see if it had a dial tone. It did. I dialed my voicemail and heard a message from my now, ex-wife that I will never forget. I will not detail it just to say it was filled with tears. I was able to call her back and told her I would try to grab a train from Hoboken.
I headed down there with thousands of others and the trains were going nowhere. At the station they had set up hundreds of gurneys with IV poles awaiting trains from the Trade Center. Trains that would never come. It was an eerie sight, which I'll never forget. It was so hauntingly similar to the 1987 Pink Floyd album cover, A Momentary Lapse of Reason. (look it up) But that was not the final enduring image I would remember from that day....the one that still gives me chills and I will never forget.
After leaving the train station I headed up to a Cuban bar / restaurant. I thought a beer was just what I needed at that point. There were actually only a few people in the place and at the bar. After a few moments a near hysterical woman who had to be 8 months pregnant ran in with someone who had to be her mother. Through her tears I overheard her say to her mother, "his last words were he'd meet us here." I turned to the bartender and he looked back at me, we were both speechless. The pregnant woman then headed into the Ladies room as the Mom stood by the bar.
As I turned to continue watching Peter Jennings anchor the live coverage on the TV behind the bar a man bolted in who was covered head-to-toe with the dust. It was the same brown dust, which had covered people who were seen on TV running from the towers.
As the man came in, the Mom started crying and they embraced. The bar fell silent. Then the pregnant woman emerged from the bathroom, saw her husband and ran towards him crying, overjoyed. No one in the place moved and many including myself teared up. It was a scene I will remember till I die.
Several hours later the trains began to run and I was able to get one to Montclair, NJ where my wife met me. I don't remember what we said to each other. We just held each other tight for a long moment before heading back to Pennsylvania.
Did the world change that day? Without a doubt. Did it change for the better? For a short while it did in the aftermath. We were united as one people and a nation that was wounded and hurting. Can we look back from today and say that we have grown or are safer as a nation? I am not certain we can. In many ways the world is much less certain and certainly much less innocent than before 9/11/2001.
But it remains up to us to make it the world in which we all want to live. And by live I mean live in peace. I am a spiritual person and I believe that the dark forces in this world have increased the level of terror and violence that they spread because they know their days are numbered.
More and more everyday people, especially those in the Middle East simply want to live their lives and raise their families in peace free from war. The time is coming soon when killing in the name of God or Allah will not be tolerated, promoted or accepted by people of any faith on the planet. When that day comes...and hopefully I will see it in my lifetime, then finally there will be lasting peace on earth.
The Last of the Greatest Generation: A Reflection on America's Remaining World War II Veterans
The Current State of World War II Veterans
As of 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that approximately 100,000 American World War II veterans are still alive. This number is rapidly decreasing due to the advancing age of these individuals. Most of these veterans are now in their late 90s or older, with the oldest among them having celebrated their 100th birthdays.
The rate at which these veterans are passing away is staggering. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, around 234 World War II veterans die each day. This figure underscores the urgency of honoring and preserving their stories before they are lost to time.
Projecting the Future
Predicting the exact year when the last World War II veteran will pass away is challenging due to numerous variables, including advancements in healthcare and the varying health conditions of the veterans themselves. However, statistical projections can provide a rough estimate.
Given the current age and the daily mortality rate of these veterans, it is likely that the last American World War II veteran will pass away sometime between 2030 and 2040. This estimate aligns with the average life expectancy trends and the current demographic data of the surviving veterans.
Preserving Their Legacy
The approaching loss of the last World War II veteran serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving their stories and experiences. Efforts have been made over the years to document these firsthand accounts through various mediums, including books, documentaries, and oral history projects.
Organizations such as the Veterans History Project, initiated by the Library of Congress, play a crucial role in collecting and preserving the personal accounts of veterans from all wars, including World War II. These stories not only provide invaluable historical insights but also offer lessons in courage, resilience, and the human spirit.
Honoring Their Service
As the number of living World War II veterans continues to decline, it becomes increasingly important to honor and recognize their contributions. This can be achieved through community events, memorials, and educational programs aimed at ensuring that future generations understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by these individuals.
Local and national initiatives to celebrate significant anniversaries of World War II events, such as D-Day and V-E Day, also serve to keep the memory of these veterans alive. Schools and community groups can engage with the remaining veterans to hear their stories firsthand, fostering a deeper connection to history.
Conclusion
The inevitability of time means that one day, the last American World War II veteran will pass away. This moment will mark the end of an era, but it also presents an opportunity to reflect on the profound impact these individuals had on the world. As we prepare for this eventuality, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the legacy of the Greatest Generation endures, honoring their memory and preserving their stories for all future generations.
Joshua Chamberlain Civil War Audio Series
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About The Passing of the Armies:
While the vast majority of Civil War memoirs read like a dry military report, Chamberlain’s prose captures the erratic pulse of combat, and the sudden ebb and flow of events. Chamberlain’s creative use of present tense places the reader in the ranks, making him feel like a participant rather than a passive observer who is casually listening to war stories around a cozy fire.
The violence and chaos of war is palpable on every page. Among the most compelling sections is Chamberlain’s account of the Union attack at White Oak Road on March 31, 1865, which also conveys the role of contingency in historical events. Chamberlain presses the reader to understand that the sheer determination of individuals, rather than luck or impersonal forces, decided the battle’s outcome. He was responding to Lost Cause claims that Southern defeat was the inevitable result of superior Northern resources and manpower. (From History.net)
New Book on Churchill in WWII | Taking London
Great Britain, summer 1940. The Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Adolf Hitler’s powerful armies control Europe. England stands alone against this juggernaut, the whole world knowing it is only a matter of time before Nazi Germany unleashes its military might on the island nation. In London, a new prime minister named Winston Churchill is determined to defeat the Nazi menace, no matter the costs.
An African Coup in New Thriller Sentinel by Mark Greaney
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Fort Sumter Battle: Lead Up and Aftermath
Deadliest Marine Sniper in History
Combat Vet Interview | Damn the Valley
A conversation with author Will Yeske about his combat experience with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company in Afghanistan and his new book Damn the Valley.
Just Released New Faith-Based Documentary - Warriors of Faith
From a legendary commander of the Israelites, who led his people to victory against overwhelming odds, to a courageous peasant girl, who defied the might of empires guided by divine visions.
We uncover the profound influence of a fearless Pope, whose call to arms ignited the fervor of the Crusades, and an indomitable sect of warrior monks, sworn to protect pilgrims and preserve the Christian faith.
Join us as we explore the trials, triumphs, and timeless legacy of these “Warriors of Faith,” whose courage inspired generations and whose stories continue to resonate today. Below is the program screening at Youtube but it has just been approved for wider global streaming release via my distributor.
