Community Corner

"I Still Weep": Locals Reflect on the 10th Anniversary of Sept. 11

Comments and reaction from around the community to the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

“We realized then we weren’t as security conscious as we should be. Today things have changed dramatically. I was in a football stadium over Labor Day. Now you think about being in a public place. You notice things more, too.” - Bonnie Kohout, at the ceremony

“I’m here not to share my story. I’m here to share our story. “ - Tom Jones, who survived the World Trade Center attacks, addressing the crowd at the Darien-Woodridge ceremony

“It means our world has changed like none of us ever expected.” - Frank Burns, Darien-Woodridge Fire trustee at the district’s ceremony 

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“It’s an American tragedy. … I still weep.” - Chris Polodna, at the Darien-Woodridge ceremony 

“I hope people don’t forget. For us, it’s a memory every year. You just can’t put your guard down.” - Michelle Gibson, chief of , at the district’s ceremony

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“You understand the sacrifices your husband makes, but it’s something you keep buried because to think about it is terrible. These people went in knowing what the outcome would be, and they did it anyway. It takes a special person.” - Kathy Jesionowski, on the firefighters who died on Sept. 11, at the Tri-State ceremony. Her husband, Al, recently retired as the Pleasantview Fire Protection District’s captain.

"We should all be grateful we can wake up today and hug our loved ones. Almost 3,000 people can’t. Tomorrow is Sept. 12. It’s a 9/11 waiting to happen. A lot of people will go on with their day, but it would be nice to remember this 365 days a year.” - Annivar Salgado, a member of VFW Post 2838 who served in the Navy during Vietnam, at the Tri-State ceremony

“My wife and I were on a trip to Salzburg, Austria visiting on that day the sites where 'Sound of Music' was filmed many years earlier. We knew something had gone wrong because we noticed several shopkeepers had turned on TV's and were intently watching the screens instead of paying attention to us browers. Later, on the bus trip back to the hotel, the tour guide broke down in tears with dismay at having to tell us of the attack, she was speechless and on the 2 hour ride back to the hotel almost nobody talked. Many of us had thought WW III had begun and, looking back, I'd say it had. Back at the hotel in southern Germany, the managers kindly setup a room with TV's for the American guests to watch together and it was horrifying. We had guessed there'd be 85,000 to 100,000 dead when we say the towers collapse. Flights home were then delayed by three days, and so we made the best of it in Vienna. Very odd the way people looked at each other on the plane ride home, wondering if there was a terrorist on board. I remember seeing the silverware - real silver on that flight - and wondering if such potential weapons would forever be banned on flights. We knew the world had changed that day and were mighty happy to return to our young children and their innocence because they were too young to realize that we'd been attacked.” - Bob Bland, in a comment on Darien Patch

“The answer to this question is one I will never forget. I was in my office half watching the morning news and half paying attention to the airline ticket reservations I was making on none other than, American Airlines. I heard someone scream "Oh My God" on the news as I was about to hit "enter" to confirm my reservation on my credit card and looked up to catch the coverage of the first plane hitting the tower. It took a few moments for it to sink in that this was not some hypothetical situation being enacted. From that point I went through a myriad of emotional reactions to the situation with the worst (fear) coming last as the second plane hit the adjacent tower and it was confirmed that we were under attack. My Family, My Friends..... where were they went through my mind and next my thoughts went to what to do next. Definately a life changing day for everyone in America.” - Molly Reda-Schneider, in a comment on Darien Patch

“I was brushing my daughter's long hair before school in the living room after she was just starting kindergarten, when she said, "Mom, did a big plane just crash into that tall building?" This was when the news was on for the first tower, before anyone knw the extent of the situation and damage of the first tower. Couldn't believe what we just witnessed for the second tower. I just found out a few days earlier I was pregnant with our son. That day was so upsetting, I was trying not to get emotionally worked up. Didn't work. Day just continued to get worse with all the other plane crashes and watching people jump off buildings, and then the buildings collapsing into themselves.. Sad day for NY and for America. Will never forget where I was. Neither will my now near, 15 year old daughter.” - Cathy Fischer, in a comment on the Darien Patch Facebook page


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