It is hard to realize that ten years have past since that tragic morning on September 11, 2001. I'm sure that everyone remembers exactly were they were and how they felt when they heard the devastating and unbelievable news about the collapse of the twin towers. Horror, dismay, fear and panic filled the air. No one wanted to believe what they were seeing and hearing on the news.
My family lost friends and neighbors that day. Many were young men that I watched grow and play with my son. Others were neighbors that always had a warm smile and a friendly hello whenever I saw them.
Every year on September 11th, I watch the news and listen to family and friends reading off the names of all who died that day and as I look at the anguish on the faces of all the family members I realize that their lives as they knew will never be the same and their pain and sorrow will always be in their minds and heart.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9/11
As word spread that a plane crashed into the twin towers, confusion set in for me. News outlets first said it was a small sightseeing plane but as more coverage became available it became evident that these were large commercial aircraft intentionally flown into buildings. How could people hate us so much that they were willing to give up their own life and fly a plane into a building? No requests for money, no other demands, just pure hatred and a goal to kill thousands of innocent people. No training in the world could prepare us to deal with this tragedy, however it was on this day that Americans stepped up and did what was necessary to save lives, comfort each other, and protect us from future attacks on our homeland. I thank you all.
David Porfido
David Porfido
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Remembering 9/11
It has been 10 years but there is one memory, one set of conflicting emotions, that will never leave me and always brings me to tears just thinking about it.
As a first responder to WTC at ground zero, I vividly remember the wave of emotions that hit as we approached the site. Due to the congestion, barricades, and people, we had to park the fire apparatus far away. As we walked, people cheered...came out to greet us....shook our hands and the feeling was incredible. Yet as we got closer, the tone of the crowd changed. We were now approached by friends and families of the missing - each asking us to look for their husband, wife, son, daughter...each showing us pictures...each one crying as they begged for us to find their loved ones. Then we actually reached the site. TV images could not prepare someone for the horror they were about to see, to smell, and to taste. That wave of emotions, the highest high followed by the lowest low, within a span of minutes will forever stay with me.
Through all the bad, it was also a proud time. Neighbors came together. For a short time, we were all a bit nicer to each other as a nation. It was a great feeling.
Since the attacks, it is an event that is never far from my mind. On certain days, a plane flying in the sky....at just a certain angle...brings me back. I would be remiss if I did not mention a friend - Jimmy Zadroga. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was named for a friend who was the first documented emergency responder (police officer) to die from 9/11 complications.
In all that happened during the attacks, rescue, recovery, and aftermath...I have been forever changed.
Scott Hughes
As a first responder to WTC at ground zero, I vividly remember the wave of emotions that hit as we approached the site. Due to the congestion, barricades, and people, we had to park the fire apparatus far away. As we walked, people cheered...came out to greet us....shook our hands and the feeling was incredible. Yet as we got closer, the tone of the crowd changed. We were now approached by friends and families of the missing - each asking us to look for their husband, wife, son, daughter...each showing us pictures...each one crying as they begged for us to find their loved ones. Then we actually reached the site. TV images could not prepare someone for the horror they were about to see, to smell, and to taste. That wave of emotions, the highest high followed by the lowest low, within a span of minutes will forever stay with me.
Through all the bad, it was also a proud time. Neighbors came together. For a short time, we were all a bit nicer to each other as a nation. It was a great feeling.
Since the attacks, it is an event that is never far from my mind. On certain days, a plane flying in the sky....at just a certain angle...brings me back. I would be remiss if I did not mention a friend - Jimmy Zadroga. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was named for a friend who was the first documented emergency responder (police officer) to die from 9/11 complications.
In all that happened during the attacks, rescue, recovery, and aftermath...I have been forever changed.
Scott Hughes
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