9/11: Remembering The Fallen
Every September 11, people around the world pause to remember the thousands who died as a result of coordinated terrorist attacks on American soil. Of all the victims who died, the World Trade Center’s falling people symbolized the horror of the day for many.
The lost souls, who, resigned to their fates either took that final step voluntarily, were pushed out by others behind them struggling to breathe, or were forced out by hot blasts of super heated air. We will never know.
What we do know are the names of two of the fallen.
Why do we need to know their names? So we can know who we are. So we can honor them.
Writer Tom Junod was convinced that America needed to remember the falling people. He undertook the unsavory mission of identifying the fallen Americans — the forgotten 9/11 victims that no one wants to talk about.
“I felt that the idea of people jumping… I felt that the jumpers… I felt that the falling man had been sort of pushed to the side,” Junod said in a 2006 documentary titled 9/11: The Falling Man.
“There is an element of exclusion; that he died improperly. That we want to remember this day for its heroism. And whether we think of the jumpers as heroic or not, they should not be excluded from the consecrated ground of American soil because they died in a way that made us uncomfortable.”
Considering the discomfort that some Americans feel when it comes to suicide, it wasn’t surprising that no one rushed forward to claim the fallen man as one of their own family members.
When the photo of the falling man was published in newspapers on September 12, Americans vented their outrage against the photo editors for selecting that particular image to embody the horrific events of 9/11.
As photo editors are inclined to do during times of national tragedy, they choose images based on the emotional impact of the content of the photos.
The photo editors withheld the series of images of the falling man tumbling, rolling, and flailing desperately at the sky. Instead, they chose the one photo that made the falling man appear peaceful, composed, and willingly accepting his fate as if he had decided to check out with dignity.
Jonathan Eric Briley, 43, was a sound engineer for the Windows on the World restaurant in the North tower — the first tower to be hit. According to Windows on the World head Chef Michael Lamonica who analyzed AP photographer Richard Drew’s photos, Jonathan fit the body type, size and complexion of the iconic falling man in the photos.
Lamonica described Jonathan as a “hard working, dedicated, good guy with a great sense of humor.”
Jonathan’s sister Gwendolyn, who was Jonathan’s closest sibling, said she never thought of the unfortunate figure in the photo as her brother. “I thought of him as a man that just took his life in his hand for just that second,” she said.
Still in denial, Gwendolyn identified the clothing that the man wore in the photo as items her brother owned. But she stopped short of saying it was him.
“I hope we’re not trying to figure out who he is, and more, figure out who we are through watching.”
Richard Pecorella was a family member who did come forward to identify one of the fallen: his wife Karen.
Mr. Pecorella said that when the media began posting images online of the jumpers, he searched and searched through the grainy photos until he found her.
For Mr. Pecorella it became an obsession to identify his wife among the condemned souls clinging onto the windows of the burning WTC.
“It had to be so intense up there and there was no other way out,” he said. “It was either burn alive or go quickly. I envision that it had to be the towering inferno… Do you suffocate to death or do you jump? I think it was brave to do that.”
He added: “I know it’s her because, the clothes and the shape. I would know her from the shadow. She had a blue sweater top on, sleeveless, and cream color pants.
“It wasn’t painful for me. It really wasn’t,” he recalled of his search for Karen. “I finally have something I can hold onto. This is where she was, and this is how she died — she jumped. She didn’t burn up. She didn’t become dust.”
“Nothing was more painful than losing her,” he said. “But not knowing how I lost her was even more painful. So now that I believe that that’s what took place, it’s easier for me to talk about it. And if she jumped, she jumped.”
CAUTION: The following videos contain scenes of extreme violence.
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70 Responses to “9/11: Remembering The Fallen”
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I am watching the footage and reliving the awful memories with text messages to my family and friends in NYC. That day will forever haunt all of us who lost family and friends. R.I.P. We will meet again one day
I can’t believe anyone would look down upon the people who jumped when had they been in the same situation they could have chosen to take the same route these people did. It doesn’t make them any less of victims, if anything it makes their ending more tragic. I can not fathom, even slightly, going through that and realizing that I’m waiting not to be saved, not for them to put the fires out and everything to be okay, not knowing if another plane is going to hit and just waiting to die in some horrible way. Truth be told, I don’t know what I would have done but I would never disparage the memory of those who chose to end it on their own terms. Truth be told, their deaths were probably less painful and slightly more humane simply because they were dead long before they hit the ground.
With all that being said, I pray for those lost, I pray for the survivors, I pray for the families and for everyone who was affected BUT I can not, will not, watch the coverage and spend all day in mourning because as sad as it may be, life goes on and sitting back crying and remembering the tragic past does nothing towards moving us towards a better future nor does it do anything towards helping to find out once and for all who is really responsible for this. Remembering the anniversary of this day to the extent some are going to, doesn’t stop the wars we are in, it doesn’t bring our soldiers home, it doesn’t change anything, all it does is rip the scabs that so many are carrying off and reopen the wounds. I can’t see how that helps heal anything or anyone, I just can’t
I slept through the horrible events of that morning in 2001. I didn’t wake up until after 10 a.m. I picked up the phone and called my mom in Miami to check on her as I always did. She asked me if I was watching TV. I turned the TV on and I saw this raging inferno and she explained to me that the south tower had already fallen. Refusing to believe what I assumed was the impossible, I patiently explained to my mom that the south tower couldn’t have fallen because the WTC was designed to withstand the impact of a plane. She kept insisting that the south tower fell. So I told her that the south tower was still standing but we couldn’t see it because it was behind the north tower. While I was explaining this to her, the North tower suddenly crumbled and fell to the ground live on TV. I was stunned into silence. The only thing I remember after that is my mom screaming in my ear, “See! See!”
Although this event happened ten years ago, the emotion I felt watching the footage- fear…anger..helplessness…shock, still exists today. For those remaining in the building, waiting for help that would NEVER arrive,I couldn’t imagine deciding my fate. Would suffocating to death, burning to death or jumping to my death at 150 MPH be the earlier way to go? Honestly, I wouldn’t fault anyone who decided to jump.
My prayers and thoughts go out to all of the families who were affected by the horrific events at the Pentagon as well as the field in Pennsylvania. Although when this date is observed, the main focus is on the Twin Towers, we cannot forget those who lost their lives there. May God continue to be with you.
Sandra Rose says:
I slept through the horrible events of that morning. I didn’t wake up until after 10 a.m. I picked up the phone and called my mom in Miami to check on her as I always did. She asked me if I was watching TV. I turned the TV on and I saw this raging inferno and she explained to me that the south tower had already fallen. Refusing to believe what I assumed was the impossible, I patiently explained to my mom that the south tower couldn’t have fallen because the WTC was designed to withstand the impact of a plane. She kept insisting that the south tower fell. So I told her that the south tower was still standing but we couldn’t see it because it was behind the north tower. While I was explaining this to her, the North tower suddenly crumbled and fell to the ground live on TV. I was stunned into silence. The only thing I remember after that is my mom screaming in my ear, “See! See!”
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I forgot to say thanks for starting this post Miss Sandra!
I was at work and a co-worker had a small TV in his office. We were watching the footage of the first crash and wondering how the heck that could have happened. We saw the second plane approach and impact the second tower and I felt the world stop and my legs got weak!! Then someone came running over saying that the Pentago was attacked and life as I knew it was forever changed. The day was crystal clear, blue skies, not a cloud, PERFECTION!! However for those of us with family and friends in NYC it was covered in a thick black cloud because phone lines were down and we just had no idea who or what was affected. My boss drove me home, and home was not even in his way, but that is the kind of person that he is. After that day I started driving in to work because in a crisis, I just need to get home, fast. I cannot believe it’s been 10 years, it feels like yesterday and today’s weather is JUST as it was, crystal clear and beautiful.
Sandra I was in college with a newborn and had just gotten up to get ready to go to class and since I used to (actually still do) sleep with the tv on the 1st tower falling was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes and I was just in shock. I mean that day changed so much for everybody but I never want to relive that feeling, ever, not even in remembrance of the anniversary. And I remember thinking after I got over the initial shock that the world my baby was gonna grow up in would be so much different than the world I knew as a kid and it’s true. These kids growing up after 9/11 are growing up in a world of hate,war,terrorism and dirty politics and it’s sad. I won’t allow them to watch the coverage either, we’re watching Disney Junior.
Coming to this site for laughs and giggles is one thing but I believe out of all the pictures to have shown in remembrance of the victims who lost their lives Sandra you could have shown others. I believe this post is highly inappropriate in light of today being the anniversary. This is not gossip, this is someone’s life and their families lives. As I tell my children there is a time and place for everything and this DEFINITELY was neither. Even though the people who were interviewed obviously has some type of closure what about their kids who would want to look at a website and see their mom, aunt, sister, etc., during the last few minutes of this tradegy. Praying today for everyone that was affected by this awful tradegy.
This is what I remember most… I can’t forget anything about that day. I remember wanting to catch them. I was wishing the firemen had giant white sheets to catch them in. But they didn’t.
I watched the events unfold on a tv in the breakroom of my job in Cleveland, Ohio near the Hopkins Airport. I was horrified and afraid thinking that the entire USA was under attack. My supervisor forbid us from leaving and told us to continue working. Being the mother that I am, I packed my things and rushed to pick up my kids from school. When I arrived at the school, administrators told me to leave- not to incite panic. As I looked out the principle’s window, I saw my son on the track in gym class, while telling him he was coming home with me, my youngest son looked out the window and shouted what was going on- I yelled for him to get his things and come on. I refused to have my kids experience this tragedy without me. We went home and huddled in front of the television the rest of the day learning on CNN that the one of the planes hovered over Cleveland’s airport and continued to PA and crashed. I remember watching CNN and seeing a young black man crying on tv holding up a flyer with his wife’s picture, HAVE YOU SEEN HER? His story broke my heart. Fast forward 5 years, a guy does a u-turn on in traffic and follows me to to the mall, he said he’s never done such a thing but he had to get to know me. He was from New York, a little rough around the edges but very sweet. We went to lunch and talked everyday for 5 months. He had 3 young daughters that he cared for alone, I didn’t asked him why, he was handling it and I was impressed. Fast forward 10 years later, I just drove my wonderful husband and my 3 beautiful step-daughters to Hartsfield Airport with fear and nervousness of the known terrorist threats on NYC. He just texted me to make sure I put out the American Flag. I did. God Bless LCT, 26th Floor- We Will Never Forget. 9/11 is mentioned almost everyday, it’s very hard on the families. Footage of the event, especially the suicides brings back the emotions of the day. The girls were very young, the youngest 2, now 12- see’s her mother’s death replayed over and over. We cut off the tv, but sometimes it’s too late, the day has already been ruined.
I woke up late for work…My mother was down stairs yelling Anthony Come here..I ran downstairs and stood infront of the TV in her bedroom..the first tower was on fire…and with is seconds a media camera turned to the sky and the second plane hit…dread and disgust fell over me as i began to understand what was going on…..
RIP To all who lost there lives in this tragic attack…We WONT forget!
I was watching it as it happen.
Cant explain the emotions that was running through my mind at that moment. I think I was numb, disbelief
I just text my dad to tell him thank you for his service. I was in NewYork 2 weeks before this happened and I remember driving past there and looking out the window trying to see the top of these buildings. I couldn’t.
The morning of this happening, my daughter’ father woke me up screaming “Baby, isn’t your dad in NY?” I panicked and called and called and called and called. No answer.
Like everyone else, I stay glued to the tv and cried and cried. Later that night, my dad finally called and his first words were “We are going to war”. I didn’t know at the time what that meant.
THANK YOU DADDY and all the service men and women for your ultimate bravery.
WE GOT THE PIECE OF SHYT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TRAGEDY!!!
In that instance they knew they were going to die, and at that point jumping out of the window was perhaps a better choice for them instead of being burned alive by the flames. If I could have caught them all that was leaping out of that window I would. This is so sad
Oh, and I probably would have jumped to rather than my skin boil while waiting on fireman.
@Crickett reading what you just wrote made me tear up, everyone wants to discuss their own feelings of grief but no one thinks about the kids who have to rewatch their parents death over and over again
Cricket, that’ a wonderful story! God bless you and your family.
stop allowing the media to force you to relive tragedy. We dont forget death, loved ones in normal circumstances or events of this magnitude. I cherish and remember, but refuse to relive the emotional roller coaster. I haven’t tuned in to anything ‘remembering 9/11.’
Lets move forward. It is possible to move forward AND REMEMBER, not relive. most americans are reliving the turmoil without the actual event, year in, year out.
Great point @ pointhimout
chocolate divalicious says:
Coming to this site for laughs and giggles is one thing but I believe out of all the pictures to have shown in remembrance of the victims who lost their lives Sandra you could have shown others. I believe this post is highly inappropriate in light of today being the anniversary. This is not gossip, this is someone’s life and their families lives. As I tell my children there is a time and place for everything and this DEFINITELY was neither. Even though the people who were interviewed obviously has some type of closure what about their kids who would want to look at a website and see their mom, aunt, sister, etc., during the last few minutes of this tradegy. Praying today for everyone that was affected by this awful tradegy.
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I couldn’t AGREE with you more… Well said!
Remembering those who lost their lives and their family/friends as well!
Ms. Sandra
I got into work LATE that day and when I got there My Co-workers told me what Had Happened… 5 minutes later an announcement came over the intercom-system Saying “For THOSE WHO Want to leave Work… You can Do So”
I Turned Around and LEFT WORK !!! Because of Traffic it TOOK over 3 Hours for me to Finally Get Home and I went to pick-up My Daughter from school & Watched The Newz afterwards (Real)
CO-SIGN @Point !!!
on this day 10 yrs ago i was working at nextel in va..when the 2nd plane hit i called hubby (who worked at nextel across the street) we bounced, got our daughter from school and went home. i remember crying in the break room when the 1st plane hit & someone saying “do u know someone there” I’m like
no, but these are HUMAN LIVES being lost as we look at this. i don’t have to know them to feel the magnitude and PAIN their families are experiencing. my family of 3 held on to each other and prayed. i was thinking WWIII had begun..
I was a senior in high school when this happened. I’ll never forget the look on my teacher’s face as he got a call from his wife and told the class what was going on. A television was placed in each class and we watched the footage and were allowed to go home early.
This boy in my class was crying hysterically because his grandmoter worked in the World Trade Center and they couldnt get in touch with her. He found out later that she decided to call in sick that day.
My prayers
and condolences go out to everyone.
I remember coming up out of the subway taking in the beautiful day. I walked slowly to the corner and as the light changed I decided not to run across the street. As I looked up I heard and then saw a plane go into the north tower. It looked like a movie set and I froze up for a few. Finally a guy grabbed me and we ran up the block to what we thought was safety.
I called my boss and told her what happened, then I called my granny and hubby. After that I saw the jumpers and decided I had enough so I took my butt down to the subway and got the last train back home. I got home and by the time I sat at the table that is when the first tower fell.
Things have never been the same for me but I’m happy I took my time that morning and not rushing to work basically saved my life. My job lost only one worker but the events that day changed us all..
seeing the ppl that jumped did something to my soul bc it had to be HORRIFIC in that building to choose that route. death by fire is an ultimate fear of mine, so i could def see myself making the same choice. i don’t think i could suffer through being burned alive vs a few seconds to an instant death. NONE of us can really say what we would have done bc NONE of us were in their shoes, may God rest their souls..
I was 11 years old and had just started 7th grade when this happened I Rember my aunt called over to our house and was like “they bombing New York” I didn’t know it was a terror attack. R.I.P to everyone who lost their lives.
I had taken my brother to a job interview that morning. While I was waiting I herd someone say that an airplane had hit the world trade center tower. Then someone said they were declaring it a terror attack. My brother came running out of his interview and told me the same thing. We live 30 minutes from Atlanta so we got scared. Ecause the radio said there were other planes in there air. We went to our Grandfathers house because we knew he would know what to do. As soon as we walked in my grandmother was sitting there crying and praying to Jesus. We looked at the tv right as the 2nd plane hit. I will never get that image out of my mind.
Explaining to my 6 year old son why the new coverage made momma cry this morning was very hard. My granddaddy went on to be with the lord the year after 9-11 and its moments like this that make me miss him the most. R.I.P. to all the sould our GREAT country lost that day. And may peace be with the souls with an empty place where those they lost once occipied.
¨¨*¤.¸¸ …¸.¤\
\ 9/11 AMERICA \
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/ \ NEVER FORGET!!! AND PRAY IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN!!!
I remember the night before this happened like it was last night. In my living room hang an almost wall-sized John Holyfield heavy wood framed painting. Under and on both sides of the painting were large redwood Ghana unity men carvings that I’d made into tables.
The painting was professionally mounted, and had never been so much as tilted. My sons were upstairs asleep, and their father and myself were downstairs in our bedroom – he was asleep, but I tossed and turned all night – I kept hearing what faintly sounded like a radio playing the news on an AM station. I woke him up to turn the radio off, but he confirmed that no radio was on.
As I drifted back to sleep, I heard a crash in the living room and thought someone was breaking in. We jumped up, check the windows and doors, and they were all locked. The painting had fallen, with the mounting material still intact in the wall, and the unity men (which represent the unity of the people & are sturdily carved from a single piece of wood) were broken in half. I couldn’t understand it.
I went to work the next morning, and immediately grabbed a co-worker who was a very spiritual man, and he told me that although he couldn’t pin-point why it happened, the breaking of the unity men represented the breaking of the people…that something was going to happen but he didn’t know just what.
An hour later, the entire office was in a uproar and crying…a plane had gone through the first tower, and we watched as the entire tragedy unfolded.
I have never experienced such a tragic feeling of despair as I did when I watched this event take place. It was horrific. I immediately went to get my sons from school, and prayed for those that would certainly lose their lives on 9/11.
It was, and still is, one of the most horrible and sad events to take place in my lifetime. My prayers continuously go out to the families of the lost, and may those who lost their lives on the hi-jacked planes, in and around the buildings, and fighting to save lives rest in peace.
My heart goes out to all the families of the loved ones they lost on 9/11/01
I watched this video earlier today once somebody posted it on twitter. The “jumpers” were always the SADDEST part of 9-11 to me. I know I do NOT want to be burned alive so I can’t even imagine what it had to be like in that moment having to decide HOW you were going to die and the answer being to jump from a burning building. I learned watching the video that they did not die during the fall (which I always thought) but on impact hitting the ground
Hearing the bodies hit is just heartbreaking.
I walked into work and heard that a plane hit the World Trade Center.. Being complacent, I assmed it was one of the small twin engine planes and I didn’t think anything more about it. My co-worker who is always late to work, walked in yelling, that a second plane, a commercial plane, hit the World Trade Center. I jumped on the internet to log on to CNN to see what was going on, but it was hard to even get on the website, due to the heavy internet traffic. Calls started to come in from other states, asking if we were okay, since we are located in NY. We were fine, becausae the office wasn’t in NYC. We were sent home. I went straight to the school, picked up my daughter, and went home, and held on to her until she told me she couldn’t breathe.. I stayed glued to cnn, for the rest of the day and night.. That day changed my life and many others.. My heart and prayers go out to those to the family and friends of loved ones who lost someone on 9/11. Be Blessed
I am glad we have the option to watch or not watch the 9-11 coverage each year. I choose the latter (although I did watch this video today) but don’t knock others who want to take a day to remember/relive/reflect etc. As the saying goes we all grieve in different ways.
whatdoesitmatter says:
This is what I remember most… I can’t forget anything about that day. I remember wanting to catch them. I was wishing the firemen had giant white sheets to catch them in. But they didn’t.
RIP to every man, woman and child that lost their lives that day<3
those 19 terrorist
I will never forget 9/11. I was a senior in high school and I can remember them talking about the first plane hitting the one of the towers and then actually seeing the second plane hitting. I remembered it looking like something out of a movie…#r.i.p Even though I don’t agree with suicide I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing if I was in the same situation. You know you’re about to die. Would you rather die a slow painful death or a quick one….
I haven’t logged on in ages, but I constantly lurk this blog after I get off from work. This morning I said a prayer for the victims and families, and said I wouldn’t allow myself to become sad all over again. Well I couldn’t help it, I am human and still curious 10 years later of the tragedy that brought out nation together. Auntie, thank you for the post. For the simple fact I was super curious of the the gentleman in that light color blazer falling from the building. My Executive Director at work have a memorial wall up, and that particular picture is posted on the wall. I stared at his picture for about five minutes. It truly breaks my heart along with the haunting other images. I just got off the phone with my sister in FL who shared a song that they played on the radio stations down there. Auntie, I hope you don’t mind me sharing with the SR Fam. It’s heartbreaking, but such a touching song from a little girl who lost her father in the 9/11 attacks. I am in tears because this song is so touching. (http://wqyk.radio.com/2011/09/08/heaven-911-tribute-2011-version/)
I didn’t know anyone personally that was affected by the tragedy, but my thoughts and prayerswill always be with all the victims and their family always. GOD Bless Family and Have Great Work Week!
excuse me, to heyul with those 19 terrorist*
#33
I haven’t watched the 2nd video yet but that first one had me crying a river. God bless their souls and their families. I cannot begin to know what I would do in that situation, I would say they are brave.
I don’t understand why some family members would be ashamed to admit that their love ones have chosen a quick death vs burning slowly.
On this day is was gong to work and was underground on the E train that goes to the WTC. I had no idea what was going on above us. I got to work safely only to leave with a co-worker who was leaving and had drove. NYC was shutting down MTA and grounding planes ect..ect. The first time the attack happened i just had boarded the train after exchanging a Swatch watch to another color that was given to me for my birthday.
@chocolate divalicious i think the content that Sandra posted was very appropriate. To me these people are gone but will never be forgotten. For the past couple of years since i have been hearing the names being read off of the victims who died i never hear them talk about the people who were forced to jump to their death or may have fallen to their death. I had a patient who son was a cop who was in the WTC that morning to submit his paper work as he was completing his paper work for retirement. When the attack happened he took back his paper work to go and help his fellow officers. He died and i don’t even know if his parents had ever found his remains or not.
Sometimes even video footage or pictures (as tragic)above is some kind of closure and is close to the remains left that they may have of their loved ones. When i first watched the footage of the fallen victims i was crying and balling saying “why did you have to jump” OMG why? but we would never know what that person was thinking to cause him/her to just “jump” or give up hope.
I said I wouldn’t watch any footage this year, that it was not worth revisiting over and over again…but I admit that I watched these two vids that Sandra posted and I am crying all over again like I was on that day. I think almost everyone in this nation can easily say without hesitation that this was one of the worst days in their lifetime. I was a junior in college when this happened, I had an early 8 o’clock class and went to work right after. When I arrived to work everyone was standing around the television in the lounge and my boss told me that I’d want to take a look at the television to see what was going on. I thought it was a movie… and for the rest of the day there was a surreal feeing everywhere on campus. God bless all those victims and their family members. I will never EVER forget that day and it doesn’t even cross my mind to question why some people felt it was the better option to jump. It’s almost like choosing to die by lethal injection as opposed to the gas chamber. All those people knew they would not make it out of there alive and my heart breaks over and over again just thinking about how terrified they must have been.
I don’t feel any more uncomfortable seeing the people falling/jumping than any of the rest of if. I certainly never judged them or thought they were any less sympothetic. God bless them all and the rest of us.
Thanks for posting this Sandra. People hate reliving this but it reminds everyone how serious this tragedy was. I listened to that Kevin Cosgrove 911 call yesterday and the operator couldn’t really help him. THERE WAS NO PROTOCOL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. They both knew death was near and it’s heartbreaking him hearing him say “Oh God” and hear everything crumbling then the call die. Footages/audio like this really puts it all into perspective…no one knows what they would have done. I’m not understanding people being ashamed of the jumpers…I don’t agree with suicide and I don’t think some intentionally just did it to end their life quicker. Maybe by some string of hope, they thought they’d be alive..Beats staying inside of burning building about to burn alive or suffocate.
NY was never the same. Radio, tv, etc never gave us a break…literally every 2 seconds on some channels, all you saw was the towers collapsing in a CONTINUOUS loop. I live above NYC and was 14 at the time. Walked home from high school and didn’t see the magnitude until I turned on the tv at my Aunt’s house. Never know when your last day is and sadly things like this remind people not to take life for granted. No one could have warned these people on Sept 10th that tomorrow was the end. Be prepared and grateful everyday.
@Crickett- touching story
@Chase- crazy reading everyone’s stories and seeing where we all were at each point. You actually being right near there.
@JMO & @KayCeiSoul- always hear these stories about people getting signs/warnings.
I’m am a New Yorker born and raised and I was scheduled for work @ 1:00 pm that day and I took a nap b4 work and turned on my TV and I thought it was a movie for a second to then realize this was real live coverage. I was a little disoriented and not realizing it was happening in NYC. Once I realized it, my stomach dropped. I was so afraid and wondering if danger would be outside my door, I didn’t know what to think. I called my close friends who worked in the building right next to the towers and they just escaped with their lives having to walk and find their way home through the mayhem. By God’s grace they made it home hours later. They were covered in soot and burn holes in their shirt and they were all emotional saying they saw bodies falling and heard bodies hitting the ground. My God.
Daisy says:
I watched this video earlier today once somebody posted it on twitter. The “jumpers” were always the SADDEST part of 9-11 to me. I know I do NOT want to be burned alive so I can’t even imagine what it had to be like in that moment having to decide HOW you were going to die and the answer being to jump from a burning building. I learned watching the video that they did not die during the fall (which I always thought) but on impact hitting the ground Hearing the bodies hit is just heartbreaking.
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I always thought those who jumped passed away during the fall too. I learned today that they died upon impact smh … thats even more sad
i did a report about the “Fallen People of 9/11″ back in 7th grade after 9/11 happened and this picture of Johnathan was and still is the scariest thing i’ve ever seen. i can’t imagine what was in his head as this happened
Thanks for the post Sandra! Truly sad I can’t believe I was just in the 5th grade when this happened. I remember it so clearly
I just remember what a pretty day it was……..
I remember i was at the grocery store and somebody said a plane crashed into the World Trade Center
Then nothing was ever the same again
I can’t watch these videos it’s too much even now
JUST SAD
THE TERROR THE HELPLESNES U KNEW U WERE GOING TO DIE U HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE 
This is a sad case for all people, but why keep re-living this tradegy over and over again, we are so quick to say they are in better place, they looking down on us, they have no more worries, no more struggles, so why is that you wont let them Rest, we so quick to say R.I.P but yet we try and wake the spirits up, with going to grave sites, re-living the videos, and i know people are hurt, that have lost love ones, but at some point, people need to realize they are not coming back, remember in your heart but all his memorial stuff a full day of people reliving this over and over again, crying, falling out, I think it is selfish for people to do this GOD said “why seek the living amongst the dead”
the Dead know of nothing, when people go lodging to gravesites talking to the dead, it’s sad, all this is in your bible, for those who say they follow the most high, I am I am, I have a family member that throws a get together for her child every year, for the past 12 yrs, I stop attending, she gets mad, but i stand on wht i believe, leave those spirits alone, let them R.I.P. this is my take on this. # thisisall
Good morning everyone!
Morning everyone
I can/will not watch any of this. I pray and ask that The Almighty comforts the victims of this tragedy.
Morning everyone.
I remember 9/11 like it was yesterday. I was at work and we had a CLE (class for attorney’s) scheduled that day. It was a Tuesday. It was my turn to work the registration booth so I had gotten there really early that day to set up. 7 a.m. CLE classes start at 10 a.m. Registration opened at 9 a.m. By 9:30 it was like “Okay where are all of my attorney’s at? WTF is going ON?” Finally one of my co-workers came to get me from the registration kiosk. She said I will man the registration, you go watch TV in my office, and we are cancelling the CLE for today; so I am going to let the folks that ARE here know…and I am turning on the TV in the conf. room. for them. I looked at her like she was CRAZY. WE NEVER cancelled a CLE class. EVER.
Not even for snow. I was just standing there and she repeated herself a lil more firmly “GO WATCH THE TV”… I was like “Jesus; something REALLY must be going on for us to cancel a class” Then I saw it. I watched for like two hours. We all did. Finally about noon I was like I am OUT of here, I am going to get my baby from school early, and I am going home. We went home and stayed for two days.
RIP to all those lives lost on 9-11 and those we continue to lose as a result. Maybe one day we will learn the real story about what happened that day and get justice for those lost lives.
I had been workin at the AF base here for 4 months when this happened, I got off at 7am and watched all of it as it played out and just remember bein in shock when I saw the second plane hit then watchin the thowers fall. That’s one of the few times the pretty much shut down the base and said “mission essential” employees only. I painted airplanes at the time so you can best believe they wanted our azzes at work. My shift started at 11pm, I was in line tryin to get on base at 1015pm and didnt get through the gates until 1am!
I’m sorry but I can’t.
I will never forget 9/11 (nor do I want to) but I also can’t relive it every year. I didn’t even lose anyone that day so I can’t imagine what it is like for those that did.
All I can do is hope that everyone that was lost that day is in a better place.
WHY DID MY CO-WORKER JUST LET ME KNKOW THAT THERE WAS A DAYCARE IN THE TWIN TOWERS AND MANY CHILDREN DEAD
CAN WE GET A NEW POST AUNTIE PLEASE 
FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOST AND HAVE TO RE-LIVE THIS EVERY YEAR AND R.I.P TO ALL OF THOSE WE LOST TOO SOON.. NEW POST PLEASE!!!!
@TATT GOOD MORNINg
Thank you Sandra for posting this video I watched the WHOLE thing, I’ve been moved to tears watching those people jump to their death or even pushed by some co- workers. When September 11th happened I was just 14 years old in the 8th grade, I can remember not really knowing how SERIOUS this was. But now as an adult I can understand fully how serious this really was. This one incident has forever changed America hell we are still at war b/c of it. I pray for all families invloved I’m sure this never gets easy. B/c every year the media will remember September 11th and that will make the family HAVE TO grieve all over again… May peace and blessing are with the families of the victims…
I will never forget this day. Once all the hype dies down i’ll be visiting Ground Zero, they did an incredible job on the fountains.
Lakes, the daycare was located in another building near the twin towers, the children were evacuated prior to the buildings collapsing.
Creamychic says:
This is a sad case for all people, but why keep re-living this tradegy over and over again, we are so quick to say they are in better place, they looking down on us, they have no more worries, no more struggles, so why is that you wont let them Rest, we so quick to say R.I.P but yet we try and wake the spirits up, with going to grave sites, re-living the videos, and i know people are hurt, that have lost love ones, but at some point, people need to realize they are not coming back, remember in your heart but all his memorial stuff a full day of people reliving this over and over again, crying, falling out, I think it is selfish for people to do this GOD said “why seek the living amongst the dead”
the Dead know of nothing, when people go lodging to gravesites talking to the dead, it’s sad, all this is in your bible, for those who say they follow the most high, I am I am, I have a family member that throws a get together for her child every year, for the past 12 yrs, I stop attending, she gets mad, but i stand on wht i believe, leave those spirits alone, let them R.I.P. this is my take on this. # thisisall
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I can’t say I agree with this people have MANY different ways they grieve and 911 is an event that CHANGED America forever. The media isn’t gonna let you forget. My son and the younger generations are gonna be reading about this in history class if they haven’t already.
Yeah there wasn’t a daycare at the towers but in a building close by. Only kids to die where on the planes…
Why do people automatically assume all the jumpers chose to jump
Maybe they were pushed or propelled out by strong, fire blasts. Maybe they were trying to break the window to get air, but the pressure pulled them through?
I don’t know, I’m juss saying…its sad all around.
May they ALL rest in peace
i have seen them through pictures and videos…and i have heard them fall. i believe that many chose and some were pushed/shot out from explosions and/or pressure. i think of them when i think of the tragedy because i DEFINITELY would have been one of them. i would have gone out the window rather than burn to death. i have to think their shoes were melting to their feet, their clothes fusing to their body.
i remember two workers holding hands upon jumping. it’s what i would have done.
A little over a month before the attacks, my sister had a bday party for my niece, Khayla (her first bday party). While we were there, I met her next door neighbors for the first time. A husband, a wife, and their baby girl Kayla (whose 1st bday was coming up in October). At the party, the wife, was so beautiful, so pleasant, and was so excited about trying to get her baby girl to walk. After the party, everyone said their goodbyes, and went about their way.
Then, that tragic day came along, September 11, 2011. I’ll never forget this day. I remember it clearly. I was at work, and we used to listen to the radio during the day. The radio host came on and said that a plane hit one of the Twin Towers. I was in disbelief and a state of shock.
A few days later, my sister said that her next door neighbor (the wife) was missing. Unfortunately, she was in the first tower that was struck, she never even had a chance. It broke my heart. The only thing I could think about was her husband, their daughter, and her family. I just couldn’t believe that this beautiful and kind person was now gone.
RIP Venesha Richards, and all of the victims of 09/11/2001
Laker there was a daycare in the Murrah bombing here in 95 so maybe she got it confused
WOW!.. There are so many stories told and untold from this day!… God continue to be with the families give them strength! Protect cover us fromseen and unseen harm!.
GAGIRL87 says:
Creamychic says:
This is a sad case for all people, but why keep re-living this tradegy over and over again, we are so quick to say they are in better place, they looking down on us, they have no more worries, no more struggles, so why is that you wont let them Rest, we so quick to say R.I.P but yet we try and wake the spirits up, with going to grave sites, re-living the videos, and i know people are hurt, that have lost love ones, but at some point, people need to realize they are not coming back, remember in your heart but all his memorial stuff a full day of people reliving this over and over again, crying, falling out, I think it is selfish for people to do this GOD said “why seek the living amongst the dead”
the Dead know of nothing, when people go lodging to gravesites talking to the dead, it’s sad, all this is in your bible, for those who say they follow the most high, I am I am, I have a family member that throws a get together for her child every year, for the past 12 yrs, I stop attending, she gets mad, but i stand on wht i believe, leave those spirits alone, let them R.I.P. this is my take on this. # thisisall
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I agree with the word of God!.. I also believe its not what you say its how you say it..