Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson: On that terrible September day I was getting my first grader and kindergartner ready for school when I heard the news and turned on the TV. For a few confusing minutes, we all thought it was just an awful accident. But like millions of other Americans, I watched the live horror unfold as the second plane crashed into 2 WTC, the third and fourth planes hit the Pentagon and crashed into a Pennsylvania field, and both World Trade Center towers came crashing down.
It was like a bad dream.
My children were very young. One of them had not yet been born. I did not realize at the time that they would be inheriting a very different world than the one I grew up in.
That September, America changed, but it was not all for the worse. In the face of fear and uncertainty, we saw heroism, bravery, and selflessness as rescuers rushed into buildings that others were fleeing and young people stepped up to fight for their country, risking their own future so that my children could have one. And for a brief but beautiful moment in time, Americans were united like never before across political, social, and economic divides.
I will never forget the sacrifices made on that day and the months and years that followed.
We will forever live in a âpost 9/11â world. In that regard, September 2001 has never ended, and never will.
Traumatic events can bring out the best and the worst in people. May we all do our part to emulate the best of humanity that we have seen on display in so many ways since that terrible September day.
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss: The morning of September 11, 2001, I went to a House Democratic fundraiser at the Alta Club, arriving about 7:30 am. Our speaker was KSL Radioâs Doug Wright. I walked over to greet him and chat for a minute as people were arriving and noticed he looked ill at ease. He said
that a plane had apparently hit a building in NYC and the story was just coming into the station. He felt like he should go back to the station, but he also felt he should honor his speaking commitment. Like the pro he is, he delivered an excellent speech about our political system, but his mind was on the developing news story. Many of the attendees were businessmen and
attorneys who had also heard the reports of a crash, but they didnât know if it was an accident or something more sinister. Everyone ate their breakfasts while talking nervously about the developing news. Most of us had Blackberry phones and were distracted and texting family to find out what was happening.
When we ended, everyone rushed to their cars, as I did. I called my husband who told me it was two American Airlines planes that flew out of Boston on their way to California. Bobâs son Josh was a flight attendant for American Airlines and was scheduled to fly out of Boston that morning. Bob had called Joshâs mother in California, and she was hysterical, waiting to find out if it was his flight. It was several agonizing hours before we got a call from Josh that his plane had been called back to the gate before take-off. They disembarked and the crew and passengers were taken to separate rooms where they broke the news that two of their planes had been highjacked and flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Onboard that flight were crewmembers who were friends, co-workers, even roommates of the those on the fatal flights.
They brought grief counselors in and over the next two weeks, Josh attended five funerals of colleagues who were close friends. One flight attendant had just come back from maternity leave so her young baby lost her mother. As with all Americans, we were heartbroken, and devastated over the loss of all the passengers and crew, as well as those who were in the buildings. At the same time, we were overjoyed that Josh was not on either of those planes. Such a contrast of feelings. We will never forget that day.
Weber State University President Brad Mortensen: As I drove to work that Tuesday morning twenty years ago, I pulled out my seldom-used cell phone to call home. I said, âThey say on the radio a plane just hit the Pentagon, too, and itâs on fire. Iâm glad Brady is working the night shift.â
âActually,â my wife Camille replied, âHe switched to the day shift this week. So heâs there now.â
Casual efforts to touch base turned into desperate calls to hospitals. No one had heard from or seen Camilleâs brother, Brady Howell. Brady served as a civilian in the Chief of Naval Operations â Intelligence Plot (CNO-IP) as a watch officer. By early afternoon, I left work to be with our impromptu extended family gathering as we started to fear the worst despite the Pentagonâs expansive size and relatively small area of impact.
No one ever heard from Brady and his on-duty CNO-IP colleagues again. They were among the 125 fatalities in the Pentagon, 2,606 at the World Trade Center site in New York City, and 265 on the four airplanes. (Read More)
Devin Thorpe: Wisely or not, I took my little family to visit Ground Zero near the end of September 2001. The pile was still smoldering. While rescue efforts had been suspended, recovery efforts continued. As the pile was being dismantled, each evidence of human remains was cause for a pause and moment of silence. Some of what we saw defies description.
Today, as I reflect on my memories and feelings, I'm thrilled to see the commemoration include a National Day of Service. There is nothing like service to heal hearts and minds. As we come together, across party lines, to work shoulder-to-shoulder in our communities we make ourselves better, our communities brighter and our country stronger.
Jon Pike: My eyes were fixed on the TV twenty years ago today, just like millions of others. So many emotions. I was stunned, angry, scared, incredibly sad, and a little later â proud. It still amazes me that evil and cowardice could be manifested in such a way as they were that day. The destruction of so many lives so quickly and in such an awful manner is still hard to comprehend.
The immediate devastation and long-term effects in so many peopleâs lives is immeasurable. And like everyone else, over the days and weeks after the terrible tragedies of 9/11, came the coming together among Americans and the people of many other nations. The prayers and looking to God and each other for help, understanding, forgiveness, and peace were so needed and so inspiring.
Finally, the numerous heroes that day and in the many, many days and even years afterward saved lives, gave lives, and inspired another generation of first responders and military men and women. I applaud all the victims, survivors, and heroes of 9/11. I hope I can and that we all can foster better feelings and greater respect for each other and a renewed desire to be good to each other and to remember God in our lives.
Scott Howell: I had just been promoted and IBM to managing director for public sector for the state of California. I was driving to the airport when my father called and said "I donât think your plane will be leaving" and then explained to me what happened. I turned around went back home and immediately thought about my team in California who I had barely met.
I talked to all the managers and told them to please send the office home and have them work remotely. I was completely focused on making sure the 300 employees in our division were safe. My father called me shortly after I had returned home and kept saying, "Scott things will be OK. Scott keep the faith and things will all work out." It was a terrifying moment in my life.
Our best friends Steven Jenny Townsend lived in New Jersey and Steve commuted in to one of those towers. We immediately called them and there was no communication that again sent bone chilling fear into my heart and soul. But I kept thinking about my father said things will be OK. I think Satanâs greatest moment is when he can create fear in the hearts of all women and men.
Lesson learnedâ¦. fear should never dictate the good that we have in our country and in the world.
Mia Love: We all remember where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt on this day 20 ago.
I remember my daughter repeatedly saying, "Mommy, boom" until I decided to see what she was talking about. I initially thought the first attack could have been an accident. We had never something like this before. But as I watched a second plane strike, I knew we were under attack.
9/11 was a terrible and devastating day for us all, particularly those who lost loved ones. It was filled with destruction, fear, and uncertainty.
But the aftermath was the last time I can remember a unified country. Heroes revealed themselves. Neighbors mourned together. And the entire nation rose up to exemplify the best of the American spirit. Today, let's remember it all and strive to return to that unified place.
Never forget.
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