19 years ago … My father was in the Pentagon, but survived … my mother and one brother were in the Washington, D.C., area and my other brother and I were in Omaha, Neb.
When I worked as a civilian for the Air Force, I wrote this commentary about my experience on Sept. 11, 2001:
I recommend several books about Sept. 11, 2001 …
Sept. 11, 2001, changed the entire world. For the people of Gander, Newfoundland, the day was a way to change the world in a good way. Once the United States’ airspace was closed that fateful day, planes that were still in the air had to find a place to land. Many were in the middle of crossing the ocean and were diverted to Gander, a familiar checkpoint to pilots who cross the Atlantic. Thousands of people were stranded on the island for days and they found nothing but people who wanted to help them, and the stories are told in The Day the World Came to Town. Read the full review here: https://sarahannecarter.com/the-day-the-world-came-to-town-by-jim-defede/
Zuckoff’s book gives an in-depth historical take on the events of Sept. 11, 2001, but also gives the stories of the people who were affected by the tragedy that day. He tells about the families of the flight attendants and pilots. He tells the work history of the firefighters and paramedics. He tells the love stories and shares the heart-breaking phone calls. He talks about who was sitting where in the planes. He describes the rescues attempted at the Pentagon, the struggles of the burn victims from the World Trade Center and the resolve of the coroner in Pennsylvania to recover items with dignity. Rise and Fall: The Story of 9/11 is going to be a must-read book for the people who didn’t live through that day or aren’t old enough to remember. It is a hard book to read due to the emotional factor of the content, but I would recommend everyone read Rise and Fall: The Story of 9/11.
Hingson’s book is a more personal story of Sept. 11, 2001. Hingson is blind and has been since birth. He has had several guide dogs and had one with him when he was working on the 78thfloor of the World Trade Center that day. Roselle’s calm demeanor and his resolve not to upset her led them both to helping each other and many others escape the building shortly before the first collapse. Besides describing his experience on Sept. 11, 2001, and how it affected him, Thunder Dog also gives a glimpse into the world of blindness and how much blind people are just as capable as seeing people. He also talks about his faith and how he heard God speak to him on that day to calm him fears. It is a moving, inspiring story.
We have seen with our own eyes or on the news the unthinkable scenarios of terrorist attacks, earthquakes, fires and tsunamis. Is there a way to know how you personally would react in these situations? How can you train yourself to give you the best chance of survival? In The Unthinkable, journalist Amanda Ripley investigated how humans responded to major disasters and what they did that gave them the ability to survive. She looks at the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, hurricanes, being a hostage, a stampede, a school shooting and a plane crash all while exploring one particular factor that aided in people’s survival.
What was your experience on Sept. 11, 2001?
Share in the comments … or share a book or article about that day you recommend.