Photo: U.S. Naval
Photographers/Creative Commons Unported License
Updated: Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012
Editor's note: This
series of stories launched in August 2011 to preview the 10th anniversary
of 9/11.
More than a day's drive separate Chicago from
New York City and Washington D.C. But the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,
2001, brought them much closer.
Now, a decade after 9/11, the staff of
The Red Line Project profiles 10 people and communities that were impacted
by the acts of terrorism at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard
United 93. Some lost family members. Some witnessed the event. Some rushed
from Chicago to help.
And they share one thing in common:
They all remember ...
“This horrible event of hate
really catalyzed this incredible outpouring of love and compassion
with everyone in America doing everything they could to help ... I
wish we had that compassion all the time.”
“We could see the skyline of the
towers with smoke streaming. After about an hour, we all looked and
they just crumbled ... I still shake when I think of that, all
the people that worked there. I pretty much saw them all turn to
ash.”
“I was stunned, I figured we
were at war, but I couldn’t figure out who the enemy was. I was
thinking, ‘Is it China? Is it Russia? Who’s attacking America?’
”
“It was the first time in U.S.
history that all airports closed. Airports from time-to-time close
for security reasons or for mechanical failure, but never had the
whole system shut down. It was somewhat eerie to look up in
the sky and not see any planes or any contrails in the air ... [it
was an] eerie quiet.”
“Disasters oftentimes cause
people to lose faith in humanity. Our job is to provide immediate
assistance, establish a human connection, bear witness to their
experience, and empower them for the future.”
“I don’t know when it’s going to
end, but I’m sure this is not the end. Something else is going to
rise before our time is over. We put down our guard on 9/11. People
forgot what happened at Pearl Harbor. We have to stay on our toes
and stay alert.”
“As first responders, we are
trained to handle any credible threat. Public Safety [has] always
maintained excellent relations with law enforcement. Today, we work
closely with the FBI and Homeland Security.” -- DePaul
Director of Public Safety Bob Wachowski (left)
“It was one of those moments when I felt very much a part of the
city and a piece of the city. It was just a New York moment; one
that has stayed with me for a very long time.”
“Of course, you know all the
what ifs. If he had stayed in the [Pentagon] room with the
admirals, he would be alive. But he came back to do his job and was
seated at the table with the other members of his group when the
plane hit directly.” -- Naperville's Pat Shanower on her
son, Dan, who died on 9/11
“I think that there's definitely
a climate of nervousness when people have to drive through
here." -- Tony Maldonado (left), who lives near Devon
Avenue and its many Pakistani-run businesses
Where were you on 9/11? Tell
your personal stories about what happened that day in our special
comments section.
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