It Was Seven Years Ago Today

9-11-2001

It’s hard to believe that it was seven years ago today that the multiple tragedies occurred which changed our lives forever.

I watched the original coverage from 2001 this morning on MSNBC..and it was still difficult to view. The flood of those same emotions-on a day which, weather-wise was very similar to today—came back to my spirit.

The horror remains—and of course we will never know the extent of it-for any of the people on those planes, those in the towers as they tried to escape—and those on the ground.

I remain in awe of the police and fire/rescue crews who risked life and limb to save others, many losing their own lives in the process. I remember calling my wife as soon as I found out. I remember making the announcement on 94.9 WHOM, since Dean Rogers was scheduled to participate in a promotion that day and was out of the building. Dean was supposed to meet Jared (from Subway) on top of Mount Washington. He was on his way there when he heard the news.

Gathering around the TV set, all of our staff watched in horror as the story unfolded of the first tower being hit—and then we witnessed the second plane slam into the other tower. As news reports flew in, stories of the Pentagon being hit, a plane headed for the White House or Capitol building, we were stunned as we tried to comes to grips with what now appeared to be a coordinated, multi-target attack. As our studios in One City Center house U.S. Senator Susan Collins, our building was placed in lock-down, with no one able to enter…or leave.

One of the most eerie things was a sky completely devoid of air traffic. As close as we are to the Portland Jetport, the sight and sound of planes approaching and taking off are so common as to not be noticed at all…until it all stops. The silence was deafening.

To later learn that two of the terrorists started their carnage by leaving from Portland made it all the more terrifying. Details of their stay the night before at the South Portland Comfort Inn, their use of the Key Bank ATM near the Mall-and their dinner the night before at Pizza Hut---have forever made these locations send a chill up my spine. I used that ATM two days later and was in mid-transaction when I realized that this was the machine that monster Mohammed Atta used……I can’t even describe the emotions I felt at that moment……

Looking back, I remember how we all came together as a country-and how we hugged our children a little tighter that night. Out of tragedy came an appreciation for all we have been blessed with. I know that you too are grateful for the bravery and devotion of our police and fire/emergency pros. We pray that in your service to us, that you never have to make the ultimate sacrifice.