Two Years Ago Today
I thought that I would always remember the events of September 11, 2001, but I'm already blurring it. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be.
I lost two friends on Flight 175. I hope their families find some consolation at some point.
I worked for United Airlines in Boston, and it was our flight that went into the South Tower. I was an FBI phone link, and one thing that won't blur was the throat constricting feeling I got when I verified that Mark Bavis, a pro-hockey scout was confirmed on the flight, and was presumed dead. Thank God I wasn't the one that had to go out and tell his family. His wife had shown up at the airport with her 6 and 8 year old son, looking for information. The people who had been trained for emergency situations were all in Chicago, so the customer service agents who volunteered dealt with the families. They had to tell wives that their husbands were on the flight. They had to ask questions like what color shirt was your wife wearing? Did your son have any birthmarks or tattoos? This was gathered because the FBI said they needed this information, and I created a database so we knew who had spoken to who, and what was said.
I don't understand how people can do something like this as a job. I have the greatest respect for them, but I don't know how they do it.
I still don't hate anybody. I don't even hate the terrorists. I can see this as a historical event, and I wonder if people will remember in 50 years.
I lost two friends on Flight 175. I hope their families find some consolation at some point.
I worked for United Airlines in Boston, and it was our flight that went into the South Tower. I was an FBI phone link, and one thing that won't blur was the throat constricting feeling I got when I verified that Mark Bavis, a pro-hockey scout was confirmed on the flight, and was presumed dead. Thank God I wasn't the one that had to go out and tell his family. His wife had shown up at the airport with her 6 and 8 year old son, looking for information. The people who had been trained for emergency situations were all in Chicago, so the customer service agents who volunteered dealt with the families. They had to tell wives that their husbands were on the flight. They had to ask questions like what color shirt was your wife wearing? Did your son have any birthmarks or tattoos? This was gathered because the FBI said they needed this information, and I created a database so we knew who had spoken to who, and what was said.
I don't understand how people can do something like this as a job. I have the greatest respect for them, but I don't know how they do it.
I still don't hate anybody. I don't even hate the terrorists. I can see this as a historical event, and I wonder if people will remember in 50 years.