9/11: A Day of True Impact - Not to Be Forgotten

Palatine IL

11 September, 2021

5:47 PM

Description

The sting is still so strong after 20 years. At a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on the 20th anniversary of the attacks, I was instantly brought back to that horrific day – the day that lives were changed in an instant and the course of so many peoples' futures took paths they may not have taken – if not for this tragedy. I am one of those. I had been working as a news reporter since late 1999 at my first radio job in Decatur, Illinois, at WSOY 1340AM. I was a writer, reporter and broadcaster, covering local and state government, nonprofits, police and fire, and anything else that was the 'community news of the day' in Decatur and throughout Central Illinois. The Friday before this fateful Tuesday, I had given two weeks' notice to my radio station manager, Joel. I felt like I was in a rut, reporting the same story each day just with different names, places and issues. I had gone on a couple of interviews for public relations positions because I thought it would inspire me more, and provide more value. Joel regretfully accepted my resignation, but asked if I was sure. I thought I was, until four days later, just after 9 a.m. I was to cover an evening meeting on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, and that meant I didn't have to be at the station to cover my normal first on-air report of the day. My news director Jeff filled in for me when I had late meetings, and I didn't have to be in until 11 a.m. At around 8:30 a.m., I was driving to the bank and listening to our morning talk show host, Brian with Byers & Company. The nearly 20 minutes between 8:46 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. have been burned in my mind for the last 20 years, and it feels eerily recent. During his show, Brian abruptly interrupted the interview he was doing around 8:50 a.m. to share an AP story that a plane had hit the World Trade Center's North Tower. It sounded awful, but it seemed like a terrible accident. Under 20 minutes later, he interrupted again. Brian was a confident person, but I heard a shake and a deepness in his voice this time, which shook me. I don't remember exactly, but he said something like, "this is not an accident; our country is under attack." From there, it just got deeper and more devastating to listen to. The third plane crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. and the fourth, whose passengers fought valiantly against the terrorists, crashed in a Pennsylvania field at 10:02 a.m. As far as anyone knew, everyone on those planes had been killed, and it did turn out, they all were. And what about the people in the North and South towers, and at the Pentagon who were inside those buildings when the planes hit or the first responders that rushed towards danger to save others? We as a country, had just entered the scariest of oblivions. As I and so many of us listened (or watched) in horror, I headed straight to the radio station before I was supposed to be there. I got on air for the 10:30 a.m. report - but stopped into Joel's office first, to take back my resignation. What was happening was something I don't think many of us could have dreamt up - no matter how hard we tried. I felt a duty and a calling to help sort through all of this chaos. What's happening? Why did this happen? Who did it? What now? The days and weeks that followed were consumed by reports that included the names of the dead and those who were lost and presumed dead. We learned who they were, and how they were in essence, sacrificial lambs that had no idea when they woke up that day it was their last on Earth; the last time they saw their loved ones and their loved ones saw them. There was crippling footage of people jumping to their deaths from the tower floors high above that were blazing with fire. The presumption was that it would be better to jump and die, then to burn to death - but no one lived to tell what that thought pattern was. Think for a second, about that choice. I remember stories of husbands who died, whose wives were pregnant and realized the tragedy that their children would never know them - along with all the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends and others who were touched through a gut-wrenching ripple effect. And then, there were the first responders desperate searching through the rubble for survivors – hearing what could have been people who were alive and buried but needed to be rescued. It is difficult to know or understand the toll that had to be taking on their psyches. I remember distinctly when 'search and rescue' became a 'search and recovery' - and the sinking feeling when that was announced. Many of us saw the South Tower plummet to the ground on live TV at 9:58 a.m., or replays of it. The tragic details I was reporting on a daily basis seemed, endless, but I deeply felt I was doing something that really mattered, and had meaning. To different extents, we were all terror-stricken and wanted information to help sort it all out. People wanted to know and understand what happened. The very fabric of our beloved country was ripped and torn to shreds. Myself, and all members of the news media, were reporting about real lives, real impact, and knew through it all, most every one of us would be forever changed. Standing at the ceremony among many neighbors, friends and acquaintances, I learned that I still mourn so deeply for all the people I never even knew - who lost their lives in service to their community, by simply being at work to provide for their families, and anyone else who was so sadly entwined in the catastrophic and unfolding events. These people are stinging reminders of chances missed, opportunities gone forever, and lives changed in a multitude of ways. Some actually turned out for good. People found their professions because of 9/11 - as first responders and in the U.S. armed forces, or even healthcare workers, social and psychological services and more. Relationships formed through the adversity of it all, and our country and its people seemed closer than I had ever felt we all were. We all had the same thing in common; a shared sympathy, empathy and grief. I was just a reporter, but this day changed my life, too, and set me on a path that brings me great satisfaction today. I continue to work in the world of communications, where I am constantly interested, inspired, challenged and truly believe I am providing a valuable service. Let us not ever forget this day in our history. It humbled us, it challenged us, but it also strengthened so many of us as individuals, and as a nation. Always remember. -Melanie Santostefano, Vicarious Multimedia