schrecklich, hier ein Augenzeugenbericht eines Bekannten:
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 16:47:53 EDT
Subject: What can I say.....
The cold front went through the NY area last night with big bolts of
lightning, and claps of thunder... louder than usual, and the rain stopped at
about 9pm...and by this morning, the air had cleared. The sky was a deep,
crystal blue with the sun coming up into a very refreshing cool morning. What
a beautiful morning it was.
And I drove to work as usual, to the World Financial Center, and arrived at
about 8am. I parked my car, and today in particular, as I walked into the
World Financial Center, I look up at the Twin Towers, and commented as I had
to myself often over the last 25 years that I have worked in the area, that
the white buildings looked so majestic with the gorgeous blue sky behind it.
At 8:45am, I was sitting at my desk, on the 23rd floor, directly across the
street from the WTC when we heard an explosion. We looked out the windows,
and saw debris falling from the sky, looked up at the Trade Center north
tower, and saw flames. There was no clue that a plane had struck, in fact,
that suggestion would have sounded silly at the time. I, always being the
curious one, ran down stairs, and saw the most horrific sight... the North
Tower of the WTC on fire. Sirens blaring..police gathering. I was in the same
spot in Feb, 1993, and this makes the last bombing look like a firecracker.
Suddenly, people begin to scream, and hundreds of people began to run in all
directions. As people were running, I managed to get a persuading person to
tell me that a plane had hit the tower. In disbelief, I asked if he was sure,
and he said that he saw it!.
The ensuing panic had started because another plane was spotted headed toward
the trade center. I had not heard this. So, I went back into my building to
get my keys, and bag, and as I entered, the 2nd explosion was heard...Much
louder than the first, a 767 hitting the South Tower. I got back into my
office, grabbed my stuff, told some co-workers that if you dont leave now,
you may never leave, and jumped into my car. I got a few blocks away, jumping
some sidewalks to do it (Thank goodness for my NYC taxi driving days). I
finally made it to the Brooklyn Bridge, where the right lane had become an
area to park, and watch this movie continue to unfold...and I saw the NYC
skyline change forever.
I dont know where I will go tomorrow morning. I dont know if I have a job. I
dont know if the markets will ever open. However, I do know that people I
know must have died today, I DO know that life in America will never be the
same... and I know that the skyline of the greatest city in the world will
rise again. We must rise with it.
It has been awhile since I have appreciated being alive as I have today.
Rick Brown