Today is the 17th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks. The MMG staff wants to pay tribute to a day we will never forget, so here is what we remember.
Lynn Munroe: CEO
I was working for Reader’s Digest at the time and the TV was always on in my office, so I watched it unfold. I can remember first thinking that it was an accident. I immediately called my best friend to make sure she had heard from her husband who works on Wall Street. We later learned that her fireman brother had sacrificed his life in the towers. I watched the second plane hit live, and any suspicions of terror I had were confirmed. I wanted to get my kids from school, but I worked across the Hudson. I had their father pick them up instead. It was very hectic and what I remember most is wanting my family near.
Paul Solomon: CFO
I was home watching sports and feeding my one-year-old when the broadcast was interrupted by an emergency message. A plane had flown into the twin towers. I work with a lot of people stationed on Wall Street, so I reached out to as many as I could. For a long time after we sat in the office and stared in awe. It was all very shocking.
Jana McDonough: Publicist
I was living on 72nd and York in NYC at the time. I woke up when the first tower was hit, not knowing what was really going on. When I had figured everything out, I went up to my roof deck to get a better view. From there I witnessed the first tower collapsing. At this point, I called all my siblings and we planned to leave the city. None of our cell phones were working and the streets were packed with people. I can remember how it smelled like fire. It was terrible.
Ryan Leonard: Publicist
I was at school, in the 3rd grade. I think we were doing story time. Suddenly the teachers started acting funny as if something was wrong. Then one by one my classmates started going home. They wouldn’t tell us why. Finally, my mom picked me up too. I remember her crying in front of the TV. She was devastated. She told me that I would never forget this day.
Amanda Barry: Publicist
I was in 5th grade at the time. I remember people crying and hugging each other – my teacher was balling, and we had no idea why. No one was telling us anything. As the day went on, my classmates started leaving school, pulled out by their parents – still no explanation. It wasn’t until I got home from school that day that I found out what happened. And in the days and weeks that followed, learning friends and family’s personal stories from that day was gut-wrenching. It was such an incredibly sad, scary and confusing time.
Kevin Munroe: Writer and Editor
I was very young when it happened, too young to appreciate the severity of what took place. But I saw the panic in my elders. My dad picked me up from school. He said that something bad had happened. I was scared but mostly confused. We watched the news for the rest of the day, making sure to spend time together.
I advise others to do the same today. Hold loved ones close and be sure to remember those who gave their lives.
