We all remember where we were on September 11, 2001, the Pearl Harbor of the Modern Generation.
Driving and walking around the 9/11 memorial with former NYPD Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, we knew we would hear a genuine perspective by someone who would not retreat into clichés. Nearly 20 years later, Kerik's emotions are very much on the surface, as they remain for many Americans.
On the clear, sunny morning of September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, and in a coordinated attack that transformed the planes into weapons, intentionally flew two of the planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Learning of the other hijackings through telephone calls, passengers and crew on the fourth plane, now headed toward the nation’s capital, tried to breach the cockpit to thwart another horrific attack. In response, the hijacker pilot crashed the plane into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Nearly 3,000 innocent people were killed that day, the single largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest, single loss of rescue personnel in American history. Over 400 first responders perished while performing their sworn duty: firefighters, members of the NYPD and PAPD, and other rescue workers.
Bernard Kerik, now retired from the New York City Police Department, is one of the most decorated police commissioners in NYPD history and was the commissioner during the September 11, 2001 attack.
In this video, Commissioner Kerik remembers that day.
It was truly a meaningful day to ride around the site of the attacks in New York City, and hear first hand what his experience was from the moment he was told a plane hit the North Tower of the WTC complex, including personal stories about his coworkers and friends who perished that day. We were touched to see how moved he was by explaining the events to us, talking about coworkers and observing the mementos such as flags left by visitors to the 9/11 memorial.
One of the most memorable stories to us was how he and NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani nearly suffocated in the temporary police command post established at the site when the first tower fell.
If it were not for two "angels" who saved them, they may have suffocated in that building. They could not find a way out and miraculously, two maintenance men were suddenly standing there, knew a way out of the building and had the keys to get there. Despite feeling a sense of personal relief, Commissioner Kerik described for us the destruction and losses that had occurred and those that were yet to transpire.
Commissioner Kerik discussed his latest book with us, published in September 2018. The reviews are outstanding and we can't wait to read it! It is available at Amazon and you can find it and support our blog by clicking below:
How meaningful it was for us to hear in front of the Freedom Tower Commissioner Kerik's first hand account of the sorrowful day that changed our country, and even more poignant was the authenticity of his emotions and conviction to never forget.
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We all should definitely remember this day in order to minimize the risk of happening such terrible tragedies for the better future.
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