Dear William (and Daniel, Catherine, Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Let’s talk about some recent history — September 11, 2001. It started out a beautiful day in New York City. Wojcio Rysio had just completed hiking the Appalachian Trail, and was planning to go back to Washington, DC. Rysio was going to rent a truck to move his stuff to Washington; along the way to the U-Haul rental center, we stopped at a bank in Westfield to get a certified check that he needed. While on line to speak with a teller, I overheard one of the bank customers talking about a plane that crashed into the World Trade Center.

Both Babcia Krysia and I had been at the World Trade Center many times before — whenever we took the train into NYC, we would get off at the World Trade Center. I remember in 1976, when your Dad was no longer a baby, Babcia Krysia and I went on a one day mini-vacation to NYC, and the World Trade Center was one of the highlights of our trip.

When we finished at the bank, we went to our car and turned on the radio. On the news we heard about the TWO planes crashing into the World Trade Center. We quickly drove home, and turned the television on — they had a Special Report on the crashes; but there was no explanation of why the planes crashed; and there was confusion as to what was actually happening.

There was smoke and fire coming from the side of the towers, about two-thirds of the way up.

There were emergency vehicles all over the place; and people were streaming out of the buildings; but, many people were still trapped in the two towers.

Soon after that, the news began reporting that people were jumping — unfortunately, to their death. Ciocia Malgosia was away at college; and she called us by telephone to be with us at this time of tragedy. We tried calling our Mothers — Pra-Babcia Kostro and Pra-Babcia Neumann — the phone lines were overloaded, so we had a hard time reaching them; but finally we did — they were already watching the events unfold on their television sets. We also made contact with your Dad, who was a student at William and Mary.

Unexpectedly, one of the two towers began to crumble; and in a few seconds, it came crashing, straight down. We, as well as the news people reporting, could not believe what we witnessed.

What someone wrote on my Flickr website:
“I was in my office on the 14th floor southeast corner of the bldg at 101 Barclay street. I had just gotten off the phone after one of my coworkers called to say that he was taking a sick day (lucky bastard) and was finishing up my iced coffee and scone from the local Starbucks. At around 8:45 I heard a tremendous roar of a jet overhead (not a sound I will ever forget) and an earthshaking explosion. Everyone in the office was looking out the east facing window at the ground looking for a plane crash. Then, someone pointed up to the WTC and we saw the gaping hole with flames and smoke. An accident everyone thought. The security people came on the loud speaker telling everyone that there was “an incident ant the WTC” and that we should stay inside. One person had a radio and was trying to find some news. Fifteen minutes later, we heard the second explosion and knew that this was no accident. I actually still clung to the belief that it was a second accident — an amazing coincidence. The security people said that we should move to the north side of the bldg. I got my wife on the phone and she suggested that I leave. I spoke to my parents and they kept saying that I should see what they see on TV. I didn’t need a TV. I’m no fool, so security guards be damned, I left the bldg. I got the last subway train to Penn Station just before all trains were cancelled. I overheard a conversation with one guy saying that the towers had collapsed. Just a rumor, I thought. They were broken but unbosed when I last saw them. With no trains I proceeded to walk home to Queens. On the way up to 59th Street every pub was filled with people watching the news (this was around 10am). I saw that it was no rumor. I crossed the Queensboro bridge and walked about 11 miles up Northern Blvd before getting a bus from Flushing to Bayside. I was home by around 4pm. The office moved up to 6th Avenue at 50th Street until May 2002. I am now back here overlooking the pit and the tourists.”

After that, we lost cell phone signal; and we lost television signal (except ABC Chanel 7, which was being broadcast from the Empire State Building), because the transmission towers had been on top of the World Trade Center towers.

During all this, we also learned about an airplane crash into the Pentagon in Washington, DC; and a plane crash in Pennsylvania.

The News was reporting that several other airplanes were “missing” or unaccounted for. The city of Washington was closed down; and New York City came to a standstill — there was no public transportation; and everyone had to walk home. I believe that Tadziu was one of those that walked home from Manhattan that day; and I believe that my Sister Hanka was teaching on the Lower East Side in Manhattan that day.

On television, they kept replaying the tragedy, over and over; and all of us were glued to our televisions.

Although Rysiu kept insisting that he needed to get back to Washington; Babcia Krysia was successful in convincing him that it was not a good idea (Washington was in lock down mode; he had long hair; he would be traveling with a packed car — which would be suspicious; and the government kept asking everyone to stay where they were and NOT to travel anywhere until the situation could be assessed.

The President was whisked away by the Secret Service, and his location was not being reported on the news; and there was some confusion as to who was in charge in Washington, D.C.

On October 26, 2001, we took our first trip to New York City after September 11, to bear witness to the horror suffered by so many at the site of the World Trade Center.

Babcia Krysia and I revisited the World Trade Center Site on March 16, 2002, six months after 9/11 attacks, and the wounds were still as painful as earlier.

Some years later, on November 21, 2008, we visited the Newseum in Washington, D.C. There we saw a very good exhibit about the September 11, 2001 attacks.

William — remember, history happens every day; today it is news; tomorrow it is history. When you study history in school; be mindful that it was news to the people that lived through it. Be respectul of the past; and learn from it.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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