Recently The Press asked our readers to submit their recollections and thoughts about the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that rocked New York City, Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, Pa. Here are their submissions:
  
Surreal
It was a memorable day for Dorothy Gackstetter Nov. 28, 1978 when she and her husband Marvin celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at the Twin Towers in New York City. 

At the time, the couple’s oldest daughter, Diana, was attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Also celebrating with the couple was their youngest daughter, Tamra, who was 11; Brian who was 18 and Scott, who was 23. Their other son, Kevin, was attending Florida State University in Tallahassee and was unable to attend.

Dorothy and Marvin Gackstetter with a souvenir of their visit to the World Trade Center in 1978 in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary.

“We enjoyed the evening on the top-floor restaurant area,” Mrs. Gackstetter said. “You could see through the glass corners of the room and were able to see down to the main floor.

“What excitement,” she added.

The events of Sept. 11, 2001 seemed surreal, Gackstetter said. “To see those places we had been on TV was shocking and horrifying,” she said.

Unaware of the magnitude
As a member of the Genoa Planning Commission, I was scheduled to attend a special meeting at 9 a.m. in the Town Hall on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

Shortly prior to leaving home, I turned on the TV. The news on most channels was about a plane flying into one of the Twin Towers.

I alerted my wife to the news and left for the meeting, thinking it was an incident similar to another plane flying into a tall building in New York City some years earlier.

Only three or four showed up for the meeting, which was eventually called off because it required the presence of one or two village officials who could not be reached.

Sept. 11, 2001 was a holiday and Genoa Village employees had the day off.

Most of us hung around and discussed generalities while the hot news was flashing at home. In summary, we missed it.
Jack Werner

Harsh reality
At the time, I was a college student working as a waitress at night at the restaurant inside the Flying J.

The majority of our customers were travelers, specifically truck drivers. I would always talk to the drivers, asking them where they had been and where they were going. A few days after the tragedy of 9/11, I was at work, and a man sat down at the counter. I got him his coffee and started making small talk. I asked where he was from, how many kids he had – the usual.

At one point, I made the mistake of asking where he was headed. He looked down and said he was on his way to New York City. I rolled my eyes and playfully asked, "Why in the hell would anyone go there right now?"

He looked at me and I noticed he had started to cry. His eyes met mine and he said, “My truck is full of coffins Ma'm.” 

The naive teenager I was when that conversation started left at that instant. Reality overcame me like a beach tide. I too began to cry. I will never, ever forget that conversation.

By the way, it was a good number of years before I ever dared ask another customer where they were headed...I was afraid of the answer I might receive.
Dana Funk
Millbury

9/11 an inspiration
That fateful morning a decade ago found us living our lives as if that day would be like any other. The collision with the first tower on Sept. 11, 2001 sparked a bewildered search for plausible explanations. Pilot error? Mechanical problems? Distracted controller? The collision with the second tower was more disturbing in that any hope for an accidental cause was extinguished. Our nation was under attack.

As the truth unfolded, disbelief gave way to anger and grief. The events of that day caused me to consider acts of creating and building versus acts of destruction. If so challenged, could our attackers create anything as grand as the World Trade Center? The answer is obvious. Striking the match that burns the book is far simpler than the writing. I am proud and encouraged to acknowledge our nation's rich history of accomplishment. The construction of the new One World Trade Center is a testament to that spirit.

I believe in the power of words. I believe in the power of our nation to heal itself. My greatest hope is that we can honor the memory of the victims and applaud the courage of the heroes of that grievous day through national unity. Let us transcend the petty squabbles born of partisanship and vanity. Let us be true to our tradition of moving this great country forward in common purpose.
Michael Armstrong
Bexley, O.

Scared out of our minds
I was in Interlaken, Switzerland with my two sisters Elizabeth and Kathy and our friend Debbie.

We were scared out of our minds, wondering if we would be able to get back home. It made me appreciate how much I love this country, to be so far from home when a catastrophe strikes.
Barbara Carr
Oregon

Freedom prevails
On the day of our Lord Sept. 11, 2001
An attack on America by some terrorists had begun
In a matter of a few hours time
The deadly attacks were over and done 
Several thousand lives were snuffed out
In New York City, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon

The terrorists were bold
With their plan of evil destruction
Carrying out to the minutest detail
Their leader’s instruction

The two “World Trade” buildings
Were the first to be struck down
The Pentagon was struck as the third
Plane crashed to the ground

But on the fourth plane
To the terrorists’ utter surprise
Something was taking place
To “signal” their demise
The passengers rallied together to
Stop their flying bomb
And sacrificed their lives
Yes, the terrorists were overcome

Those of us who remain remember
Prayerfully the loved ones
Of those who died
To the terrorists out there, beware
The Giant is rubbing her eyes.
Gary Baker
Allen Twp.

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