--part1_6.1c9b87d7.28e1dc42_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Something to tuck away in the reports for history. This is where I am putting the e-mail. Betty --part1_6.1c9b87d7.28e1dc42_boundary Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Return-Path: <Rex99@worldnet.att.net> Received: from rly-yd04.mx.aol.com (rly-yd04.mail.aol.com [172.18.150.4]) by air-yd04.mail.aol.com (v80.17) with ESMTP id MAILINYD44-0924232657; Mon, 24 Sep 2001 23:26:57 -0400 Received: from mtiwmhc23.worldnet.att.net (mtiwmhc23.worldnet.att.net [204.127.131.48]) by rly-yd04.mx.aol.com (v80.21) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINYD49-0924232634; Mon, 24 Sep 2001 23:26:34 -0400 Received: from pavilion ([12.73.231.114]) by mtiwmhc23.worldnet.att.net (InterMail vM.4.01.03.16 201-229-121-116-20010115) with ESMTP id <20010925032629.UTCY6924.mtiwmhc23.worldnet.att.net@pavilion>; Tue, 25 Sep 2001 03:26:29 +0000 Message-Id: <4.2.0.58.20010924221816.00975dd0@postoffice.worldnet.att.net> X-Sender: Rex99@postoffice.worldnet.att.net X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.2.0.58 Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 22:33:10 -0500 To: Rex99@worldnet.att.net From: Rex Anderson <Rex99@worldnet.att.net> Subject: Account from someone on the scene Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi, All, This remarkable firsthand account was sent by Chuck & Todd. Cheers, Rex This letter came from a sales rep from Melano (a cut flower vendor in=20 California). She was in New York for a trade show that was to be held=20 that week. MONDAY 9-10-01 I arrived in New York Monday evening, the 10th of September. TUESDAY 9-11-01 I awoke early Tuesday morning, to walk to the floral district and touch=20 base with some of our wholesale customers. I had shipped floral product the=20 day before and needed to make arrangements, then prepare my booth and=20 presentation for the show. We were on 6th street; I caught my first glimpse of the World Trade Center,=20 the twin towers rising impossibly upward toward the sky. While inside the=20 store, just off the street, someone came running in and exclaimed they had=20 seen a plane fly low overhead and crash into the World Trade Center. We rushed out into the street and heard several people saying they had seen=20 the plane and that it had appeared to be in distress, flying erratically=20 and revving its engines. Some people thought it had been a prop-driven=20 plane, others thought it was a helicopter. Someone remarked that earlier=20 that day there had been a horrible car accident at the very spot where we=20 were standing. An eerie feeling permeated the atmosphere. Michelle (who was traveling with me) was standing to my left and as I=20 glanced over at her I noticed a large jet airliner very low overhead.=20 "Look, Michelle," I said, "that planes flying low too." Michelle paid=20 little heed to my comment, absorbed as she was in the commotion surrounding=20 us. Moments later, I watched as the plane was briefly lost behind the=20 buildings of New York, then I see a plane appearing for a moment close to=20 the damaged tower. I believe this to be the same plane I had just seen. Then the unimaginable: an enormous ball of fire exploded from the second=20 tower. The sight was incapacitating; my legs began to shake uncontrollably.=20 I knew we were under attack. It was surreal. There was a collective intake=20 of breath as everyone around was transfixed by the vision. Then a myriad of=20 voices, screaming and wailing in dismay as the realization of what was=20 actually happening began to sink in. People gathered around car radios for news. It dawned on me that in the=20 morning we had decided to take care of our business first thing, postponing=20 until later my requested sightseeing tour that is part of anyone's first=20 visit to New York City. The thought that we could have chosen to take in=20 the sights in the morning and the possible outcome of such action was=20 chilling. We began to walk, as my legs were still shaking; walking was difficult. We=20 stopped at a bar and I collapsed onto a seat. I asked for a shot, what it=20 was didn't matter. The bartender brought me a large cognac, which I sipped=20 and then gulped, anxious for grounding. I asked the bartender how much I=20 owed him, he replied, "No charge". The TV suspended by the ceiling played=20 coverage of the attack, and we learned of the Pentagon tragedy. Where else will they hit? Our hotel was right by the Empire State building.=20 Is this happening on the West Coast? My family's in California. How long=20 will this go on? Updated reports revealed unfolding series of events. New York went into a lock down. One could not enter any hotels without=20 photo ID's and a room key. We left the bar to wander the streets in shock. We ambled about for hour=20 after hour, witnessing the chaos of rescue workers, police, firefighters,=20 paramedics and untold numbers of volunteers as they scrambled to restore=20 order. We saw others like us, aimlessly moving, with disbelief, or merely=20 emptiness, in their eyes. As the day grew old and began to fade into night the streets grew more and=20 more deserted, it was dark and we were alone, alone in this crowded city,=20 just us pacing off block after block of broad sidewalks designed to=20 accommodate thousands. We glimpsed an occasional taxi and watched=20 shrieking sirens barreling by. Police officers, mostly cadets, standing=20 guard on almost every corner. We vowed to seek out what we could do to help. WEDNESDAY 9-12-01 Wednesday morning we were out early, on a mission that turned out to be=20 disappointedly unsuccessful. We pounded the pavement for 12 hours, visiting=20 hospital after hospital, then the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. We signed countless volunteer list and searched in vain for a facility, any=20 type of facility, where we could donate blood. The hospitals were=20 madhouses. There were an incredible number of people drawn to do whatever=20 they could, as we were. The problem was logistics: how to oversee a project=20 of such magnitude with literally no preparation. The blood centers had=20 neither the equipment nor the personnel to collect the huge volume of blood=20 people came to give. The lines stretched, they were simply overwhelmed, so we left our names=20 where we could and eventually found a church. We came to a giant cathedral,=20 St. Patrick's, just as the 5 o'clock mass began, so we entered to pray for=20 the fallen. THURSDAY 9-13-01 We got the call from the Salvation Army early Thursday morning. So we=20 proceeded on foot from our hotel through this empty city. Passing the only=20 business's open, deli's and an occasional restaurant. Arriving at the=20 Salvation Army headquarters on 14th, we were processed and issued photo=20 ID's to establish us as working for the Salvation Army. We were assigned to=20 a Salvation Army red tag minister, who loaded us into a Suburban. It was in=20 the car when we were informed we were headed for Ground Zero. I looked to Michelle and asked her if she would be ok. I told her, how,=20 when I needed strength, I would visualize roots extending from my feet=20 going down into the earth. This was how I would stay grounded. We passed barricade after barricade and were waved through. We walked the=20 last few blocks. Dropping off some of our passengers at designated=20 Salvation Army stations. Three of us would continue to walk into Ground=20 Zero. As we approached, I noticed some buildings and cars with windows=20 blown out. The closer we ascended; the horror of witnessing a war zone came=20 into view. What stuck me was all the paper, briefs, memos and notes of all kinds,=20 blended within the piles of ash. Like confetti. I found it odd these=20 hadn't burned in the explosion. Knowing that each sheet had come from=20 someone's office. Vehicles were smashed or burned beyond recognition.=20 Twisted metal lay scattered. We found our tent in disarray, with water and=20 other vital supplies piled high. We set out to organize the supplies amidst=20 a post-apocalyptic scene. As anyone who's seen me at a trade show knows I'm not one to stand inside=20 of the booth. Instead I chose to stand out in the aisle, meeting and=20 greeting each person as they come by. Something compels me to get out and=20 make real human contact, to touch someone and look in their eyes, to share=20 real compassion no matter how hectic the surroundings. As soon as we had a=20 handle on the emergency tent, I set out with water, food, aspirin and an=20 open heart, to give what comfort I could. I did not ask them if they wanted=20 food or water, I just walked up and gave it to them. As one construction=20 worker took the offer of water from me, I laid my hand on his arm. He looks=20 at me and said, "Who are you. Who are you, your touch. How do you touch me=20 so". He proceeded to tell me about his life. This gave me a feeling of purpose. That day we were given 3 sets of facemask. With the receiving of the next=20 we were told the latter was not sufficient for this area. Later, while listening to a construction worker explain how he was helping,=20 someone yelled run. I became part of a human stampede. With my hands above=20 my head, I was swept along for nearly a block. Finally stopping to catch my=20 breath and turn around to see what had happened. Apparently they thought=20 the building we were standing next to, The American Express Building, was=20 coming down. I can only imagine what is was like for all those who ran from the Towers=20 as they collapsed. Sitting by me was a man holding his shoulder. As he was=20 running a woman had fallen. He went to pick her up and was driven into the=20 back of a truck. I laid a bag of ice on his shoulder, staying with him,=20 while someone went to get a medic. He told me there was no way he was=20 leaving. As the day would go, I spoke with many who had lost part of their team, a=20 sister of their wife, or a cousin. I felt honored and privileged to stand side by side with America's finest.=20 They came from all over the country: Police, Firefighters, Search and=20 Rescue, FBI, ARMY and Construction Workers. There for one purpose, united=20 in a desperate yet concentrated effort to find survivors. Many times=20 during the day these individuals were saying thank you to me. I would put=20 my arms around them and tell them how proud I am of them. So grateful I=20 was that I could be there for each of them. The Salvation Army works in approximately 6 hours shifts. At that time=20 their officers needed to leave. Because of the chaos around, it was=20 difficult crossing the barricades and so we would find ourselves alone to=20 do this job. Many times I had volunteers coming to me looking for direction= s. Late that evening some Police officers from New Jersey gave us a ride back=20 to our hotel. As we drove out past the barricades, there must have been 4=20 blocks of people standing on the side of the street with banners that read=20 THANK YOU ...YOU ARE OUR HERO'S...That is when a tear rolled down my cheek. FRIDAY 9-14-01 We would wake early Friday morning to rain showers falling upon the=20 city. Again we would walk to the Salvation Army headquarters, stopping=20 first in the Floral district to touch bases with our customers. Letting=20 them know we were ok and where we were going. We moved the supplies into the food court of the American Express building.=20 Donations had been coming in by the tons. Once again I set to bring=20 organization to our station. The tables were placed in a u-shape. Where=20 water was set on one table, extra water was placed behind. Fruit behind=20 fruit, sandwiches, behind sandwiches, etc. This way when I was out serving=20 others, I knew as more supplies came in, people would see the order and=20 continue this pattern. I had to work and find some order in the midst of=20 chaos. The morgue was set up just outside our door. Bodies would be carried in=20 right before us. A wave of silence would roll in with each body. About=20 six men carrying a stretcher, the body incased in a black bag. Stopping in=20 front of us, all would take off their hats, bow their heads, as the priest,=20 rabbi, or fire chief would say a prayer. Proceeding on to be placed in the=20 refrigerated trucks just outside. Later that day as I was walking up the=20 street, a man crossed my path carrying a piece of sheet metal. There in=20 front of me on this piece of metal was a large hand, palm up, the arm=20 extended to the elbow. The arm still wearing part of a shirt. They say you never forget the smell of bodies. I continued to reach out and was embraced by many heroes. I asked one=20 officer about all the medals he wore upon his chest. One was for bravery=20 and the act of heroism. It was during a hostage takeover, the man held the=20 girl in front of him, as a barrier. Then aimed his gun at the officer, the=20 gun jammed. With each medal there was another heroic story. I said you must=20 have 9 lives. He said, "No, I have a guardian angel". This angel had spoken=20 to him, and his partner heard the same voice, telling them to leave the=20 area. They were able to get out of the line of fire, because of that voice. A firefighter sat alone on a blanket. His hands rubbing his temples.=20 Kneeling down by his feet placing my hand on his leg, I offer him some=20 aspirin, he takes 4, and cold tea. Knowing he will need food to go with=20 the aspirin, I bring him back a sandwich and cookie. Telling me he has been=20 there since Tuesday, part of his team was missing. His eyes seemed to look=20 past me, as though he was looking at and remembering their faces. Oh God give me the strength to help. This was my mantra. Literally, the rescue process was being done one bucket at a time. By the=20 time we left on Saturday evening, only 2% of the debris would be removed. Located below the Embassy Suites, we discovered the only restaurant with=20 some electricity and running water. A treasure was to be found in their=20 freezers and refrigerators. I proceeded to pull out ham, turkey and cheeses. Figuring out how to use a=20 slicing machine and the electric ovens, we were able to serve quite a few=20 hot meals. For dessert, chocolate eclairs and cheese cake. It was a=20 thrilling moment to discover the restaurant coffee machine worked. Now we=20 could make 20-40 gallons at a time. I met the owners who came by later=20 giving their full permission to use anything we needed. They would be=20 coming back on Monday with a full crew. A foreman comes to me with a plea in his eyes. His men will not leave=20 there post, telling me they will not come out, he has to feed them. I grab=20 a box and fill it with power bars and water. Telling him if he needs more,=20 find me. At 11pm I tell Michelle, I need to close my eyes for a couple of hours.=20 Finding an empty booth in one of the restaurants, rest would not come easy. It's 2am Saturday morning, Someone told me Michelle has left and would be=20 back about 7am. I would see her again about 11am. The Army has ordered a=20 complete lock down. All those inside must be issued news tags. Those=20 without these new tags would be removed from this area. We would need to=20 walk down to the Army headquarters where we would again show our driver's=20 license, our Salvation Army tags and give them our social security=20 numbers. These new blue tags read.. Mayor's Office of Emergency Management World Trade Center Emergency City of New York Approved Infrastructure #9915 Now 3am. There are just three of us manning the station. Doesn't matter=20 that it's early in the morning, these amazing rescue crews never give up. Coffee and milk were running low. Two stalls down in this food court, with=20 its doors still open, a Starbucks beckoned me. Flashlight in hand, I=20 proceeded to empty their shelves of all their coffee. Finding they had the=20 boxed cartons of milk that needed no refrigeration. I left the=20 decaffeinated coffee. So there I was from 3am to 9am grinding coffee beans making gallons of very=20 strong gourmet coffee, knowing they would need a good jolt of caffeine.=20 Every time I would attempt to carry one of these containers, someone would=20 come running up offering to help. You know me; I kindly tell them "No, I=20 can do this". Thinking they were all to busy with their own assignments. I learned quickly, that I could not argue with a man in uniform. Each time=20 I brought in another container, I would announce to the rescue workers=20 fresh Starbucks coffee made just for you.Throughout that morning people=20 would come up to me, most knowing me by name, thanking me for the best and=20 strongest cup of coffee they have had. Around 9am the water was turned off. For about 10 minutes I thought I=20 would lose it. Sheer panic spread over me. So many where expecting this=20 coffee. I felt I would be letting them down. Well that took nearly 9=20 minutes. That last minute I reached within, to grab forth every bit of=20 training I had to see this through. I put the call out, No more coffee.=20 Within two - three hours word comes back that Starbucks was bringing in coff= ee. Later as I am checking in on other stations. I pass through Battery Park,=20 walking towards the water. Stunned as I take in my first sight on the=20 Statue of Liberty. In front of me I see freedom, behind me I see mass=20 destruction. Michelle has informed me we are confirmed to fly home Sunday morning. Leaving Ground Zero late Saturday evening was very difficult. As much as I=20 wanted to get home to my family, I also felt as though I was abandoning all=20 those remaining. We would walk out side by side with other volunteers. The crowds outside=20 the barricades were now massive. A roar of cheers greeted us on our=20 exit. Many offering us food, water and clean shirts. Thankful to see a=20 cellular phone company offering the use of cell phones to call our loved one= s. Three construction workers offered to give us a ride back to our hotel. I=20 am sure they were The Three Stooges reincarnated. Much gratitude in their=20 ability to make me laugh. SUNDAY We arrive at the airport 3 =BD hours early. It would take us 3 hours to=20 check in. Our flight is on American Airlines. As we board, everyone is=20 looking into the eyes of everyone else. In their minds saying "Who are=20 you, Who are you". That first hour for me was the most difficult. Thankfully the trip home was uneventful. It is still difficult being back=20 home when I know there is still so much more to be done in New York. --part1_6.1c9b87d7.28e1dc42_boundary--