Hey, Readers. Today is Patriot Day in the United States, so named after the terrorist attacks that happened on September 11, 2001. Most years, I post something in tribute to those that died, but today I want to tell the stories of some who lived.
Almost everyone who was alive on that September morning says it’s a time they’ll never forget. I recall it being a beautiful, clear day with just a hint of autumn in the air. At the time, I worked in a small office. Each day, the owner stopped by to drop off mail or pick up items to deliver to our main office.
I’ll never forget the look on his face when he came through the door. He’d just heard about the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. I turned on the radio just as the announcement came that a third plane had crashed into the Pentagon. It was a scary time for everyone as our country was under attack.
By the time a fourth plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, there were 2,977 innocent deaths. Most of the victims were inside the World Trade Center, others inside the Pentagon, or on one of the four airplanes—United Airlines flight 175, American Airlines flight 11, United flight 93, and American flight 77.
There are some that day who due to various circumstances escaped certain death. These are just a few of their stories.
- Greer Epstein was an executive director at Morgan Stanley. She rarely left her office on the 67th floor. At twenty minutes before nine, a coworker asked if she wanted to take a break. Deciding to take advantage of the beautiful weather, she agreed. While in the elevator, she felt a jolt. When she stepped outside the building, paper rained down like confetti. She saw smoke and a gaping hole in the north tower then watched as a plane flew into her office located in the south tower.
- Daniel Belardinelli’s uncle invited him to take a trip to Yosemite National Park in California. He agreed, and the uncle booked flights on United 93 from Newark to San Francisco. A week before the trip, Daniel backed out due to work obligations. His uncle along with other passengers, died when the plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
- A United Airlines flight attendant wanted to work her usual trip from Boston to Los Angeles. When scheduling her flights a month earlier, she accidentally inverted two code numbers and wound up on the wrong schedule. When she realized her mistake, she managed to trade flights with other attendants, except for United flight 175 on September 11. The evening before, she logged into the system to try one last time to request her usual flight. The system froze, and by the time it processed her request, it was one minute past the deadline for changes. Instead, she was assigned a flight to Denver, which left Boston’s Logan International between American Airlines flight 11 and United 175.
- Richard Nummi was booked on American flight 77. At the last minute, he switched to another flight that left Washington Dulles earlier that morning. When all flights were grounded, his plane landed in Kansas. It was then he learned the fate of his previously scheduled flight.
- Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was supposed to be at a charity meeting on the 101st floor of the north tower. An interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer ran late resulting in the duchess not being on time for her meeting.
- Actress Gwyneth Paltrow had her own life-changing moment that September morning. An office worker, Lara Clarke had been rollerblading along the Hudson River. She jaywalked in front of Gwyneth’s car. Starstruck, she stopped for a moment to stare before moving out of the way. That small delay caused Lara to miss her train to the World Trade Center. Instead of being in her office on the 77th floor of the south tower, she was just getting off the train when she saw the plane crash into the building.
There are countless other stories—illness, a delayed commute, an unusual change of plans, a mother’s intuition, or car trouble with a brand-new car.
Reading these stories gives me cold chills. Clearly, someone was watching over them that day.
32 Responses
The survivor and premonition stories give me chills, too, Joan!
I believe Someone had a hand in looking out for those people, Vera. Thanks for stopping by today.
Incredible stories, Joan. I keep thinking of the verse from Matthew, “But of that day and hour no one knows.” My son was in an office, very near Ground Zero. He and his mates felt/heard the hits and were surrounded by chaos. My heart goes out to all.
That verse is so appropriate, Gwen. My husband had a friend who worked in a building across from the Pentagon. He didn’t see the plane but felt and heard the explosion. Visiting the Pentagon Memorial was a sobering experience. I’ve not been to Ground Zero, but my brother has and he expressed similar thoughts about his visit.
Stories such as this take me back to that horrific day. My parents were playing golf at a course close to the Pentagon. My mother asked my father why the plane was so low. Moments later, they heard the explosion.
Wow, Jill. That gives me chills. I can’t imagine how your parents felt being so close to the place where it happened.
My father worked at Pentagon his entire career. Fortunately he had retired, but he lost several friends.
That’s so sad, Jill.
These stories give me chills too. It is why we shouldn’t fight when we are late or things don’t go as they should. It could be saving our lives.
I believe that, Denise. There have been times when I’ve been driving to or from a certain place when I’ve had a strong impression that I should take a different route. I don’t know what might have happened if I had ignored that inner feeling.
All those near misses, Joan. You’re right that I remember that morning vividly. Suddenly life felt precarious. It was the day I quit my job of 18 years and decided to leave the business world behind.
That day changed a lot of us, Diana. It certainly made us realize how short life is and that we should focus on what’s really important.
That’s it exactly.
These stories confirm to me we do have guardian angels who watch over and try to protect us. Not that the people who died that day didn’t have that kind of Divine support, because they did. What a great tribute and reminder to listen to our intuition.
I certainly believe that, Jan. Sooner or later, we’ll all face death, but when I hear stories such as these, it really brings to mind that we aren’t alone.
Some wonderful stories, Joan. A sad day to remember for certain 💕😊
These stories are incredible! Thank you for sharing them. 🤍🌺
You are welcome, Kimber!
Just hopped over there to read, Judi. Thank you for sharing. It’s a beautiful poem.
Thank you for looking ahead, Joan. It’s appreciated.
You’re welcome, Jacqui!
Great stories, Joan. It is amazing how chance played a part in these stories. Maybe it wasn’t chance at all.
I tend to believe it wasn’t chance. Thanks, John.
I think you are right.
It just wasn’t their time. Incredible stories, thanks for sharing.
Exactly, Darlene. Can’t help but wonder how those people felt knowing they came so close to tragedy.
These are all amazing stories, Joan. I’m so glad you shared them. I can only imagine what each of those people feel each September 11th. Clearly, it wasn’t their time.
I can’t imagine either, Mae. And you are right. It wasn’t their time.
Days like this bring many emotions for the survivors or where some random thing seemed to intervene.
Yes, it does. Pete. A sad day for America. May we never forget.
Amazing stories, Joan. It’s scary to think how one small decision or mistake can change your life so drastically.
It really is, Teri. I’ve also learned to listen to that “inner voice.”