A couple of area residents have shared their experience on September 11th, 2001.
One person was Don Kiel, who called into WOMT’s Open Mic program as said he was flying an aircraft at the time of the initial attacks. He said he received several radio calls explaining what was happening, before they declared a national emergency. Kiel’s plane was diverted to Memphis, and after he landed Kiel said “Rooms became a problem” due to the influx of planes that were redirected.
He took as much control of the situation as he could, telling his passengers to find a room, even if they had to bunk together with others “because you’re not going to be flying anywhere for quite a few days.”
Another listener called in and said that on this day she thinks of two of her friends. “One couple, their daughter was born yesterday, 19 years ago,” she explained. “Changed their world. Then the next day, our who world changed.”
She also recalled another couple who was taking their twin daughters out for their first outing that day. “They continued with their outing,” the called said. “They didn’t let fear take that away.”
She also is now thinking of the seniors in high school and those who just graduated, saying they were born into a post 9-11 world, and now they enter a whole new World as adults due to COVID-19.
