Survivor shares 911 memories

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Kathy Pope was setting up the office for the day on Sept. 11, 2001, when the first plane hit her building in the World Trade Center.

“We didn’t see anything but we felt it,” she said Monday in a Remembrance Program at Ocean Art Gallery in Granada Plaza, 197 E. Granada Blvd. “It knocked everything off the shelf. The computers flew.”

Pope, of Daytona Beach, was one of several speakers at the annual event, organized by Frank Gromling, owner of the gallery. The purpose of the ceremony is to mark Veterans Day, as well honor all first responders and remember the attack on the towers in New York.

Pope was an employee of IBM, working in an AIG office in the first tower that was hit. At first, they were told a small plane had gotten into the wrong air space. But after they had evacuated the building and saw the second plane hit, they knew it was attack, most likely terrorism.

She was in charge of the office, and lost 14 employees that day. It was a time before computers were backed up, and seven employees went back into the building to protect personal data of customers. Three were hit by people jumping from the upper floors. Four people panicked and ran back into the building after the second plane hit.

The theme that ran through the evening at the art gallery was, “if you see something, say something.” Pope said there may have been warning signs at the flight schools where the terrorists trained, or when they were checking out New York, and perhaps someone could have alerted authorities.

Also Speaking was Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey, who said that after calling police, you should also follow-up.

“No call is too small,” he said. “It’s never a burden. Call us.”

Pope said she and others ran 11 blocks to the seaport. After getting there, they turned to see the second tower that was hit fall. It fell before the first tower because the plane caused more damage.

“It melted like a candle,” she said.

When thanked for relating her story, she said, “It’s therapeutic.”

Also speaking was local photographer Ed Siarkowicz, who displayed one of his photos, “Phoenix Rising,” which shows two policemen standing in front of the new Freedom Tower in New York. He asked the audience to always thank a veteran when they see them. He said veterans are made every day, such as first responders.

He said he has heard proposals that the Holocaust not be taught in schools, because it’s too damaging to the young people. But he said it’s important to remember history, so it’s not repeated.

“What if it happens on our soil?” he asked.