Patriot Day: Remembering September 11, 2001

By Debbie Adams

This Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New
York City where nearly 3,000 people were killed – a day that forever changed our nation and the
world. It reshaped our history and remains a day of shared memories.

Flight Nurse Heather Menzies: “I will always remember this day. I was 26 years old, working
at Tanglewood Mall doing blood pressure and cholesterol screenings for the public as part of an
outreach program with Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Someone told us that a plane had
hit a building in New York. I didn’t fully understand what had happened until I went to my
parents’ house later that day and saw the news coverage on TV. We didn’t have internet access
on our cell phones back then.

“When I heard that a second plane had struck the other World Trade Center tower, and then the
Pentagon, I remember thinking that this wasn’t an accident – this was intentional. At the time, I
was already scheduled to meet with the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Commander in
October 2001 to join the Air Force Reserves as a flight nurse. I remember being asked why I
would still want to join after the attacks and the possibility of war. The answer was simple: I
wanted to serve my country. Over the next 21 years, I had the honor and privilege of providing
medical care in flight to those who also served.”

Vinton Mayor Brad Grose: “Many Americans, me included, have vivid memories of 9/11 that,
to this day, revive feelings of sadness, anger, and bewilderment. September 11, 2001, was the
day that made us realize that we, as a nation, were not and can never be isolated from the world.
The evil acts we witnessed on that tragic day will never be erased from our memories, nor will
the incredible acts of bravery and sacrifice by many of our fellow citizens. The day was truly a heart-breaking time of loss and confusion, and it served as a solemn reminder that life is precious and fragile.

“I think the experience of my family on that day proves that birth, life, and love continue, no
matter the degree of destruction, evil, and hate.

“For me, September 11, 2001, started as a rather routine, well-planned day. As I was rushing to
leave for work, I took one last glance at the network news on television. The two morning hosts
were starting to report that ‘apparently a plane has hit one of the World Trade Center buildings in
New York.’ The news people seemed shocked and confused, almost dazed. It was already
terrible news, but I had to leave for work. Within a few minutes, I arrived at my office as the
radio was reporting on the increasing scale of the tragedy. We are all aware of the many horrific
details that followed.

“At exactly the same time my wife, Debby, was being called to substitute for my daughter,
Mandy, who was teaching a class at Parkway Wesleyan Preschool. Mandy was rushing to a local
hospital to be in the Delivery Room with a good friend. Mandy and the child born on that faithful
day have remained close friends, even now. The wonderful person born that day was named
‘Zoe’. In Greek, ‘Zoe’ means life!”

Vinton Police Lt. Michael Caldwell: “I can remember this day like it was yesterday. I was 26
years old and was a conductor for Norfolk & Southern. I was in a hotel in Crewe, Va., after
getting off a train from work. I had woken up to go to the bathroom, and I always slept with a
TV on there because of all the outside noises. When I woke up at around 9:30, it was on the TV
and I was in shock. I was angry, frustrated, felt helpless for not being there, and wanted to call
my family immediately. I then was told that all trains going back to Roanoke were delayed, so I
was stuck in this hotel for another 20 hours before I took another train back to Roanoke. I never
went back to sleep and just sat on the end of the bed watching everything unfold on every
channel.”

Deputy Town Manager Cody Sexton: “I was in seventh grade at Northside Middle on 9/11. At
the time, we had two English classes in first and third periods with gym in between. I remember
the day starting normally and then going to gym class like always, which would have been
around 8:30 or so. We were playing flag football on the front field, but toward the end of the
period, I remember one of the janitors riding up on a tractor to my gym teacher and talking to
him about some crash. The gym teacher was a pretty big macho, hot-headed kind of guy.
However, on the walk back to the locker rooms and up the gym stairs, I still remember the blank
stare on his face and just silence.

“When we got back to the second English class, Mrs. Turman (who in hindsight was probably
only in her mid-20s) shut the door and barely got out the words, ‘Something bad has
happened…’ before falling apart in tears. She turned on the TV, and we saw both towers with
smoke pouring out of them and replays of the planes crashing. We sat there, a room of 20 or so
middle schoolers, watching the live coverage. Then, the worst came. We saw the towers fall in
real time and the smoke and debris fill lower Manhattan. That became the replay…everything
crumbling.

“I honestly don’t remember what happened the rest of the day. Coverage of the attacks was
everywhere all the time. Rumors of what might be next swirled (remember…don’t go to a mall on October 31!). At some point, you just start living life again, but with an uncanny awareness of
the bigger world. Seventh grade is a wild time on a good day. I remember being aware enough to
know that the world had changed but not being old enough to fully understand what all that
meant. Now, it seems like it has always been the way it is. It’s not necessarily better or worse; it
just is.”

WBHS Principal Evan Noell: “I was in my eighth grade English class when the attacks
occurred. My English teacher was Missy Steele; she went on to teach at William Byrd Middle
School.  I recall our Principal, Jill Green, making an announcement about the attacks during
class. It was a very confusing moment, and we spent the remainder of the day watching updates
on our classroom televisions.”

WBHS teacher and coach Eric Royal: “I was 32 years old, working in Hartsville, S.C., at a
stainless steel mill, and on the phone with Deb O’Donnell (Yarde Metals), a customer who was
located just outside New York City. We were running her orders when the first plane hit the
tower. Our reaction was, ‘I wonder what happened (heart attack, mechanical failure…).’  We
continued with her orders/due dates when the second plane hit. We ended our phone call, and I
went to the conference room, where the only TV was located. Shortly after that we were sent
home.  My children were in elementary school and were released to go home. I remember getting
home and not knowing exactly how to discuss with them what happened and why. Teaching
government class I look forward to sharing my story with my students and how it changed the
world.”

Bonsack Elementary Principal Leanne Leftwich: “I was teaching first grade at Berkeley
Glenn Elementary School in Waynesboro, Va. I remember the principal coming around to tell us
a plane had hit the Towers but didn’t quite realize the gravity of what he was saying.

“At that time, there were no smart phones, only flip cell phones without internet. There were no
TVs in the classroom, so we were shut off to the intensity that was going on in our country…
until we went home. The news did not travel as fast as it does now. It was not
instantaneous. When I got in my car, all radio stations were talking about the events 24/7 for
many days on end. On the TV, the news was on 24/7. They showed people jumping out of
buildings to try and save themselves. The stories of firefighters rushing up the stairs to save
people, only to lose their lives when the buildings collapsed. The stories of loved ones trying to
call on landlines prior to the buildings falling.

“Prior to that day, we were a safe nation. Untouchable, so we thought. After that day, our country
became more united, patriotic, and determined to not ever let this happen again.
“Sometimes I think we forget about how our patriotism was so strong on the following days. We
were united. Americans. I only hope that we never experience this targeted hate event
again. May we never forget.”

Chief Operations Officer for Valley Wealth Tiffany Rawling: “I have a pretty ironic story: I
was in a mass communications class at Roanoke College being taught by The Roanoke Times
reporter Matt Chittum. He had been lecturing about boundaries with the media in their
interactions with people. He spoke of the balance that needs to be reached while gathering
information to do your job and inform the public versus the boundary of intruding in people’s
personal lives in a time of tragedy or loss. The discussion was just picking up in the 8 a.m. class when his pager and emergency cell phone began to go off repeatedly as he was being called to
work. Having no idea of the magnitude of those calls, he announced he would have to cut our
class short because something crazy must be happening, but he had to get to the newspaper
office.

“When I rounded the corner out of that campus building, I bumped into my best friend, Scott,
who delivered the news about the first plane hitting the tower. I was back to my dorm and had
the television on by the time the second plane struck. I was horrified by what I saw and terrified
by how that could have happened.

“There were a lot of students at Roanoke College from the greater DC and New York regions, so
I quickly found myself encountering people who couldn’t get in touch with their loved ones: a
sorority sister’s dad who worked at the Pentagon, a mom who was in New York on business, a
personal friend who was attending law school in the city, and many more. It magnified the event
for me because it personalized the horror and loss I saw on the news footage.

“Classes were cancelled, a chapel service was held; a general sense of unease filled the campus
where, only hours before, I woke up feeling entirely safe and carefree.

“My mom, sister, and three nieces went to New York in June of this year. In lining up our
itinerary, my 13-year-old niece asked to visit the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.”

Vinton Vice Mayor Laurie Mullins: “I cannot believe it has been 25 years! I was 28 and
working for my mother-in-law at Curves. I was there that morning with the usual ladies. Then
one of the clients who had been there and gone home called me to tell me something was going
on in NYC. That must have been right after the first plane, because she was relaying info that it
looked like an accident. There wasn’t a TV there and we had pre-programmed music, so I had no
information coming in except for what the ladies coming into Curves were saying. My shift was
usually over around 2 p.m. and I went straight home and was glued to the TV the rest of the day.
The unknown and thoughts of terrorists on our planes was scary – almost like it wasn’t really
happening. I feel like we all were like zombies for days as the info and footage were being
replayed. But the patriotism and feeling that our country was one body fighting and grieving
together was unforgettable.”

Retired electrical supervisor Danny Adams: “I was 37 years old and working on a job at
Abercrombie and Fitch at Valley View Mall. I remember Hispanic workers on the job site kept
saying to us that they were very, very sorry this had happened. Sitting in my truck on break, I
turned on the radio and heard that the Pentagon had just been hit. I really thought the attack was
going to be even more widespread than it was. There was a TV in a cubicle in the wall at the
mall and we watched the developments.”

Vinton Town Council member Sabrina McCarty: “I was working at Valley Bank at the
Crystal Springs office. I was saddened for the loss of all the people involved. I have been able to
visit the site in New York. It is a beautiful memorial.”

Scoutmaster Greg Leslie: “My wife Vikki and I were with her mom, sister Christy and husband
Brian, and brother Ed at Topsail Island. My son, Nick, was also with us, a little over 1 year old.
We had left for Topsail on the Saturday before. I was only going to stay through Monday and fly
back home on Tuesday, 9/11. As Vikki was taking me to the airport that morning, Brian called us
and told us to turn around – that they had grounded all flights. I thought he was kidding but turned around back to the house. We watched the second plane hit and both towers fall. I couldn’t
get a flight out, nor car rental. I thought about driving home and going back at the end of the
week, but Ed had to leave. If I left, it would have left them down to one car. In the aftermath, I
always thought of my school classmates, as we just had a reunion the week before and of Scouts
flying from the BSA National Jamboree in the middle of August.”

Vinton Breakfast Lion John Dyer: “I remember having to travel to Connecticut on business
two days after 9/11. I had to drive, as flights were all cancelled. I drove past NYC and could still
see large plumes of smoke emanating from Manhattan. Upon return, I flew back on the first day
that flights resumed.  I am embarrassed to say this, but I was nervous as one of the few people on
the flight was a middle-aged Middle Eastern-looking man, and I kept watching him with concern
during the flight. We were all still on edge.”

Teacher Dionne Nichols: “I was 25 years old. It was a brilliantly clear morning – one of those
days when you take a deep breath, look at the mountains in the distance, and know that the heat
and humidity of summer are nearly at an end. I was off work that day and was planning to work
my way through a list of chores. I packed up my laundry and headed to my fiancé's grandparents'
house.

“Driving down Texas Street in front of the Salem Civic Center – I cannot remember if I was
singing to the radio and the news came on with an update, or if I decided to turn the radio on and
heard an update, but I immediately began to question whether it was real or not, thinking of
when ‘War of the Worlds’ first aired on a radio show and the public thought they were actually
being invaded. I scoffed – this could not be true. This is AMERICA – stuff like this doesn't
happen! And who would do this? I pulled over to the side of the road so I could listen without
distraction.

“In shock, I continued on to the grandparents' house, where I found them sitting in their own
shock watching the live-action, never-ending news. I don’t remember much about that time
passing other than me going downstairs to do laundry, but at one point, I knew I needed to get
away from the barrage of videos that were shown over and over. It seemed nothing new came to
light at first. I did watch the second tower fall, but I know I put a load into the dryer and then
said I needed to run out – I was, in fact, running away.

“I went to Walmart to pick up some things; however, the radio was not playing and instead, the
news was being broadcast into the store. It was surreal. The usual vision of people meandering
aisles, shoppers talking, checking their lists, walking with purpose to the next section they
needed, etc., did not exist. Instead, people walked at one-third speed. They plodded along,
moving in slow motion. We all stopped in unison when something new was announced. I
remember seeing a man leaning on a shelf for support as his legs were about to give way
underneath him.

“I don’t remember the rest of the day. All I know is I had to go home and tell my fiancé what
happened. He worked 12-hour night shifts at the time and went to bed at 7:30 a.m. I went to sit
on the bed when his alarm went off and explained that I had some terrible news for him. I didn’t
want him walking out into the living room and turning on the TV without a warning about what
he’d find.”

Vinton Town Council member Mike Stovall: “I was in downtown Roanoke at First Union
Bank when I was alerted that a plane had hit one of the towers. I then watched the other plane hit
the other tower. We were then immediately evacuated and told to go home.

“My feeling was one of disbelief that something of that magnitude could really be happening to
our country. I was shocked to learn how it all unfolded. I thought President Bush did a great job
during that time.”

Vinton Breakfast Lion John Berry: “I’ll never forget. I was in my boss’s office with four other
senior managers. His executive secretary came in, didn’t even knock and said, ‘You’ve got to see
this.”I’ll never forget the expression on her face. My boss had a 12-inch black and white TV on
his bookshelf. As soon as she turned it on it showed the smoking image of the first tower.
Unbelievable!”

Town Clerk and Administrative Assistant Megan Lawless: “I was 14 years old and in
ninth grade English class. School continued and we went from class to class, but all teaching
stopped so we could just watch the news.”

NSDAR member Lisa Gascoyne: “I was working as a temp for Bright Agency at Lewis-Gale
Clinic, where I had just been invited to come on board permanently when I heard the news.
‘That’s a lot of hooey’ was my first reaction. They brought out TVs and we saw the second plane
crash into the second tower. I was in total shock. Not a lot of work got done that day. My son,
Paul, was on a mission trip in Argentina. He had no access to TV and mail was spotty. He was
only permitted to use the phone on certain days. We could send emails to the Mission House,
though. My younger daughter, Miriam, and I composed a description of what had happened,
because he was soon to return home and might experience repercussions at the airport. We
started with ‘The world changed today.’ Paul shared the message with many of his fellow
missionaries who had no access to the news.”

First responder and Cubmaster Steve Thrasher: “We need to make sure we don’t forget the
people who died on 9/11. We must remember the people, but we also remember the events that
they endured. They were regular people, just like you and me. Like most victims of violent
crimes, they had not done anything to deserve their fate. I will recollect my thoughts of
that Tuesday in 2001. But just as importantly, are my thoughts now whenever I think of 9/11.

“Now, I remember those victims and responders and pray that their families are comforted by the
grace of God. I also realize that any one of us, on any day, could be a victim. I hope that
remembering helps strengthen our resolve to prepare for and to prevent the recurrence of that
type of event.

“I was in my early 40’s on that clear Tuesday morning in 2001. I worked at a manufacturing
facility in the Roanoke area and was hosting a contractor from Florida. When we heard the news,
she checked her flight back home later that day and, of course, it was canceled. I understand
now, but at the time I was a little miffed at her as it seemed her only concern was how she was
going to get home.

“I had served in the reserves for nine years but been out for about five years. I had been on 24-
hour notice during the first gulf war and wondered if I may be called back. I was concerned for
my family (wife and two young children).

“Going outside it seemed so odd at how quiet it was with very little traffic. Then within a few
days most cars had American flags on them. I was a volunteer first responder in Vinton; that night we had a meeting at the firehouse. Many of our discussions were about the changes we
were going to have to make to improve security at the station and in responses. I think we all
knew it, but that day reaffirmed in each of us just how important and dangerous being a first
responder could be.”

Karen Obenchain: “I was working at Hooker Furniture as HR manager. I had been out in the
plant, which was a different building. The sky was beautiful that morning and I thanked God as I
looked up for such a beautiful morning. Before I got to the door our nurse yelled come quick. We
had a TV in the conference room, and her husband had called to tell her what was
happening. She said you have got to see this, so several of us gathered in the conference
room. We saw the last plane hit. It was heart-wrenching. We could not say anything. Our plant
manager finally said we needed to go back to work.  We did, but our hearts and minds were not
there.

“My oldest son had worked for a finance company in New Jersey after college. He came back
home rather than be transferred to New York, but I knew he had friends who were there. He was
a substitute teacher at the time. I called the school and asked if I could please speak to him. I just
needed to know he was okay and hear his voice. I will never forget that morning.”

Mount Pleasant Lion and retired attorney Mike Ferguson: “On that fateful day, as I was
leaving the house to go to work about 8:30 a.m. the TV morning news had begun to report an
airplane striking one of the World Trade Center buildings; no real details were known as I went
out the door. There was no suspicion of a terrorist attack yet. By the time I had arrived at my
office, the second plane had hit the other tower and everyone in the office was glued to the news
reports. The tragic results were starting to unfold, the buildings crumbling, people covered in
dust running for their lives and first responders trying to get in to help. The television morning
shows were staying on constantly, with the commentators all trying to make sense of what was
happening, cutting to reporters on the scene and bringing in talking head ‘experts.’

“A bit later came the additionally shocking revelations that two more airliners had been hijacked,
with one hitting the Pentagon and the other crashing into a field in Pennsylvania. It was difficult
to understand what was happening and how widespread the attacks were going to be. There was
not a real panic, but nearly everyone was on edge. By mid-morning the FAA had shut down all
civilian flights, there were no contrails in the sky, no drone of propeller engines, or whine of jets.
There was an eerie stillness that I still remember and that I later talked about with a friend, a
retired U.S.Air 737 pilot. We both remembered the remarkable silence. That day was like Pearl
Harbor day was to our parents – we all remember where we were when we learned of the
horrible event.

Scout leader Richard Cohen: “I’ll never forget that day or the feeling. I was at my home and was watching a movie while some Air Conditioning servicemen were installing a new A/C outdoor unit at my house. At some time in the morning, one of the repairman came to my door and asked what I had heard of this attack and they all came into the house and we watched the new for about 1/2 – 3/4 hour as we watched the World Trade centers collapse to the ground. It was utterly shocking to think that this was more than an accident but after the 3rd plane hit the Pentagon it was clearly an act of terrorism. The rest of the day I did nothing but watch the news and try to absorb what had happened that frightful day.

Debbie Adams: “As for me, I was teaching sixth grade at Breckinridge Middle School in Roanoke City. I also
remember what a gorgeous day it was. My students were in gym class. The custodian stuck his
head in the classroom and said to turn on the TV. The first tower had been hit. My aide and I
were speechless. When the students returned, we kept the TV on and watched the second plane
hit. The announcement then came over the speaker that all TVs were to be turned off. Everyone
was subdued the rest of the day with not knowing what had happened or why. It was a very quiet
day, unusual for middle school.”