April 17, 2013 11:37:26 AM HKT
I was scheduled for vacation Sept 12, 2001, was going to Niagara for some needed r&r, preparing to leave in the morning when the radio show I was listening to began discussing the events- I thought it was a morning show joke gone stupid, until 2 minuts later when my home phone, pager and cells all started ringing at once. We drove nearing non stop to NYC with the chiefs express blessing in just shy of 10 hours to assist. We stood a half mile away from the rubble with the task of keeping people away- although they were still in shock and pretty much keeping as far from scene as possible, save for some elderly who kept bringing us food.. Surreal in retrospect or even in the moment.