Guest: Township Commissioner Rebecca Gushue Remembers 9/11

Upper Dublin Patch asked members of the community to share their stories of remembrace for 9/11. Upper Dublin Township commissioner Rebecca Gushue submitted this piece, recalling her emotions and actions on that day 10 years ago. Gushue prefaced her submission by stating " I was fortunate in that I did not lose a loved one and I was not physically harmed or in danger at any time.  Just like many others, I felt helpless as an onlooker watching the day’s events unfold.  I’ll never forget the date:  September 11, 2001."

September 11, 2001 began as a beautiful weekday morning.  As I walked our dog, Zoom, through Butler Park, per my normal routine, I noted the crisp, clear September air and bright sunlight that shone down in brilliance.

My commute was mundane and I began my work day as I would any other day. 

I recall the disbelief that I felt when a panicked coworker rushed into my office exclaiming that a plane hit the World Trade Center. Shock, terror and dread filled my soul. I frantically called my friends residing in New York City, their families and anyone who I could reach to find out if they were safe. Almost everyone was accounted for within minutes.

My emotional rollercoaster started after talking with my friend Michael’s mother. Michael and I are life-long friends, raised spending summers together on the beaches of Ocean City. Although we went our separate ways, we are still close friends and meet up at least once each summer with our families. It was Michael’s mother who gave me the bad news. His fiancé worked in tower two on the fourteenth floor.

Then the second plane hit. Prior to the second plane, I sat riveted in my office, reading reports out of New York online, cell phone to my ear calling anyone who could give me information. After the second plane hit, I could no longer sit at my desk as thoughts of Michael’s fiancé raced through my thoughts. I ran down to the cafeteria to watch the events unfold on television. Horrific images filled the screen.  I stared in disbelief silently praying for everyone impacted.

Then the towers fell. The weight of my grief crumpled me to the floor and two coworkers helped me up. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Although I didn’t have a direct relative or loved one in the towers, I grieved for the families, unable to imagine the pain and misery that would be inevitable. I tried not to think about Michael or his fiancé, but it was impossible.

The next few hours forced me to pull myself together and act as a manager and leader. I sent staff home across the country and as public transportation in Philadelphia came to a halt, I helped to arrange rides.  Then a third plane-turned-projectile hit the Pentagon and a fourth plane crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.  Talk at first revolved around whether the plane was downed by US missile, accident or something else.  As people theorized about the day’s events, I worked with New York City, Pittsburgh, Maryland and Northern Virginia staff to ensure that everyone had a place to go and started researching on-site grief counseling through the company Employee Assistance Program.  The entire time my heart was in turmoil wondering the fate of my friend’s fiancé.

By three o’clock I received word that my friend’s fiancé was evacuated prior to the second plane hitting tower two and she had run to an evacuation ferry which took her to safety in Jersey City.  Although an avid runner, she later described the ordeal saying, “Rebecca, I’ve never run so hard in my life.  I was running for my life.”  She was one of the lucky ones.

Emotionally drained, I drove home from work at the end of the day.  The pristine blue sky and radiant sun light struck me as inappropriate as I sorted the day’s events in my head.  The towers, the Pentagon and the downed plane in western Pennsylvania seemed unreal and distant on that perfect September day.  Upon arriving home, I walked the dog, made dinner and began calling again. 

Early that evening my husband and I invited my sister-in-law and her son over for dessert.  We all either cried or became misty eyed discussing the day as we walked along Butler Pike into Ambler for ice cream.  It felt cathartic to watch the sunset and spend time with family. 

Although my 9/11 ended in comfort; with every post 9/11 report anger, sadness, patriotism and grief surged through my veins.  My emotions joined my nation as we collectively mourned the loss of life and security. 

I’ll never forget that day.  Every time I reflect back on 9/11, my heart still pains for those who couldn’t end that picturesque, yet horrid September day with family, a radiant sunset and some ice cream. 

What do you remember most about 9/11/2001? Share your stories in the comments section.