Photo by A. Warner

By Sarah Thornton Clifford

Sept. 11, 2024: Today is September 11th, a day that sadly many of us remember all too well. 

On September 11, 2001, I was in my office at Sports Illustrated in midtown Manhattan when the first plane struck the World Trade Center North Tower.

We always had a few TVs running in the office tuned in to various sports events. That morning, instead of sports, we watched the surreal coverage of the devasting terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93 that crashed in a Pennsylvania field.

Like many of us on that day, we watched in confusion at first and then in disbelief.  When we started to understand what had happened, many of us got on the phone to touch base with family and friends.

After making some calls, I left the office and walked crosstown to my apartment on the east side in the 50s.  Along the way, I saw groups of solemn people walking uptown, some with ash on their faces and clothing.

The 9-11 attacks killed 2,977 people, including 2,753 people in New York, 184 people at the Pentagon and 40 people who died when Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. 

It is a day most of us will never and should never forget.

Today at 3pm at Kensico Dam Plaza, Westchester County is holding an event to honor the memory of Westchester residents who perished in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, as well as those who have succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses.