Wednesday,
September 12, 2001 - the Day After
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Thoughts | 09/14/2001
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09/12/2001
3:55pm |
News
on Smagala Boys - Stan still missing
... update on cousins. doesn't really look so great. i was just
showing your tribute to tommy. he thinks it's wonderful.
i also
just heard that the westbury fire department was in NYC last
night and some of the volunteers suffered injuries. i'm wondering.........................???
***[more]***
Stacey
Bailey
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10/1/2001-
Unfortunately Stan Smagala died while trying to save others
at the WTC. Stan's wife Dena gave birth to their baby girl on
January
9th, 2001. |
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09/12/2001
3:37pm |
Hi
Donna -
Thanks for sending me that -
I hope that you, and all your family and friends are ok -
We are very sad here in Chicago and it seems all we can do to
help
is to donate blood - there are several blood drives around the
city
NYC families are in my thoughts and prayers...
Kim Baker
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09/12/2001
3:25pm |
Hi
- thanks for posting my e-mail. I just found out more devastating
news
about my cousins. Apparent my cousin Stan and 5 other firemen
walked into the 2nd WTC about 4 minutes before it collapsed.
2 of the 6 remained unharmed but said that my cousin and the
3 others were way ahead of them. I pray that they are in a safe
place within the rubble, but I'm also trying to be realistic
and I fear the worst. Your
dad must have had a ball on the NS - I heard all sorts of
whackos were getting turned away. Idiots - don't people watch
the news?
Anyway,
I think your tribute is wonderful. THanks again!
Stacey
Bailey |
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09/12/2001
12:45pm |
Donna,
This
is a wonderful tribute. I'd forgotten that you worked so close
the
WTC's. This is incredibly horrible. I have been sitting with
the baby in front of the tv for hours and hours. I must have
seen the towers crumble 80x by now.
I am incredibly
shaken up, as many New Yorkers are. Tommy woke me at 9:15
yesterday and I've been watching ever since. I couldn't even
get out of my chair. Our friend Sean who is a NYC Police officer
- Port Authority we've just learned is alive and is being
tranferred to a LI hospital with bad burns, 3 broken ribs
and other injuries - but he is alive.
I've just
learned that my cousin Jim who is a NYC firefirghter was found
last night in a NYC hospital with burns/minor injuries. Unfortunately,
as tears continue to flow down my face since 11pm last night,
my cousin Stan, Jim's brother and another NYC firefighter
is still missing. He was at the World Trade Center when it
collapsed. I pray to God tonight that he is alive - his wife
is home waiting franticlly, 5 months pregnant, for word.
I am so
upset too that little Tommy will never enjoy the laughs and
things you described in your overview. This is so sad.
I'll talk to you soon!
Stacey |
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09/12/2001
12:18pm |
Donna,
I
was 20 miles outside Washinton DC yesterday when the Pentagon
was hit. I was having breakfast next to a Marine who was on
leave from active duty and he immediately was activated to
report. As the terror unfolded, my wife and son got into the
car and made a beeline for the highway out of town as rumors
began to circulate that the roads would be closed. We passed
many accidents on I-95, apparently from crazed drivers fleeing
the DC area as quickly as possible.
Now, on
Thursday morning I pray for a friend who is a federal firefighter
stationed on a military base in NJ, who responded to the bombing
immediately and was airlifted into NY yesterday afternoon
and has not been heard from since. I pray for his safety as
well as the safety of colleagues and acquaintances who still
have not been heard from as well.
Seth |
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09/12/2001
11:42am |
Below
you will find my IM conversation with a very close girlfriend
who worked at the WTC... [-djc]
JeanAlan:
you ok?
GIL137: i'm fine......
JeanAlan: I was soooo worried
about you
JeanAlan: I called you at work
- right after the 1st crash
JeanAlan: I am so thankful that
you are ok
GIL137: it's a long story but i have a cousin here that was
rushed to the hospital yesterday and i have to leave......
GIL137: i love you.....
JeanAlan: love you
GIL137: it was a terrible day yesterday......
JeanAlan: call me soon
GIL137: but i'll give you a call tomorrow....if i can....
JeanAlan: I love you
JeanAlan: frank is ok!!!
GIL137: thank god.....
GIL137: i was thinking about him too!
JeanAlan: me too - he says he
thinks everyone is accounted for (from The Fitch Group)
GIL137: i'm so glad.....you have no idea.....
GIL137: it was like being an extra in a movie....
JeanAlan: frank's account is
gruesome too
JeanAlan: sickening
JeanAlan: cousin OK - hurt how
GIL137: oh god.....
GIL137: I'll talk to you soon.....
JeanAlan: bye
JeanAlan: xxoo
GIL137: xxxxxxooooo
JeanAlan: http://www.jeanalan.com/jad_wtc.htm
JeanAlan: hope you don't mind
JeanAlan: in memory
GIL137: not at all....i'll write it down......
JeanAlan: go
GIL137: big kisses for you......ciao ciao
JeanAlan: bye
GIL137 signed off at 11:40:11 AM. |
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09/12/2001
10:59am |
I
was doing work for my client in the WTC and now they don't
exist. Unbelievably sad.
Steve
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09/12/2001
10:50am |
No
ones life will be the same after experiencing such devastation
and feelings of vulnerability. My personal memories have been
darkened forever. I can now only think of the families who
are suffering such great losses.
Jim |
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09/12/2001
10:40am |
I
spoke with a very close friend from the Fitch Group ... who
I worried tremendously about - all yesterday. He worked on
Cedar Street directly across from the WTC. He locked the doors
to his office and ran from the building after the second crash.
He believes that everyone from his company is ok... still
no final word.
"The
sound was unbelieveable..." "It was snowing debris...I
made it onto the very last ferry to Staten Island." "I
don't know if I have a job anymore.. I don't know where my
next paycheck is coming from. "They're going to have
to hand out unemployment..."
[-djc] |
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09/12/2001
9:30am |
What
could I add? It's great and brought tears to my eyes!
M |
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09/12/2001
9:30am |
It's
great that someone took the time to do this (and of course you
have more concrete [in more ways than one] memories of it all).
I hope you don't mind if I forward this to a few...
thanks
Jennifer G |
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09/12/2001
9:25am |
Donna,
That was a great tribute! I myself am without words over what
has happened. It seems so surreal in a way because it happened
so far away, yet so close. I feel for the families of the
victims, especially the firefighters and police officers who
were trying to help and ended up as victims themselves. New
York will never be the same.
During my time in New York, I loved going downtown. I used
to shop at a store called 'Century 21'. I loved going to the
observation deck and viewing the city. I have my pictures
for memories now. It was nice to go downtown on the weekend
when it was relatively quiet. I wonder how it will be now......
Thanks again for sharing your story.
Tonya
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09/12/2001
9:19am |
Donna,
How are you. I thought about you alot yesterday and prayed for
your friends who were in the area. I was haunted by your conversation
with Fitch, I pray they were able to get out. As with many around
the country and world, I too am waiting on word of family and
loved ones who were in the area at the time. One blessing, a
woman who I consider my second mom, got word from Ireland that
her niece was 10 minutes late for work yesterday, she worked
for Deutche Bank.
God Bless you.
Una |
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09/12/2001
6:49am |
Donna,
This is great! I still cannot believe it! My NYC office bldg
faces the towers -- my boss watched the 2nd plane crash into
the tower. It is a sight he will never forget. I had consultants
in the House of Reps, The Senate, The Pentagon -- all were
evacuated safely, thank god. I was frantic yesterday.
Are all of your friends/family accounted for? I certainly
hope so.
noey |
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09/12/2001
6:38am |
I
for one am glad that you are not working or living in the CITY.
Who else would look out for me when I am missing in action!
God
be Praised. It could be he has some kind of work for you here
Donna since your life has been spared. Ponder that if you
will.
F |
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