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(U) 9/11 Recollections
FROM: SIGINT Communications
Unknown
Run Date: 01/06/2006
(U) We asked readers to share their 9/11-related stories (see the call for input )... Here are
some recollections of that time:
(U) On 9/11 2001, I was vacationing in the west of Ireland, giving my wife a welcome respite
from having cared for her elderly mother since early summer. Just before 2pm Irish time, we
stopped for lunch at a pub in the little village of Cong which was celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the making of "The Quiet Man" starring John Wayne. As we entered, we were met
by stony silence and everyone there was staring at the television, many with tears streaming
down their cheeks. For a moment, I looked at what appeared to be a scene from an Irwin Allen
disaster movie before the horrible reality set in.
(U) We set out back to Dublin as soon as we could, returning to my brother and sister-in-law's
home across the street from the American embassy. For the next several days, I bore witness to
scenes of support and sympathy that did not get the attention they deserved back in the States.
Irish families drove to Dublin and Shannon airports bringing food and blankets to stranded
travellers and in many cases taking these strangers into their homes. My many calls to Aer
Lingus trying to get back home and to work were always met with kindness and concern despite
what must have been a maddening time for the operators.
(U) But the greatest moment came that Friday. While the rest of the European Union declared
two minutes of silence as a symbol of solidarity with America, the Republic of Ireland closed for
an entire day. Every shop, every restaurant, every pub was closed. Radio and television
broadcast nothing but news and commentary about America's tragedy and, for the first time in
history, the Irish Times was not published. All day Friday, I watched an endless line of ordinary
Irish people outside the American embassy queued up to sign books of condolence which
swelled from two to ten and to leave messages and mementos of support. Firefighters from
every county in the republic arrived to form a procession in honor of their American brothers
who perished, culminating in the laying of a wreath on the embassy grounds.
(U) The line continued through the night and all day again Saturday into Sunday and Sunday
into Monday until the books were closed on Tuesday. There was still a small line after midnight
Saturday as I waited my own turn to sign the book. Horrid as the events of 9/11 were, I was
honored to witness firsthand, the response of the Irish people who lost many of their friends and
relatives at ground zero and who felt such a kinship with America that they were willing to
literally shut down their nation in a show of support and respect.
-- Dennis St. John
(U) I remember coming in on Sept.12, the day after. It was eerily quiet, with all flights in and
out of BWI cancelled and very little traffic in and around the campus. As I passed a guard in the
parking lot, I heard a solitary jet fighter above me, but I couldn't see a thing. I remarked about
it to the guard, who explained that it was an Air Force jet, one of many that had been laid on to
do extra reconnaissance in the DC area. Although I felt safer knowing that, a chill still went up
and down my spine.
--
(U) On 9/11, I happened to be on vacation in Krakow, Poland. That evening, I walked past the
U.S. Consulate. There was a small crowd just standing silently in front of the consulate, and the
sidewalk outside the building was full of flowers, candles, and handwritten prayers left by the
local people. Their expression of solidarity with us helped to ease the grief that I was feeling at
the time. It was a very moving experience that I will never forget.
--
(U) I remember standing before our front gate at Bad Aibling Station [in southern Germany],
which was closed, with many flowers and candles lit day and night. It was a beautiful expression
of friendship and of hope for the future.
--
(U) Thanks to all who submitted their stories. We may revisit this topic later this year on the fifth
anniversary of 9/11. -- the editor
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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