Sunday, September 11, 2011
From Fayetteville to NYC, Meetup groups have brought a sense of community back
The below letter was emailed to me this morning from the founder of Meetup in New York City that formed as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks. I have heard of Meetup groups in Fayetteville and realized after looking them up, there are 98 in our community. That is outstanding and proves that people are out there taking the time to connect with other residents sharing a mutual interest. There is something for everyone: mom's organized play groups, ultimate Frisbee groups, 358 members in the Fayetteville Photography Club, and even an English Bulldog group. Get plugged into your community today, and take the time to unwind or start a new hobby. Enjoy the weekend! Fellow Meetuppers, I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is …
Friday, September 9, 2011
Escaping from the 43rd Floor of the World Trade Center 10 years ago, local resident recalls that fateful day.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Nathan Walls
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Friday, September 9, 2011
Bettye Glenn knows all too well what our military is fighting for. The Fayetteville resident experienced first-hand the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Glenn, then a telecommunications contractor for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was on the 43rd floor of the North Tower when the first plane hit. Glenn said she and co-workers assumed it was just an accident, because JFK Airport was nearby, and it wasn't unusual for planes to fly close to the building. Then a man called his wife, and she said another plane hit. "Well, what are the chances of that?" Glenn said. While exiting, she and other employees poured water on a fireman who was sweating profusely on his way up a stairwell. Glenn said she can still see his face. …
How will you and your family pay homage to the ten year anniversary of 9/11?
What were you doing when you learned of the 9/11 terrorist attacks? Some say this question is similar to one raised almost 50 years ago: “What were you doing when you learned President Kennedy was assassinated?” We all have a unique answer to the question posed—some to both questions. Thousands were directly affected by the loss of a family member or loved one killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, all have been touched by the ripple effect of what occurred. Those who are old enough to remember September 11 can, most likely, remember where they were and what they were doing that Tuesday morning in 2001. Recollecting how we learned of the attacks on 9/11 makes the events of that tragic day personal. Each story links the storyteller to the …
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
A victim killed in the Pentagon attacks is remembered fondly by his son.
Nine-year-old Zachary Laychak walked into his house after school one day to a house full of family and friends. A fire had broken out at the Pentagon, they told him calmly, and they were waiting to hear from his father, who worked there as a civilian budget analyst for the Army. He felt a twinge of concern, but quickly dismissed the thought that something bad had happened. “He’ll be fine,” Laychak thought. “He always is.” Two days later, two men came to deliver the devastating news: 40-year-old David Laychak was one of the 184 people who had died Sept. 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. It was nearly a decade ago, he said, but the moment remains vivid. His mother sat him and his 7-year-old sister down and…
Reports of threats increase as 9/11 anniversary approaches.
Getting onto Fort Bragg in the days immediately following September 11, 2001, was cumbersome, at best. Security was immediately stepped up, and every car entering the post was thoroughly searched. Ten years later, systems have been implemented that make getting onto post much more difficult than before the tragic attacks, but it's much faster than in those first chaotic days. However, with the 10th anniversary of the attacks taking place this week, expect security on post to be a bit more stringent than usual. A nationwide bulletin went out on Friday warning Americans that federal officials had reason to believe al-Qaida could use small airplanes for new terrorist attacks. That was the same day an F-15E fighter under the direction of …
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
All the networks are featuring documentaries, profiles and news on stories surrounding the anniversary event leading up to this weekend.
ABC News broadcasts – Week of Sept. 5. During the week of Sept. 5, all ABC News broadcasts will air special coverage to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, including World News With Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America, Nightline and 20/20. Today — NBC, Sept. 5-9, 7am ET. Starting Sept. 5, NBC’s morning showToday will incorporate 9/11 coverage and programming into its show each day throughout the week. On Sept. 9, Matt Lauer will be live from Ground Zero for a split show with Ann Curry live from Studio 1A. Matt will give viewers a tour inside the new 1 World Trade Center, formerly known as Freedom Tower, that is still under construction. The show will also take a look back at some of the children of 9/11 victims that were first met 10 …
How much is too much?
There will be a lot of buzz this week leading up to the 10-year anniversary of the attacks that occurred on Sept. 11. Here in a military-connected community, our kids might know a little more detail than most, given the nature of their parents' jobs. Military families tend not to sugarcoat matters of life and death when it comes to leveling on topics like war that bear great levity. After all, when dad or mom have to deploy for a year, the question of 'why' is one that is often asked. For Fort Bragg families, some of our kids have seen a parent, or both, come and go on numerous deployments, and we take for granted how strong and resilient they are. However, as the week ramps up, so will the media coverage around the country. I can imagine …
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Eternal Flame is dedicated to the fallen military heroes from Fort Bragg and burns for those still in the fight.
On the Main Post Parade Field at Fort Bragg, a monument tucked away in a tranquil setting proudly stands to commemorate those soldiers killed in the 9/11 attacks and the sacrifice of over 5,500 service members who have died while fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The $140,000 project was taken on by Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick, commanding general of Fort Bragg and the XVIII Airborne Corps, along with other Army and civilian leaders. The monument was dedicated last year. The stone came from Curahee Mountain in Georgia, the site of Camp Toccoa, a World War II-era paratrooper training ground. The fire bowl is cast from steel salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks on the buildings on Sept. 11…
