MOUNT VERNON — Friday morning dawned clear, the sky blue and the air cool before the heat of the day arrived.
It mirrored the morning 25 years ago in New York City when terrorists hijacked two airliners and crashed them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
A third hijacked plane hit the Pentagon and another crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died that day.
Mount Vernon Law Director Rob Broeren was a 32-year-old father of two working for a D.C. law firm when the attacks happened.
Four blocks from the White House and within eyesight of the Pentagon, he saw the smoke, witnessed the panic and felt the pain firsthand.
“We should honor those who make the ultimate sacrifice and those who were murdered on that day,” he said Friday, joining first responders, community members, and local officials at Ariel-Foundation Park to remember the victims.
Sharing the story
Mount Vernon Police Chaplain Jerry Scott called the memorial a time to reflect on what victims were thinking and how the country changed that day.
“As we reflect, we hope that we do not forget — that we can process that we will meet with our families, because they never got to meet with their families ever again,” he said.
“As we reflect, it’s within our hearts to do something for our neighbors, for our family, and for ourselves. But regretfully, within a few minutes after this moment of silence, we will forget.”
Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr said he thinks about the events of that day 25 years ago and tries to unpack what it really means.
“When I’m confused … there’s a psalm that I turn to,” he said, reading Psalm 46.
Featured speaker Rick Kettel said that as much as he appreciates the remembrance, the community must share the story, so it does not get lost in history.
“We have a whole generation that didn’t live through this. How do they take the lessons?” he asked.
Inside the chaos of 9/11
Kettel managed the Cleveland Center air traffic control facility on Sept. 11, 2001. The facility extends roughly from central Pennsylvania to east of Chicago.
Based on early reports that a small airplane hit the World Trade Center, Kettel felt the control room did not need him.
Going to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee, he watched United Airlines flight 175 hit the south tower and realized what was happening.
After calling his wife, Kettel ran back to the control room and established a command post. He was placed on what is now called the Defense Emergency Network and told to search for another hijacked aircraft, American Flight 77.
“So when United 93 came on the frequency, we were already looking,” he said.
Flipping on the frequency, Kettel heard the screams of passengers as they stormed the cockpit on United 93. He did not know it was United 93 until it started climbing without authorization.
Kettel tracked it on raw radar when the terrorists turned off the transponder.
“Little did I know what I was about to eyewitness,” he said.
Moments later, Kettel watched Flight 93 maneuver sharply before dropping below radar near the mountains.
The plane climbed to 41,000 feet, turned left and headed southeast. Kettel said the question was “Where is it going? What’s the next target?”
“We had no idea,” he said.
Remembering 9/11 for future generations
Kettel said what stays with him is hearing hijacker Zia Jarrah, tell the passengers there was a bomb on board. He realized Jarrah was actually speaking to air traffic control.
As the aircraft approached the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, it appeared briefly on radar at 8,000 feet, having dropped more than 30,000 feet in roughly 120 miles.
About then, Kettel received the order to shut down the entire national airspace system.
“We had never even thought about that, let alone simulated or put together in a contingency plan. But it was one of the proudest accomplishments of my generation of FAA controllers,” he said.
“We asked the pilots to find an airport that can service you, and we’re going to land you there right away. We landed 4,500 airplanes in 45 minutes.”
Moments later, Kettel said, he watched Flight 93 maneuver sharply before dropping below radar. He said aircraft in the area soon reported smoke over Shanksville, and he directed a passing military C-130 to fly over the site to confirm what had happened.
Kettel said he later met Doug McMillan, brother-in-law of Todd Beamer, who led the passengers’ attack on the terrorists on Flight 93.
Kettel said the passengers’ decision to confront the hijackers denied the hijackers their intended target.
“I’m so proud of what we did that day, especially my controllers. But the people aboard Flight 93, we don’t want to forget their sacrifice and the lessons that are learned, and how it’s changed our world,” he said.
First responders climb tower in remembrance
Following the speakers’ comments, first responders climbed Rastin Tower. They carried a box that held the names of the 2,977 victims of 9/11.
Mount Vernon firefighter Chad Chenault climbed Rastin Tower with his 4-year-old twins, Tillman and Jody.
“I was in the military when 9/11 hit. I was serving in the U.S. Army,” the 46-year-old said. “It’s important to remember all those that lost their lives and serve every day.”
Kettel praised local first responders, comparing their service to the actions of emergency personnel honored at similar events nationwide.
“You folks represent those heroes as well. I was very proud to be part of that. That is part of the experience of 9/11. It’s a privilege to be here today,” he said.
