I was at the mall on 9/10 around 430pm, I had lunch there. I haven't forgotten how it looked and felt that day. Not knowing in a few short hours it would be taken from us.
Each year on 9/11, the skylight retracts at 8:46am and stays open for 102 minutes. The lights in the oculus are dimmed, and a strip of light shines down the center of the room. You feel like you’re standing in the shadow of the original towers in those moments.
Amazing - I visited the location December 2013 along with my Father, Niece & Nephews. I'm a native to Staten Island, My but I now live in NC. When 9/11 happened I was in the military on TDY in Central America ....the sight on TV had me mesmerized almost in a trance. I couldn't believe what I was watching on the news.... Play by play...🙏🏾🕊️🙏🏻
First off, thank you for this. My wife, GF at the time worked as the 1st manager at Warner Bros store. She was late that morning opening the store because we spoke on the phone till 1am. I never got a chance to see the store. Today I did. Thank you. I'm going to share this with her.
@@tiffprendergast total loss. Nothing was really damaged beyond the dust. It survived the collapse as it wasn't directly under the towers. However, everything was abandoned even personal items. They were not allowed to go back in (obviously) to retrieve anything. I do know the staff pulled down the gate right before they left and no one was hurt.
I'm a Brit who has never had the opportunity to visit the States, but I can honesty say that no other single event in history has been burned into my memory quite like that day. I can remember crowding around the old computer in our workshop with the other engineers to read what what happening on the news, remember calling my dad who's immediate reply I will not repeat but was strangely prophetic of the things to come, remember the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when watching the news that night and for many nights afterwards. Some years later I took my family to the Imperial War Museum in London, I did not know at the time but they have a large twisted section of one of the towers on display. There were no signs leading to it, because it needed none - you simply round a corner and it's 7m bulk there in front of you. The emotion upon seeing it is like a gut punch even for a bloke who was three and a half thousand miles away on that horrible day. So many people in the UK (myself included) have shed tears for those that were lost and for those that have lost. Please remember that you will always have friends amongst us.
There's also a section in the imperial War museum north in Manchester and its definitely a sight to behold and I thought, how did a flimsy airliner bring them colossal things down?
Thanks for making this video. I came up the escalators from the PATH train into that mall on 9/11 shortly after the first plane strike. I remember seeing smoke pouring out of the doors from the elevator lobby, and the security guard at the top of the escalator instructing us to get out of the facility. Everyone running, for the first time of many that day… God bless the people of NY who lost loved ones that day. We will never forget.
At the time, I had just turned 20 four days prior. I worked in a customer service call center for United Airlines just outside Detroit, and had gotten off the midnight shift. I worked 5p-2a that day. I was asleep at the time, of course, and a family member woke me up after the second plane hit. It took me several minutes to comprehend the magnitude of what had happened, and watching the impacts over and over again, one thing stuck out, the distinctive grey and blue paint scheme of United planes of that era. I ran upstairs to tell my parents “that was one of our planes”, long before it was reported by any source at the time. This was about the time the reports came in about the crash at the pentagon, and the possibility of a fourth plane going down somewhere in Pennsylvania. As the news slowly filtered in, and after the first, then second towers fell; there wasn’t much I could feel at the time outside of just the pure shock of what was happening. How could this happen? This couldn’t be an accident. What does this mean? What comes next? Shortly after I called back to work and asked what was happening there. The company had authorized unlimited overtime for any employee who wanted to come in and help. Nobody knew what to expect. The global grounding of flights had just begun, and our planes were being put down anywhere and everywhere. It didn’t matter if it was an airport serviced by our airline… or any commercial airline for that matter. If it had a runway that could accomodate that plane; it landed there, no questions. As I got into work, there were notes on our internal messaging system to direct any media inquiries to the corporate office, and that the company was deploying crisis counsellors to the airports and offices for employees. I sat down at a workstation, plugged in my phone headset, and waited for the flood of calls to come in. They never came. In a typical 8 hour shift, I’d usually field about 250 calls from customers. I worked a full 8 hours and only fielded four calls. At the start of the shift, my coworkers were able to (internally) identify the flights before they were confirmed in the media. Once the flights were confirmed, they were locked out of our systems. Before then, we were able to see the flight manifests, and someone had printed out the two United flights that went down in an effort to see if anyone we knew was onboard. I worked United’s 1K flyer desk at the time, so there were several customers we would know by name, since it’s a smaller pool of customers, and they were always calling in for one reason or another to change flights or whatnot. Some of my coworkers knew some of the crew, and there were more than a couple passengers some of us knew. It was the worst work shift of my life. The next day, as the shock was wearing off and people were stranded anywhere and everywhere across the globe, the word from the company was just to get people where they needed to go, whatever means necessary. At this time, almost all major carriers worldwide shared flight load data across their different proprietary computer systems. Some airlines like Southwest didn’t share this data, and under normal circumstances we were unable to “protect” a passenger on southwest if there was a flight problem. Now, no holds were barred. We had customers in the tundras of Canada, some in Greenland, others in tiny airstrips in the middle of Kansas. Places we didn’t have planes normally. Places no commercial carrier had planes normally. But we had to get these people where they needed to go. It didn’t matter where they were headed originally, but for a solid week or two, we rerouted people where they wanted to be, however we could make it happen. Originally going to Los Angeles and wanted to visit mom in Duluth? Done. Call southwest to see if they had a seat for a passenger? Done. Only seat I can find is First Class on American Airlines? Done. Rental car? Done. Amtrak? Done and done. It didn’t matter, we just had to do what needed to be done. Our office also had a walk-up ticket office, which was closed. One distraught customer found his way to out break area outside and I lent him my cell phone, and I dialled into our 1K desk so he could talk to an agent and rearrange his travel plans. Over the next few weeks, we had a scrapbook set up on the call floor with letters and cards we had received from other airlines, customers, and strangers offering their support and condolences for the teammates we lost that morning. It still moves me to tears today thinking about it. One story I tell is that a good coworker of mine knew immediately about a customer on Flight 93 which crashed in Shanksville, PA. As soon as the flight number was known, she said “I put a guy on that flight last night. He was supposed to leave on an earlier flight, but wanted to stay home to spend time with the family.” Later, when the list of names was released, she looked and said “That’s him!” It was Todd Beamer. He was a 1K flyer on United, and an overall nice guy. I’d spoken to him a couple of times, pretty routine stuff. He’s now famous for being the man on flight 93 who called the Airfone operator (those satellite phones they used to have in seat backs in the 90s). He was part of the group of passengers who attempted to retake the cockpit and said the famous words “Let’s Roll”. It’s generally believed that Flight 93 was headed to Washington DC, and likely the White House. The passengers sacrificed themselves and were successful in stopping that from happening. 20 years later, and an entire generation who never knew the event, or what things were like before then, I guess my only analogy I can think of is that this is what the generation of Americans who lived through Pearl Harbor felt like, and then seeing the slow march as the event gets forgotten and marginalized. There is a certain pain in that, and emotions that get stirred up. Just as my grandparents vowed to make sure we never forgot the lives lost in that attack, we must work to make sure we never forget that Tuesday morning, when so much changed in the blink of an eye.
I was a young mother in Australia, when the events of 9/11 took place. I spent days being glued to the TV, crying, shaking my head, and thinking that the end of the world was surely coming. I haven't felt safe, since. I will never, ever forget. And the courage of those first responders, the flight attendants and just the everyday New Yorkers who helped each other out that day, has stayed with me. My heart breaks for all those people who lost their lives, those who had to grow up without parents or siblings and those whose health has been badly affected. And for what reason, exactly? That is what bothers me the most. Take care, all of you.
Thank you so much. My cousin (by marriage) had to run for his life when the towers fell; and his dad was killed in one of the towers. My cousin is now 50 and is dealing with many health issues from everything he had to deal with that day. Nearly everyone knows about and remembers those who died (rightfully), but often forget about the tens of thousands of people who survived the initial attack but still suffer from horrific health effects. So thank you, for bringing awareness to them and the causes that support them.
So, so many were affected. Marcy Borders the lady who was covered with dust, from the iconic picture, and Diane Digiacomo, an officer with the ASPCA, who was featured on the Animal Planet show "Animal Cops" at one time, are two that come to mind right away. They both died from cancers. And there's hundreds, maybe even thousands, of other people out there who have died, or are still suffering-and will always suffer-both physical and psychological effects. We'll never know all their names. But we should always remember they're out there. Even if we are unable to help them ourselves, the simple act of remembering, and continuing to raise awareness, honors them, I think. Because NONE of the victims of 9/11, whether they've gone Home, or are still here on Earth, should EVER be forgotten. I'm thankful to Ace for remembering, and trying to help. People like him are what's RIGHT in this world.
Thank you for this. I've been searching for photos of the pre-9/11 mall since it happened. I can't shake my obsession with the day or the property because both have made a major impact on my life. I spent many hours at the concourse shopping center as a young working adult. Those buildings were...powerful and a symbol that I was no longer a kid (I worked directly across the river at Exchange Place). We would hop on the PATH train at Exchange Place and grab lunch. There are clothes that I purchased at the mall's shops that I still can't throw away. I know remembrances will become fewer in the years ahead since the 20th anniversary, but there are a few of us out there who still feel the loss. RIP to Susie and Jim who perished that day. I appreciate this video so much. You jogged memories I didn't realize I had.
My nephew moved to NYC six years ago and last summer, my sister went to visit him. One of the places they visited was the 9/11 Memorial Pools and museum. She told me how she poignantly learned that the memorial is not only the most visited place in NYC, but also, it is the quietest place in NYC. ❤️
I live in Manhattan and I remember that day clearly. It was my first day of Middle School. Class had just started a couple minutes ago. The librarian came in and told the teacher there was an accident downtown. I in my young innocent mind thought a MTA bus had crashed and flipped over. The librarian came back and said “a plane crashed into the World Trade Center” I didn’t at the point know it was the other name to the Twin Towers. She then said parents are going to be picking kids up. My mother picked me and my brothers up. We all went to same school. We started walking to my grandparents apartment. In the air I saw fighter jets zoom up. Finally got to grandparents. Started watching the new. Then I saw LIVE the second plane crash into the other Tower. “It’s just a playback of the first plane” said my mom. She quickly learned it wasn’t. Why can’t the helicopters save them? My aunt came followed my uncle. Trains had stop running. They walked far to get there. I still remember the people falling… the sound of people hitting the floor. Kept watching the news seeing everything unfold. I’ve been to the site. Went to community college near there and actually saw freedom tower being finished. I do remember I had class on 9-11-2010(?) and looked up. I was on the corner looking at the Freedom Tower. I looked at the time. It was around 8am it was chilly as I thought about the people walking to class and being interrupted by the sound of the first plane hitting. Gave me goosebumps. Well thank you to anyone that read my story. Great video btw.
Hello. I don't doubt your story, but maybe your recollections are a bit off timing wise. There was exactly 16 minutes between the planes crashing into the towers ( 08:46 and 09:02). The initial five minutes or so following the first crash, people were just dumbstruck, confused and weren't even sure what was happening. From the first instance of the librarian coming to tell your teacher that there'd been an 'accident down town' to her then returning to know that 'a plane had crashed into the world trade centre' would in reality have covered at least a ten minute time span, and that is being generous. From many stories I have read from people involved, the call to collect children from schools didn't come until AFTER the second plane strike. At that point, everyone knew it was a terrorist attack and it was the correct action to clear schools of children from that point on. But in your case, even if your mother had been asked to come and collect you and your brothers, unless you lived no more than 100 yards from the school, and your grandparent's apartment was within the same distance, there is no way you could have reached your grandparent's apartment (9:02) to watch the LIVE news as the second plane hit the south tower. I am making the assumption that your grandparent's apartment is not right next to the school as in your story you say the following, 'We started walking (not running) to my grandparents apartment. In the air I saw fighter jets zoom up (from what I have learned, fighter jets were not seen over Manhattan until 9:25, which was 23 minutes AFTER the second strike) FINALLY got to grandparents. (using the word 'finally' suggests that you had experienced quite a walk, 10, 15, 20 minutes?) So, by the time your mother had collected you (alongside the chaos of many other parents collecting kids at the same time) and you walked to your grandparents while you saw two F-15 fighter jets patrolling over Manhattan, the south tower had already been hit. Our recollections can become a little blurred over time, even for us adults, more especially for school aged kids. Maybe once you arrived in front of grandma's TV, they were already showing repeats of the second strike. Here in England they didn't stop showing the footage for days. Hey, I am glad that you survived that terrible day and that you can tell your story.
@@gary1961 well, maybe it was a replay of events I saw on the news? Like they replayed it to catch people up? I do remember watching it happen at least from my point of view. I saw Second plane hitting tower at some point on that day. From moment I heard what happened in school to reaching grandparents apartment and started watching the news, the time that passed was a blurr. But I do remember saying "it wasn't a replay of first tower getting hit" when I saw second tower hit. To my mom when we saw it.
@@FireFox173 Hey, thanks for your reply. Yes, it was likely the replay of the second strike. All channels were playing both strikes it seemed for days on end. Take care and much peace to you and your family.
I watched an interview when one of the helicopter pilot in the rescue team said the door to the roof had been locked and nobody was there (on the rooftop). He circled the towers for so long with the hope that someone would make it up there but nobody did. He couldn't just get near to the towers and rescue those trapped because of the height, the smoke and the heat, the only thing he could was landing on the rooftop.
The sound of bodies hitting the floor sounded like 1000lb glass shattering in over a million pieces. It's a sound that haunts me that I can never unhear
17:20/ As a native New Yorker, you're not mistaken about the specifics of the designs that make up the Occulus. The slitted windows soaring over the middle of the mall were meant to invoke the original exterior of the Twin Towers! The choice of warm marble was no accident, either. The floors and walls utilize the exact same marble that was used for the original WTC mall. The spinal aspect of the Occulus was meant to invoke a dove as it begins to soar onto flight. Just look at the structure from outside, and you can picture the aviary connection.
Thank You, Jose. For putting a better image to this. I've heard a lot of depressing and scary comparisons. It being made to represent a dove makes more sense.
If I’m not mistaken, the windows were designed to open on 9/11 and have some special light effect. They are complicated enough that they leaked and I believe that they aren’t opened any more due to stopgap repairs to them.
I'm from England and I visited New York back in 2015, I started every day off by spending time at the memorial pools to pay my respect. With all the hustle and bustle in New York, very much like London, there is an eerie silence over the memorial pools. I will never forget that tragic day. Lest We Forget 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇸
I was obsessed with those towers from about 1977 when I first heard of them. I was a poor teen then. In 1986, a coworker took a trip to NYC. My only request was that she bring me something from those towers. I got several cool postcards. I always hoped to someday get there. Married the hubby and he knew of this dream. Feb. 26, 1993, he woke me (it was 9:17 am our time) to tell me someone bombed the WTC. I answered, "No, they didn't!" because I was in denial. Sept. 11, 2001. again, I was asleep. Husband woke me around 8am our time(pacific) to tell me that someone hit the towers and they were gone. I said, "No, they aren't!" I just couldn't believe it. I got up and saw it for myself, since it was replaying over and over on the tv. That night, I had a horrible nightmare where I was in one of the towers and it was burning and I can honestly say it is the worst thing I've ever dreamed. It felt so real and gives me a small idea of what people went through. I'm still poor and unable to get to NYC. If I ever do, I'll visit that Memorial for sure.
This was one of the most amazing and respectful tributes I’ve seen to the people lost on 9/11! The cadence and tone of your narration was very reflective and respectful to the victims. The brief history you covered gave the site and events of 9/11 a proper context. Thanks 🙏 a million for this thoughtful and professional presentation of such an important event in New York City’s and America’s history!
I still cry every time I see the footprints where the waterfalls are with all of the fallen are named…I didn’t know anyone who died that day, but I watched on TV that long & fateful day😭😭😭😭😭 We will Never Forget😭
One of my friends and coworkers was in this mall when the first plane hit. He had a business meeting that morning but his airline had lost his luggage, so he went there to buy some business attire for the meeting. He was outside on the street directly below the second attack. As large chunks of debris rained down, some firemen urged him to seek cover under a truck until there was a relative pause in the chaos. He then escaped the immediate area on foot and was at a safe distance when the towers fell. Anyway, when I saw this story about the mall at the WTC, I immediately thought of him. It was just by chance he was there that day for a sales meeting and for no other reason. It always reminds me of how we can be taken at any moment without reason or warning.
The manager of the WTC mall used to manage the mall in my town. He was only filling in that day. He went back for some radios just as the towers fell and lost his life. He saved tons of people. I met him a few times many years ago when I worked in his old assignment at my mall. He was such a nice man. Even allowed me to do my college final at my mall for my project. Forever grateful to him. I’m surprised he wasn’t mentioned here. There is a memorial plaque for him in my mall. His name was Bruce Eagleson.
Thank you for bringing the mall to peoples attention as a conduit to safety from the horror unfolding above the mall I was there in the mall I came off the E train, and was swept up into a sea of humanity trying to exit There was no stampeding, but the sheer volume of people swept me up the stairs, and I found myself in front of Century 21, loo,ing at a burning World Trade Center Evrrytime I tell my story, I always emphasize thr,e safety of the mall, and all the people that hurried me along, and upmthe stairs I will never forget that day, and all the people that helped each other both physically, and by offering words of comfort and encouragement to each othrt
Thank you for featuring the mall because I don't think anyone else has ever done so. Most people who haven't been to the WTC have no idea what it was like on the bottom floors. The WTC was my second favorite building in NY and I was there nearly every day since that was my station. I used to have a recurring dream of myself all alone on the scores of escalators wondering where everyone was. This occurred for years after the bombings.
@@profo4544 Loved the Plaza and sitting outside in the sunshine by the Sphere. I’m sure it made a twinkling sound but maybe my memories are mixed up with the live music that was often staged there. Those were happy times 😊
@@dellablair8514 Yeah man, ive visited the trade center alot, it never felt as cool as the empire state building tho, the marble, that thing feels almost like ancient, its stepped to like the lowest levels huge and it tapers into the tower, the twin towers are nice but they werent as decked out with marble everything. But going up them and seeing the observation area had a different feel that the empire state building, the last time i visited the twin towers i was at that resteraunt area one with my mom and grandmother i beleive, and this was like late 2000s to. But yeah the plaza was awesome, i used to hang around there for hours skating the granite and marble, tho i think it was granite mostly, i can barely tell the difference between the two now, let alone then. Actually if it was outdoors it was 100% granite, im just used to skaters calling it marble lmao. People dont really put marble outside, atleast not really anymore, granite looks the same and wont stain or chip nearly as easy. Lmao, i used to sit around that area all the time.
I never knew about the mall until I started doing real research on the attacks. Didn’t kno about the restaurant either. I always thought it was just full of basic offices but these buildings were so full of life. The interior was so beautiful. I wish I could’ve seen them for myself but I was only 5 at the time
Right after I graduated college in the 80s I had a job interview in the towers. From the moment I stepped into the building I felt uncomfortable being there. I went to the interview and said I was sorry for wasting their time, that I'd never be able to work in those buildings. I do remember visiting the observation deck and the mall afterwards but I never visited the twin towers ever again.
I honestly don't blame you tbh.I don't know if it was the eerie feeling of being in something so unnecessarily tall with limited escape routes, or that some people could just sense that the towers were somehow marked for death long before their actual demise came, but I really don't blame you one bit for that. The new tower that they built over the original site is beautiful in design, but horrifying in height.
They shouldn't of built the new tower on the original site, just my opinion, but I think they should of turned the who area into memorial gardens and park so that families and local people could visit if they wanted to, especially as they didn't have graves of the victims to visit. Here in England a ww2 bomb landed on houses in a small village near bury, lancashire and killed many people, years after and still nothing was ever rebuilt on that land, it was turned into memorial gardens instead.
“We’ve all experienced 9/11 in our own way” as someone who was bullied bc of 9/11(muslim that was raised in the early 00s), and too young to have remembered it this hit home lol. My heart goes out to all lives that were lost in this tragedy! I’m so sorry
I understand that people were hurt, and many were effected badly by this.. but on the other hand, they had no right to bully Muslims, those were evil people, their are evil people everywhere in all religions, i hate when people categorize people. I know that truly hurts.
@@westaussie965 You're just as bad as the bullies, bullying someone for their religions. Leave the commenter alone, it's like if I were to group all Christians as hateful people because some of them hate LGBTQ+ people
I was about 24 years old that day, working my first real job as an adult in law enforcement. I feel like I lost my adolescent innocence that day... and I suppose much of the country probably felt the same. I have been to NYC twice. The first time was post 9/11 but they were still doing site cleanup and preparation for the new development. The second time was about a month ago. I made my way down to the memorial, toured the museum, explored the oculus, and went to the top of Freedom Tower. The museum is very somber and emotional. It was an almost surreal experience being there, standing on that ground. Anyone who remembers exactly where they were that day, and what they felt, I strongly encourage a visit to the site. It gave me a bit of closure that I feel I have been 20 years searching for.
Thank you for the video. I have always wondered about the mall after 9/11. My commute to Wall Street was on the PATH train to the WTC station. I bought my favorite raincoat at the Banana Republic at this mall, and remembered taking lunch breaks there and quick shopping trips with colleagues. There was a violinist busking for change in the mornings at the building exit toward Zuccotti Park. I wondered about his fate too, I hope he is spared. I was lucky to have switched to a job in Midtown, a few months before September 11, but my husband was still working at the World Financial Center. He and his colleagues witnessed the planes hitting the towers and later ran for their lives towards the river, covered in white dust. Firemen put them on a ferry to Jersey City, where we lived. For the next couple of weeks, we helplessly watched the smoke rising up from Ground Zero from our apartment window. The buildings were part of our once beautiful riverfront view. Such a traumatizing experience for both of us.
I'm so very sorry this horrific and traumatizing event had to become the centerpiece of your senior year in high school. It was so hard for those of us who were adults at the time, but I can only imagine how frightening and terrifying it must have been for kids, and especially those who were far too young to even begin to try and grasp this kind of evil exists in the world. This is a lovely, respectful, emotionally mature video. Thank you for taking the time to film, edit, and upload it for others to share in remembering.
Oh I'm still emotional today watching this. Often I go over the time spent at 1 world 46th floor, will never forget that day, the souls that are gone till my last day. 20 years later brings tears to my eyes. Thank you.
I was a senior in high school, too. 20 years later, it still hurts so much to think about. That event, in addition to claiming thousands of innocent lives, sent this country on a downward spiral that we still haven't recovered from. One of the most traumatizing things I've ever lived through.
I had just graduated HS that summer. Class of 2001. I was staying with my sister in NYC. Arrived in June, and then this happened. I will never forget the dust and lint that would pile up in the house. Literally you would dust, and the next day, you could see a light coating like if you hadn't dusted in a week.
I was sitting home on the phone to a very good friend of mine who is in the world trade Centre it was her lifelong dream to visit New York and see the famous sites both her and her boyfriend when will trade one when the plane hit I remembered Stingley her screaming and say oh my god what is happened 20 minutes later she rang me back for a brief minute when I had a raw and then nothing we never found her remains.
The new buildings and museum were beautifully done. Very respectful to those we all lost that day. If you have never been, I highly recommend going and paying your respects.
Good sir... that was the most tactful, respectful, and touching tribute that I have ever seen from anybody not from New York; let alone this country. I thought my tears had all but dried out; but here they are again. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this stunning display of kindness to those who still bear scars from this terrible day; and always will. To make a safe haven for such people is a noble thing to do. With much love and respect from a New Yorker who did not lose anyone that day; but knew countless friends and family of friends who were taken from us that day, and still lives in the shadow of this horrible event. I humbly thank you.
My aunt and uncle worked at AT&T, and both witnessed the second jet fly into the World Trade Center. It seriously affected them the rest of their lives. To say they were clearly traumatized by the tragic effects of 9/11 would be an understatement. I was on break at work in Pennsylvania when this took place. Still rattles me to this day.
I know I am late to the party. And I didn't suffer any personal loss, either. But Ace, I am crying right now. This is the absolute BEST video you have ever made. Stellar. Top-notch. Just...perfect. I can's say enough. Thank you for your touching tribute, beautifully written, so respectfully spoken, and so incredibly moving. I hadn't gotten around to subscribing to your channel yet, and I'm sorry for that. I can see I did myself a great disservice. You are one of the best. I am definitely subbed now.
Visually the mall is very stunning but physically awfully to navigate. The long corridors are great for social distancing and movie shoots. Most of the stores are niche luxury brands that serves the tourist crowd. The train connection element of the mall is separate. It’s a pretty photo backdrop but hardly generates revenue
I find the Occulus distracting. Kind of wished the mall design was scaled down a bit, to focus on shops itself, rather than the atrium. It steers away from the street life culture. I will admit designers didn’t forecast Instagram and online shopping when construction started.
Think of this WTC Mall as being a memorial version of Times square, Why? Because 90% of the property at Times Square does not make one shred of profit - and never will. It's just to get a company image and presence out there - and perhaps a bit pf prestige.
I find this structure chilling and in poor taste. It looks like a giant skeleton, devoid of flesh and laid bare, wholly inappropriate considering the loss of so many souls. While COVID may have delivered a punch to it's pocketbook, I think real retail success of this place will never be realized. Luxe shopping is particularly sordid in this instance and whether intentional or subcontious people will largely avoid this place. I do want to visit the 911 museum but I won't step foot in here.
Very moving video and respectfully done. I did not know anyone personally affected by 9/11 but it still makes me incredibly sad to think about. I am from the UK and I can remember watching the events unfold on the TV and just not knowing what to do but cry and feel really angry, which I still do when I think about it. What is heartening to know though is how the US picked itself up after this tragic event and something that inspired me at the time and still does. Sending love from the UK.
thank you for you kind words regarding this mall. I worked in a school when this happened..one of the teachers I worked with her nephew worked as a package carrier. He was late to work that day. If he was on time he would have been in the towers delivering packages as he always did. It is mind boggling that some people survived because they were either sick or they were late to work or just simply took the day off..puts things into perspective doesn't it.
Still crazy to think this actually happened. A lot of peoples lives changed that day. I’m in the uk and remember running to the local tv shop in the mall I worked in just in time to see the second plane hit. Truly heartbreaking.
Not gonna lie, this one was a tough one to watch; I did not know this mall was an escape route for 9/11 victims. The pain of that tragic day weighs on our collective conscience, even a shmuck like me in the Midwest who saw the collapse on a news loop after waking up from a graveyard shift, and a few hours after the fact. Very moving work as always, Anthony from Ace’s Adventures. ✊🇺🇸 #nevereverforget
Yes people were running and pushing some fell down and were trampled over . Lots of overweight people could not get out they didn't have the endurance to keep going
The mall has always intrigued me because there is very little info/footage/photos of it because of the lack of technology/internet at the time. I personally follow the stories of the unborn children of those killed. The morning of the attack, we were getting our then 9-month old daughter ready for her 9-month pictures at Sears. As a new mom, I felt such a visceral feeling of protection for those kids.
How many pregnant women were lost that day? I have read the story of two or three of them but I fear there were more than that. Those poor unborn babies were murdered too.
@@gary1961 A bit more than 10 women - I remember reading that on a web. But they said the actual number could be higher because they (the mother) might haven't told their loved ones about the baby yet, or maybe even they themself hadn't known that they were pregnant yet. There was a 7-month-pregnant woman who jumped from the North tower that I would never forget cause when she hit the ground, the baby was also out of her body.
I did go to ground zero a year after 9-11 and it was totally cleaned up by then. Just a giant hole in the ground. Amazing how quickly they were able to do that. Seeing that Warner Bros store and the happy looking bugs bunny statue covered in dust is very creepy.
@@valmacclinchy I've heard. That is quite unfortunate. I'm sure the building materials from the early 70s couldn't have been safe to breathe in. It's really messed up the rescue workers weren't told to wear masks
I live in NJ not far from NY. I knew a person from childhood who jumped from Cantor Fitzgerald. You could see the smoke from WTC for many weeks after from a nearby highway. Funny two days before this happened my oldest son had a nightmare where he said missiles were shot at tall buildings in NYC. He said he went to our back highway to look at Manhattan but was stopped by a Military Hummer blocking our highway. No one could get through and the man in uniform said we were at war. I remember being so freighted that day as low flying jets kept going over our home that was shaking from the vibration. My Uncle had retired from the Pentagon and the office he had been in was where a plane came in. He lost so many friends on 9/11. My fathers cousin just happened to be on vacation. She worked in the South Tower exactly where the second plane came through. She too lost many many friends and co-workers. Thank you for remembering the WTC, I did not know that many survivors went through the Mall. WE WILL NEVER FORGET. 🇺🇸
"Go home & be with your families"...this is exactly what 1 of the VP's at my job said to us just before dismissing us that day. It was shocking, almost surreal....had never seen or heard anyone at that job speak like that. Things have never really been the same
I remember getting home from work at 1:40pm on 9/11. My Mum had the news on in the background while she was talking to my sister. About 10 minutes or so after I got home, the news reports about the first plane going into the North tower ( I live in England ). After that we were glued to the television for many hours afterwards. Absolutely horrible day and my thoughts go out to the bereaved families, survivors and everyone affected by 9/11. 👍👍🙏🙏
You are such a sentimental guy and I really admire that. You can tell you have a big heart! I think it’s so important to keep this conversations going and to recognize that that it’s ok to still feel emotional, it was a very traumatic day in history on our own soil. The love and strength we all shared to stand back up is what we need now more than ever. Beautiful ending
On the date this year, 2022, I opened the Chicago Tribune newspaper and was astounded that nowhere was 9/11 mentioned anywhere! I could not believe how such a significant and traumatic date was not mentioned in any way. I recall my 9/11 experience when I got a call at home from my wife who was at work about the unfolding event. I had a client meeting that day and noticed how the sky was absolutely devoid of planes. This was close to O’hare airport when typically airplane traffic is non stop. I fail to grasp how people can just forget such socially vital memorials so quickly. I have not been to NYC for many years so I have not seen the new WTC One. I did however visit the memorial at Shanksville, PA. It is a very well done tribute and very moving. I hope that terrible events don’t happen again. I do however feel that we need to remember and pay tribute to those who perished, those who lost the perished and those who heroically gave of themselves to save and help the injured and those who lost.
When I was young, I was fascinated by architecture, I loved famous buildings and landmarks, and I even had a huge book full of big pictures of the biggest buildings on Earth. The World Trade Center towers were on the last page, and I remember the photo of them was taken on a foggy night, so the view of the towers wasn't very good. I always thought when I'm older, I'll be able to find some really good, close-up pictures of these buildings, and study them in the same detail I did with the (then) Sears Tower in Chicago. I was 11 years old that morning. At home, my family was homeschooled. That morning we were taking it easy, just playing a board game. Risk. I was in the process of rolling the dice to defend the Northeastern American territory from an invasion when my dad came upstairs and turned on the TV. "Once again you're looking at live video of lower Manhattan, where sources tell us that an airplane, a jetliner has crashed into one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center..." I kept thinking "It's going to be okay, things like this happen.. It happened to the Empire State Building a long time ago. Newer buildings should be able to handle it. The Fire Department is there, the Police are there... Obviously a huge disaster, but they can handle it." It felt like hours. It felt like if I looked away from the screen, it would be the next day, even though obviously it was still morning in New York. But I kept telling myself it would be okay. Until the second plane came into frame. I knew right away it was banking way harder than a jetliner was supposed to, and it was turning toward the building. It wasn't an accident, it wasn't a disaster, and my thoughts turned to "This is an attack... And they're not going to stop at two. What's happening in other cities?" It wasn't long before the towers were gone, the Pentagon had been hit by a mysteriously wingless jetliner, a tragic and heroic story crashed in Pennsylvania, and the entire world was a different place. For the first time in my life, there were bad guys out there. There was an enemy, and they don't want to take your land, they want you dead. They kill people so that those people will die, no other reason. From then on, I feel fear, of what they might do to me given the chance. I feel anger at what they do to other people for no good reason. And I feel determination to not let it happen to me, or those around me. It's not a happy ending. It's not the nicest sentiment, even. It's how I feel, and the impact that it had on me. I will never forget the lost. I will never forget the loss. I will never forget the heroes. I will never forget the villains. They will not have me.
@@kitskivich Where'd the wings go, then? When the airliner hits the WTC, the wings carve a massive gash into the building. On the Pentagon, there's nothing like that.
The wings hit several objects in the parking lot, such as light posts and a generator. Also, the Pentagon is a much different building then the Towers were. The towers were 110 story towers built of steel, while the Pentagon is a concrete 5 story building. That is why the impact zones look so different. Hope this helps
This legit brought me to tears, so you definitely covered it with the respect and honor it deserved. So sad that they were allowed to only make 3 stairwells instead of 6. :( I had no idea that the mall served such an important role in saving people's lives during 9/11. This may be the best mall ever made.
More tragic is people were told to go back up to their place of business when they had gone down to leave the building to escape what had happened. How many people lost their lives due to to being told: don't leave your office, go back to your work area, not stopped from continuing to take elevators up to their certain death. So Sad.
@@carolecampbell8813yes that too. Many people left but only died because they were told to go back up. In hindsight it’s easy to say that’s crazy but nobody expected this and they got so many empty threats they didn’t think it would be this bad. Now ik to always leave whenever something goes wrong and just deal with whatever consequences that come with that the next day.
@BlackGirlLovesAnime6 you also have to think of other things. Say a second plane never hit, and they said to leave the building. People panic and rush out of the building, trample each other, maybe other deaths happen. And then story would be "why did they tell everyone to leave without a safe plan on how to get out?" It's hard to have known that decision would have this consequence
I still cry when I watch documentary about that day it will forever be in our hearts to the families who lost loved ones I'm truly sorry for your loss even still to this day
I was in my first year paramedic training on 9/11. A classmate walked in and told us what happened. I will never forget the expression of heartbeak and silence from my instructor who was a fellow firefighter.
My dad drove and worked for Path during 9/11. We thought he was under the towers and not with us. I will never forget the sheer terror we all felt. Thank goodness he was about to leave Exchange Place when they were instructed to turn trains around. Continued prayers to the families who lost loved ones.
I'm seeing this 2 yrs after you posted it but have been drawn to 9/11 remembrances this year. Thank you so much for this post and your comments. I am so afraid that, as a Nation, we are forgetting already. So many of our younger people were too young to comprehend all that happened.
My family and I actually stumbled into this mall by accident after going to the viewing place on top of One World Trade. You really wouldn’t believe how silent it was in there. I didn’t realize how vacant it was at the time (we were very lost and had no idea we were even still in the WTC area), but I remember it was nearly void of people besides security personnel. On the original World Trade Center, I’m 16 right now; I wasn’t there on that day but it has always been a point of intrigue for me out of a need to understand the history that made America the way it is today. The one that I’m experiencing as a direct fallout. I really appreciate these kinds of videos because for me, someone who *can’t* remember 9/11, they’re the only way to preserve it.
When I visited this in 2018, there was part of the original E and C train entrance still remaining, the doors and floor and stairway leading into what is now Oculus. The center door is still marked from when that area had been checked on 9/13.
Thank you for being so respectful of this place. It truly is hallowed ground. I never realized that the mall saved so many. For that I am grateful. May all affected during this tragedy have peace and love surround them.
thank you for making this video. i was at the World Trade Center on 9/10/01 around 3pm. i spent about an hour sitting in the courtyard and staring up at the towers. i haven't been back down there since. maybe one day, i will be able to return.
Thank you for creating the video Anthony. Beautiful job. I was born in and raised in NY and worked in the city. Like so many commuters, I used to take the E train to work -- last stop on the line was the WTC and I walked through the original concourse to get up to the street before making my way down (and back) to 55 Water Street. I have memories of buying my wedding invitations there and purchasing my rehearsal dinner dress at one of the boutiques (1985/6). I used to stop and grab a banana shake on the way home at a little stand on the way -- there was no 'food court' back then. I was glad to know the role the mall played in helping so many to safety. In the next two years, I would buy a house out of state and not return to the city. The new mall is beautifully depicted in your video. Thank you for the current update and for eliciting such wonderful memories. Never ever EVER forget.
Great job! Very heartfelt and respectful. I was also a senior in high school, I heard it on the radio while driving to my zero hour class (west coast), honestly not really realizing what was going on, and then got to school where tvs were already tuned in to the news in every room. Great video
I was in history class here in Canada. I was 15. I distinctly remember my teacher walking into the room, a solemn look on his face, which was unusual for him. He said something along the lines of : "Well. I am not sure you are aware of this, but something huge is going on in New York right now....and the world as we know it is about to change." He always had a bad habit on ranting on everything. But that morning, he did not. We knew it was something terrible, but didn't know what. When we got out of that class around 9h15, everyone was panicking and talking about it, but we didn't have access to any images or anything yet. I remember walking home with other students telling me "It's the end of the world, armageddon is here!" and I was confused. When I got home and saw what my mother was watching on tv, it really hit me. I will never forget my feelings of anxiety, sadness and confusion. What the heck was going on ? In my 15 year old mind, the US was untouchable. I realized unfortunately that it wasn't the case. But I did realize that the American people would never let that go and that they would come back stronger from this. Such a sad story, everyone American or not cried a little (or a lot) that day.
I was a Senior in High School as well on Long Island. I’ll never forget where I was either. After high school I joined the Marines because of 9-11. I’m now retired and totally disabled. Crazy to think how many years have gone by. We can never forget the people who lost their lives that day. 🙏🙏🙏
What a beautifully crafted video! Truly and deeply impactful. I'm from Europe and I feel the tragedy as if it happened in my backyard. It was a moment that affected the hearts of the whole world.
I was in 6th grade, English. I remember the principle coming on the announcements and saying a plane hit the towers. I have to admit I didn't get it, wasn't sure what buildings they were and thought it was an accident. Later that day in Social Studies the teacher explained what had happened. I don't recall getting dismissed early but once I did get home, my family hugged and watched the news coverage together. I personally haven't been to the site. Once I was near it (a few years later like 2005) and couldn't bring myself to look. My heart still goes out to those who lost someone and anyone who has health problems now.
The most realest video to date. It’s not just only a mall, it’s personal to everyone. I have been to the property several times since even before the grand opening. A stunning mall to honor everyone that lost loved ones. Westfield WTC will always be one of my favorite and sacred malls ever because of that. 🇺🇸🙏🏾
Beautifully done and respectful to all. I had not known about the role the mall played in helping that day. Thanks doing this video and reminding us all.
It is true that 9/11 effected the entire world and the effects can still be felt 20 years later. I was devastated that day, visiting the Twin Towers was on my bucket list and I felt sick to my stomach when I saw the towers fall. This is a beautiful video that has touched my heart, rest in peace to all those who died on September 11th 2001, this is a day that we'll never forget 😢
especially americas republican bible belt..they turned racists and extremists and blamed and hated all muslims..and fyi: america has never been great #MAGAbs
no it didn't. those of us who have read up on american history understand why America was targeted. you can't constantly treat people like shit and not expect retaliation
Thank you for that one! I was barely a teen back then, but that terrible day will forever be burned into my memory. Even though I never had a chance to visit the original place I feel some strange connection to pre 9/11 WTC - a place I've never been too and never will be. I know it's absolutely nothing in compare to all the pain felt by those affected personally by the attack - sometimes I feel it's even inappropriate for me to think of it that way - but I feel somewhat robbed, I feel that those who did it - among all those other way more important things - also stole my chance to experience the original place. It has been more than two decades and I'm still looking for every piece of information I could find about it, each single shard of that old world is dear to me, every picture, every video, every story...
I remember that day very well. I was at work doing setting up the dining room for lunch at the nursing home where I worked at the time when my girlfriend (eventually wife, now ex-wife) saw both planes hit both towers. She told me after the first one and I said "What a terrible accident." A few minutes later she came and told me about the second tower being hit, I remember saying something's going on. A month before 9-11, her and I went to Niagara Falls for a few days. I still think how lucky we were that we planned the trip for August.
Not trying to add drama to it, just being anywhere near New York would've been a little worrisome. I'm not much of a traveler nor am I much at knowing geography or directions. Just being that close is just part of my story. The only thing I knew is we stayed on the New York side and that it was the month before. I had no idea that they were 6 hours apart or how many miles apart they are.
Wow what a beautiful video to commemorate the ones who lost their lives on that fateful day 9/11/2001. Thank you for honoring all who lost their lives and the many loved ones they left behind and all who took part in the rescue process. Let us not forget as we will never forget. R.I.P. to all the sweet angels who lost their lives on that day ... Peace xx
Visited the memorial and mall back in 2018. The memorial was just unbelievable. Being at the mall was also sad that day as we walked by the Kate Spade store, it was the day after she died.
I was working for an after school childcare program in TN on 9/11. Something that I think of often is that when parents came to pick up their kids that afternoon, almost every one of them said they just wanted to hug their child. It affected so many people in so many different ways.
Oh boy. I went down a rabbit hole this September, like everyone else and just learned about this mall. And the post 9/11 mall was epic. I had no idea. I saw some footage from first responders on UA-cam. Can’t wait for your video.
I shopped at the mall pre 9/11 almost daily. I worked at 150 Broadway and after work I'd stop in for something to take home for dinner and other odds and ends. In addition to the mall there were so many street vendors around. I remember one sweet lady who one dozen roses for $4. Every Thursday I'd buy roses from her. Amazing stuff.
Same. Worked at Drexel on wall street. Three years came to work daily thru these buildings, PATH train or subway... loved it. My "Northstar" on the south tip of the island. Lost many friends. Lost landmark... just lost
I have ALWAYS said: "If I'd been at the WTC on 9/11, I would have saved myself (and hopefully as MANY who would have followed me) by getting out through the Mall." As it was, Brooklyn was more than CLOSE ENOUGH for me. The Mall LITERALLY saved THOUSANDS of lives that day though. When I first visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in 2015, (after having moved out to CA from NYC 11 years before in 2004) I was IMMEDIATELY struck by how solemn the space was. And when I descended for the first time on the escalator into the Memorial Hall of the Museum and saw the Virgil quote: "No day shall erase you from the memory of time" I was INSTANTLY transported back to how I felt on that day and the fear, and the panic and the shock paralysis. It was as if the 11 years out in California (from 2004-2015) since I'd moved from New York had NEVER ACTUALLY even happened, and that I was RIGHT THERE, reliving every moment of 9/11 ALL OVER AGAIN. It IS, WAS & will ALWAYS BE traumatic. I'm sure I can always go back there even as a VERY old man, and I'd STILL relive it. Of walking from my apartment with my Dog from South Park Slope to my Aunt's apartment in Brooklyn Heights and both me and my Dog wanting to panic and run as we heard the collapse of the South Tower, but we had to keep going because I needed to get to her because I had NO OTHER family members that were in NYC on that day with the exception of she. My parents were (THANKFULLY 🙏) safe up at their farm in Southern Vermont. My sister, brother in law and their family were safe out in Colorado. My fiance was at work but he worked in Midtown, so he wasn't ANYWHERE near the WTC. Of seeing literally THOUSANDS of people pouring off the Brooklyn & Manhattan bridges into Downtown Brooklyn, some of them covered in dust and bleeding, some of them crying, one woman screaming in hysterics, people with numb looks on their faces, people in shock (including myself because I saw reflected in them what I was feeling inside myself) and it was INTENSE. SO INTENSE it literally SEARS into your 🧠. I wasn't EVER the same after that. 9/11 changed me FOREVER.
This brought back so many memories. I stayed at the Marriott World Trade Center a week before 9/11. I was 10 at the time and remember being so excited to shop at the mall.
I grew up just outside NYC in Westchester County NY. I had graduated college a few months prior to 9/11 and did not yet have a job and was actually sleeping when the planes hit. I remember my mom was calling me over and over to wake me up and I finally did and was annoyed at her. I'll never forgot the sound of her voice when she said to get up and turn the TV on NOW. I did and really didn't understand what I was seeing, it seemed like a trailer for a movie. When full realization hit, I remember just being in a state of shock, particularly after the towers came down which I did see as it happened. Crazy thing is I had only just been there 2 days prior on Sunday as a buddy of mine was visiting from out of town and I took him to the top / Windows of the World. I actually took anyone who was visiting NYC for the first time to the WTC and the underground Mall as it was my favorite site in the City. So, after the towers came down I drilled the memory of my last visit into my head as I wanted to treasure them forever. That memory is thankfully still crystal clear and pops into my head whenever I visit the Oculus/Mall and Freedom Tower site which I do fairly frequently (and continue to take visitors there as I had done in the past). Anyway, I got off lucky as I did not lose a family member (Father thankfully was working in Midtown) but the horror of that day is still fresh in my mind. COVID certainly did a number to the City and especially the downtown area but I have full faith that it will recover in time, just as NYC always does after a crisis. Appreciate the video!
I was 36 years old at the time, and living just outside of Chicago. I was dating a woman who's sister, and future brother-in-law, were living in Manhattan. She was working in the Empire State Building, and he was working in the north Tower. They were talking on the phone before beginning their work day, from their respective offices. She helplessly watched Flight 11 pass her office, much too low, she said that his last words were "OH SHIT, I LO_____" and the call went silent. She never seen or heard from him again. She believes that he was looking out of his window on the 95th floor, watching the plane coming straight towards him.
I’ve never been on your channel before but I’m glad I found my way here today. This made me cry. Thank you so much for the reverent respect you showed for this location, that day, and those that were personally affected in some way. It is so important. We will always remember. #NeverForget
I live in central NJ. on 9/11 I was almost 3 and it was my first day of preschool. my mom dropped me off and went home to put my then 1 year old sister down for a nap. she turned on the TV to pass the time and caught the news just as the 2nd tower was hit. immediately she rushed to pick me up. my dad was at work in north jersey (nowhere near NYC) at the time and luckily none of my family worked at the towers. my uncle was in WTC7 at the time though and immediately fled when the first plane hit. he was able to get back home to NJ and is safe. I know many are not as lucky though. Rest In Peace to all the people who died in the planes, towers, at the pentagon, and in shanksville
A lovely tribute Ace! I’m from UK and remember that day vividly, I worked for UPS at the time and our workshop were crowded around our radio listening to what was going on, just stunned that something like that could possibly happen. I was lucky enough to visit NYC in 2010 and the groundwork was being started on the new world trade centre building, and stumbled across the little church around the corner from what was ground zero, and I remember being moved to tears at all the firefighter badges from people all over the world who came to help, it was a truly remarkable place to visit. Once us brits are allowed back over to the US, I am coming for another visit!
This is really beautiful. Thank you. On that day I was stationed in San Diego. I was in the Navy and getting ready to retire in a couple of years. My dad was a pilot and I'd grown up around airports and tarmacs. I got a part time job with frontier working as a ticket agent and also down in ops. I worked mostly weekends and an occasional night during the week if they were shorthanded and needed someone to operate the jet way. That morning of 9/11 was different because we were having a mandatory employee meeting and I was going to be going to my Navy job a couple of hours late. Our first flight left at 0630'ish and the plan was for everyone to come in around that time for the meeting. Our next flight left around 9am so there was a slight break. I was rushing to get there on time and as I was leaving the house, the first plane hit the north tower I believe. Commentators thought it was a small plan that got off course. As I was driving to the airport I heard on the radio that the second plane hit. When going to work at San Diego International Airport, employees had to allow extra time once you got there, because you had to part in a big gravel lot across harbor drive and catch a shuttle. But this morning I was running late and was just going to park in front of the terminal in the customers parking. I didn't live that far from the airport, maybe 10 minutes, but when I turned in to park in front of the airport, there was already national guardsmen all around the front of the airport and they wouldn't let me come through. I said screw it and parked right there on harbor drive and started running towards the entrance. I made sure my employee badge was highly visible, plus I was in my navy whites, so they didn't slow me down. Frontier was squeezed in-between the Delta counter and American West. The plane was on the runway in the lineup so our meeting started. I think one or two got off the ground but they came back. All flights canceled. That flight was full of New Yorkers trying to get home. When they came back to the terminal shortly after, it was crazy. All of us were crying with them. Needless to say, we spent the rest of the day trying to find them accommodations. Some stayed at the airport. We really did our best to take care of them but they were understandably inconsolable. About a month before, sometime in August, I was working an evening shift and was at the counter. I saw a man and a woman in dark suits stopping at each ticket counter and handing them a thick bunch of stapled papers. When they got to me, they informed me that they were FBI and told me that in light of the terroristic threats floating around, that they had put together a list of names of people from the middle east to look out for. This stack of papers was an inch thick and names were front and back. We did our best to follow this list but there were so many names that were alike. A million Mohammeds. Of course we all know now that some of them were living in San Diego. That's really stayed with me, was it me that missed a name? Did we get too complacent? Was it even a realistic goal. Things like that stay with you.
I remember seeing video of the abandoned mall years after 9/11--everything like a time capsule and I haven't been able to locate it, This is the only thing about the mall I have really come across so thank you for doing this.
This was a very informative, and amazing video. I like you, and so many others was truly affected by the tragic events that took place on 9/11. My entire family is from NY and I was 25 years old and will never forget that day, or any of the people who endured such a horrible event, and those who lost their lives. Thank you for bringing more light, and information to people, as so many who were not even born do not know the importance that day carried.
Thank you for sharing. On this tragic day I had awokened on the couch were I'd fallen asleep with the t.v on early that morning after sending my children to school in C.T. So when my eyes were opened it was the first thing I saw,it was on all the channels. I thought I was dreaming. Still being in a state of shock and disbelief, I had to go down to ground zero to see for myself. The silence in the area was just deafening! The looks on everyone's faces,I will never forget. My condolences to everyone who lost someone on 9/11 🌻
I was at the mall on 9/10 around 430pm, I had lunch there. I haven't forgotten how it looked and felt that day. Not knowing in a few short hours it would be taken from us.
Oh my..just a day before...
So in 2001 basically you are in the mall a day before
@@margaroacevedo8781 It literally said tooth bruh But it hit the news to minutes after I woke up and it was shocking had no idea what was going on
@@FluffySLW?
@@user-vi4xy1jw7e huh
Each year on 9/11, the skylight retracts at 8:46am and stays open for 102 minutes. The lights in the oculus are dimmed, and a strip of light shines down the center of the room. You feel like you’re standing in the shadow of the original towers in those moments.
Wow chills
I never knew that!
Thanks for sharing. Had no idea such a tribute existed.
Amazing -
I visited the location December 2013 along with my Father, Niece & Nephews.
I'm a native to Staten Island, My but I now live in NC.
When 9/11 happened I was in the military on TDY in Central America ....the sight on TV had me mesmerized almost in a trance. I couldn't believe what I was watching on the news....
Play by play...🙏🏾🕊️🙏🏻
Do they give a waft of termite to recreate what the sionist terrorist crews planted?
First off, thank you for this. My wife, GF at the time worked as the 1st manager at Warner Bros store. She was late that morning opening the store because we spoke on the phone till 1am. I never got a chance to see the store. Today I did. Thank you. I'm going to share this with her.
Amazing, glad she is ok ❤
I was waiting to find a comment about someone who worked at the WB store!
It's your love for one another for her to run a late that day that she is still alive today.
What Happened to the store
@@tiffprendergast total loss. Nothing was really damaged beyond the dust. It survived the collapse as it wasn't directly under the towers. However, everything was abandoned even personal items. They were not allowed to go back in (obviously) to retrieve anything. I do know the staff pulled down the gate right before they left and no one was hurt.
I'm a Brit who has never had the opportunity to visit the States, but I can honesty say that no other single event in history has been burned into my memory quite like that day. I can remember crowding around the old computer in our workshop with the other engineers to read what what happening on the news, remember calling my dad who's immediate reply I will not repeat but was strangely prophetic of the things to come, remember the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when watching the news that night and for many nights afterwards.
Some years later I took my family to the Imperial War Museum in London, I did not know at the time but they have a large twisted section of one of the towers on display. There were no signs leading to it, because it needed none - you simply round a corner and it's 7m bulk there in front of you. The emotion upon seeing it is like a gut punch even for a bloke who was three and a half thousand miles away on that horrible day. So many people in the UK (myself included) have shed tears for those that were lost and for those that have lost. Please remember that you will always have friends amongst us.
I felt the same way when I saw a section of the towers at Duxford Museum here in the uk.
There's also a section in the imperial War museum north in Manchester and its definitely a sight to behold and I thought, how did a flimsy airliner bring them colossal things down?
@@redbandmedia79 bloody love Duxford, such a great day out.
It's crazy how your british news reported building 7 falling 20 minutes before it fell
You guys have awesome journalism over therr
@@dean9261 we're used to it mate, if they don't know they'll just make it up.
Thanks for making this video. I came up the escalators from the PATH train into that mall on 9/11 shortly after the first plane strike. I remember seeing smoke pouring out of the doors from the elevator lobby, and the security guard at the top of the escalator instructing us to get out of the facility. Everyone running, for the first time of many that day…
God bless the people of NY who lost loved ones that day. We will never forget.
Glad you made it.
At the time, I had just turned 20 four days prior. I worked in a customer service call center for United Airlines just outside Detroit, and had gotten off the midnight shift. I worked 5p-2a that day. I was asleep at the time, of course, and a family member woke me up after the second plane hit. It took me several minutes to comprehend the magnitude of what had happened, and watching the impacts over and over again, one thing stuck out, the distinctive grey and blue paint scheme of United planes of that era.
I ran upstairs to tell my parents “that was one of our planes”, long before it was reported by any source at the time. This was about the time the reports came in about the crash at the pentagon, and the possibility of a fourth plane going down somewhere in Pennsylvania.
As the news slowly filtered in, and after the first, then second towers fell; there wasn’t much I could feel at the time outside of just the pure shock of what was happening. How could this happen? This couldn’t be an accident. What does this mean? What comes next?
Shortly after I called back to work and asked what was happening there. The company had authorized unlimited overtime for any employee who wanted to come in and help. Nobody knew what to expect. The global grounding of flights had just begun, and our planes were being put down anywhere and everywhere. It didn’t matter if it was an airport serviced by our airline… or any commercial airline for that matter. If it had a runway that could accomodate that plane; it landed there, no questions.
As I got into work, there were notes on our internal messaging system to direct any media inquiries to the corporate office, and that the company was deploying crisis counsellors to the airports and offices for employees. I sat down at a workstation, plugged in my phone headset, and waited for the flood of calls to come in. They never came. In a typical 8 hour shift, I’d usually field about 250 calls from customers. I worked a full 8 hours and only fielded four calls.
At the start of the shift, my coworkers were able to (internally) identify the flights before they were confirmed in the media. Once the flights were confirmed, they were locked out of our systems. Before then, we were able to see the flight manifests, and someone had printed out the two United flights that went down in an effort to see if anyone we knew was onboard.
I worked United’s 1K flyer desk at the time, so there were several customers we would know by name, since it’s a smaller pool of customers, and they were always calling in for one reason or another to change flights or whatnot. Some of my coworkers knew some of the crew, and there were more than a couple passengers some of us knew. It was the worst work shift of my life.
The next day, as the shock was wearing off and people were stranded anywhere and everywhere across the globe, the word from the company was just to get people where they needed to go, whatever means necessary.
At this time, almost all major carriers worldwide shared flight load data across their different proprietary computer systems. Some airlines like Southwest didn’t share this data, and under normal circumstances we were unable to “protect” a passenger on southwest if there was a flight problem. Now, no holds were barred. We had customers in the tundras of Canada, some in Greenland, others in tiny airstrips in the middle of Kansas. Places we didn’t have planes normally. Places no commercial carrier had planes normally. But we had to get these people where they needed to go. It didn’t matter where they were headed originally, but for a solid week or two, we rerouted people where they wanted to be, however we could make it happen. Originally going to Los Angeles and wanted to visit mom in Duluth? Done. Call southwest to see if they had a seat for a passenger? Done. Only seat I can find is First Class on American Airlines? Done. Rental car? Done. Amtrak? Done and done. It didn’t matter, we just had to do what needed to be done. Our office also had a walk-up ticket office, which was closed. One distraught customer found his way to out break area outside and I lent him my cell phone, and I dialled into our 1K desk so he could talk to an agent and rearrange his travel plans.
Over the next few weeks, we had a scrapbook set up on the call floor with letters and cards we had received from other airlines, customers, and strangers offering their support and condolences for the teammates we lost that morning. It still moves me to tears today thinking about it.
One story I tell is that a good coworker of mine knew immediately about a customer on Flight 93 which crashed in Shanksville, PA. As soon as the flight number was known, she said “I put a guy on that flight last night. He was supposed to leave on an earlier flight, but wanted to stay home to spend time with the family.” Later, when the list of names was released, she looked and said “That’s him!” It was Todd Beamer. He was a 1K flyer on United, and an overall nice guy. I’d spoken to him a couple of times, pretty routine stuff. He’s now famous for being the man on flight 93 who called the Airfone operator (those satellite phones they used to have in seat backs in the 90s). He was part of the group of passengers who attempted to retake the cockpit and said the famous words “Let’s Roll”. It’s generally believed that Flight 93 was headed to Washington DC, and likely the White House. The passengers sacrificed themselves and were successful in stopping that from happening.
20 years later, and an entire generation who never knew the event, or what things were like before then, I guess my only analogy I can think of is that this is what the generation of Americans who lived through Pearl Harbor felt like, and then seeing the slow march as the event gets forgotten and marginalized. There is a certain pain in that, and emotions that get stirred up. Just as my grandparents vowed to make sure we never forgot the lives lost in that attack, we must work to make sure we never forget that Tuesday morning, when so much changed in the blink of an eye.
Amazing story n info. Things I certainly never knew. Thx
TLDR
God bless you
Wow. That is an eye opener
the tundras of canada? most of them were in gander which is quite nice early september lol
I was a young mother in Australia, when the events of 9/11 took place. I spent days being glued to the TV, crying, shaking my head, and thinking that the end of the world was surely coming. I haven't felt safe, since. I will never, ever forget. And the courage of those first responders, the flight attendants and just the everyday New Yorkers who helped each other out that day, has stayed with me. My heart breaks for all those people who lost their lives, those who had to grow up without parents or siblings and those whose health has been badly affected. And for what reason, exactly? That is what bothers me the most. Take care, all of you.
Very well said
Thank you so much.
My cousin (by marriage) had to run for his life when the towers fell; and his dad was killed in one of the towers. My cousin is now 50 and is dealing with many health issues from everything he had to deal with that day.
Nearly everyone knows about and remembers those who died (rightfully), but often forget about the tens of thousands of people who survived the initial attack but still suffer from horrific health effects.
So thank you, for bringing awareness to them and the causes that support them.
So, so many were affected. Marcy Borders the lady who was covered with dust, from the iconic picture, and Diane Digiacomo, an officer with the ASPCA, who was featured on the Animal Planet show "Animal Cops" at one time, are two that come to mind right away. They both died from cancers. And there's hundreds, maybe even thousands, of other people out there who have died, or are still suffering-and will always suffer-both physical and psychological effects. We'll never know all their names. But we should always remember they're out there. Even if we are unable to help them ourselves, the simple act of remembering, and continuing to raise awareness, honors them, I think. Because NONE of the victims of 9/11, whether they've gone Home, or are still here on Earth, should EVER be forgotten. I'm thankful to Ace for remembering, and trying to help. People like him are what's RIGHT in this world.
Oh, and blessings to your cousin, his family, and your whole family.
Shame they never investigated who was behind 911.
@@mariebelladonna437 yeah
That’s tragic , don’t even know what to say
Thank you for this. I've been searching for photos of the pre-9/11 mall since it happened. I can't shake my obsession with the day or the property because both have made a major impact on my life. I spent many hours at the concourse shopping center as a young working adult. Those buildings were...powerful and a symbol that I was no longer a kid (I worked directly across the river at Exchange Place). We would hop on the PATH train at Exchange Place and grab lunch. There are clothes that I purchased at the mall's shops that I still can't throw away. I know remembrances will become fewer in the years ahead since the 20th anniversary, but there are a few of us out there who still feel the loss. RIP to Susie and Jim who perished that day. I appreciate this video so much. You jogged memories I didn't realize I had.
My nephew moved to NYC six years ago and last summer, my sister went to visit him. One of the places they visited was the 9/11 Memorial Pools and museum. She told me how she poignantly learned that the memorial is not only the most visited place in NYC, but also, it is the quietest place in NYC. ❤️
I live in Manhattan and I remember that day clearly. It was my first day of Middle School. Class had just started a couple minutes ago. The librarian came in and told the teacher there was an accident downtown. I in my young innocent mind thought a MTA bus had crashed and flipped over. The librarian came back and said “a plane crashed into the World Trade Center” I didn’t at the point know it was the other name to the Twin Towers. She then said parents are going to be picking kids up. My mother picked me and my brothers up. We all went to same school. We started walking to my grandparents apartment. In the air I saw fighter jets zoom up. Finally got to grandparents. Started watching the new. Then I saw LIVE the second plane crash into the other Tower. “It’s just a playback of the first plane” said my mom. She quickly learned it wasn’t.
Why can’t the helicopters save them? My aunt came followed my uncle. Trains had stop running. They walked far to get there. I still remember the people falling… the sound of people hitting the floor. Kept watching the news seeing everything unfold. I’ve been to the site. Went to community college near there and actually saw freedom tower being finished. I do remember I had class on 9-11-2010(?) and looked up. I was on the corner looking at the Freedom Tower. I looked at the time. It was around 8am it was chilly as I thought about the people walking to class and being interrupted by the sound of the first plane hitting. Gave me goosebumps.
Well thank you to anyone that read my story. Great video btw.
Hello. I don't doubt your story, but maybe your recollections are a bit off timing wise. There was exactly 16 minutes between the planes crashing into the towers ( 08:46 and 09:02).
The initial five minutes or so following the first crash, people were just dumbstruck, confused and weren't even sure what was happening.
From the first instance of the librarian coming to tell your teacher that there'd been an 'accident down town' to her then returning to know that 'a plane had crashed into the world trade centre' would in reality have covered at least a ten minute time span, and that is being generous.
From many stories I have read from people involved, the call to collect children from schools didn't come until AFTER the second plane strike. At that point, everyone knew it was a terrorist attack and it was the correct action to clear schools of children from that point on. But in your case, even if your mother had been asked to come and collect you and your brothers, unless you lived no more than 100 yards from the school, and your grandparent's apartment was within the same distance, there is no way you could have reached your grandparent's apartment (9:02) to watch the LIVE news as the second plane hit the south tower.
I am making the assumption that your grandparent's apartment is not right next to the school as in your story you say the following, 'We started walking (not running) to my grandparents apartment. In the air I saw fighter jets zoom up (from what I have learned, fighter jets were not seen over Manhattan until 9:25, which was 23 minutes AFTER the second strike) FINALLY got to grandparents. (using the word 'finally' suggests that you had experienced quite a walk, 10, 15, 20 minutes?)
So, by the time your mother had collected you (alongside the chaos of many other parents collecting kids at the same time) and you walked to your grandparents while you saw two F-15 fighter jets patrolling over Manhattan, the south tower had already been hit.
Our recollections can become a little blurred over time, even for us adults, more especially for school aged kids. Maybe once you arrived in front of grandma's TV, they were already showing repeats of the second strike. Here in England they didn't stop showing the footage for days.
Hey, I am glad that you survived that terrible day and that you can tell your story.
@@gary1961 well, maybe it was a replay of events I saw on the news?
Like they replayed it to catch people up? I do remember watching it happen at least from my point of view. I saw Second plane hitting tower at some point on that day. From moment I heard what happened in school to reaching grandparents apartment and started watching the news, the time that passed was a blurr.
But I do remember saying "it wasn't a replay of first tower getting hit" when I saw second tower hit. To my mom when we saw it.
@@FireFox173 Hey, thanks for your reply. Yes, it was likely the replay of the second strike. All channels were playing both strikes it seemed for days on end.
Take care and much peace to you and your family.
I watched an interview when one of the helicopter pilot in the rescue team said the door to the roof had been locked and nobody was there (on the rooftop). He circled the towers for so long with the hope that someone would make it up there but nobody did. He couldn't just get near to the towers and rescue those trapped because of the height, the smoke and the heat, the only thing he could was landing on the rooftop.
The sound of bodies hitting the floor sounded like 1000lb glass shattering in over a million pieces. It's a sound that haunts me that I can never unhear
17:20/ As a native New Yorker, you're not mistaken about the specifics of the designs that make up the Occulus. The slitted windows soaring over the middle of the mall were meant to invoke the original exterior of the Twin Towers! The choice of warm marble was no accident, either. The floors and walls utilize the exact same marble that was used for the original WTC mall. The spinal aspect of the Occulus was meant to invoke a dove as it begins to soar onto flight. Just look at the structure from outside, and you can picture the aviary connection.
Thank You, Jose. For putting a better image to this. I've heard a lot of depressing and scary comparisons. It being made to represent a dove makes more sense.
I now like the oculus more now
If I’m not mistaken, the windows were designed to open on 9/11 and have some special light effect. They are complicated enough that they leaked and I believe that they aren’t opened any more due to stopgap repairs to them.
I was thinking the same as you look up it's like you are looking up and standing between the twin towers.
If you listen closely you can still hear the people screaming.
I'm from England and I visited New York back in 2015, I started every day off by spending time at the memorial pools to pay my respect. With all the hustle and bustle in New York, very much like London, there is an eerie silence over the memorial pools. I will never forget that tragic day. Lest We Forget 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇸
🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧
I was obsessed with those towers from about 1977 when I first heard of them. I was a poor teen then. In 1986, a coworker took a trip to NYC. My only request was that she bring me something from those towers. I got several cool postcards. I always hoped to someday get there. Married the hubby and he knew of this dream. Feb. 26, 1993, he woke me (it was 9:17 am our time) to tell me someone bombed the WTC. I answered, "No, they didn't!" because I was in denial. Sept. 11, 2001. again, I was asleep. Husband woke me around 8am our time(pacific) to tell me that someone hit the towers and they were gone. I said, "No, they aren't!" I just couldn't believe it. I got up and saw it for myself, since it was replaying over and over on the tv. That night, I had a horrible nightmare where I was in one of the towers and it was burning and I can honestly say it is the worst thing I've ever dreamed. It felt so real and gives me a small idea of what people went through. I'm still poor and unable to get to NYC. If I ever do, I'll visit that Memorial for sure.
Probably the most peaceful reflection of a truly horrific day in the history of humanity. Thank you for your remembrance and work of art.
It wasnt as horrific as any of the days of operation shock and awe.
Very tastefully done. Wonderful retrospective on this location, and a great look at a current day thriving mall.
This was one of the most amazing and respectful tributes I’ve seen to the people lost on 9/11! The cadence and tone of your narration was very reflective and respectful to the victims. The brief history you covered gave the site and events of 9/11 a proper context. Thanks 🙏 a million for this thoughtful and professional presentation of such an important event in New York City’s and America’s history!
Yeah. I liked it too.
Couldn’t have said it better 🙏🏻
Shame they never investigated or arrested those behind 911
@@Stantheman848 That was Osama ben Laden and his crew. Weren't you paying attention?
@@sheilatruax6172 i thought that only truly gullible and thicko americans fell for that comedy.
I still cry every time I see the footprints where the waterfalls are with all of the fallen are named…I didn’t know anyone who died that day, but I watched on TV that long & fateful day😭😭😭😭😭 We will Never Forget😭
One of my friends and coworkers was in this mall when the first plane hit. He had a business meeting that morning but his airline had lost his luggage, so he went there to buy some business attire for the meeting. He was outside on the street directly below the second attack. As large chunks of debris rained down, some firemen urged him to seek cover under a truck until there was a relative pause in the chaos. He then escaped the immediate area on foot and was at a safe distance when the towers fell.
Anyway, when I saw this story about the mall at the WTC, I immediately thought of him. It was just by chance he was there that day for a sales meeting and for no other reason. It always reminds me of how we can be taken at any moment without reason or warning.
The manager of the WTC mall used to manage the mall in my town. He was only filling in that day. He went back for some radios just as the towers fell and lost his life. He saved tons of people. I met him a few times many years ago when I worked in his old assignment at my mall. He was such a nice man. Even allowed me to do my college final at my mall for my project. Forever grateful to him. I’m surprised he wasn’t mentioned here. There is a memorial plaque for him in my mall. His name was Bruce Eagleson.
That’s insane luck
RIP Bruce 😢
So sorry to hear about this story.
@@AcesAdventures1 truly. I pray for his family on the regular.
My mom was one of the ones who got out through that mall on 9/11. Thanks, mall.
That’s unbelievable
@@AcesAdventures1 yeah, she called me from tower one, on the 13th floor. That’s how I found out.
@@VitaminSteve so glad she is ok :)
Wow
That's LITERALLY unbelievable. In the sense that it can't be believed.
Thank you for bringing the mall to peoples attention as a conduit to safety from the horror unfolding above the mall
I was there in the mall
I came off the E train, and was swept up into a sea of humanity trying to exit
There was no stampeding, but the sheer volume of people swept me up the stairs, and I found myself in front of Century 21, loo,ing at a burning World Trade Center
Evrrytime I tell my story, I always emphasize thr,e safety of the mall, and all the people that hurried me along, and upmthe stairs
I will never forget that day, and all the people that helped each other both physically, and by offering words of comfort and encouragement to each othrt
That’s unreal
Thank you for featuring the mall because I don't think anyone else has ever done so. Most people who haven't been to the WTC have no idea what it was like on the bottom floors. The WTC was my second favorite building in NY and I was there nearly every day since that was my station. I used to have a recurring dream of myself all alone on the scores of escalators wondering where everyone was. This occurred for years after the bombings.
So touching. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
The plaza used to be a skate spot actually back in the day.
@@profo4544 Loved the Plaza and sitting outside in the sunshine by the Sphere. I’m sure it made a twinkling sound but maybe my memories are mixed up with the live music that was often staged there. Those were happy times 😊
@@dellablair8514 Yeah man, ive visited the trade center alot, it never felt as cool as the empire state building tho, the marble, that thing feels almost like ancient, its stepped to like the lowest levels huge and it tapers into the tower, the twin towers are nice but they werent as decked out with marble everything. But going up them and seeing the observation area had a different feel that the empire state building, the last time i visited the twin towers i was at that resteraunt area one with my mom and grandmother i beleive, and this was like late 2000s to. But yeah the plaza was awesome, i used to hang around there for hours skating the granite and marble, tho i think it was granite mostly, i can barely tell the difference between the two now, let alone then. Actually if it was outdoors it was 100% granite, im just used to skaters calling it marble lmao. People dont really put marble outside, atleast not really anymore, granite looks the same and wont stain or chip nearly as easy. Lmao, i used to sit around that area all the time.
I never knew about the mall until I started doing real research on the attacks. Didn’t kno about the restaurant either. I always thought it was just full of basic offices but these buildings were so full of life. The interior was so beautiful. I wish I could’ve seen them for myself but I was only 5 at the time
Right after I graduated college in the 80s I had a job interview in the towers. From the moment I stepped into the building I felt uncomfortable being there. I went to the interview and said I was sorry for wasting their time, that I'd never be able to work in those buildings. I do remember visiting the observation deck and the mall afterwards but I never visited the twin towers ever again.
I honestly don't blame you tbh.I don't know if it was the eerie feeling of being in something so unnecessarily tall with limited escape routes, or that some people could just sense that the towers were somehow marked for death long before their actual demise came, but I really don't blame you one bit for that. The new tower that they built over the original site is beautiful in design, but horrifying in height.
@@sissysovereign1294 I will never visit the new tower.
@@Catlover6363 Ja som bola minuly rok 👍
I have a fear of heights, I definitely wouldn't have taken a job there.
They shouldn't of built the new tower on the original site, just my opinion, but I think they should of turned the who area into memorial gardens and park so that families and local people could visit if they wanted to, especially as they didn't have graves of the victims to visit. Here in England a ww2 bomb landed on houses in a small village near bury, lancashire and killed many people, years after and still nothing was ever rebuilt on that land, it was turned into memorial gardens instead.
“We’ve all experienced 9/11 in our own way” as someone who was bullied bc of 9/11(muslim that was raised in the early 00s), and too young to have remembered it this hit home lol. My heart goes out to all lives that were lost in this tragedy! I’m so sorry
I understand that people were hurt, and many were effected badly by this.. but on the other hand, they had no right to bully Muslims, those were evil people, their are evil people everywhere in all religions, i hate when people categorize people. I know that truly hurts.
Hope you’ve left that hateful ideology
@@westaussie965 it's not the Muslim belief that's the evil thing, it's certain people who go extreme
I'm so sorry you had to experience that
@@westaussie965 You're just as bad as the bullies, bullying someone for their religions. Leave the commenter alone, it's like if I were to group all Christians as hateful people because some of them hate LGBTQ+ people
I was about 24 years old that day, working my first real job as an adult in law enforcement. I feel like I lost my adolescent innocence that day... and I suppose much of the country probably felt the same. I have been to NYC twice. The first time was post 9/11 but they were still doing site cleanup and preparation for the new development. The second time was about a month ago. I made my way down to the memorial, toured the museum, explored the oculus, and went to the top of Freedom Tower. The museum is very somber and emotional. It was an almost surreal experience being there, standing on that ground. Anyone who remembers exactly where they were that day, and what they felt, I strongly encourage a visit to the site. It gave me a bit of closure that I feel I have been 20 years searching for.
Bless you. Peace be with you.
Imagine living such a sheltered and amazing life that an event that has nothing to do with you makes you loose your adolescent innocence
Great moving video Anthony. RIP to the 10 Australians lost in 9/11. We will never forget
Thank you for the video. I have always wondered about the mall after 9/11. My commute to Wall Street was on the PATH train to the WTC station. I bought my favorite raincoat at the Banana Republic at this mall, and remembered taking lunch breaks there and quick shopping trips with colleagues. There was a violinist busking for change in the mornings at the building exit toward Zuccotti Park. I wondered about his fate too, I hope he is spared. I was lucky to have switched to a job in Midtown, a few months before September 11, but my husband was still working at the World Financial Center. He and his colleagues witnessed the planes hitting the towers and later ran for their lives towards the river, covered in white dust. Firemen put them on a ferry to Jersey City, where we lived. For the next couple of weeks, we helplessly watched the smoke rising up from Ground Zero from our apartment window. The buildings were part of our once beautiful riverfront view. Such a traumatizing experience for both of us.
I'm so very sorry this horrific and traumatizing event had to become the centerpiece of your senior year in high school. It was so hard for those of us who were adults at the time, but I can only imagine how frightening and terrifying it must have been for kids, and especially those who were far too young to even begin to try and grasp this kind of evil exists in the world.
This is a lovely, respectful, emotionally mature video. Thank you for taking the time to film, edit, and upload it for others to share in remembering.
Oh I'm still emotional today watching this. Often I go over the time spent at 1 world 46th floor, will never forget that day, the souls that are gone till my last day. 20 years later brings tears to my eyes. Thank you.
I was a senior in high school, too. 20 years later, it still hurts so much to think about. That event, in addition to claiming thousands of innocent lives, sent this country on a downward spiral that we still haven't recovered from. One of the most traumatizing things I've ever lived through.
still bothers me too
911 was done by the us goverment they killed there own citezens
I had just graduated HS that summer. Class of 2001. I was staying with my sister in NYC. Arrived in June, and then this happened. I will never forget the dust and lint that would pile up in the house. Literally you would dust, and the next day, you could see a light coating like if you hadn't dusted in a week.
I s freshman in hs and I saw it from my highschool window. I have the same sentiments .
I was sitting home on the phone to a very good friend of mine who is in the world trade Centre it was her lifelong dream to visit New York and see the famous sites both her and her boyfriend when will trade one when the plane hit I remembered Stingley her screaming and say oh my god what is happened 20 minutes later she rang me back for a brief minute when I had a raw and then nothing we never found her remains.
The new buildings and museum were beautifully done. Very respectful to those we all lost that day. If you have never been, I highly recommend going and paying your respects.
I hope to visit some day before I die!
Give credit where credit is due ... To The Mossad.
Good sir... that was the most tactful, respectful, and touching tribute that I have ever seen from anybody not from New York; let alone this country. I thought my tears had all but dried out; but here they are again.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this stunning display of kindness to those who still bear scars from this terrible day; and always will. To make a safe haven for such people is a noble thing to do.
With much love and respect from a New Yorker who did not lose anyone that day; but knew countless friends and family of friends who were taken from us that day, and still lives in the shadow of this horrible event. I humbly thank you.
My aunt and uncle worked at AT&T, and both witnessed the second jet fly into the World Trade Center. It seriously affected them the rest of their lives. To say they were clearly traumatized by the tragic effects of 9/11 would be an understatement. I was on break at work in Pennsylvania when this took place. Still rattles me to this day.
That would've been physically impossible. Why are you making up stories?
@@theopinionisthighqualityopinioexplain?
@@theopinionisthighqualityopiniowdym
@@theopinionisthighqualityopinio the smartness is so confusing
@@starzz_andrehe's implying the conspiracy theory stuff you know the whole it wasn't an aircraft it was a missile or whatever all that stuff
I know I am late to the party. And I didn't suffer any personal loss, either. But Ace, I am crying right now. This is the absolute BEST video you have ever made. Stellar. Top-notch. Just...perfect. I can's say enough. Thank you for your touching tribute, beautifully written, so respectfully spoken, and so incredibly moving. I hadn't gotten around to subscribing to your channel yet, and I'm sorry for that. I can see I did myself a great disservice. You are one of the best. I am definitely subbed now.
Visually the mall is very stunning but physically awfully to navigate. The long corridors are great for social distancing and movie shoots. Most of the stores are niche luxury brands that serves the tourist crowd. The train connection element of the mall is separate. It’s a pretty photo backdrop but hardly generates revenue
if you look closely, the walls are very dirty
I find the Occulus distracting. Kind of wished the mall design was scaled down a bit, to focus on shops itself, rather than the atrium. It steers away from the street life culture.
I will admit designers didn’t forecast Instagram and online shopping when construction started.
Think of this WTC Mall as being a memorial version of Times square, Why?
Because 90% of the property at Times Square does not make one shred of profit - and never will. It's just to get a company image and presence out there - and perhaps a bit pf prestige.
I find this structure chilling and in poor taste. It looks like a giant skeleton, devoid of flesh and laid bare, wholly inappropriate considering the loss of so many souls. While COVID may have delivered a punch to it's pocketbook, I think real retail success of this place will never be realized. Luxe shopping is particularly sordid in this instance and whether intentional or subcontious people will largely avoid this place. I do want to visit the 911 museum but I won't step foot in here.
I'm not a tourist and Ive shopped there many times.
Beautifully and respectfully done, Anthony. Thank you ❤️❤️
Very moving video and respectfully done. I did not know anyone personally affected by 9/11 but it still makes me incredibly sad to think about. I am from the UK and I can remember watching the events unfold on the TV and just not knowing what to do but cry and feel really angry, which I still do when I think about it. What is heartening to know though is how the US picked itself up after this tragic event and something that inspired me at the time and still does. Sending love from the UK.
thank you for you kind words regarding this mall. I worked in a school when this happened..one of the teachers I worked with her nephew worked as a package carrier. He was late to work that day. If he was on time he would have been in the towers delivering packages as he always did. It is mind boggling that some people survived because they were either sick or they were late to work or just simply took the day off..puts things into perspective doesn't it.
Still crazy to think this actually happened. A lot of peoples lives changed that day. I’m in the uk and remember running to the local tv shop in the mall I worked in just in time to see the second plane hit. Truly heartbreaking.
Not gonna lie, this one was a tough one to watch; I did not know this mall was an escape route for 9/11 victims. The pain of that tragic day weighs on our collective conscience, even a shmuck like me in the Midwest who saw the collapse on a news loop after waking up from a graveyard shift, and a few hours after the fact. Very moving work as always, Anthony from Ace’s Adventures. ✊🇺🇸 #nevereverforget
Yes people were running and pushing some fell down and were trampled over . Lots of overweight people could not get out they didn't have the endurance to keep going
@@Rollimggiantyup
The mall has always intrigued me because there is very little info/footage/photos of it because of the lack of technology/internet at the time. I personally follow the stories of the unborn children of those killed. The morning of the attack, we were getting our then 9-month old daughter ready for her 9-month pictures at Sears. As a new mom, I felt such a visceral feeling of protection for those kids.
How many pregnant women were lost that day? I have read the story of two or three of them but I fear there were more than that. Those poor unborn babies were murdered too.
@@gary1961 A bit more than 10 women - I remember reading that on a web. But they said the actual number could be higher because they (the mother) might haven't told their loved ones about the baby yet, or maybe even they themself hadn't known that they were pregnant yet. There was a 7-month-pregnant woman who jumped from the North tower that I would never forget cause when she hit the ground, the baby was also out of her body.
@@gary1961 How many unborn babys have 'woman' murderd before they were even born since? The number is millions
Unborn children didn't all die to have lost a parent. There were also many unborn children that lost a father they never got to meet!
@@gary1961 dozens of the unborn children of those killed are alive, but never got to meet their fathers
I did go to ground zero a year after 9-11 and it was totally cleaned up by then. Just a giant hole in the ground. Amazing how quickly they were able to do that. Seeing that Warner Bros store and the happy looking bugs bunny statue covered in dust is very creepy.
Extremely haunting
Of course they quickly removed all the debris.... to hide evidence.... like nano thermite for example.
@@KRAFTWERK2K6 Year Right and those 767's were holograms. Give me a break!
Mark, unfortunately the rescue, recovery and clean-up left many people extremely sick, and killed others, due to the toxic air. 😢
@@valmacclinchy I've heard. That is quite unfortunate. I'm sure the building materials from the early 70s couldn't have been safe to breathe in. It's really messed up the rescue workers weren't told to wear masks
I live in NJ not far from NY. I knew a person from childhood who jumped from Cantor Fitzgerald. You could see the smoke from WTC for many weeks after from a nearby highway. Funny two days before this happened my oldest son had a nightmare where he said missiles were shot at tall buildings in NYC. He said he went to our back highway to look at Manhattan but was stopped by a Military Hummer blocking our highway. No one could get through and the man in uniform said we were at war. I remember being so freighted that day as low flying jets kept going over our home that was shaking from the vibration. My Uncle had retired from the Pentagon and the office he had been in was where a plane came in. He lost so many friends on 9/11. My fathers cousin just happened to be on vacation. She worked in the South Tower exactly where the second plane came through. She too lost many many friends and co-workers. Thank you for remembering the WTC, I did not know that many survivors went through the Mall. WE WILL NEVER FORGET. 🇺🇸
Thank You for sharing. I enjoyed reading your story.
"Go home & be with your families"...this is exactly what 1 of the VP's at my job said to us just before dismissing us that day. It was shocking, almost surreal....had never seen or heard anyone at that job speak like that. Things have never really been the same
I remember getting home from work at 1:40pm on 9/11. My Mum had the news on in the background while she was talking to my sister. About 10 minutes or so after I got home, the news reports about the first plane going into the North tower ( I live in England ). After that we were glued to the television for many hours afterwards. Absolutely horrible day and my thoughts go out to the bereaved families, survivors and everyone affected by 9/11. 👍👍🙏🙏
Anthony, just wow. This is a great historical piece. This was done with honor and respect. I’m blown away how great this video is.
You are such a sentimental guy and I really admire that. You can tell you have a big heart! I think it’s so important to keep this conversations going and to recognize that that it’s ok to still feel emotional, it was a very traumatic day in history on our own soil. The love and strength we all shared to stand back up is what we need now more than ever. Beautiful ending
On the date this year, 2022, I opened the Chicago Tribune newspaper and was astounded that nowhere was 9/11 mentioned anywhere!
I could not believe how such a significant and traumatic date was not mentioned in any way.
I recall my 9/11 experience when I got a call at home from my wife who was at work about the unfolding event. I had a client meeting that day and noticed how the sky was absolutely devoid of planes. This was close to O’hare airport when typically airplane traffic is non stop.
I fail to grasp how people can just forget such socially vital memorials so quickly.
I have not been to NYC for many years so I have not seen the new WTC One.
I did however visit the memorial at Shanksville, PA. It is a very well done tribute and very moving.
I hope that terrible events don’t happen again.
I do however feel that we need to remember and pay tribute to those who perished, those who lost the perished and those who heroically gave of themselves to save and help the injured and those who lost.
Do you know about the 5 dancing israelis?
@@dean9261 Should I explain how the Black Flag operation was pulled off?
@@jeffjansen582 if you would like. From tsa to norad
@@dean9261 Do your homework.
@@jeffjansen582 seriously?
When I was young, I was fascinated by architecture, I loved famous buildings and landmarks, and I even had a huge book full of big pictures of the biggest buildings on Earth. The World Trade Center towers were on the last page, and I remember the photo of them was taken on a foggy night, so the view of the towers wasn't very good. I always thought when I'm older, I'll be able to find some really good, close-up pictures of these buildings, and study them in the same detail I did with the (then) Sears Tower in Chicago.
I was 11 years old that morning. At home, my family was homeschooled. That morning we were taking it easy, just playing a board game. Risk. I was in the process of rolling the dice to defend the Northeastern American territory from an invasion when my dad came upstairs and turned on the TV.
"Once again you're looking at live video of lower Manhattan, where sources tell us that an airplane, a jetliner has crashed into one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center..."
I kept thinking "It's going to be okay, things like this happen.. It happened to the Empire State Building a long time ago. Newer buildings should be able to handle it. The Fire Department is there, the Police are there... Obviously a huge disaster, but they can handle it." It felt like hours. It felt like if I looked away from the screen, it would be the next day, even though obviously it was still morning in New York. But I kept telling myself it would be okay. Until the second plane came into frame.
I knew right away it was banking way harder than a jetliner was supposed to, and it was turning toward the building. It wasn't an accident, it wasn't a disaster, and my thoughts turned to "This is an attack... And they're not going to stop at two. What's happening in other cities?"
It wasn't long before the towers were gone, the Pentagon had been hit by a mysteriously wingless jetliner, a tragic and heroic story crashed in Pennsylvania, and the entire world was a different place. For the first time in my life, there were bad guys out there. There was an enemy, and they don't want to take your land, they want you dead. They kill people so that those people will die, no other reason. From then on, I feel fear, of what they might do to me given the chance. I feel anger at what they do to other people for no good reason. And I feel determination to not let it happen to me, or those around me.
It's not a happy ending. It's not the nicest sentiment, even. It's how I feel, and the impact that it had on me.
I will never forget the lost.
I will never forget the loss.
I will never forget the heroes.
I will never forget the villains.
They will not have me.
An airliner hit the Pentagon, not a "mysteriously wingless jetliner."
@@kitskivich Where'd the wings go, then? When the airliner hits the WTC, the wings carve a massive gash into the building. On the Pentagon, there's nothing like that.
The wings hit several objects in the parking lot, such as light posts and a generator. Also, the Pentagon is a much different building then the Towers were. The towers were 110 story towers built of steel, while the Pentagon is a concrete 5 story building. That is why the impact zones look so different. Hope this helps
This legit brought me to tears, so you definitely covered it with the respect and honor it deserved. So sad that they were allowed to only make 3 stairwells instead of 6. :(
I had no idea that the mall served such an important role in saving people's lives during 9/11. This may be the best mall ever made.
More tragic is people were told to go back up to their place of business when they had gone down to leave the building to escape what had happened. How many people lost their lives due to to being told: don't leave your office, go back to your work area, not stopped from continuing to take elevators up to their certain death. So Sad.
@@carolecampbell8813yes that too. Many people left but only died because they were told to go back up. In hindsight it’s easy to say that’s crazy but nobody expected this and they got so many empty threats they didn’t think it would be this bad. Now ik to always leave whenever something goes wrong and just deal with whatever consequences that come with that the next day.
@BlackGirlLovesAnime6 you also have to think of other things. Say a second plane never hit, and they said to leave the building. People panic and rush out of the building, trample each other, maybe other deaths happen. And then story would be "why did they tell everyone to leave without a safe plan on how to get out?"
It's hard to have known that decision would have this consequence
I still cry when I watch documentary about that day it will forever be in our hearts to the families who lost loved ones I'm truly sorry for your loss even still to this day
I was in my first year paramedic training on 9/11. A classmate walked in and told us what happened. I will never forget the expression of heartbeak and silence from my instructor who was a fellow firefighter.
My dad drove and worked for Path during 9/11. We thought he was under the towers and not with us. I will never forget the sheer terror we all felt. Thank goodness he was about to leave Exchange Place when they were instructed to turn trains around. Continued prayers to the families who lost loved ones.
Amen
I'm seeing this 2 yrs after you posted it but have been drawn to 9/11 remembrances this year. Thank you so much for this post and your comments. I am so afraid that, as a Nation, we are forgetting already. So many of our younger people were too young to comprehend all that happened.
I’m glad The architect is finally getting his recognition
The architect is a crook. This is well known.
@@_Breakdown give me a source you sound like the people who overlooked him for a very particular reason
My family and I actually stumbled into this mall by accident after going to the viewing place on top of One World Trade. You really wouldn’t believe how silent it was in there. I didn’t realize how vacant it was at the time (we were very lost and had no idea we were even still in the WTC area), but I remember it was nearly void of people besides security personnel.
On the original World Trade Center, I’m 16 right now; I wasn’t there on that day but it has always been a point of intrigue for me out of a need to understand the history that made America the way it is today. The one that I’m experiencing as a direct fallout. I really appreciate these kinds of videos because for me, someone who *can’t* remember 9/11, they’re the only way to preserve it.
Hollowed ground
When I visited this in 2018, there was part of the original E and C train entrance still remaining, the doors and floor and stairway leading into what is now Oculus. The center door is still marked from when that area had been checked on 9/13.
Thank you for being so respectful of this place. It truly is hallowed ground. I never realized that the mall saved so many. For that I am grateful. May all affected during this tragedy have peace and love surround them.
thank you for making this video. i was at the World Trade Center on 9/10/01 around 3pm. i spent about an hour sitting in the courtyard and staring up at the towers. i haven't been back down there since. maybe one day, i will be able to return.
Thank you for creating the video Anthony. Beautiful job. I was born in and raised in NY and worked in the city. Like so many commuters, I used to take the E train to work -- last stop on the line was the WTC and I walked through the original concourse to get up to the street before making my way down (and back) to 55 Water Street. I have memories of buying my wedding invitations there and purchasing my rehearsal dinner dress at one of the boutiques (1985/6). I used to stop and grab a banana shake on the way home at a little stand on the way -- there was no 'food court' back then. I was glad to know the role the mall played in helping so many to safety. In the next two years, I would buy a house out of state and not return to the city. The new mall is beautifully depicted in your video. Thank you for the current update and for eliciting such wonderful memories. Never ever EVER forget.
This video was beautiful 🤍 excellent work Anthony!
Great job! Very heartfelt and respectful. I was also a senior in high school, I heard it on the radio while driving to my zero hour class (west coast), honestly not really realizing what was going on, and then got to school where tvs were already tuned in to the news in every room. Great video
I was in history class here in Canada. I was 15. I distinctly remember my teacher walking into the room, a solemn look on his face, which was unusual for him. He said something along the lines of : "Well. I am not sure you are aware of this, but something huge is going on in New York right now....and the world as we know it is about to change."
He always had a bad habit on ranting on everything. But that morning, he did not. We knew it was something terrible, but didn't know what. When we got out of that class around 9h15, everyone was panicking and talking about it, but we didn't have access to any images or anything yet. I remember walking home with other students telling me "It's the end of the world, armageddon is here!" and I was confused. When I got home and saw what my mother was watching on tv, it really hit me. I will never forget my feelings of anxiety, sadness and confusion. What the heck was going on ? In my 15 year old mind, the US was untouchable. I realized unfortunately that it wasn't the case. But I did realize that the American people would never let that go and that they would come back stronger from this. Such a sad story, everyone American or not cried a little (or a lot) that day.
I was a Senior in High School as well on Long Island. I’ll never forget where I was either. After high school I joined the Marines because of 9-11. I’m now retired and totally disabled. Crazy to think how many years have gone by. We can never forget the people who lost their lives that day. 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for your services
Thank you for your services
Thank you for your services
What a beautifully crafted video!
Truly and deeply impactful. I'm from Europe and I feel the tragedy as if it happened in my backyard.
It was a moment that affected the hearts of the whole world.
I was in 6th grade, English. I remember the principle coming on the announcements and saying a plane hit the towers. I have to admit I didn't get it, wasn't sure what buildings they were and thought it was an accident. Later that day in Social Studies the teacher explained what had happened. I don't recall getting dismissed early but once I did get home, my family hugged and watched the news coverage together. I personally haven't been to the site. Once I was near it (a few years later like 2005) and couldn't bring myself to look. My heart still goes out to those who lost someone and anyone who has health problems now.
The most realest video to date. It’s not just only a mall, it’s personal to everyone. I have been to the property several times since even before the grand opening. A stunning mall to honor everyone that lost loved ones. Westfield WTC will always be one of my favorite and sacred malls ever because of that. 🇺🇸🙏🏾
i agree, god bless
Beautifully done and respectful to all. I had not known about the role the mall played in helping that day. Thanks doing this video and reminding us all.
Ughhhh... so profoundly moving, heart-wrenching and healing. Well done.
It is true that 9/11 effected the entire world and the effects can still be felt 20 years later. I was devastated that day, visiting the Twin Towers was on my bucket list and I felt sick to my stomach when I saw the towers fall.
This is a beautiful video that has touched my heart, rest in peace to all those who died on September 11th 2001, this is a day that we'll never forget 😢
Affected, not “effected.”
How did the fall of building 7 affect you emotionally.
especially americas republican bible belt..they turned racists and extremists and blamed and hated all muslims..and fyi: america has never been great #MAGAbs
no it didn't. those of us who have read up on american history understand why America was targeted.
you can't constantly treat people like shit and not expect retaliation
Cold war replacement. Licence to print money.
Thank you for that one! I was barely a teen back then, but that terrible day will forever be burned into my memory. Even though I never had a chance to visit the original place I feel some strange connection to pre 9/11 WTC - a place I've never been too and never will be. I know it's absolutely nothing in compare to all the pain felt by those affected personally by the attack - sometimes I feel it's even inappropriate for me to think of it that way - but I feel somewhat robbed, I feel that those who did it - among all those other way more important things - also stole my chance to experience the original place. It has been more than two decades and I'm still looking for every piece of information I could find about it, each single shard of that old world is dear to me, every picture, every video, every story...
I remember that day very well. I was at work doing setting up the dining room for lunch at the nursing home where I worked at the time when my girlfriend (eventually wife, now ex-wife) saw both planes hit both towers. She told me after the first one and I said "What a terrible accident." A few minutes later she came and told me about the second tower being hit, I remember saying something's going on. A month before 9-11, her and I went to Niagara Falls for a few days. I still think how lucky we were that we planned the trip for August.
Not trying to add drama to it, just being anywhere near New York would've been a little worrisome. I'm not much of a traveler nor am I much at knowing geography or directions. Just being that close is just part of my story. The only thing I knew is we stayed on the New York side and that it was the month before. I had no idea that they were 6 hours apart or how many miles apart they are.
Damn
Wow what a beautiful video to commemorate the ones who lost their lives on that fateful day 9/11/2001. Thank you for honoring all who lost their lives and the many loved ones they left behind and all who took part in the rescue process. Let us not forget as we will never forget. R.I.P. to all the sweet angels who lost their lives on that day ... Peace xx
Americans still have not investigated the biggest crime ever committed on their soil. Weird.
I am still disturbed when I hear the words; "Clear, beautiful, sunny day". Can never forget.
Visited the memorial and mall back in 2018. The memorial was just unbelievable. Being at the mall was also sad that day as we walked by the Kate Spade store, it was the day after she died.
You've been taking about hard times lately but dang if you didn't make a masterpiece with this one!!!
Thanks so much
The end definitely left me in tears. A wonderful tribute Anthony.
Great video and awesome topic. Love it when I see someone tackle a topic that hasn’t already been done to death.
I was working for an after school childcare program in TN on 9/11. Something that I think of often is that when parents came to pick up their kids that afternoon, almost every one of them said they just wanted to hug their child. It affected so many people in so many different ways.
Well done, Ace! I have never been disappointed in your work. I felt very teary 😢Thank you for presenting this in a most respectful way. ❤
A slight departure from the usual format.
A touching tribute Anthony.
Oh boy. I went down a rabbit hole this September, like everyone else and just learned about this mall. And the post 9/11 mall was epic. I had no idea. I saw some footage from first responders on UA-cam. Can’t wait for your video.
I shopped at the mall pre 9/11 almost daily. I worked at 150 Broadway and after work I'd stop in for something to take home for dinner and other odds and ends. In addition to the mall there were so many street vendors around. I remember one sweet lady who one dozen roses for $4. Every Thursday I'd buy roses from her. Amazing stuff.
Same. Worked at Drexel on wall street. Three years came to work daily thru these buildings, PATH train or subway... loved it. My "Northstar" on the south tip of the island. Lost many friends. Lost landmark... just lost
I have ALWAYS said: "If I'd been at the WTC on 9/11, I would have saved myself (and hopefully as MANY who would have followed me) by getting out through the Mall."
As it was, Brooklyn was more than CLOSE ENOUGH for me.
The Mall LITERALLY saved THOUSANDS of lives that day though.
When I first visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in 2015, (after having moved out to CA from NYC 11 years before in 2004) I was IMMEDIATELY struck by how solemn the space was.
And when I descended for the first time on the escalator into the Memorial Hall of the Museum and saw the Virgil quote: "No day shall erase you from the memory of time" I was INSTANTLY transported back to how I felt on that day and the fear, and the panic and the shock paralysis.
It was as if the 11 years out in California (from 2004-2015) since I'd moved from New York had NEVER ACTUALLY even happened, and that I was RIGHT THERE, reliving every moment of 9/11 ALL OVER AGAIN.
It IS, WAS & will ALWAYS BE traumatic. I'm sure I can always go back there even as a VERY old man, and I'd STILL relive it.
Of walking from my apartment with my Dog from South Park Slope to my Aunt's apartment in Brooklyn Heights and both me and my Dog wanting to panic and run as we heard the collapse of the South Tower, but we had to keep going because I needed to get to her because I had NO OTHER family members that were in NYC on that day with the exception of she. My parents were (THANKFULLY 🙏) safe up at their farm in Southern Vermont. My sister, brother in law and their family were safe out in Colorado. My fiance was at work but he worked in Midtown, so he wasn't ANYWHERE near the WTC.
Of seeing literally THOUSANDS of people pouring off the Brooklyn & Manhattan bridges into Downtown Brooklyn, some of them covered in dust and bleeding, some of them crying, one woman screaming in hysterics, people with numb looks on their faces, people in shock (including myself because I saw reflected in them what I was feeling inside myself) and it was INTENSE. SO INTENSE it literally SEARS into your 🧠.
I wasn't EVER the same after that. 9/11 changed me FOREVER.
This brought back so many memories. I stayed at the Marriott World Trade Center a week before 9/11. I was 10 at the time and remember being so excited to shop at the mall.
It’s a damn shame how the badly the decision to have less stairwells would have haunting consequences years later
I grew up just outside NYC in Westchester County NY. I had graduated college a few months prior to 9/11 and did not yet have a job and was actually sleeping when the planes hit. I remember my mom was calling me over and over to wake me up and I finally did and was annoyed at her. I'll never forgot the sound of her voice when she said to get up and turn the TV on NOW. I did and really didn't understand what I was seeing, it seemed like a trailer for a movie. When full realization hit, I remember just being in a state of shock, particularly after the towers came down which I did see as it happened.
Crazy thing is I had only just been there 2 days prior on Sunday as a buddy of mine was visiting from out of town and I took him to the top / Windows of the World. I actually took anyone who was visiting NYC for the first time to the WTC and the underground Mall as it was my favorite site in the City. So, after the towers came down I drilled the memory of my last visit into my head as I wanted to treasure them forever. That memory is thankfully still crystal clear and pops into my head whenever I visit the Oculus/Mall and Freedom Tower site which I do fairly frequently (and continue to take visitors there as I had done in the past). Anyway, I got off lucky as I did not lose a family member (Father thankfully was working in Midtown) but the horror of that day is still fresh in my mind.
COVID certainly did a number to the City and especially the downtown area but I have full faith that it will recover in time, just as NYC always does after a crisis. Appreciate the video!
I was 36 years old at the time, and living just outside of Chicago. I was dating a woman who's sister, and future brother-in-law, were living in Manhattan. She was working in the Empire State Building, and he was working in the north Tower. They were talking on the phone before beginning their work day, from their respective offices. She helplessly watched Flight 11 pass her office, much too low, she said that his last words were "OH SHIT, I LO_____" and the call went silent. She never seen or heard from him again. She believes that he was looking out of his window on the 95th floor, watching the plane coming straight towards him.
Incredibly respectful. Thank you. Never forget.
I’ve never been on your channel before but I’m glad I found my way here today. This made me cry. Thank you so much for the reverent respect you showed for this location, that day, and those that were personally affected in some way. It is so important. We will always remember. #NeverForget
I live in central NJ. on 9/11 I was almost 3 and it was my first day of preschool. my mom dropped me off and went home to put my then 1 year old sister down for a nap. she turned on the TV to pass the time and caught the news just as the 2nd tower was hit. immediately she rushed to pick me up. my dad was at work in north jersey (nowhere near NYC) at the time and luckily none of my family worked at the towers. my uncle was in WTC7 at the time though and immediately fled when the first plane hit. he was able to get back home to NJ and is safe. I know many are not as lucky though. Rest In Peace to all the people who died in the planes, towers, at the pentagon, and in shanksville
A lovely tribute Ace! I’m from UK and remember that day vividly, I worked for UPS at the time and our workshop were crowded around our radio listening to what was going on, just stunned that something like that could possibly happen.
I was lucky enough to visit NYC in 2010 and the groundwork was being started on the new world trade centre building, and stumbled across the little church around the corner from what was ground zero, and I remember being moved to tears at all the firefighter badges from people all over the world who came to help, it was a truly remarkable place to visit. Once us brits are allowed back over to the US, I am coming for another visit!
This is really beautiful. Thank you.
On that day I was stationed in San Diego. I was in the Navy and getting ready to retire in a couple of years. My dad was a pilot and I'd grown up around airports and tarmacs. I got a part time job with frontier working as a ticket agent and also down in ops. I worked mostly weekends and an occasional night during the week if they were shorthanded and needed someone to operate the jet way.
That morning of 9/11 was different because we were having a mandatory employee meeting and I was going to be going to my Navy job a couple of hours late. Our first flight left at 0630'ish and the plan was for everyone to come in around that time for the meeting. Our next flight left around 9am so there was a slight break. I was rushing to get there on time and as I was leaving the house, the first plane hit the north tower I believe. Commentators thought it was a small plan that got off course. As I was driving to the airport I heard on the radio that the second plane hit.
When going to work at San Diego International Airport, employees had to allow extra time once you got there, because you had to part in a big gravel lot across harbor drive and catch a shuttle. But this morning I was running late and was just going to park in front of the terminal in the customers parking. I didn't live that far from the airport, maybe 10 minutes, but when I turned in to park in front of the airport, there was already national guardsmen all around the front of the airport and they wouldn't let me come through. I said screw it and parked right there on harbor drive and started running towards the entrance. I made sure my employee badge was highly visible, plus I was in my navy whites, so they didn't slow me down. Frontier was squeezed in-between the Delta counter and American West. The plane was on the runway in the lineup so our meeting started. I think one or two got off the ground but they came back. All flights canceled. That flight was full of New Yorkers trying to get home. When they came back to the terminal shortly after, it was crazy. All of us were crying with them. Needless to say, we spent the rest of the day trying to find them accommodations. Some stayed at the airport. We really did our best to take care of them but they were understandably inconsolable.
About a month before, sometime in August, I was working an evening shift and was at the counter. I saw a man and a woman in dark suits stopping at each ticket counter and handing them a thick bunch of stapled papers. When they got to me, they informed me that they were FBI and told me that in light of the terroristic threats floating around, that they had put together a list of names of people from the middle east to look out for. This stack of papers was an inch thick and names were front and back. We did our best to follow this list but there were so many names that were alike. A million Mohammeds. Of course we all know now that some of them were living in San Diego. That's really stayed with me, was it me that missed a name? Did we get too complacent? Was it even a realistic goal. Things like that stay with you.
Thank you for sharing. God bless you Anthony!
This is one of your finest pieces ace, I have no other words to describe it.
Never forget 9/11
I remember seeing video of the abandoned mall years after 9/11--everything like a time capsule and I haven't been able to locate it, This is the only thing about the mall I have really come across so thank you for doing this.
This was a very informative, and amazing video. I like you, and so many others was truly affected by the tragic events that took place on 9/11. My entire family is from NY and I was 25 years old and will never forget that day, or any of the people who endured such a horrible event, and those who lost their lives. Thank you for bringing more light, and information to people, as so many who were not even born do not know the importance that day carried.
Thanks for sharing, I was a firefighter and was there on 9\11
Definitely left a scar on me.
Thank you for sharing. On this tragic day I had awokened on the couch were I'd fallen asleep with the t.v on early that morning after sending my children to school in C.T. So when my eyes were opened it was the first thing I saw,it was on all the channels. I thought I was dreaming. Still being in a state of shock and disbelief, I had to go down to ground zero to see for myself. The silence in the area was just deafening! The looks on everyone's faces,I will never forget. My condolences to everyone who lost someone on 9/11 🌻