Still seeing idiots commenting about inside job. Video about plane going "through" etc. I guess that one video with planes nose going "through" is just video preparing next frame? I did not even google that as anyone saying this is fake are just mental!
It's crazy how his friend called him from Canada and yelled at him to get out of the building just moments before the 2nd plane crashed through his office floor. That phone call saved his life.
I was in a friend's office in northern Virginia that morning. He had the live coverage on his laptop after the north tower was hit. He said "What a terrible accident." I told him it was no accident; it was terrorists. Then we watched the south tower get hit in real time. My company, a naval architecture firm, had offices way up high in the north tower in 1993 when the basement truck bomb was set off. To keep us in the building, management offered us a suite on the thirteenth floor and we moved. So, our people only had to run down a small number of stairs to get clear of the building. That's what saved my friends.
And do take note, young people: If you are ever going about your life and something horrible and out of place happens around you... do not, for the love of life, go on about your business as if nothing has happened. Leave the area immediately. There is no blame that this innocent, hurt man bears to himself or to anyone. But they should have emptied the 2nd tower immediately after the first incident. Not out of expectation or premonition of another plane strike, but simply because accident or not, business should have concluded after the first "freak accident." There was no way they could guarantee the integrity of the first tower after a plane of unknown size and fuel payload struck it. But to be fair, "they" were given precious little time. Again, no judgement toward anyone involved. Only caution for those of us who remain.
@@jetm0t0moto68 There was a security guard in the second tower who sounded like he was kind of barking at people to go back to work, saying the tower was safe. I've heard about this security man a few times watching survivor stories through the years. One guy (the black guy w/ the white friend in other videos) ... His name was Stanley and he said because of the security guard his c-workers were going to return to their offices... but he was concerned. They held the elevator door open for him in the lobby and kind of put him down like, "Have you made up your mind, Stanley?" So, he did the unthinkable and joined them. But, he was saved by a miracle in spite of the fact he had just made the worst mistake of his life. But, I agree with you. I never can get over the fact, people were not ordered to evacuate!
His contact lens had MELTED into his eyes! Ever been at a campfire and the smoke shifts and goes right into your eyes and they tear up and you have to walk away because it hurts? Multiply that by 1000. Unreal that he still has sight.
This one got me 😢 I wore contact lenses for years and would be in pain if I accidentally fell asleep with them in and had to peel them off in the morning. I can't fathom the idea of them being melted to my eyes omg.
I wonder if he had not had contacts in, would his eyesight have been damaged by the smoke and blaze? Did the melting of the lenses actually benefit him or did they do more harm? I just can't imagine how it had felt to walk through fire as you leave your colleagues behind, and the building begins to crumble behind you
I work at a company where we burn all of our trash alot of boxes and other things it all gos into a dug out pit with a fence around it and when it gets real high we burn it one day i started to burn it and the wind shifted and the black smoke hit me right in the face and brought me to my knees every single bit of air in my body was gone and i struggled for a few minutes after i got away from the fire to catch my breath tears came down my eyes the first thing i thought of was 9/11 and what those people went through in those towers with that same black smoke its heartbreaking i had a way out but they didnt!!
23 years later and you can still hear the emotion in his voice. My heart breaks for him and all who experienced this horror, so many gone with family left to grieve the loss forever.
@@MadeleineJohnston-yr9yy Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, is a prophet of god! When he returns I wouldn’t wanna be the one to explain why you believe what you do. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD *the only one able to bless them* also guide them to the right path to truly succeed in truth. Gnight brother!
Holy crap so this guy at one point starts talking about the heavy set lady and then hearing the cry for help and going with his colleague to help until he was over come by smoke. That person he went with was Brian Clark. Who went on to save Stanley Praimnath who was on the exact floor the plane hit, hid under his desk and survived the initial plane strike. Brian and Stanley obviously survived. The stories match 100% and anyone who hadn’t heard the story of those 2 should definitely check it out, it’s remarkable.
I had just put it together too!! Brian claims that if he hadn't stopped to help Stanley and had gone up the stairs as this guy describes, that he wouldn't have made it out. Incredible that the stories are connected!
Also, this made me think that maybe those two (and Stanley) received the grace to be saved that day, because they initially tried to help Stanley... it's just a thought, I know it can be wrong. Nevertheless many people who helped others perished that day 😢 Hope they received eternal grace in heaven!
@@bumper321 and today I found a 12 year old video that mentions that guys name but I never put it together because I just assumed the guy went back up and died in the collapse. It’s insane!
@@georgka74 this isn’t a laughing matter mate. If you’d experienced the same thing yourself, you’d find yourself in the same situation, reliving the same nightmare every interview you have to make to share your story.
I often think of those who were there, and how they paid a dear price for the rest of us. They can’t unsee the horrors of that day. There were a few Canadian survivors I’ve seen interviewed.
I’ve watched videos of firefighters recalling the sound that was made when then building collapsed and a firefighter holding on to a pillar on the bottom floor trying not be blew away from the force of the blaze
You can tell he's still shell-shocked when he recounts that day. What an incredibly terrible thing to have lost 61 colleagues, and barely escaped yourself (and injured!). He carries literal scars from that day, as well as invisible ones. I'm glad he's still with us. I love that he gave tribute to his wife, and to a higher power for the words that saved him in the stairwell. Incredible story. I wish him continued healing and a long, fulfilling life.
@Trumpisgod Oh no is that true that his wife passed away? After going through all that psychological trauma and supporting a husband with severe (understandable) PTSD. I believe stress causes a cascade of bad physical symptoms that can cause severe illness, eg I have heard that parents of murdered children have shorter lifespans from the effect of grief and stress. So sad!
The most emotional interview concerning 9/11. Thanks to Ron that he shared this dramatic time of his life with us. Wish him and his family all the best.
My wife worked for Marsh and McLennan and the 1st plane hit one of their NYC offices. All that were there already did not survive and in the end they sadly had the 3rd highest number of people in the towers, killed that day. A couple of years after that happen she was in a meeting/seminar and one of the speakers was a man that, like you, was in tower 2. He was in some type of meeting and the people ran to the windows and saw the same thing you saw. He started moving towards the door and the lady holding the meeting asked him where he was going. He said he was leaving after seeing tower 1 on fire. She said that is over there not here so sit down until I am finished. He told her basically 'No Way". She said if you leave don't worry about coming back because you are fired . When he reached the street he started running away from the site and was a block away when the 2nd plane hit the tower he just left. All that stayed were killed, including the very wise and thoughtful lady holding the meeting. I am a retired fire inspector and I can tell many stories about people that didn't use the brain that God gave them when things suddenly went very bad and they didn't live through the tragic event. If it doesn't feel or look right-leave.
I struggle with the attitude of the lady. I was at a business meeting in a skyscraper, and the fire alarm rang. Initially we all went on our business but after 5-10 minutes of the alarm I packed up to leave. My boss said something similar to me about being fired. Fortunately, my dad had raised me to act on my convictions. He also taught me that in a stress crisis, most people become paralyzed and unable to have rational thought. Most of us left. My boss survived but with significant lung damage from the smoke. My colleagues thanked me for decisive leadership but I just told them to thank my dad. Better to look a fool and live. RIP Dad. Miss you every day. Hope to see you again.
doesnt help that the loud speaker was saying "building 2 is secure, return to your desks" and that people coming off of the elevators from the upper floors were told by security to "return to your desks, building 2 is secure" and there is even some reports of security guards telling people that they were actually "safer staying in the building" So you cant blame every person who stayed for "not using their brain" as they were being told to stay put... Stanley Primanths tells a great account of security sending people back up from the concourse level, soon as they all stepped off the elevator, they were immediately stopped by security and told to go back up, their building was "secure" Yes, I'm sure some said "oh its over there, I'm fine" but not everyone, some wanted to leave and were prevented from doing so.. So you cant just say they were all "braindead" for not wanting to leave.. plus, shock is a real thing, there is some stories of people stopping on the stairs in full meltdown refusing to continue on because of overwhelming fear..
@@failure_4_sale Just like all the authority figures told those poor kids on the Korea ferry Sewol to stay put. I wonder how those security people felt later on.
Ron thank you for digging up these painful memories for us. Please know that they are incredibly helpful to me, and many others. I am so very happy that you made it out. And so very devastated and humbled by the many others who lost not only their lives, but also those who lost a brother, a sister, a mother or father, or very good friends, a son, a daughter, a spouse, a confidant, a lover, a beautiful human soul. We love you Ron.
Ron, thanks for sharing your story. Your survival of the aftermath of 9/11 and navigating the trauma is as incredible as your survival on the day. Your resiliency is remarkable. Prayers for continued healing.
every year i make sure to watch these around this time of year. RIP to all those that lost their lives that day and to those still struggling from the after math.
I BURN SAGE & WATCH THESE VIDEOS EVERY YEAR. TO REMIND ME OF HOW PRECIOUS LIFE CAN BE FOR ALL OF US HUMANS. 😢❤ I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY 1ST CHILD & A TEACHER. I WITNESSED FROM THE TEACHER'S LOUGE. WHEN THE 2ND PLANE HIT. WAY IN TEXAS. WE FELT IT..IF YOU KNOW? YOU JUST KNOW WHAT I MEAN. 😢😢
@@TexasMadeAprilReneeYa i was 8 years old when this happened was in Plano, TX. I remember then how serious it was but not truly understanding. I remember asking my sister why people were jumping and her being older and trying to comfort me said its the people trying to jump to safety. Now being an adult this day just is something i can never forget, it was people going to work on a normal day like you and I and their life was cut short due to some cowards.
It seems so barbaric in hindsight to do it. Watching, essentially thousands die in an hour. But I do the same thing every year. I feel it is incredibly important to see and hear the stories of all of those involved and/or effected by this horrible event, wherever we were in the world that day. It's important to remember and Honor all of them and in a way, be by their side in their final moments. We were all Americans that day and we all felt the heavy and brutal devastating grief as one. May no one ever experience anything like this ever again.
Right there, what you see is a strong person. Surviving the attack was only a part of his story. For him to be able to talk, and maintain his composure is truly impressive. His honesty about the PTSD is something everyone needs to hear and understand. Maybe it was pure luck that he survived, but by surviving he has demonstrated that the road to recovery is unimaginably difficult, yet he has succeeded.
Wow. I lost a high school classmate and a member of my church on AA93. It’s bugged me for years, especially when I recently visited the memorial. Hearing him say he lost 61 colleagues…my heart hurts for him. Glad he listened to that voice.
The loss of life on UA 93 is tragic, BUT the people knew they were giving their lives to save the lives and community of other Americans. They were the passengers who had a say in how they died. I am grateful to every passenger and flight attendant on 93.
That hit me too when he said 61 colleagues didn’t make it. I can understand how he would be “blank” for months. Very hard Our valley town has a memorial park called Beamer in Clovis CA. It is far from NYC but we had a very very solemn memorial in Clovis on 9/11 morning❤
@@colephelps6202they didnt want to die there was a pilot on board that would be able to properly land the plane aswell as a passengers husband who said he could direct them to land safely. the entire point was that they did not WANT to die they were doing everything possible to save themselves. nobody on that plane wanted to die aside from the terrorists. dont phrase it like that when it was a close attempt at survival
Ron, everyone "recovers" in their own way and on their own timeline. However you found your way back to life, I'm glad for you. Take each day as it comes, understanding that you're a part of a club that no one wants to belongs to. Please don't question why you're still here as it is a waste of time, as no one has the answers. Just live.
Thanks. Ron, for sharing your experience. One of the passengers on one of the aircraft that hit the WTC stayed at my hotel (generally he returned home on weekends). I received a call from our contact at his company and had to clean out his room. Of all the things I packed up, I will never forget a note/picture from his young daughter simply stating "I love you daddy". I did not have, nor want, children at that time. I now have a college aged daughter and a lot of those types of notes from her.
My family was profoundly impacted by this. My BIL was retired FDNY & lost many friends, as did my brother who lost many friends as well. I think the grief is so overwhelming that your brain shuts down.
So very, very sorry. There’s film footage showing the Firefighters going in with determined expressions. I feel they knew they might not come back out but they were faithful to their job and their oath of saving others. I will never forget such incredible heroism.
My dad was FDNY and just the experience of picking up body parts out of the pile & going to funerals for 6 months traumatized him forever. Changed my whole family life.
Each year I read/watch … to always remember. And each year I discover another story I hadn’t heard before. Thank you, Don, for sharing it with us. And thanks to those who keep reposting each year. It’s essential for this to be remembered.
@@andydixon2980 I get what you’re saying, but unfortunately, there’s a lot of evil in this world. And I mean, you could really say that about any death, and then people would never die- not that God likes death at all, that’s just what happened after the fall. I know that his hand was in the situation, and there also might have been people who came to know him right before they died, he does that sometimes. And then they would be with him, so even with the tragedy, they can be at peace after. I just know that God is good and there are some things we can’t complete understand, but that’s okay ❤️✝️
Thank you so much for sharing, Ron. I also loved the acknowledgment of your wife at the end. It is truly beautiful to be able to recognize the impact trauma has on our loved ones and appreciate it. I'm really proud of you both, and I'm happy you're here. ❤
What an amazing story. As a veteran, I was curious why this was on the American Veterans Center. The more he spoke, the more I realized that the horrors/trauma he experienced, in a lot of ways, mirrored what combat veterans experience. Especially the fact that he realizes, as he's speaking, that there's no way he can convey to someone who wasn't there everything he experienced; we can only begin to understand. If you want it, there are plenty of other combat veterans who you can talk to. Even though their experience isn't exactly the same, it does help. This man doesn't even have that, so I really feel for him.
Canadian here too. I was in my final year of highschool. I guess our school didn't announce it on the PA because I was in first period and would have heard it. Second period I was in the cafeteria for spare and there was no PA in there. A classmate came in and told me once the towers were down. The school did play the video replays on the wall in the cafeteria at lunch. My class had gone to New York on a trip the previous spring so it was surreal seeing the video of them coming down. We hadn't gone up the towers but we had passed through the courtyard on our way to the ferry for the Statue of Liberty.
I believe Ron's story may be the bravest I have heard from civilians that survived. We all know how brave the police and firefighters were on that day, but the fact that he descended 3 floors that were ablaze was knocked out cold when the south tower collapsed is truly inspiring. Canada must be incredibly proud of Ron, as they should be. Come to think of it, Brian Clark was born and raised in Canada as well.
23 years later, the emotion for me is just as raw. I was in Rosslyn, VA, on the 10th floor of an office building that was along the Potomac. We had a clear view of the Pentagon and when I saw it on fire, I lost it. No one knew what to do, no one was there directing us to leave for a couple hours. Finally, we were told to leave, but the rest of the day was surreal with the normally busy DC area already a ghost town by the time I left. My experience does not hold a candle to Ron's, but I'll never forget and respect all who will carry that day with them always.
It is heavy to hear the darkness and his voice , I lived in Soho on Mercer st that morning I had to be at Windows the restaurant at the World North Tower and because of a fight on the phone with my girlfriend I was late I heard the plane go by from my apartment I would of not been here . Took a lot of years to see any footage. I broke up with her , it was last year 22 yrs later that I called her and told the hole truth she was shocked she saved my life ! The miracle of life!
A solid good man he is. Takes a lot to of guts to go on camera and let the world know his story. While looking like a combat vet while fighting his PTSD of that horrible day. My best to you and your wife and family.
I can remember when this guy first did an interview. This poor man was so broken because he survived, I wish he wasn't and hope nothing but the best for him.
I watch a lot of 9/11 videos and this is the first time I heard about Ron It takes a lot of courage to run thru flames and smoke and thank God he did because that saved his life. It also takes a lot of courage to relive the moments and tell his story and I'm grateful he did. 9/11 changed so many lives.for some people they say it changed their life for the better, finding God and religion, going into different careers, not taking family for granted, living each day to the fullest, etc.... the list is long. I hope they all have peace in their lives.
Ive seen everything ever made on 9/11. Im born and raised in north Jersey and i use to take the path train into city and come out at the trade center often. I grew up with the towes in my back drop. Ive seen Ron interviewed many times. The early years after he was so broken i wondered how they even got him to be interviewed. As you can see he's still scared physically and emotionally but hes come a long way. The life has finally been breathed back into him. Im so happy to see him doing much better. He's a gentle soul. Good for you Ron god bless you
What I've learned from these stories is if there's some horrible emergency near me or whatever, I'm going to trust my instincts and get away. "Go back to your desks", when people in the building next to you just died and are jumping. F that, I'm gonna take the rest of the day off. I'm glad he was able to make it out and share his story. Stay strong.
I was watching it live on TV for some minutes after the first one hit, I remember thinking "I hope they're evacuating the second building". To me, something hitting the Tower with little else around just seemed it wasn't an accident. When the news said they weren't evacuating the second tower I screamed at the TV to get them out, not that I thought I would make any difference but it was just an expression of how sure I was that another plane hit was highly likely.
I can't see the people who jumped, I avoid the videos or the cinematic documents, because it weighs on me very much. Yes, people jumped, but I can't watch these videos without having a nervous breakdown and getting sick on top of that. It's bad enough that it happened.
@@nlwilson4892Rick Rescorla saved alot of people that because he knew and made all his colleagues leave. And then died going back in to try to save others
I genuinely learned something from this video. Ron DiFrancesco shared something I hope I and anyone else has to go through. I know he and his family can never forget 9/11, but I hope they have long and satisfying lives in spite of what happened.
"Do you remember the sound that made?" "..." "... yeah." For those of you too young to remember where you were that day... think about what that sounded like -- that when asked about it, he would only say yeah (emphasis on "would"). I understand why the interviewer asked about it. But I did not expect him to describe the sound. I pushed the like button and leaving a comment so that more people see this through the algorithm. I was home sick from school in the 9th grade when it happened. When I was younger, people talked about things like WWII as if it was ancient history. At that time, the end of the war was less than 60 years old. These days, you'd think 9/11 is ancient history to most Americans. It has been just over 20 years. People's attention spans are collectively shrinking. Hope many people get this video suggested to them and watch it. The reality of things in life like this are so important to understand.
I was 4 when it happened. My brain didn’t understand the magnitude of the impact but I do remember seeing the footage replays at the end of the day and thinking the big building shouldn’t be on fire, why did a plane just hit the other building, and when I saw the footage of them falling down I remember hoping everyone in there had gotten out and been okay. I also remember that everyone around me was acting really strange. Welcome to the brain of a small child in a big event.
I agree, I was born 82 and when I was a kid and ppl spoke of the 60s I thought it was way in the past. But now I'm 42 and was 19 when 911 happened and it feels like yesterday
I was 10 months old when 9/11 happened so I don’t remember it. But I also refuse to forget. It saddens me that people younger than me - and even people my own age - act like this happened a long time ago. 9/11 produced what will be generations of trauma, especially for those who had family that were exposed to the debris directly. I’m grateful that survivors are still sharing their stories - they are the reason we won’t forget. Hopefully their recollections will be used for future generations to also never forget.
His eyes… I’ve never felt so much from one look. Just watching his eyes as he spoke about seeing the panic in the eyes of others there, the people in the North tower frantically waving for help; I couldn’t help but think of how close in proximity they were to each other. Remembering hearing from other south tower survivors that you could see their facial expressions across the way. As I looked at Ron’s eyes, wide open, stuck in that moment of his memories, I thought of the people he saw, and that the eyes they were possibly looking at were the same ones we are seeing in this interview. Perhaps those kind yet solemn eyes were the last glimpse someone took before closing their own and freeing themselves from the unfathomable heat. When their eyes met, did the person feel like they weren’t as alone up there, just being seen and acknowledged? Was it like someone holding their hand for comfort, only instead, they held each other’s gaze? We can imagine the hell on earth it must have been for so many people that day, but we’ll never truly know. Even the ones who survived, I don’t think there are words that they could say to do justice for what they experienced. They’re still fighting to find their way out of that hellscape, just not physically, but emotionally, mentally. My heart goes out to them, to Ron. Praying for peace in his mind and healing in his soul. God bless you, Ron.
Thank you for sharing Ron, must've been tough to bring that all back to the surface. I saw a lot about the attacks (was young when it happened to I didn't grasp the weight of what happened) and thought I knew everything that was to know about. Your Story touched me and your collected yet emotional way of telling what happened resonated greatly with me. Its tragic what your family had to go through, sometimes I'm blank for half a day when my past traumas catch up (nothing compared to yours) but I see my wife being concerned then. Can't imagine being blank for so long due to the trauma....wish you and your family all the best!
I’m always humbled when veteran shares his story or hers, but it hits especially home when it’s not someone who chose to serve, but a civilian sharing their war stories on this channel. Especially when their stories from our very own soil.
I worked in the second tower in 1973. It was an amazing structure to work in. Outside you could eat lunch at so many deli's. I enjoyed my time there and moved to NJ. I praise Yahusha/God that He spared my life! I will always be brokenhearted for the many who lost their lives to such a tragedy! I knew one individual personally who died. He was a playmate of my son. He didn't deserve that kind of horrific death and the many more on that day!💔 I believe in that "voice" too Sir! I've heard it many times! 🙏
Mr. DiFrancesco, thank you for giving this interview. It must be unimaginably hard to talk about. But we cannot forget and we can't ever again not be on our guard against terrorism inside the United States. I'm so sorry that you and your wife and family have been through so much. I do believe that the voice was telling you that it wasn't your time. I've seen angels, so I believe your account 1000%. I hope that your life now has some happiness and joy despite 9/11.
13 years old... Switching through cartoon channels after school only to see footage of people jumping from the trade center. It's something I'll never forget. The look on my civics teachers face when he told us what happened....the sound of his voice....I'll never forget it
I am deeply grateful you have shared your experience, the experience of you family and others. I am grateful for your family, your children especially l, that you survived.
I lived in Southern California attending UCLA as a Biology major in hopes of a career in medicine. I had a friend that was like a father figure that would call me and say the most absurd things to see if I would take his bait and he called me at 0530-ish in the morning saying “Aimee, a plane just flew into the Twin Towers in Manhattan.” He took loads from Manhattan to San Francisco and was around the premises that morning. I lightheartedly said something along the lines of Doug, “it’s too early in the morning for this bullshit. I’m going back to sleep.” He said, “No, Aimee, I’m being serious…turn on your television.” That day forever changed the trajectory of my life. I never had ambitions of enlisting in the Army, but within months, I was in basic training and ended up serving as a combat medic for 12 years. God Bless our beautiful country. God bless America. Edit: He, my friend/father figure was a cross country/long haul truck driver from San Francisco to Manhattan and everywhere in-between seemingly.
@@lalorrainetorres You’re most welcome. That day changed our lives forever. Thousands died that day and subsequently overseas. Our forefathers fought for our liberties and freedoms and I don’t take that for granted. It’s a shame what our beautiful country looks like today. I pray things get better for every single American 🇺🇸.
I'm glad his wife passed that crisis test and made her goal-keeping the family intact. It's good to know he could depend on her to hang on tight for both of them while he lost his grip temporarily. By the way-he's got the quietest voice I've ever heard from a man. I regret he was/is forced to endure such an awful thing.
Chances are you've heard the lyrics, "where were you when the world stopped turning, on that September day?" I was 10 and in school. The never ending news reels of the Towers, of people jumping, the massive dust clouds and ash. If you were alive then, you don't need to see the replay because its always on repeat in our minds. People younger than me only know what little the schools teach and what is found in the garbage cans if the Internet, they never will live that day firsthand. It's been 23 years, I see it like it was yesterday. I will never forget, I refuse to!
I was 4 so I didn’t really know what was happening but I knew everyone around me was acting strange and not happy, and when the tv turned on that evening I saw the north tower on fire, thinking “that building shouldn’t be on fire” and then I saw the plane hit the south tower thinking “that’s not good, and that’s a lot of falling stuff”, then the buildings collapsing thinking “I hope people are okay “. I sometimes wonder if I would have remembered anything if I’d been born one year later. Probably not. But I can’t imagine knowing someone who died or knowing someone who lost someone. Back then I didn’t understand the magnitude of what I was seeing. My 4 year old brain just knew it wasn’t good.
I was 6, I remember watching it on tv but didn’t know exactly what was happening. It was on every single channel. I remember asking my mom if could play N64 without seeing the news
I was 24. Just proposed to who I thought would be the woman I'd spend the rest of my life with. Even watching from Florida, it was shocking. You're right. We don't need to watch the footage. It's burned into our memories and I still feel the emotions just as strongly as I did 23 years ago.
I was 20. I was at a friend’s apartment, about a mile from the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport. We were woken by the sounds of emergency sirens flying towards the airport. Moments later, another friend stopped by and ran in and turned on the tv, while explaining that the trade center was on fire and he didn’t think it was an accident. No sooner than he got the news on, we witnessed the 2nd plane hit. By the time the pentagon was attacked, there were 9 of us in that small apartment. We watched for hours, mainly in silence. That evening we all loaded up in our “fast & furious” cars and headed to the Red Cross to give blood. We were the last 9 people to donate that night. Dominos had donated them some “free medium pizza” coupons and they gave us the rest of them. We spent the next day eating pizza, staring at the tv. On the 13th, we loaded up and went to get USA tattoos that a local shop was doing for free that day. I will NEVER forget the way I felt. I will NEVER kneel to the flag that represents the country that so many gave their lives for. We came together, united as Americans, skin tone didn’t matter. We wept together, we feared together, and we grieved together. God bless America. 🇺🇸
wow . . . I'm speechless . . . thank you for recording and posting this video . . . Thank you Ron DiFrancesco for enduring this painful recording session and interview . . . you're saying what needs to be said, and heard! thank you
Wow. You’re extraordinarily brave to tell your story, when you said “I didn’t want anyone to see me”.. and watching you on this massive platform share your story… the vulnerability of that. Amazing. There’s really no words I can type.. your story is mind boggling and brave, eye opening and powerful. Thank you for sharing. Bless you, your children and your amazing wife who stood by you through all of this. I am deeply sorry for all the loss and everything you went through that day… and every painful day in its aftermath. 🙏
I can't comprehend what Ron, and then his family, went through. One of the most heartbreaking parts of the story is when he talked about speaking to the spouses and families of collegues, who asked him if he had seen their loved ones. One of the many things that it never occurred to me that survivors might be asked. Just a few weeks back I was talking to a few girls at work about 9/11, and one said that they were living in Connecticut, and her dad was working in New York, around Rockafeller Center. She didn't say what her dad did, but his office was getting calls from people trapped in the towers begging for help. I almost burst into tears at that. Her dad did lose friends that day.
Thank you for sharing, it still brings those raw feelings back even 23 years later. I saw the second impact live, unedited and unfiltered. Seeing all those people choose certain death over the fire are so ingrained in my memory of that day. You just can't unsee it or forget. Over the past few years I've tried to avoid the memorials, to avoid the sadness and rage that comes with it. One day I hope it will soften, but I will never forget. That you all who have served, those who gave their life for others, and to these survivors for sharing. Our unity in that fleeting moment was a testament to who we are as human beings could become.
@@JoanDaniels-oo8go When an article comes up about it, I think of 3 particular cases. One, the poor lady trying to hang on outside the building and two, two brothers who were together in an office with others. One was leaning out the window and the other inside the office and three, the young guy who called his father. His father said help was coming and the young guy told his coworkers not to worry as his dad said help was on the way. Those 3 break my heart (and for everyone including the falling man). I have sons so the two brothers in the office together really hurts.
I'm 25 years old. Not an American. I live across the world from where it happened, I was two years old when it happened. But somewhere along growing up, I have this memory of watching the news, looking at the big TV screen, seeing two buildings on fire. I can't remember when this memory is from, but I grew up having that. Everytime I see a skyscraper, I always think about that memory. And I haven't been there, personally. But it stayed with me. I can't imagine the pain, the utter devastation of experiencing it first hand. To be in one of those buildings. The confusion, the panic, the pain, the grieve. It took me years to really realize what happened this day. And I've been binge watching these documentaries since 9/11 of this year. Immense sadness. I don't even know why I'm so drawn to watching and knowing for more... but I guess it's the human in me. The empathy and sympathy connecting me to this tragedy, even if I'm too young to understand back then and too far to really feel anything. I'm working now, and can't help but think about the normal days I'm going to work. Just like the people in the tower that day... they never knew. They never would have known. I hope this never happens again in my lifetime and even in the next years after mine. I hope we could just love each other always. Praying for you Ron, thank you for telling your story.
Bless you for telling your story, which is horrifying, yet uplifting because I truly believe He led you out. Bless your wife and children too. It cannot be easy being the caretaker of someone in your situation. Her heart had to have been breaking for you, but she had to remain strong, and even push you when you wanted to give up. Not an easy place to be. Canada is lucky to have you back, but glad you return so we can have you hear every few years. You are a hero.
All of America, including myself are so sorry you had to endure this tragedy….but sharing your story is not only therapeutic for you, it does the same for me, even though I was not there. So many of us across this country watched in horror & so frightened that this was, quite literally the end of the world. As I watched on TV, I called every single family member & friend to say that I loved them. Not a single one of them. ..as well as myself were not crying. I hope only the best for you & your family going forward. No doubt that your family is very proud of your courage. I know I stand in awe of your bravery to just keep going. God Bless.
I live in Hamilton, was born here too. What an incredible story Ron. Yes I know the voice you heard Ron, it told me to get off the highway NOW. I did and not a minute later an emergency bulletin came over the radio, the 401 Hwy was closed at blah blah exit, 50 car pile up , deaths, fire, etc. That exit was about a mile or 2 up the road from where I got off. The next time I heard the voice it saved my wife's life.
Just a horrible day. I had just graduated high school that May. My introduction to the world after high school was 9/11. A day with images burned into our minds forever.
Thank You for letting your story be known, I think we can all learn something from hearing it. For me personally, it was the courage it took to tell your story that moved me most. I applaud you and your Family on your way to Wellness !
Unimaginable Story Of Survival ! I don’t think anyone can ever recover , after witnessing and surviving from this tragedy _ you just learn how to live with it ….. Wishing To Ron DiFrancesco and his family The best of best ♥️♥️♥️
Such an incredible thing to hear the pain and sorrow in his voice and cuddoes to him for the strength to do this story..God bless him and his family in this recovery. I pray better days ahead for you sir...
A good man, he was not lucky he was meant to survive. And he acknowledges his wife help... This man should definitely be thanked and loved. We are with you in prayer, I promise you that. 🙏🏿💜
Great interview! Great questions! This whole thing is like a puzzle. Every interview you hear gives another piece of the overall picture of that awful day.
May God bless and watch over Ron and his family. We must never forget what happened that terrible day. I am grateful that Ron has shared his testimony despite the obvious pain it brings. He is a courageous man.
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I'm new to your channel and am absolutely loving it! Great work ❤️🤍💙🇱🇷
You've got it! Here I am! Keep up all the great work!
That's something someone would never forget! The situation had to be horrendous!
Still seeing idiots commenting about inside job. Video about plane going "through" etc. I guess that one video with planes nose going "through" is just video preparing next frame? I did not even google that as anyone saying this is fake are just mental!
Why no mention of the 3000 missing victims??!!
It's crazy how his friend called him from Canada and yelled at him to get out of the building just moments before the 2nd plane crashed through his office floor. That phone call saved his life.
I was in a friend's office in northern Virginia that morning. He had the live coverage on his laptop after the north tower was hit. He said "What a terrible accident." I told him it was no accident; it was terrorists. Then we watched the south tower get hit in real time. My company, a naval architecture firm, had offices way up high in the north tower in 1993 when the basement truck bomb was set off. To keep us in the building, management offered us a suite on the thirteenth floor and we moved. So, our people only had to run down a small number of stairs to get clear of the building. That's what saved my friends.
And do take note, young people: If you are ever going about your life and something horrible and out of place happens around you... do not, for the love of life, go on about your business as if nothing has happened. Leave the area immediately. There is no blame that this innocent, hurt man bears to himself or to anyone. But they should have emptied the 2nd tower immediately after the first incident. Not out of expectation or premonition of another plane strike, but simply because accident or not, business should have concluded after the first "freak accident." There was no way they could guarantee the integrity of the first tower after a plane of unknown size and fuel payload struck it. But to be fair, "they" were given precious little time. Again, no judgement toward anyone involved. Only caution for those of us who remain.
@@jetm0t0moto68 Yup. Trust your instincts. If followed, and they were wrong, the worst case would have been an early coffee break.
@@jetm0t0moto68 There was a security guard in the second tower who sounded like he was kind of barking at people to go back to work, saying the tower was safe. I've heard about this security man a few times watching survivor stories through the years. One guy (the black guy w/ the white friend in other videos) ... His name was Stanley and he said because of the security guard his c-workers were going to return to their offices... but he was concerned. They held the elevator door open for him in the lobby and kind of put him down like, "Have you made up your mind, Stanley?" So, he did the unthinkable and joined them. But, he was saved by a miracle in spite of the fact he had just made the worst mistake of his life. But, I agree with you. I never can get over the fact, people were not ordered to evacuate!
@drewellis5655
He also prayed to Jesus ✝️❤️
His contact lens had MELTED into his eyes! Ever been at a campfire and the smoke shifts and goes right into your eyes and they tear up and you have to walk away because it hurts? Multiply that by 1000. Unreal that he still has sight.
This one got me 😢 I wore contact lenses for years and would be in pain if I accidentally fell asleep with them in and had to peel them off in the morning. I can't fathom the idea of them being melted to my eyes omg.
I wonder if he had not had contacts in, would his eyesight have been damaged by the smoke and blaze?
Did the melting of the lenses actually benefit him or did they do more harm?
I just can't imagine how it had felt to walk through fire as you leave your colleagues behind, and the building begins to crumble behind you
I thought the freaking exact same thing.
I work at a company where we burn all of our trash alot of boxes and other things it all gos into a dug out pit with a fence around it and when it gets real high we burn it one day i started to burn it and the wind shifted and the black smoke hit me right in the face and brought me to my knees every single bit of air in my body was gone and i struggled for a few minutes after i got away from the fire to catch my breath tears came down my eyes the first thing i thought of was 9/11 and what those people went through in those towers with that same black smoke its heartbreaking i had a way out but they didnt!!
Unreal he still has lungs
23 years later and you can still hear the emotion in his voice. My heart breaks for him and all who experienced this horror, so many gone with family left to grieve the loss forever.
I experienced it from Sweden on TV and I still even get emotional and can't believe this actually happened.
ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS AND HAVE GREAT MERCY ON YOU AND YOURS ALWAYS, IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, AMEN
I can still see the people jumping to their deaths when I watched it on tv when I came home from high school.
@@Konverterarenbut…aren’t you Willy Wonka? 😮 hmm I thought you lived in Germany 🤨..
@@MadeleineJohnston-yr9yy Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, is a prophet of god! When he returns I wouldn’t wanna be the one to explain why you believe what you do. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD *the only one able to bless them* also guide them to the right path to truly succeed in truth. Gnight brother!
Holy crap so this guy at one point starts talking about the heavy set lady and then hearing the cry for help and going with his colleague to help until he was over come by smoke. That person he went with was Brian Clark. Who went on to save Stanley Praimnath who was on the exact floor the plane hit, hid under his desk and survived the initial plane strike. Brian and Stanley obviously survived. The stories match 100% and anyone who hadn’t heard the story of those 2 should definitely check it out, it’s remarkable.
I had just put it together too!! Brian claims that if he hadn't stopped to help Stanley and had gone up the stairs as this guy describes, that he wouldn't have made it out. Incredible that the stories are connected!
Yep, that's definitely him! I thought he died after hearing Brian story. Good to know God was also protecting him that day!
Also, this made me think that maybe those two (and Stanley) received the grace to be saved that day, because they initially tried to help Stanley... it's just a thought, I know it can be wrong. Nevertheless many people who helped others perished that day 😢
Hope they received eternal grace in heaven!
@@bumper321 and today I found a 12 year old video that mentions that guys name but I never put it together because I just assumed the guy went back up and died in the collapse. It’s insane!
It's cool that they have been close friends since the attacks !!
The pain in his voice is heartbreaking..
hahahaha.......
@@georgka74 What is wrong with you??? Why are you laughing?
Sick f*ck.
@@georgka74WTF?!?
@@georgka74 this isn’t a laughing matter mate. If you’d experienced the same thing yourself, you’d find yourself in the same situation, reliving the same nightmare every interview you have to make to share your story.
I often think of those who were there, and how they paid a dear price for the rest of us. They can’t unsee the horrors of that day. There were a few Canadian survivors I’ve seen interviewed.
A good strong woman that took the "for better or worse" part serious.. great job ma'am
She’s no longer with us, she passed away
10:36 “Do you remember what that sounded like?”
[Long pause]
“Yeah.”
I felt that. No elaboration needed.
Yep.
I’ve watched videos of firefighters recalling the sound that was made when then building collapsed and a firefighter holding on to a pillar on the bottom floor trying not be blew away from the force of the blaze
made my heart drop for him.
His silence said it all . I couldnt imagine or wouldnt even want to imagine that sound
his eyes said it all
You can tell he's still shell-shocked when he recounts that day. What an incredibly terrible thing to have lost 61 colleagues, and barely escaped yourself (and injured!). He carries literal scars from that day, as well as invisible ones. I'm glad he's still with us. I love that he gave tribute to his wife, and to a higher power for the words that saved him in the stairwell. Incredible story. I wish him continued healing and a long, fulfilling life.
There's no such thing as "a higher power." It's the God of heaven and earth and the Bible who has all power.
@@donnabaardsen5372don’t be such a prick
Amen, glory to God ✝️❤️
@@donnabaardsen5372God is a higher power. He's higher than you and me
@@donnabaardsen5372God is a higher power. He's higher than you and me
What a lovely humble man giving his wife so much credit! Writing this in 2024 hoping they are still happily married!
Ron your very blessed, a great wife ❤
They’re not. She’s passed away. RIP
@Trumpisgod Oh no is that true that his wife passed away? After going through all that psychological trauma and supporting a husband with severe (understandable) PTSD. I believe stress causes a cascade of bad physical symptoms that can cause severe illness, eg I have heard that parents of murdered children have shorter lifespans from the effect of grief and stress. So sad!
care to cite a source? I don't believe this is accurate.
EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS!!
The most emotional interview concerning 9/11. Thanks to Ron that he shared this dramatic time of his life with us. Wish him and his family all the best.
My wife worked for Marsh and McLennan and the 1st plane hit one of their NYC offices. All that were there already did not survive and in the end they sadly had the 3rd highest number of people in the towers, killed that day. A couple of years after that happen she was in a meeting/seminar and one of the speakers was a man that, like you, was in tower 2. He was in some type of meeting and the people ran to the windows and saw the same thing you saw. He started moving towards the door and the lady holding the meeting asked him where he was going. He said he was leaving after seeing tower 1 on fire. She said that is over there not here so sit down until I am finished. He told her basically 'No Way". She said if you leave don't worry about coming back because you are fired . When he reached the street he started running away from the site and was a block away when the 2nd plane hit the tower he just left. All that stayed were killed, including the very wise and thoughtful lady holding the meeting. I am a retired fire inspector and I can tell many stories about people that didn't use the brain that God gave them when things suddenly went very bad and they didn't live through the tragic event. If it doesn't feel or look right-leave.
I struggle with the attitude of the lady.
I was at a business meeting in a skyscraper, and the fire alarm rang. Initially we all went on our business but after 5-10 minutes of the alarm I packed up to leave. My boss said something similar to me about being fired. Fortunately, my dad had raised me to act on my convictions. He also taught me that in a stress crisis, most people become paralyzed and unable to have rational thought.
Most of us left. My boss survived but with significant lung damage from the smoke. My colleagues thanked me for decisive leadership but I just told them to thank my dad.
Better to look a fool and live.
RIP Dad. Miss you every day. Hope to see you again.
I would have left too regardless of what my boss might gave said.
I AGREE..STILL, SO 😢😢SAD.❤
doesnt help that the loud speaker was saying "building 2 is secure, return to your desks" and that people coming off of the elevators from the upper floors were told by security to "return to your desks, building 2 is secure" and there is even some reports of security guards telling people that they were actually "safer staying in the building"
So you cant blame every person who stayed for "not using their brain" as they were being told to stay put... Stanley Primanths tells a great account of security sending people back up from the concourse level, soon as they all stepped off the elevator, they were immediately stopped by security and told to go back up, their building was "secure"
Yes, I'm sure some said "oh its over there, I'm fine" but not everyone, some wanted to leave and were prevented from doing so..
So you cant just say they were all "braindead" for not wanting to leave.. plus, shock is a real thing, there is some stories of people stopping on the stairs in full meltdown refusing to continue on because of overwhelming fear..
@@failure_4_sale Just like all the authority figures told those poor kids on the Korea ferry Sewol to stay put. I wonder how those security people felt later on.
This immense pain in his eyes retelling this story is gut wrenching and heartbreaking. He is so lucky I so hope you find some peace.
Ron thank you for digging up these painful memories for us. Please know that they are incredibly helpful to me, and many others. I am so very happy that you made it out. And so very devastated and humbled by the many others who lost not only their lives, but also those who lost a brother, a sister, a mother or father, or very good friends, a son, a daughter, a spouse, a confidant, a lover, a beautiful human soul. We love you Ron.
Ron, thanks for sharing your story. Your survival of the aftermath of 9/11 and navigating the trauma is as incredible as your survival on the day. Your resiliency is remarkable. Prayers for continued healing.
every year i make sure to watch these around this time of year. RIP to all those that lost their lives that day and to those still struggling from the after math.
same.
I BURN SAGE & WATCH THESE VIDEOS EVERY YEAR. TO REMIND ME OF HOW PRECIOUS LIFE CAN BE FOR ALL OF US HUMANS. 😢❤ I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY 1ST CHILD & A TEACHER. I WITNESSED FROM THE TEACHER'S LOUGE. WHEN THE 2ND PLANE HIT. WAY IN TEXAS. WE FELT IT..IF YOU KNOW? YOU JUST KNOW WHAT I MEAN. 😢😢
@@TexasMadeAprilReneeYa i was 8 years old when this happened was in Plano, TX. I remember then how serious it was but not truly understanding. I remember asking my sister why people were jumping and her being older and trying to comfort me said its the people trying to jump to safety. Now being an adult this day just is something i can never forget, it was people going to work on a normal day like you and I and their life was cut short due to some cowards.
You’d think it was the only tragedy in history, never seen Japan banging on every year
It seems so barbaric in hindsight to do it. Watching, essentially thousands die in an hour. But I do the same thing every year. I feel it is incredibly important to see and hear the stories of all of those involved and/or effected by this horrible event, wherever we were in the world that day. It's important to remember and Honor all of them and in a way, be by their side in their final moments. We were all Americans that day and we all felt the heavy and brutal devastating grief as one. May no one ever experience anything like this ever again.
God bless. Your coworkers would be proud that you’re keeping them alive by telling your story.
You could tell how much of a gentleman he is when his closing statement was about how much his wife went through more pain than him.
Right there, what you see is a strong person. Surviving the attack was only a part of his story. For him to be able to talk, and maintain his composure is truly impressive. His honesty about the PTSD is something everyone needs to hear and understand. Maybe it was pure luck that he survived, but by surviving he has demonstrated that the road to recovery is unimaginably difficult, yet he has succeeded.
It wasn't pure luck it was God that saved him it wasn't his time to go
@@jenn366 🙄
Wow. I lost a high school classmate and a member of my church on AA93. It’s bugged me for years, especially when I recently visited the memorial.
Hearing him say he lost 61 colleagues…my heart hurts for him. Glad he listened to that voice.
The loss of life on UA 93 is tragic, BUT the people knew they were giving their lives to save the lives and community of other Americans. They were the passengers who had a say in how they died. I am grateful to every passenger and flight attendant on 93.
That hit me too when he said 61 colleagues didn’t make it. I can understand how he would be “blank” for months. Very hard
Our valley town has a memorial park called Beamer in Clovis CA. It is far from NYC but we had a very very solemn memorial in Clovis on 9/11 morning❤
i hope you are doing well now ❤
@@colephelps6202they didnt want to die there was a pilot on board that would be able to properly land the plane aswell as a passengers husband who said he could direct them to land safely. the entire point was that they did not WANT to die they were doing everything possible to save themselves. nobody on that plane wanted to die aside from the terrorists. dont phrase it like that when it was a close attempt at survival
Nobody cares about your 6 degrees of separation 9/11 story..trying to find a way to make it about yourself..people like you are unbelievable.
Spoken with such emotion and strength
Ron, everyone "recovers" in their own way and on their own timeline. However you found your way back to life, I'm glad for you. Take each day as it comes, understanding that you're a part of a club that no one wants to belongs to. Please don't question why you're still here as it is a waste of time, as no one has the answers. Just live.
Thanks. Ron, for sharing your experience. One of the passengers on one of the aircraft that hit the WTC stayed at my hotel (generally he returned home on weekends). I received a call from our contact at his company and had to clean out his room. Of all the things I packed up, I will never forget a note/picture from his young daughter simply stating "I love you daddy". I did not have, nor want, children at that time. I now have a college aged daughter and a lot of those types of notes from her.
My family was profoundly impacted by this. My BIL was retired FDNY & lost many friends, as did my brother who lost many friends as well. I think the grief is so overwhelming that your brain shuts down.
I'm so sorry for your family's loss. I agree, your brain has to shut down when things are so horrible that it just can't cope anymore.
So very, very sorry.
There’s film footage showing the Firefighters going in with determined expressions. I feel they knew they might not come back out but they were faithful to their job and their oath of saving others.
I will never forget such incredible heroism.
My dad was FDNY and just the experience of picking up body parts out of the pile & going to funerals for 6 months traumatized him forever. Changed my whole family life.
I'm so sorry for your loss!
I pray your family finds peace 🙏🏾.
Each year I read/watch … to always remember. And each year I discover another story I hadn’t heard before. Thank you, Don, for sharing it with us. And thanks to those who keep reposting each year. It’s essential for this to be remembered.
The voice that told him to run that way is amazing to hear about.
That’s Jesus!!! ❤
@@Leanna-jj5cr I know that
@@Leanna-jj5cr I hope it was but where was Jesus for the other 3,000 people who died?
@@andydixon2980 I get what you’re saying, but unfortunately, there’s a lot of evil in this world. And I mean, you could really say that about any death, and then people would never die- not that God likes death at all, that’s just what happened after the fall. I know that his hand was in the situation, and there also might have been people who came to know him right before they died, he does that sometimes. And then they would be with him, so even with the tragedy, they can be at peace after. I just know that God is good and there are some things we can’t complete understand, but that’s okay ❤️✝️
@@Leanna-jj5cr But Jesus didn’t care about his 60 colleagues that died?
The pain in guys voice is so sad…. I do believe in god and that was a sign!!! Thank you god for letting this man come home safe!!!
I thought God love all his children equally! I guess he has favorites
Didn't the other ones had children which burned to death or jumped out the window? Where was your God?
If you could understand how stupid that assumption is, humanity would be in great shape.
He takes some Home as He sees fit. It's not up to you to judge the Creator.@@wolfnoggin2165
Thank you so much for sharing, Ron. I also loved the acknowledgment of your wife at the end. It is truly beautiful to be able to recognize the impact trauma has on our loved ones and appreciate it. I'm really proud of you both, and I'm happy you're here. ❤
I was thinking how hard this must have been for your wife. She definitely needs to be acknowledged for her strength in keeping the marriage together.
Yes. What a demonstration of love toward your wife.
What an amazing story. As a veteran, I was curious why this was on the American Veterans Center. The more he spoke, the more I realized that the horrors/trauma he experienced, in a lot of ways, mirrored what combat veterans experience. Especially the fact that he realizes, as he's speaking, that there's no way he can convey to someone who wasn't there everything he experienced; we can only begin to understand.
If you want it, there are plenty of other combat veterans who you can talk to. Even though their experience isn't exactly the same, it does help. This man doesn't even have that, so I really feel for him.
I am tearing up again.
Big hug from Holland.
And from Australia; never forgotten
Thank you, Mr. DiFrancesco. This interview meant a lot to me.
I’m Canadian, but will never forget. School stopped - teachers huddled around TV’s, whispering, scared looks in their eyes. RIP to all.
Canadian here too. I was in my final year of highschool. I guess our school didn't announce it on the PA because I was in first period and would have heard it. Second period I was in the cafeteria for spare and there was no PA in there. A classmate came in and told me once the towers were down. The school did play the video replays on the wall in the cafeteria at lunch. My class had gone to New York on a trip the previous spring so it was surreal seeing the video of them coming down. We hadn't gone up the towers but we had passed through the courtyard on our way to the ferry for the Statue of Liberty.
@@kimp7160
I am American and at the time I was 6 years old in a McDonalds. It felt unreal and surreal seeing that go down on tv.
I was in Puerto Rico 1st grade… remember it like it was yesterday they let everyone out early we were all glued to the news it was so sad
I believe Ron's story may be the bravest I have heard from civilians that survived. We all know how brave the police and firefighters were on that day, but the fact that he descended 3 floors that were ablaze was knocked out cold when the south tower collapsed is truly inspiring.
Canada must be incredibly proud of Ron, as they should be. Come to think of it, Brian Clark was born and raised in Canada as well.
@@mirrrstery thx Canadians for letting us know we were not alone!
Thank-you for this. We will never forget.🇺🇲
Loving these videos... every story needs to be told... never forget.
Amen
23 years later, the emotion for me is just as raw. I was in Rosslyn, VA, on the 10th floor of an office building that was along the Potomac. We had a clear view of the Pentagon and when I saw it on fire, I lost it. No one knew what to do, no one was there directing us to leave for a couple hours. Finally, we were told to leave, but the rest of the day was surreal with the normally busy DC area already a ghost town by the time I left. My experience does not hold a candle to Ron's, but I'll never forget and respect all who will carry that day with them always.
Thank you for summing up the courage to speak about this.
*summoning
But yeah.
The interviewer did an amazing job with this man. 😢
#neverEVERforget
Wow this gentleman's story is incredible
It sure is !
It is heavy to hear the darkness and his voice , I lived in Soho on Mercer st that morning I had to be at Windows the restaurant at the World North Tower and because of a fight on the phone with my girlfriend I was late I heard the plane go by from my apartment I would of not been here . Took a lot of years to see any footage. I broke up with her , it was last year 22 yrs later that I called her and told the hole truth she was shocked she saved my life ! The miracle of life!
A solid good man he is. Takes a lot to of guts to go on camera and let the world know his story. While looking like a combat vet while fighting his PTSD of that horrible day. My best to you and your wife and family.
I can remember when this guy first did an interview. This poor man was so broken because he survived, I wish he wasn't and hope nothing but the best for him.
I watch a lot of 9/11 videos and this is the first time I heard about Ron It takes a lot of courage to run thru flames and smoke and thank God he did because that saved his life. It also takes a lot of courage to relive the moments and tell his story and I'm grateful he did. 9/11 changed so many lives.for some people they say it changed their life for the better, finding God and religion, going into different careers, not taking family for granted, living each day to the fullest, etc.... the list is long. I hope they all have peace in their lives.
so true and well said ✌
They say survival guilt is the WORST thing imaginable. I can almost feel his pain.
My heart hurts hearing this man speak. The sheer amount of trauma he went through. I wasn't there and I still have a hard time dealing.
Me too
And let’s not forget that a Minnesota congresswoman described those diabolical acts by saying “Some people did something.”
Ive seen everything ever made on 9/11. Im born and raised in north Jersey and i use to take the path train into city and come out at the trade center often. I grew up with the towes in my back drop. Ive seen Ron interviewed many times. The early years after he was so broken i wondered how they even got him to be interviewed. As you can see he's still scared physically and emotionally but hes come a long way. The life has finally been breathed back into him. Im so happy to see him doing much better. He's a gentle soul. Good for you Ron god bless you
What I've learned from these stories is if there's some horrible emergency near me or whatever, I'm going to trust my instincts and get away. "Go back to your desks", when people in the building next to you just died and are jumping. F that, I'm gonna take the rest of the day off. I'm glad he was able to make it out and share his story. Stay strong.
I was watching it live on TV for some minutes after the first one hit, I remember thinking "I hope they're evacuating the second building". To me, something hitting the Tower with little else around just seemed it wasn't an accident. When the news said they weren't evacuating the second tower I screamed at the TV to get them out, not that I thought I would make any difference but it was just an expression of how sure I was that another plane hit was highly likely.
I can't see the people who jumped, I avoid the videos or the cinematic documents, because it weighs on me very much. Yes, people jumped, but I can't watch these videos without having a nervous breakdown and getting sick on top of that. It's bad enough that it happened.
@@nlwilson4892Rick Rescorla saved alot of people that because he knew and made all his colleagues leave. And then died going back in to try to save others
I genuinely learned something from this video. Ron DiFrancesco shared something I hope I and anyone else has to go through. I know he and his family can never forget 9/11, but I hope they have long and satisfying lives in spite of what happened.
"Do you remember the sound that made?"
"..."
"... yeah."
For those of you too young to remember where you were that day... think about what that sounded like -- that when asked about it, he would only say yeah (emphasis on "would"). I understand why the interviewer asked about it. But I did not expect him to describe the sound.
I pushed the like button and leaving a comment so that more people see this through the algorithm. I was home sick from school in the 9th grade when it happened. When I was younger, people talked about things like WWII as if it was ancient history. At that time, the end of the war was less than 60 years old. These days, you'd think 9/11 is ancient history to most Americans. It has been just over 20 years. People's attention spans are collectively shrinking. Hope many people get this video suggested to them and watch it. The reality of things in life like this are so important to understand.
I was 4 when it happened. My brain didn’t understand the magnitude of the impact but I do remember seeing the footage replays at the end of the day and thinking the big building shouldn’t be on fire, why did a plane just hit the other building, and when I saw the footage of them falling down I remember hoping everyone in there had gotten out and been okay. I also remember that everyone around me was acting really strange. Welcome to the brain of a small child in a big event.
I agree, I was born 82 and when I was a kid and ppl spoke of the 60s I thought it was way in the past. But now I'm 42 and was 19 when 911 happened and it feels like yesterday
He didn't want to say; "It sounded like death coming...in a determined rush".
I was 10 months old when 9/11 happened so I don’t remember it. But I also refuse to forget. It saddens me that people younger than me - and even people my own age - act like this happened a long time ago. 9/11 produced what will be generations of trauma, especially for those who had family that were exposed to the debris directly. I’m grateful that survivors are still sharing their stories - they are the reason we won’t forget. Hopefully their recollections will be used for future generations to also never forget.
And now young people are protesting in support of other terrorists.
On September 11, I set in my living room by myself, glued to the tv with horror in my heart and tears running down my face.
you can tell he pictures it like yesterday just by the look in his eyes
Thanks for telling you and your families’s story.
His eyes… I’ve never felt so much from one look. Just watching his eyes as he spoke about seeing the panic in the eyes of others there, the people in the North tower frantically waving for help; I couldn’t help but think of how close in proximity they were to each other. Remembering hearing from other south tower survivors that you could see their facial expressions across the way.
As I looked at Ron’s eyes, wide open, stuck in that moment of his memories, I thought of the people he saw, and that the eyes they were possibly looking at were the same ones we are seeing in this interview. Perhaps those kind yet solemn eyes were the last glimpse someone took before closing their own and freeing themselves from the unfathomable heat. When their eyes met, did the person feel like they weren’t as alone up there, just being seen and acknowledged? Was it like someone holding their hand for comfort, only instead, they held each other’s gaze?
We can imagine the hell on earth it must have been for so many people that day, but we’ll never truly know. Even the ones who survived, I don’t think there are words that they could say to do justice for what they experienced. They’re still fighting to find their way out of that hellscape, just not physically, but emotionally, mentally. My heart goes out to them, to Ron.
Praying for peace in his mind and healing in his soul. God bless you, Ron.
Thanks for doing the interview, Ron. I am Canadian and didn't know his story. I try to learn a new story about this day every year.
Ron thank you for sharing your story. I’m sure such a tragic event makes it hard to talk about, especially in front of a camera.
Thank you for sharing Ron, must've been tough to bring that all back to the surface. I saw a lot about the attacks (was young when it happened to I didn't grasp the weight of what happened) and thought I knew everything that was to know about. Your Story touched me and your collected yet emotional way of telling what happened resonated greatly with me. Its tragic what your family had to go through, sometimes I'm blank for half a day when my past traumas catch up (nothing compared to yours) but I see my wife being concerned then. Can't imagine being blank for so long due to the trauma....wish you and your family all the best!
I’m always humbled when veteran shares his story or hers, but it hits especially home when it’s not someone who chose to serve, but a civilian sharing their war stories on this channel. Especially when their stories from our very own soil.
I worked in the second tower in 1973. It was an amazing structure to work in. Outside you could eat lunch at so many deli's. I enjoyed my time there and moved to NJ. I praise Yahusha/God that He spared my life! I will always be brokenhearted for the many who lost their lives to such a tragedy! I knew one individual personally who died. He was a playmate of my son. He didn't deserve that kind of horrific death and the many more on that day!💔 I believe in that "voice" too Sir! I've heard it many times! 🙏
Mr. DiFrancesco, thank you for giving this interview. It must be unimaginably hard to talk about. But we cannot forget and we can't ever again not be on our guard against terrorism inside the United States. I'm so sorry that you and your wife and family have been through so much. I do believe that the voice was telling you that it wasn't your time. I've seen angels, so I believe your account 1000%. I hope that your life now has some happiness and joy despite 9/11.
13 years old...
Switching through cartoon channels after school only to see footage of people jumping from the trade center. It's something I'll never forget. The look on my civics teachers face when he told us what happened....the sound of his voice....I'll never forget it
Thanks for sharing this story. Semper Fi.
Thank you for sharing. I can see the pain you live with and I’m proud of you for pushing through the pain.
Thank you for sharing this story.
I am deeply grateful you have shared your experience, the experience of you family and others. I am grateful for your family, your children especially l, that you survived.
I lived in Southern California attending UCLA as a Biology major in hopes of a career in medicine. I had a friend that was like a father figure that would call me and say the most absurd things to see if I would take his bait and he called me at 0530-ish in the morning saying “Aimee, a plane just flew into the Twin Towers in Manhattan.” He took loads from Manhattan to San Francisco and was around the premises that morning. I lightheartedly said something along the lines of Doug, “it’s too early in the morning for this bullshit. I’m going back to sleep.” He said, “No, Aimee, I’m being serious…turn on your television.” That day forever changed the trajectory of my life. I never had ambitions of enlisting in the Army, but within months, I was in basic training and ended up serving as a combat medic for 12 years. God Bless our beautiful country. God bless America.
Edit: He, my friend/father figure was a cross country/long haul truck driver from San Francisco to Manhattan and everywhere in-between seemingly.
Thank you for your service!
@@lalorrainetorres You’re most welcome. That day changed our lives forever. Thousands died that day and subsequently overseas. Our forefathers fought for our liberties and freedoms and I don’t take that for granted. It’s a shame what our beautiful country looks like today. I pray things get better for every single American 🇺🇸.
❤❤❤❤
I'm glad his wife passed that crisis test and made her goal-keeping the family intact. It's good to know he could depend on her to hang on tight for both of them while he lost his grip temporarily. By the way-he's got the quietest voice I've ever heard from a man. I regret he was/is forced to endure such an awful thing.
What a fascinating account. I was hanging on every one of Ron’s words. These survivor stories are unreal. What a day that was.
Chances are you've heard the lyrics, "where were you when the world stopped turning, on that September day?" I was 10 and in school. The never ending news reels of the Towers, of people jumping, the massive dust clouds and ash. If you were alive then, you don't need to see the replay because its always on repeat in our minds. People younger than me only know what little the schools teach and what is found in the garbage cans if the Internet, they never will live that day firsthand. It's been 23 years, I see it like it was yesterday. I will never forget, I refuse to!
I was 4 so I didn’t really know what was happening but I knew everyone around me was acting strange and not happy, and when the tv turned on that evening I saw the north tower on fire, thinking “that building shouldn’t be on fire” and then I saw the plane hit the south tower thinking “that’s not good, and that’s a lot of falling stuff”, then the buildings collapsing thinking “I hope people are okay “. I sometimes wonder if I would have remembered anything if I’d been born one year later. Probably not. But I can’t imagine knowing someone who died or knowing someone who lost someone. Back then I didn’t understand the magnitude of what I was seeing. My 4 year old brain just knew it wasn’t good.
I was 4. I remember it as clear as day. My parents were very informative and told me about how bad of a man Osama bin laden was etc.
I was 6, I remember watching it on tv but didn’t know exactly what was happening. It was on every single channel. I remember asking my mom if could play N64 without seeing the news
I was 24. Just proposed to who I thought would be the woman I'd spend the rest of my life with. Even watching from Florida, it was shocking.
You're right. We don't need to watch the footage. It's burned into our memories and I still feel the emotions just as strongly as I did 23 years ago.
I was 20. I was at a friend’s apartment, about a mile from the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport. We were woken by the sounds of emergency sirens flying towards the airport. Moments later, another friend stopped by and ran in and turned on the tv, while explaining that the trade center was on fire and he didn’t think it was an accident. No sooner than he got the news on, we witnessed the 2nd plane hit. By the time the pentagon was attacked, there were 9 of us in that small apartment. We watched for hours, mainly in silence. That evening we all loaded up in our “fast & furious” cars and headed to the Red Cross to give blood. We were the last 9 people to donate that night. Dominos had donated them some “free medium pizza” coupons and they gave us the rest of them. We spent the next day eating pizza, staring at the tv. On the 13th, we loaded up and went to get USA tattoos that a local shop was doing for free that day. I will NEVER forget the way I felt. I will NEVER kneel to the flag that represents the country that so many gave their lives for. We came together, united as Americans, skin tone didn’t matter. We wept together, we feared together, and we grieved together. God bless America. 🇺🇸
wow . . . I'm speechless . . . thank you for recording and posting this video . . . Thank you Ron DiFrancesco for enduring this painful recording session and interview . . . you're saying what needs to be said, and heard! thank you
We will never forget. 🇺🇸🙏🏼
it was not just an attack on America.
Wow. You’re extraordinarily brave to tell your story, when you said “I didn’t want anyone to see me”.. and watching you on this massive platform share your story… the vulnerability of that. Amazing. There’s really no words I can type.. your story is mind boggling and brave, eye opening and powerful. Thank you for sharing. Bless you, your children and your amazing wife who stood by you through all of this. I am deeply sorry for all the loss and everything you went through that day… and every painful day in its aftermath.
🙏
For the people who jumped because the flames were too hot, rest in peace. 🕊️
I can hear the sound of those people hitting the ground, still. On television, it sounded like a car crashing.
RIP To the FDNY Chaplain who was killed by one of them while administering last rights to another victim.
Can you imagine how horrible it must have been on those upper floors when jumping to your death was the better option? 😢
Those victims truly break my heart💔
So tragic 😥
I can't comprehend what Ron, and then his family, went through. One of the most heartbreaking parts of the story is when he talked about speaking to the spouses and families of collegues, who asked him if he had seen their loved ones. One of the many things that it never occurred to me that survivors might be asked. Just a few weeks back I was talking to a few girls at work about 9/11, and one said that they were living in Connecticut, and her dad was working in New York, around Rockafeller Center. She didn't say what her dad did, but his office was getting calls from people trapped in the towers begging for help. I almost burst into tears at that. Her dad did lose friends that day.
Thank you for sharing, it still brings those raw feelings back even 23 years later. I saw the second impact live, unedited and unfiltered. Seeing all those people choose certain death over the fire are so ingrained in my memory of that day. You just can't unsee it or forget. Over the past few years I've tried to avoid the memorials, to avoid the sadness and rage that comes with it. One day I hope it will soften, but I will never forget. That you all who have served, those who gave their life for others, and to these survivors for sharing. Our unity in that fleeting moment was a testament to who we are as human beings could become.
God bless this man. I’ve heard many 9/11 survivor’s stories, but this one is the most impactful. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you for talking about this. Very sad day. Still breaks my heart.
@@JoanDaniels-oo8go When an article comes up about it, I think of 3 particular cases.
One, the poor lady trying to hang on outside the building and two, two brothers who were together in an office with others. One was leaning out the window and the other inside the office and
three, the young guy who called his father. His father said help was coming and the young guy told his coworkers not to worry as his dad said help was on the way.
Those 3 break my heart (and for everyone including the falling man). I have sons so the two brothers in the office together really hurts.
Thank you Ron.
23 years ago, stings like it was just yesterday. Im sorry Ron 🙏❤
Thank you for sharing your story. As a fellow Canadian I'm so glad you're alive !
What a gentleman. Thank you for sharing your story.
Geez. This interview touched me deeply. What a genuine, beautiful soul! How he speaks about his wife and just everything. Bless you!❤
I'm 25 years old. Not an American. I live across the world from where it happened, I was two years old when it happened. But somewhere along growing up, I have this memory of watching the news, looking at the big TV screen, seeing two buildings on fire. I can't remember when this memory is from, but I grew up having that. Everytime I see a skyscraper, I always think about that memory. And I haven't been there, personally. But it stayed with me.
I can't imagine the pain, the utter devastation of experiencing it first hand. To be in one of those buildings. The confusion, the panic, the pain, the grieve.
It took me years to really realize what happened this day. And I've been binge watching these documentaries since 9/11 of this year.
Immense sadness. I don't even know why I'm so drawn to watching and knowing for more... but I guess it's the human in me. The empathy and sympathy connecting me to this tragedy, even if I'm too young to understand back then and too far to really feel anything.
I'm working now, and can't help but think about the normal days I'm going to work. Just like the people in the tower that day... they never knew. They never would have known.
I hope this never happens again in my lifetime and even in the next years after mine. I hope we could just love each other always.
Praying for you Ron, thank you for telling your story.
Bless you for telling your story, which is horrifying, yet uplifting because I truly believe He led you out. Bless your wife and children too. It cannot be easy being the caretaker of someone in your situation. Her heart had to have been breaking for you, but she had to remain strong, and even push you when you wanted to give up. Not an easy place to be. Canada is lucky to have you back, but glad you return so we can have you hear every few years. You are a hero.
Thank you for sharing. I am so sorry this happened to you. ALL of you. I pray for your continued healing and peace.
Ron thanks for sharing your story.
All of America, including myself are so sorry you had to endure this tragedy….but sharing your story is not only therapeutic for you, it does the same for me, even though I was not there. So many of us across this country watched in horror & so frightened that this was, quite literally the end of the world. As I watched on TV, I called every single family member & friend to say that I loved them. Not a single one of them. ..as well as myself were not crying. I hope only the best for you & your family going forward. No doubt that your family is very proud of your courage. I know I stand in awe of your bravery to just keep going. God Bless.
I live in Hamilton, was born here too. What an incredible story Ron. Yes I know the voice you heard Ron, it told me to get off the highway NOW. I did and not a minute later an emergency bulletin came over the radio, the 401 Hwy was closed at blah blah exit, 50 car pile up , deaths, fire, etc. That exit was about a mile or 2 up the road from where I got off. The next time I heard the voice it saved my wife's life.
🙏
Well I guess that undeniably confirms the existence of god then. lol 🤦♂
Gone but NEVER FORGOTTEN.
His contacts melted to his eyes is heartbreaking to hear
Just a horrible day. I had just graduated high school that May. My introduction to the world after high school was 9/11. A day with images burned into our minds forever.
I have no words other than thank you for sharing. We are indebted to you.
Thank You for letting your story be known, I think we can all learn something from hearing it. For me personally, it was the courage it took to tell your story that moved me most. I applaud you and your Family on your way to Wellness !
Unimaginable Story Of Survival ! I don’t think anyone can ever recover , after witnessing and surviving from this tragedy _ you just learn how to live with it …..
Wishing To Ron DiFrancesco and his family The best of best ♥️♥️♥️
Such an incredible thing to hear the pain and sorrow in his voice and cuddoes to him for the strength to do this story..God bless him and his family in this recovery. I pray better days ahead for you sir...
Blessings to Ron DiFrancesco and his family, and thanks to him for sharing his harrowing story.
A good man, he was not lucky he was meant to survive. And he acknowledges his wife help... This man should definitely be thanked and loved. We are with you in prayer, I promise you that. 🙏🏿💜
Great interview! Great questions! This whole thing is like a puzzle. Every interview you hear gives another piece of the overall picture of that awful day.
Thanks for sharing Ron. I pray for strength and comfort for you and your family as you go through life.
May God bless and watch over Ron and his family. We must never forget what happened that terrible day. I am grateful that Ron has shared his testimony despite the obvious pain it brings. He is a courageous man.
Thank you. What a remarkable story. I’m glad you made it to tell it to us, and I’m so sorry.
He heard Gods voice for sure...
✨️🕊✨️💞
The same God that the terrorists did this for?
Yes
@@user-gk3lu1gg9t The people get out of hand.
Why didn't god save everyone???