Channel 11’s Lisa Sylvester recently visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. She spoke with a docent, Gloria Greene, who told her the story of that fateful day.
Greene takes groups through the museum and tells the story of how the events unfolded.
“It was magnificent. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky — just the most beautiful day,” Greene said.
What people remember about that morning was the blue sky that blanketed the East Coast.
“I worked one block away on Maiden Lane for 25 years, right next to the towers. I knew every inch of those towers,” Greene said. “...I worked there for so many years, I knew a lot of people who unfortunately met their demise on that day.”
Sylvester asked, “It’s been 25 years. Does it feel like it?”
“It feels like yesterday when I’m there,” Greene replied. “It’s very hard, and I keep those tears back, and then I get home, and the tears come out.”
Tears for those lost and those who sacrificed everything: The heroes like Ladder Truck 3. The firefighters were headed home after their night shift ended, but chose to go back.
“Eleven people from that (fire company) went to the north tower. They went as high as the 75th floor. They used an office phone and said, ‘We are on the 75th floor. It’s very hot here, but we are going to continue to go up. Unfortunately, every single member of Ladder 3 never got out.”
The museum artifacts display other stories of heroism, like the red bandana of Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader who went back and forth and helped survivors escape from the south tower, but died when the tower collapsed.
“Ordinary people did extraordinary things at that moment. They just followed their heart.”
For Greene, as heartbreaking as it is being a docent at the 9/11 museum, she keeps coming back.
“I feel like I had a special mission, that I was saved from being on that block when everything happened. So, I thank God every day since 9/11 happened.”
Now, 25 years later, the pain is still raw. Some of the visitors come for healing, some to place flowers, some for a hug, some just to have someone listen to their loved one’s story.
“I just always want to honor and respect them,” Greene said. “They were innocent people. For no reason at all, they just killed and murdered and murdered. So this is why I do this: To honor and respect them and never, never forget what happened.”
To that end, there is a quote inscribed on the entrance wall: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time” — a promise to never forget what happened that day.
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