9/11: 24 Years Later — A look back through the eyes of Albany
Today marks the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks—an event that forever changed our country. In the days that followed, even small towns like Albany felt the weight of the tragedy. From locals who were near the towers to families glued to television screens back home, the impact reached far beyond the East Coast.
As we remember the lives lost and the unity that followed, we are sharing the original front-page story from The Albany News, published on September 13, 2001. This story captured our community’s initial shock, fear, and hope—through the voices of those close to the chaos and those left trying to make sense of it from afar.
Terrorist attacks hit close to home
September 13, 2001
With the eyes of the nation focused on the East Coast Tuesday, local residents also stayed glued to their television sets, with some a lot closer to the “front line” than others.
Terrorists, using two hijacked commercial airplanes, struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City Tuesday morning about the time Albany parents were taking their children to school. Less than an hour later, another hijacked aircraft plowed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and soon after that, the flaming 110-story towers both collapsed, leaving American citizens stunned by the devastation and loss of life at the two sites.
Almost as soon as the news of the terrorist attacks was airing a few minutes before 8:00 a.m. Central time, local residents began compiling a mental list of friends, neighbors and relatives who were in New York or Washington.
Rumors flew, but in time, everyone on the list seemed to be accounted for.
Their stories, as they return to Albany and to Texas, will no doubt be compelling and disturbing, even though most were miles away from the disaster scene.
Albany native John Duncan Teinert, however, was only a short distance away, staying with a friend in the Tribeca area, about 10 blocks from the World Trade Center.
“We felt a rumble; and after we saw on television what had happened, we ran up to the roof deck,” related Teinert. From the roof of the 20-story building, Teinert had a direct view of both towers and witnessed the collapse of both buildings. “There was absolute pandemonium. People were running in the streets and we could see the dust and debris just rolling down the streets.”
Teinert said that when they left the building a short time later, they walked up toward the World Trade Center a few blocks. “It felt like we were walking through a nuclear holocaust. Except for a few people, the streets were vacant and there was paper blowing everywhere. Dust covered everything. The whole thing is just overwhelming. People are dumbfounded and a little lost. It’s crazy.”
Joni Viertel, another former Albany resident, witnessed a limited view of the World Trade Center in an apartment building right up the Hudson River in New Jersey. She watched the events unfold from her bedroom widow, with a virtually unobstructed view of the towers.
“We didn’t hear or feel anything when it happened, but once we knew what was going on, it was right there in front of us. We had the TV on, so we could hear the news, and we could watch television and see out the window at the same time. You felt like you were watching a movie; it was surreal.”
Viertel, who has been in New York since March to perform in the Broadway musical Blast, said that, not surprisingly, all the Broadway shows, along with almost every other event, had been cancelled at least for Tuesday night. “I don’t think anybody expects anything to be anywhere close to normal for awhile.”
Other Albany residents with close friends or relatives known to be in New York City or Washington D.C. this week were Judy Compton, Melissa and Toby Neugebauer, Johnnie and Debbie Hudman, Christie Hudman, Chance Mitchell, Jeff Lenamon, Pati Jones, Lisa Sanders and Tom Perini.
Back at Home
Though far removed physically from the devastation on the East Coast, citizens here in Albany were nonetheless deeply affected by the information and scenes being transmitted as they happened.
“Our nation has been shaken by these events today,” commented Bro. Don Clevenger, pastor of First Assembly of God Church. “We can only pray that our people are shaken enough to be brought to their knees.”
Even though local schools were not officially dismissed on Tuesday, parents were not discouraged from picking up their children if they wished. “In light of the fact that many of our parents work out of town, we felt the best thing we could do is stay here and maintain a calm atmosphere,” said NSES Principal Doyleen Terrell.
All extracurricular activities were canceled for Tuesday night. “These kinds of events seem rather insignificant in the whole scheme of what is happening in our nation,” state AHS/AJHS Principal Tommy Terrell. “We think the students need to be home after school with their parents watching these historic and tragic events as they unfold.”
During the school day at the secondary campus, many teachers allowed students to listen to radios and the attacks were openly discussed. Elementary students, however, were a little more insulated. “Teachers tried to calm any fears, but for the most part, we tried to conduct classes as usual,” said Mrs. Terrell, “We felt that with small children, we needed to allow parents to explain what had happened, to handle it in the ways they felt were best for each individual child.”
“We are witnessing history right at this moment,” Joni Viertel concluded. “This is something we will remember as long as we live.”
