Laramie Staff Reflections On 9/11

On the thirteenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we all took time to think about where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt on that day.

We have people in our Laramie staff from varying backgrounds, places and ages. As such, we all had different experiences when it came to the attacks.

These are our stories of what we experienced on 9/11.

David Settle

9/11 is etched in my memory for forever. I remember waking up and watching TV, but I was in my normal routine, so I was actually watching a re-run of SportsCenter.

As I came into work, my colleagues had the TV on in a studio and were watching. They filled me in quickly. I couldn’t believe what had happened up to that time with one of the twin towers on fire. Of course, at the time, no one knew it was a terrorist attack.
Going about my normal day, I was preparing to get on the air with our local sports coverage when I turned around and saw the second plane fly right into the twin towers. I couldn’t believe what I had just seen. In fact, I yelled it, while my colleagues were on the air.

After barely getting through my sports, our Operations Manager, Dwight, decided to bag the rest of our regular programming for the entire day and take straight news feeds on both KOWB and KCGY.

The rest of that morning, I sat and watched in shock at what had transpired. I could comprehend what had happened, but it struck me in such a way that I still couldn’t believe some of it.

Then the Pentagon plane attack unfolded, followed by the downed plane in Pennsylvania.

I can remember thinking, how can this be happening on our soil? It still gives me that numb feeling from time-to-time.

Thank you to all who have served, are serving and will serve to protect our freedom. That is something I will never take for granted. My thoughts and prayer still go out to those that lost loved ones that day.

Andy Hoefer

What a tragic morning on 9/11. I was at my kitchen table listening to KOWB and heard the alert. I switched on cbs tv and saw the unbelievable image of plane hitting the world trade Tower. It was terrible. A few minutes later the second airliner plowed into the second tower. I could not believe what I saw and heard. I told my wife that there was no way those towers would fall. When when they did it became a total disaster.

I was glued to the radio and tv for the rest of the day and through the week. This country will never forget this unforgivable terrorists attack. On this anniversary of the attack, people should pause and say a prayer that this will never happen again. We, The United States should never forget and become more defensive to keep anything like this from happening again. God bless the families that suffered this selfless attack.

Greg Wells

I remember September 11, 2001 as just another day. I was managing some stations in Lincoln, Nebraska and was at an appointment with a car dealer that morning. I was standing in the waiting area for the service department waiting for the GM of the dealership. The TV was on with the volume down and the picture went to the World Trade Centers. There was, what seemed at first, a small smoke trail coming out of the building. My first thought was some rookie pilot just flew into the building with their Cesena. But the more I watched, the realization came to me of the size of the gap in that building. I couldn’t hear the commentators on the TV as the volume was down, but it started occurring to me that this was a much bigger plane than I thought. I was trying to figure out exactly how a professional pilot could make this kind of error. The more I watched I started to realize that no pilot could make this kind of error. It had to be intentional.

A crowd was forming around the TV now, and not a word was uttered by anyone, it was silence throughout the dealership. I could see mechanics in the back walking away from the cars they were servicing to congregate around radios and listen to the reports that were coming in. It was as close to what a time warp must feel like as anything I had ever experienced in my life up till that moment. It was just a few minutes later that we all saw a shadow cross the back of the TV screen, it was behind the buildings, and then that shadow hit the second tower. All doubt left everyone in front of that TV, we had been attacked, and no one knew what would happen next.

We all stood there watching, then new pictures started popping up of the Pentagon burning. They had attacked our Capitol. After a bit of time, the images of a smoldering spot, a hole really, in Pennsylvania came on the screen. Only later would we learn of the heroics of those people, their efforts and ultimate sacrifice saved many thousands of lives.

We all watched as the first tower fell, then the second. There were tears, confusion and genuine fear among the people I stood with. None of us knew what was coming next. After a period of some time, I really don’t know how long, we all started getting back to what we were at the dealership for. But the numbness caused by what we witnessed hung in the air. We all knew, in our own ways that we would never be the same again.

Jerrad Anderson

Like every American, I vividly remember exactly where I was and how I felt. I was preparing for 8th grade at Riverton Middle School. My mom ran in as I got ready and told me I had to come see what was happening on TV, "It was like a movie" she said. I saw both World Trade Center buildings with smoke pouring out of them. A few minutes later, the 'Today' show reported another plane had hit the Pentagon, and that there had been a crash in Pennsylvania. As a pretty young kid, that was my first experience to terrorism.

No matter how old you were in 2001, I think everyone asked the question "why would anyone do this?" I still can't understand it in 2014, and assure you I never will. I can also assure you, I will never forget the innocent lives lost, the heroes that emerged that day, and the men and women in our armed forces.

Shane Binkerd

I was ten years old on September 11, 2001. I was in fifth grade. I remember coming to class that morning and the World Trade Center (at the time I didn’t know what buildings they were) was on the classroom television. I remember a lot of the students in my class were confused about what we were watching, myself among them. But the more I paid attention to the teachers’ and faculties’ reaction to what was going on, the more I realized how serious the situation was.

It took a while for anyone to explain to me what had happened, but when they did, I was in disbelief. Looking back, I see how horrible what I watched on the television was. But I also see how this event has helped in solidifying our unity as a country.

Tracie Perkins

I was in the eighth grade on September 11, 2001, but the day is burned in my memory as if it barely happened. I remember going into my parent’s bedroom to talk to my mom that morning, and she was perched on the edge of her bed, glued to the television. I knew something was wrong and looked at the t.v. to see smoke coming from one of the towers.

Like many that day, my initial thought was it was some kind of freak accident. That is, until the second tower was struck. I knew then we were under attack.

I was in a haze when I went to school early that morning. I couldn’t get the image of that plane striking the second tower out of my head. I quietly walked to my morning Algebra class, still early for class but not caring. When I entered the classroom, I noticed a number of other students gathered in the room, eyes glued to the classroom television. I joined them in watching the news as more students trickled in, many of whom did not have the class but heard the news was available in that room. We stayed there for hours, not checking into our normal classes and not caring that we hadn’t.

I was surrounded by peers and teachers when the tower fell. I was confused and scared, recognizing that meant even more lives had been lost. I was a tough girl in school. No one had seen me cry, but they did that day. In fact, many students and staff cried upon seeing the tragedy.

By lunch the staff told everyone in that small algebra room that they must continue on with a normal school day. I attended my afternoon classes, but all I could think about was what was happening on our own soil. An assembly was called at the end of the school day to honor those lives lost.

As an eighth grader, this was my first real view at the horrors of the world. It opened a new world of terror I had only ever heard about, but was never a real thing for me until that day.

I will never forget the events of 9/11. I keep those who lost loved ones in my prayers.