Jud Esty-Kendall and Jack Murray
Welder Jack Murray (right) went to Ground Zero on the day of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Jack, among the first “steel burners” on the scene, cut through metal in the wreckage so that rescue workers could find survivors buried in the rubble of the World Trade Center.
He came to StoryCorps with his friend Jud Esty-Kendall (left), and described the intensity of the heat and fire coming from the debris.
Originally aired September 10, 2010 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Jean Braca and David Braca
Alfred Braca, a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald, worked in the North Tower of the World Trade Center for sixteen years.
Alfred was killed in the September 11 attacks. He was 54 when he died.
His wife, Jean, and their son David came to StoryCorps in New York to remember how the day unfolded.
Recorded May 25, 2010.
John Romanowich
After September 11, 2001, thousands of men and women came to New York to aid in the recovery effort. As a construction project manager with the city agency in charge of the cleanup, John Romanowich, arrived at the World Trade Center site just days after the attack.
John came to StoryCorps to remember those working long hours—sometimes till midnight—at Ground Zero.
Originally aired September 10, 2010 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Andrea Doctor
Johnnie Doctor, Jr. was an information systems technician first class in the United States Navy. He worked at the Pentagon and was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Johnnie’s wife, Andrea, came to StoryCorps to talk about that day and how she has drawn on Johnnie’s strength to move forward.
Recorded September 12, 2008.
Dina LaFond and Anita Korsonsky
Jeanette LaFond-Menichino worked on the 94th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. With little higher education, she managed to work her way up to Senior Account Analyst at Guy Carpenter, a subsidiary of Marsh McLennan.
Her sister, Anita LaFond-Korsonsky, and her mother, Dina LaFond, came to StoryCorps to remember Jeannette’s determination
Dina leads tours for visitors to Ground Zero and says that the experience has helped in her grieving process. Anita has never revisited the site of the Twin Towers. Instead, she prefers to look out towards Manhattan from across the water at Eagle Rock Reservation’s 9/11 memorial, where she leaves cards and flowers for her sister.
Recorded August 8, 2008.
Bernell Sutton
Claudia Sutton (pictured at left) was an accountant at Cantor Fitzgerald with an office on the 101st floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. She was killed in the attacks on September 11, 2001.
At StoryCorps, her husband, Bernell Sutton, recalls their last morning together.
Recorded September 18, 2009.
Photo courtesy of Bernell Sutton.
Dae Jin Ryook, Kyung Woo Rook and Lauren Woo
Christina Sunga Ryook (pictured with her parents at left) worked in the human resources department of Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. She was 25 years old when she was killed in the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Her parents, Dae Jin (pictured above left) and Kyung Woo Ryook (pictured above right), came to StoryCorps with Christina’s friend Lauren Woo (pictured above center) to remember their daughter and share their pain. Asked by Lauren what he would say to Sunga today, her father Daejin would tell her, “I’m sorry and I love you. Because, I never said I’m sorry to my daughter. I never said I love you to my daughter. I was kind of tough father to Sunga.”
Recorded May 5, 2009.
Photo courtesy of the Woo Ryook family.
Racquel Kelley
Racquel Kelley was working at the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001 when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. At the time, Kelley had an 8-month-old son at home.
She came to StoryCorps to talk about her memories of that day.
Recorded May 21, 2006.
Brenda Kenny and Mike Kenny
Mike Kenny worked at Ground Zero during the recovery effort after the September 11 attacks.
He came to StoryCorps with his wife, Brenda, to talk about his work and the effect it had on their family.
Recorded December 5, 2008.
James Perry and Patricia Perry
Police Officer John W. Perry was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. John was also a lawyer, an actor, a multilinguist, an athlete, and a civil liberties activist.
His parents, Patricia and James Perry, came to StoryCorps to remember him.
Recorded May 1, 2008.