We Were There, December 29, 2015

YPD World Trade Center Recovery Worker Connie M. and 9/11 Family Member Jennifer E. share their personal stories of September 11th in their 9/11 Tribute Museum presentation of We Were There on stage at the National September 11th Memorial Museum.
An off-duty NYPD detective sergeant on 9/11, Connie was home and watching the events unfold on TV. She made her way to Ground Zero and volunteered to be supervisor at the morgue. She speaks of her determination to identify as many people as possible to get them back to their families, and of the difficulties of admitting to others and herself that not everyone would be going home.
Jennifer's father was a firefighter on 9/11. In the weeks that followed the attacks, she made phone calls daily, calling hospitals, firehouses and more to get any information that she could about her father's whereabouts. She then speaks of the moment she came to the realization that he was gone, and the conversation with her 3-year-old daughter that inspired her to pick up the pieces of her life again.

[@natashanyxx9486]

I’ve watched about 4 of these videos. On this one, I cried. I have visited the 9/11 memorial in person, and the tribute center. I cried while I was there. I’m not a New Yorker, and my only connection to those events is as a fellow American. My heart goes out to everyone involved and affected by these terrible events.

[@SamA-cw3be]

we were all new yorkers that day.

[@totokingkong1]

I wish I knew someone like Connie...

[@Hyperchicken]

Judith is such a great host for these. She is a wonderful, respectful speaker. Does anyone know what her connection to 9/11 is?

[@fayhunt7285]

I saw one video where a person in the audience asked her. She said she lived nearby and watched outside in the streets as the horror unfolded.

[@mk202]

I was just thinking the same thing. I like her too. Her delivery is very much like Judy Woodruff’s from PBS News Hour. JW is lovely. I watch her daily. 🙂

[@i.m.demarco2324]

Bless your heart Connie...you earnt your passage to heaven when its all our turns to leave... 💞✌🙏

[@PutDownTheBunny]

Connie and Jennifer - Thank you for giving us your experience! Thank God for you!

[@i.m.demarco2324]

Dear Jennifer, your daughters heart was linked to your fathers heart...he let you know he's OK 💞✌🙏

[@TheWriterWalker]

These collected stories bring to us the richness of the authentic, virtually unadulterated accents of New York City's boroughs.

[@paulettelittle7500]

It's very very sad

[@TheWriterWalker]

@@paulettelittle7500, yes, it is. I binged on this series and then had to pull away because it depressed me. However, I do like its highlighting the borough's thick accents. Glad to know there still exist Americans whose speech reflects their immigrant ancestral groups. It is not pleasing to me when everybody tries to sound neutral Midwest or clueless West Coast.

[@xino_z]

@@TheWriterWalker amen about clueless west coast-as a transplant here it's v annoying

[@TheWriterWalker]

@@xino_z, lol. So, you're from the East?

[@xino_z]

@@TheWriterWalker not from NY but PA we have our own accents but the culture very much like NY eg "mind your business" but friendly in general. I tend to make friends with other people who aren't from here 😂

[@sarahmilner8483]

Well done Connie. Angels in disguise here.

[@PutDownTheBunny]

These talks fill me with both sadness and hope. Such is life

[@xino_z]

Well put

[@Ryu2o4]

I love Jennifer’s Accent

[@seanspellman2356]

Well PUT 🇺🇸

[@yukineko5613]

Besides all the traumatic and unbelievable cruel things that stands for 9/11 I am amazed that it formed such wonderful characters. It really changed how I see americans. Never saw such a brotherhood between strangers. Thank you for sharing

[@barbie.travels]

This is so healing to me. Thank you for sharing. We will never forgot it!

[@paulettelittle7500]

I can't keep watching sometimes bring tears 2 my eyes then I go back 2 the video later I haven't went in a tall building since that day I live in new Jersey rite next door to new York city that was such a sad terrible day God help us

[@IAmTheirVoice]

Connie, that was a beautiful portrayal

[@lisapatton197]

These stories are so very important. Prayers to all of you! I will never forget what I witnessed on tv that day.

[@bacaworld7095]

Thank you so much for uploading these videos!

[@detoxmuscle]

These videos always bring peace.

[@VickiBee]

I didn't watch it. I was in the air. They sent us into a holding pattern over O'Hare airport, waiting to be landed; waiting over 35 mins, and they introduced us to what was happening by warning our pilots that "If anyone doesn't land at the nearest airport, with haste, your aircraft will be shot down by jet fighters." I was just waking up. I thought, 'Jeez! What the hell are they talking about? Why don't they say how they REALLY feel?' It sounded pretty rude IMO. Knowing nothing else made it sound kind of rude. (Unfortunately I met a family of someone on the flight they were looking to shoot down.) I seriously thought that for the first time in my life, I was dreaming while awake; I thought I was stuck in a sleep-paralysis episode. But the worst news hadn't even arrived: I didn't know then that it was about to turn painfully personal for me.

[@ognyena]

..an arm and a hand ...🥺

[@bracita15]

Anya Vlad I know 😔

[@Littlescienceguy]

Anya Vlad I said the same thing. 😢

[@paulettelittle7500]

Isn't that scary ! I would have fainted! I was 36 years old she that happened it was a very very sad day I live in new Jersey rite next door to new York city

[@williamcushman4021]

Thank you for posting these videos. I've watched allot of of them but have not heard Judith's story yet. Is there a video of Judith Pucci's story? If its out there, will someone who knows please provide a link?

[@amandah.2202]

She just lived in area I don’t think she was in or super close to towers but I’m sure found a passion for it as it was in her community

[@williamcushman4021]

@@amandah.2202 thank you for your reply!

[@emiliaestrada4995]

I am notice one sad thing about the victims and people died that day is nobody talk about the many ilegal people worked in the top (restaurants)and died that terrible day

[@julianrabbit]

@emiliaestrada4995 There is a documentary about the undocumented people killed on 9/11, whose families were not eligible for any of the compensation for families of those killed. I don't remember the name of it, but you could try Google. I have always thought about the undocumented or otherwise delivery guys who just happened to be delivering breakfast to employees in the WTC, & were trapped once the planes hit. Awful, & absolutely heartbreaking.

[@julianrabbit]

@emiliaestrada4995 There is also "9/11: the forgotten heroes of 9/11", about the undocumented workers during the 9/11 clean-up.

[@NadjaBusiness]

Whats that for a dialect the second women is speaking?

[@agirlandherhusky7014]

CB maybe Massachusetts?

[@cac3343]

It's a NY accent.

[@kfrancis1872]

Besonhurst/Howard Beach. Judith's is Manhattan, posh. Jennifer's would be cockney. The detective's accent sounds like one of the boroughs, Brooklyn, maybe.

[@allencollins6031]

Brooklyn-ese.

[@allysonh6410]

How many human remains are Left that haven't been identified?? I mean do we only have Bits left or what? And if so how do we know what pieces go together? 😳🤯💔💔💔🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲😥