 |
||||
|
WTC survivor and Colleague of Ron Fazio The
day started out like any other normal day: rushing to get
my 10-year-old son off to school and rushing to catch my
express bus to the city. I have done this trip and worked
at the World Trade Center for many years. As
I made it to work with no time to spare, I ran to catch my
elevator to the sky lobby in WTC # 2, the 78th floor, and
then took another elevator to AonRe on the 99th floor. As
I got to my desk a few of the men were standing around by
my cubicle just talking. The time was 8:40. My usual routine
was to drop off my bags and head for the ladies room but
that morning my message light was on. I always check my messages
first in case it is regarding my son. However, it was a business
call. As I was
writing down the information, the men were ending their conversations
and heading back to their offices, when my manager Ron Fazio
commented on how low a plane was flying. I didn’t pay him
any mind. I have worked up there so long and have seen almost
everything from blimps to helicopters. Seconds
later his voice was shrieking in such a high pitch that it
made the hair on my arms stand up right, “Look at the plane
its too low.” I stood up at my desk and just turned my body
around to face the window and a few of the men came out of
their offices when Ron screamed, “Oh
My GOD it’s going to hit us! Get away from the windows!” As
the men ran, I couldn’t move. I just stood frozen to this
horrible sight. I could see the plane clearly, and the AA
(American Airlines) on the tail. I could see the tinted windows
of the cockpit. I watch with absolute horror the plane crashing
into the tower only a few floors below where my office was.
There was a large puff of white smoke and then inside the
smoke was a deep red, which appeared to be blood, but in
fact was fire. Then dark gray, almost black smoke engulfed
the top 30 floors of Tower 1. Debris
was flying all over the place and hitting into our building.
My co-workers have commented on the sound, the sound of the
plane coming towards us and of it hitting the tower, but
I have no memory of sound, just the visual. It looked like
the plane decapitated the top 20 floors of Tower 1. You could
feel the heat of the fire from across the tower. My
initial instinct was “Oh thank God it didn’t hit us” and
then I thought of all those people in Tower 1, especially
my old friends that I had worked with at Marsh & McLennan
and Risk solutions Insurance. There
wasn’t any time to mourn or even think. Ron was screaming
to get out and run to the stairs. I
am not sure if he had a premonition of what was to come or
was worried that the debris was going to hit into Tower 2. The
few people that witnessed this went right for the stairs,
however some people stayed, probably thinking there was no
immediate danger to our building. Unfortunately, they did
not make it. Ron
ran to the stairwell. We followed a few people were coming
down the opposite side of the hallway and Ron was screaming
at them to run to the stairwell. One girl was screaming she
had to get her purse and he said “NO, there isn’t time go
now” and she lived! As
I saw the people going for the stairs I turned back to my
cubicle just for a moment, grabbed my sneakers from my desk,
and took a look around. I knew that I would never see it
again. I would
never be back after seeing what I saw. I could never work
in a skyscraper again. When
I got to the stairs they were empty I just assumed Ron and
everyone were running a few floors ahead of me. However,
Ron had gone to the other side of the floor to make sure
that everyone was evacuating. Through communication we found
out that Ron did make it down stairs after rallying more
of our co-workers to evacuate quickly and holding the doors
for them. Sadly he did not get far enough away when the building
collapsed to spare his life. Ron
Fazio was a HERO that
day for myself, and many of us. Because of his initial gut
reaction to get us out of there, I am alive today and so
are many of my colleagues. He did not hesitate, he moved. He
was the only one to take control and made all the right decisions
so that our lives were spared. I pray that there will never
be another day as that day. Ron showed unselfishness in a
time of unconscionable fear. This
type of character is undying and his sprit will live on though
me. Through out history, tragic events have turned ordinary
people into extraordinary heroes. He was no Fireman. He
was no Policeman. He was a BRAVEHEART. His
concern was for his friends and co-workers. Even as he reached
the ground floor, his priority was for our safety and us.
If it weren’t for him I would not be here. I
know he is up in Heaven HOLDING THE DOOR for all who have
passed on. WE WILL NEVER FORGET 9/11 AND RON FAZIO! |
 |
|
|
