By Andrew Coen
Sept. 11, 2001 will forever be etched in people's minds, especially as the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon is commemorated.
Dr. Yelva Lynfield of Cedarhurst was supervising the Dermatology Clinic at Brookdale University Medical Center in Brooklyn when the first plane hit the World Trade Center during a morning of clear skies and near perfect late summer weather.
"Our clerk at the front desk liked to listen to the radio, and he came to us and said, 'A plane just hit the World Trade Center,'" said Lynfield. "We didn't believe him so he suggested that we all go up to the roof and look at Manhattan. We got up there just in time to see the second plane hit."
Lynfield said that after the attacks she insisted the doctors on staff return to the clinic, and because the hospital had a disaster plan, they were able to care for all the patients at that time.
"Since then, I have taken the disaster drills and preparations for emergencies much more seriously," said Lynfield, who has since become a member of the Community Emergency Response Team, which assists first responders in an emergency or disaster.
Victoria Moreines of Inwood was in her house that overlooks Jamaica Bay when she witnessed smoke rising from the west, which she at first thought was a fire at JFK Airport. After receiving a phone call from one of her friends, she realized the smoke was the result of a terrorist attack, and she said since then she has not looked at life the same way.
"It shows t hat you are just as vulnerable as everyone else," said Moreines. "I don't trust anybody anymore."
Longtime Lawrence resident Nina Gilgan was in Boston visiting her daughter and was scheduled to fly back home on the evening of Sept. 10, but the flight was delayed because of thunderstorms in the New York City area, so she got a voucher to fly the next day. She said that when she was at a nearly empty Logan International Airport, she became suspicious when two Arab
men randomly approached her in the late evening of Sept. 10. Prior to leaving for the airport on the morning of Sept. 11, Gilgan got word that the first plane had hit the World Trade Center and then witnessed the second one hit the south tower on television. She remained in Boston for one week and proceeded to report the two Arab men she had encountered to the FBI because she found the situation to be very suspicious.
"It never goes away," said Gilgan of what transpired on Sept. 11, 2001. Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew Parise was at home when he got word of the first plane hitting, and drove to work with the belief it was an accident. However, when he arrived at village hall and found out about the second plane, he knew his country was under attack. "I was just bewildered as to how this could happen," said Parise.
Parise said one positive development that transpired from 9/11 was the way the country came together in the months after the attacks. "It was great to see how the country came around," he said. "I wish that feeling was still here."
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