(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Americans far and wide are sharing their 9/11 stories in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the attacks, and that includes here, and from, Illinois.
Retired Chicago battalion chief Patrick Maloney tells ABC News in New York he remembers the emotions of spending 10 days in the smoldering wreckage of the towers.
“I brought my sons here,” said Maloney. “They remember when I responded, so I came here to tell the story to them, so we can teach the next generation and never forget.”
Governor Pritzker Friday took part in ceremonies in Chicago, including one at Union Station for a volunteer service event. While nothing happened there in 2001 there were a lot of people on edge.
Now, the Governor says, there are a lot of people who want to take part in acts of service.
“The cowardly September 11th terrorist attacks were an attempt to divide us, and to make us afraid of one another,” said Pritzker. “But the response of the American people demonstrated something far more powerful — that, when our neighbors need us, we show up. That is what it means to be an Illinoisan. That is what it means to be an American.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth remembers all too well what happened, and what she did, 25 years ago.
Duckworth speaking in Chicago Friday, said she was in command of a Blackhawk unit based at Midway Airport, but was on vacation at the time.
“When the first aircraft hit, I got the alerts. We thought Chicago was next. We thought there was probably an aircraft bound to hit the Sears Tower,” said Duckworth (D-IL). “I was desperately calling my crews — members of the National Guard — to get them to report back. I was trying to get back to Chicago, ready to launch an unarmed Blackhawk to ram into the next aircraft that was headed for Chicago.”
Duckworth, with the mayor of Chicago and others certain that city would be next, she didn’t want anyone to take anything in Illinois down.
She said, after all. that was the spirit of the state.
There also were ceremonies at the Springfield Fire Department Friday morning.
