Today, September 11, marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks in the United States, which claimed thousands of lives and changed the lives of millions. To mark the anniversary, the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia gathered recollections from community members who were in various locations in 2001—from New York and Washington to Kansas City, Pennsylvania, Austria, and Ukraine.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.
"A quarter of a century later, the memory of that day remains not only a part of American history but also deeply personal for millions of people," the statement reads.
Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 events, the Archeparchy invited members of the Ukrainian community to share their personal memories. Their stories vary, yet they share common emotions: shock, uncertainty, anxiety for loved ones, fear, and helplessness, as well as unity, solidarity, and faith.
At the time of the attacks, Father John Mikitish was a fifth-grade student in Kansas City, Missouri. He recalls students being dismissed from school early without explanation, while a sense of stunned silence prevailed among the teachers and staff. Later, upon learning what had happened, he remembered the shock and tragedy that gripped the nation, but also the sense of unity and solidarity that emerged in the days and months that followed.
Marta N. Rubel remembers that morning for its extraordinary beauty. She was working at *TV Guide* magazine in Radnor, Pennsylvania, when news of the attacks reached the office.
“It was the most beautiful, crisp autumn morning. The sky was so blue. The air was so fresh,” she recalled.
After the second plane crashed into the World Trade Center tower, she said, “everything just came to a halt.”
For George Mykytyn, who grew up in Manhattan and had close relatives there, the day was filled with personal anxiety. His sister worked in Manhattan, and due to overloaded phone networks, he could not get through to her or his parents. It wasn't until around 11 a.m. that he managed to reach his sister.
“I felt a huge sense of relief,” Mykytyn recalled.
Ksenia Zakharchuk learned of the attack after a call from her sister, who asked her to turn on the TV. She did so just as the second plane crashed into the World Trade Center.
“I remember being overcome by a terrible fear and a sense of helplessness,” she recalled.
Eugene Luciv was in Austria’s Stubai Valley with his wife that day. Upon hearing a German-language radio report about the attack on the Twin Towers, he initially thought it was a radio drama. The reality of the tragedy became apparent back at the hotel, when the owner ran up to him and asked if he had heard the news.
“I was in complete shock. I probably couldn’t speak at all until the next day,” said Luciv.
Monsignor Peter Waslo, who was then the rector of St. Josaphat Seminary in Washington, called September 11 the “Pearl Harbor” of his generation—a moment when people remember exactly where they were when it happened. Later that day, while driving on I-95, he saw an almost empty road, devoid of the usual traffic.
He also recalls the silence upon returning to the seminary—an absence of the sounds of airplanes, helicopters, and traffic.
“You could actually hear the birds chirping and singing. There was nothing else. There was just complete silence,” he recalled.
On September 11, 2001, Archbishop-Metropolitan Borys Gudziak was in Lviv, serving as the rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University. Upon seeing the footage on television, he immediately sensed that the attacks marked a turning point with consequences that would extend far beyond that day.
Looking back, Metropolitan Borys remembers not only the death and fear but also the human response—generosity, solidarity, and a willingness to sacrifice oneself for others.
“And yet, there was a response of generosity and solidarity. So many people came together that very first day,” Metropolitan Borys emphasized.
According to him, even while the tragedy was still unfolding, people were laying down their lives in an attempt to save others.
“The Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid.’ It is the Lord’s work to nurture trust and grant us peace,” concluded Archbishop-Metropolitan Borys Gudziak.
The Archeparchy emphasized that, twenty-five years later, these recollections serve as a reminder that September 11 is more than just a date in history. Behind it lie personal stories of fear and loss, self-sacrifice and solidarity, as well as lives forever changed on that day.
Photo: ukrcatholic.org
Author: Inna Mikhno