Montrose grad recalls 9/11 Pentagon attack

Members of the Edward P. Maloney Memorial Pipe and Drum Band played “Amazing Grace” Monday at the September 11 Memorial Service held annually at the Daniel Crisman Memorial Park in South Montrose. PHOTO BY PAT FARNELLI

A Montrose Area graduate who was working at the Pentagon during the September 11, 2001 attacks recalled his memories of that fateful day 16 years ago on Monday at the Danny Chrisman Memorial Park in South Montrose.
Chrisman’s mother, Debbie, listened to the remarks and musical tributes, as her ongoing efforts to maintain the memories of her son who died that day in the World Trade Center, as well as others who perished that day.
Navy Commander Jamie Burts recounted his memories of his worked in Washington, D.C., 16 years ago as an intern at the National Command Center, in the Pentagon building.
Burts said that Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 started as any other day. He and 14 other interns went to work, and after the leaders left for morning meetings, he was planning to meet his friends. As he headed through the Navy command center, he looked at a TV screen and saw the live TV footage of the first plane hitting one of the towers of the World Trade Center via CNN.
“My friends were in the other part of the building when the impact happened. There was no building-wide announcement, we heard about it through word of mouth. A Marine Staff Sergeant rushed in and said that we all had to exit. None of our cell phones worked,” Burts said. “We didn’t know that on the other side of the building, our friends were struggling for their lives.”
He reported for work the next morning to a building that was still burning, with smoke in the corridors.
Burts named five friends that had been killed in the attack and destruction, and several that had been injured and hospitalized.
“Now, we pause to reflect and remember. We promised after September 11 to never forget. More than remembering those we lost, we must remember what it is to be American; to overcome divisiveness, to come together as a community.”
Pastor Bob Kadlecik of the Bridgewater Church prayed, in benediction, “16 years ago, 19 men killed all those people because they thought it was the right thing to do. Help us to resolve to change the future – one life, one love at a time. Help us to love one another. Help us to be kind to those who disagree with us politically and religiously.”