Leadership Howard County

Among the many remembrances of September 11, 2001, we offer this – the memories of that indelible day had a special imprint on the Class of 2002.

The Leadership Class of 2002 has always shared a special bond. Their opening session – the day they all met for the first time to define leadership in new and challenging ways - was held on September 11. While all Leadership alumni have memories of the excitement and nerves of starting a new program, getting to know their classmates, and gaining insight into what the coming year would hold, this particular day resonated like no other. To have that process impacted at the same moment by such an incomparable global event redefined for many of them what leadership means.

Here in their own words, several graduates of the Class of 2002 share their memories and thoughts:

Shirley Burrill, LHC Executive Director

The events of September 11 certainly defined the class in a way that no one could have foreseen.   We were all in shock over the news which came within the first hour of the session.    After some discussion, we decided to move ahead with the day's program and news trickled in throughout the day giving us more information about what had happened.  

Of course, there were many phone calls made to check on the safety of our families and also work associates who might have been in New York City or at the Pentagon on that morning.  It speaks to the character of the individuals and the strength of the program that the class completed the day and all of the presenters showed up.

Many times you will hear people talk about where they were when John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King were assassinated, and I'm sure that the members of the Class of 2001 will always remember where they were and how they found out about the tragic events of the morning of September 11^th .

The Class of 2002 was and continues to be a very strong and close knit group and I've always felt that this bond started with catastrophic happenings of this day.

Anne Towne, former Executive Director, Association of Community Services

Even though ten years have gone by, I remember September 11, 2001 so clearly. I was excited to be joining Leadership and all that it had to offer.  I was impressed with the people in the class – and in the room.  Shirley Burrell was the Director then and she was so warm in her welcome.

Then she was called from the room.  When she returned, she announced that the Twin Towers had been hit by an airplane.  Because I thought this was such a preposterous scenario, I thought we were immediately (as a group of leaders) going into our first “exercise” as a class.

Then she was called out of the room again.  Cell phones started going off for the many government officials we have in our class.  When Shirley stepped back to the podium she had tears in her eyes and we all recognized something awful was transpiring.  She led us through an amazing process of facilitating each individual’s need to be in touch, to watch the television in Oakland Manor, and to help us as a class decide what to do. 

Some class members did need to go as they were essential to emergency management.  Others wanted to go – but the class basically elected to stay together and to begin our work of bonding and building relationships and the Leadership experience. 

This event did, I think, influence how our year unfolded.  First, we had the gift of always knowing when we met each other.  Second, I think our senses were heightened about community preparedness, community response, investment in our community, and the need for excellent communications. 

Nasser Basir, CEO and President, PSI Pax Inc.

There are certain moments in our lives which are seared into our memory. The joy of a child's birth, the pain of the loss of a loved one certainly rank at the top of my memories. Then there are those other times when one feels a whole nation change, such as when President Kennedy was shot, and the Challenger shuttle exploded. And then there was 9-11, when our whole world changed...

For us in Maryland the morning of September 11, 2001 had a crisp bright start. For about 40 of us, it was an exciting beginning of a new endeavor. We were kicking off our Leadership Howard County journey. We were about an hour into the morning session and had just started getting our bearings, when there seemed to be some cell phones getting the attention of our classmates. There was no immediate reaction, and shortly we had our first break, when Shirley shared the news of the first airplane hitting the WTC. First there was the numbness of disbelief and then the flurry of calls trying to assess what was really happening. When we heard of the second airplane striking the WTC we knew something very ominous was underway. 

The first thought I had was to check on immediate family to make sure they were aware of what was transpiring and everyone was safe. Fortunately, none of my immediate family was directly affected by the day’s events other than the anguish and concern everyone felt. Next we checked with our classmates to see if their families and loved ones were OK. Some had friends and family in the areas affected, but I do not recall any of us lost a loved one that day. 

As the details started coming out, and it was clear that Muslim terrorists were behind the attack I was saddened and angry that someone who professed to share my faith could commit such a heinous act. Over the next days and weeks as I spoke to fellow Muslims, American and non-Americans alike, it was clear that we all shared the same sentiments and thoughts. 

Over the next months the most profound impact of the events of 9-11 was the curiosity of my classmates about Islam and a Muslim's perspective on what had happened and what had brought this kind of hatred to our shores. The general lack of awareness of the second largest religion in the world was quite amazing to me. On the positive side, I was really moved by my classmates concerns for my family who still live in Pakistan and their earnest desire to better understand Islam; and also their appreciation, that regardless of faith and backgrounds, at our core we all share a common sense of purpose, goodness, and civility. 

Joe Herr, Howard County Fire Chief and Emergency Manager (retired)

(As told to Sue Emerson)

As the Fire Chief and Emergency Manager of the county, Joe was one of the first to receive the news by pager that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. By the time he received the news of the second impact, he knew it wasn’t an accident. Through his work in disaster planning and emergency preparedness in Washington, D.C., Joe was well aware that a terrorism event was unfolding and that emergency responders would be on call throughout the country.

Joe immediately left the class and went to the Emergency Operations Center with the police chief. On his way, he heard radio reports that the Pentagon had been hit. He knew all resources would be requested for backup, so he had all personnel alerted to be on duty as well as reserve apparatus.

A long intense day ensued, as government officials, department heads and emergency responders monitored reports coming in – filtering them for rumors, errors and true emergency needs, weighing the decisions to send assistance where needed and making emergency decisions for Howard County citizens. The days and weeks that followed were filled with additional emergencies as anthrax incidents were reported. The need to coordinate with public agencies was intense, requiring communication and interdependence between law enforcement, public health, fire and emergency departments.

What has changed in ten years? Today, Joe works independently to coordinate emergency response in all jurisdictions in the Baltimore-Washington region. He notes there is far greater regional cooperation and inter-agency communication than ten years ago, and many of the public officials taking part in those crucial regional decisions have moved on to statewide or national responsibility. What they learned from September 11 has been an essential part in preparing for the future. “They only have to get it right once,” Joe said, speaking of the terrorists’ plots; “We have to be right every time.”

Lori Fuchs, Community Volunteer

I recall we had very little information.  The first thing we were told was that the WTC in NYC had been "bombed."  We did not know commercial airplanes hit the tower; we did not know both towers had been hit; we did not know that both towers fell.  We were later told that also the Pentagon had been hit, but again not that it was by a commercial airplane.  We knew nothing of a Pennsylvania crash site.  My memory is that by the time we got home at 5:30 PM, I was so hungry for information I watched TV nearly all night; in contrast most of my family and friends were "overdosed" by that point and not wishing to continue to watch.

Decisions about how to proceed - again, we were given little information (but then, there was apparently much confusion in the entire country that day).  We were asked not to use our cell phones to allow for phone communication related to the emergencies.  I remember Joe Herr (Fire Chief) left immediately as did some other classmates.  My own personal decisions were aimed about my children (1 had just started HS, one in 5th grade).  We got conflicting reports about whether schools had closed or not.  My husband works for Cisco Systems and at that time sold to the CIA.  We did hear some "rumors" (on breaks and at lunch) that other DC locations had been hit.  It was a confusing, scary time for all. 

 I remember many reactions - some tears, shaking of heads, confusion, trying to clarify/decide to leave or stay, etc.  One memory I will never lose - I sat next to Ed Ely at lunch.  I was commenting on hoping to finish on time to make my daughter's JV soccer game in Montgomery County.  He turned to me and gently said "Lori, there won't be a soccer game..."  I asked "why not?"  He tried to supply the perspective - indicating for example that they had closed the malls.  In our situation, I had no clue about why they would have closed the malls. 

Dave Gramill, Sr. Vice President, OBA Bank

September 11, 2001 was the first day of our class program at The Oakland Manor.  Part way into the day, we were informed by Shirley that a plane or planes had crashed into the World Trade Center.  At first we did not get much more information and the day went through in its entirety.  Though I did notice several people going outside to speak on their cell phones and a few leaving for the day.    

My decision on whether to stay was based on the information we received during the program (I never saw a TV until I got home that evening).  At the time I was not married and did not have children so I proceeded with the full day.

The main reaction that I remember was after the program ended around 4-5PM or so.  I had not seen a TV the entire day and I went back to my office and was surprised to find a sign on the door stating that the office had closed earlier in the day.  At first I wondered why our office would close because of what had happened in New York.  It was then that I realized this was much bigger than I had realized (remember we were sheltered the entire day with no television on radio).  I then went home and watch the news, in amazement and horror, for the next several hours.  

Our class will always be tied by that first day.  It is the answer to the question “Where were you on 09/11”?

Bill Howard, Sr. Vice President, First Mariner Bank

I am truly touched by the memories resurrected by the statements of my friends, especially the anguish which seems to permeate Nassir’s thoughts, which are typically brilliant and sensitive, how skillfully Shirley guided us through our day and how impressed I was with Joe, in whose small focus group I shared a place(with Anne).  That first day was so dramatically different from those that followed; during our breaks, all of us, individually, found quiet places on the grounds of Oakland Manor, to call home or school, workplaces, etc. to check on spouses, children, friends, or just to contemplate and pray.  On the days and months that followed, we developed the friendships with our classmates that last to today.

My perspective has several additional “angles”, which were belated.  My daughter-in-law’s father was assigned to that department at the Pentagon destroyed by the terrorists.  But for a dental appointment that morning,….

The other, of course, is that my classmates bestowed on me the great privilege of class spokesman, something I consider one of my life’s great honors.  It was, to be sure, one of my greatest challenges too, for, as I said in my speech, I tried mightily to avoid mention of 9/11.  I did not do that, I COULD NOT DO THAT, but viewed all WE THE CLASS OF 2002 did TOGETHER through the lens of 9/11. 

To this day, I hope I expressed what Shirley and my classmates had in mind, that it was appropriate and I represented them well.