Michael Benfante > Quotes

“Along the way we passed various restaurants with outdoor seating, where, to my astonishment, people were sipping cocktails and snacking on hors d’oeuvres and, well, just eating lunch. What the hell? They were chatting and pulling at the waiter as if it was just another sunny September Tuesday in Manhattan. I think about that image today, and I still can’t believe it. Boozer Boozer is Brian Wenrich.”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget

“But I saw no historical, political, or monumental significance. As I sat there and watched news commentators and politicians place the event in context—the whys and hows of it—all I could think was, This was a terrible thing, and I happened to be in the middle of it. That’s it. There”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget

“What I distinctly remember—and it strikes me about as ironic as anything ever will—was that on 1010 WINS radio that morning, they were talking about how Mayor Giuliani was declaring that day as 911 Awareness Day in New York in order to promote citizens properly utilizing 911. I don’t know if they still have 911 Awareness Day. I don’t think so.”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget

“That’s what those 9/11 terrorist motherfuckers did to me. They made me feel vulnerable. They took away my invincibility, my ability to see life whole, to see life as good, to simply talk with my parents, my brother, my sisters, my wife. I was forced into these feelings. They put me under that fucking van, scared to lose all of it.”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget

“I got to work earlier than usual. Looking out our conference room window, admiring the magnificent vista, I could see it was already a beautiful day—blue skies, no clouds, orange sunshine.”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget

“Talking about it forced me to relive it. Not talking about it forced me to live in fear of having to talk about it.”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget

“When you see someone struggling with something, something that would be a snap for you because of your strength, size, or intellect, then help them out!”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget

“Dear Mr. Benfante: Since we opened our doors 36 years ago, we’ve had Presidents, Prime Ministers, Members of Congress, Medal of Honor winners, movie stars and many ordinary folks stay at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. We’ve never been more proud then we are today to welcome one of the true heroes of the September 11th tragedy.”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget

“I’m a survivor of 9/11. And if you’re reading this, so are you. You might not have been in the Towers with me, or near the Pentagon, but you were somewhere. And there is something going forward that we can do with our survival. We can decide right now, together, to be better to each other.”
― Michael Benfante, Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget