Jessica Riggle’s Reviews > The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 > Status Update

I. Am. Sobbing.
In messy tears, gasping for air thru my whimpers. What’s after crying?
Snot is dripping out of my nose.

This is just so so tough to listen to.

The raw, unfiltered humanity of it all is absolutely breathtaking & heartbreaking.

Life is just so beautiful & terrible.
I am aghast & also so happy to be alive.
What a gift. What a treasure!

I hope I never forget this feeling.

I have the greatest admiration for the private security officers, guys who were only making about $25k a year, helping guide people out. I think they were some of the bravest people, the unsung heroes of 9/11. Because they could have run away. This was way beyond their pay grade. But they stayed. Not one ran, they stayed & kept people moving out of the towers & they never blinked.

“I’m on an airplane that’s been hijacked. If things don’t go well & it’s not looking good, I just want you to know that I absolutely love you. I want you to do good. Have good times. I’ll see you when you get here.”

Brian Sweeney - 38 year old F14 pilot in The Gulf War