1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: You and Me Both is a production of I Heart Radio. Hi. 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,479 Speaker 1: I'm Hillary Clinton, and this is a special episode of 3 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: You and Me Both. September eleven has come to be 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: about a lot of things over the years, counter terrorism, war, 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: economic and physical recovery, and of course remembering. But for me, 6 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: the anniversary is always first and foremost about the victims, survivors, 7 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: first responders, and their families. It's about the people who 8 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: lived through this devastating tragedy, the pain, loss, health challenges, 9 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: and emotional trauma they've experienced, but also the remarkable strength 10 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: and resilience they've displayed. As a Senator for New York 11 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: on that day and in the aftermath, I joined in 12 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: witnessing the devastation at the World Trade Center in New York, 13 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: at the Pentagon in our nation's capital, and at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 14 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: and I was deeply involved in the response and recovery 15 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: efforts that followed. Today, I want again to focus on 16 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: those impacted directly by September eleven, to listen to their 17 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: stories twenty years later, and to talk with them about 18 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: how they've rebuilt their own lives. So I'm speaking with 19 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: Regina Wilson, a twenty two year veteran with the Fire 20 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: Department of the City of New York. She's one of 21 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: the few black female firefighters among the ranks and was 22 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: on the scene that day and at Ground zero in 23 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: the aftermath alongside her fellow first responders. I'll also be 24 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: talking with Jay Winnick, who lost his brother Glenn in 25 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: the World Trade Center and then went on to create 26 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: the nine eleven Day of Service in Glenn's memory. But first, 27 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: I am delighted to be reconnecting with Debbie st. John. 28 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: Debbie is one of the most heroic women I know. 29 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: On her way to work that beautiful September Tuesday morning, 30 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: Debbie was struck by falling debris from the second airplane 31 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: when it hit the World Trade Center. Her legs were crushed, 32 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: she lost consciousness, and she was admitted to New York 33 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 1: University Downtown Hospital as Jane Doe Number one. Nobody even 34 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: knew who she was. I visited with Debbie in the 35 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: hospital days after nine eleven, and then we kept in 36 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: touch over the years as her recovery from countless success 37 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: of surgeries and rigorous physical therapy turned into a year's 38 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 1: long battle with opioid dependency. Through it all, Debbie remains 39 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: one of the most determined and optimistic people I've ever met, 40 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: and I was so happy that she could join me 41 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: for this episode. I cannot tell you how happy I 42 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: am to talk with you. I have to start by asking, 43 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: how are you feeling as the twentieth anniversary of September 44 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: eleven approaches. I think about you so often, and I 45 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: would bet this is a particularly challenging time for you. 46 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: You know, It's interesting because as much as I'm so 47 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: related to nine eleven, I'm not really emotionally attached to it, 48 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: because the only bit of nine eleven that's really real 49 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: in a sense to me is the visual of the 50 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: second plane hitting the building that I saw and then 51 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: thinking to run. That's my largest memory of all unleven, 52 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: including the hospital. So I didn't think the twentieth anniversary mattered, 53 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: But I'm finding I'm a bit more attached, and it's 54 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: affecting me emotionally more than I thought, probably because I'm 55 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: talking about it more than I've ever talked about I 56 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,679 Speaker 1: bet that's right. You have shared with me and others. 57 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: I know what happened to you on September eleven. You 58 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: were on your way to work at the World Financial 59 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: Center when that second plane hit and then you were 60 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: hit by falling debris that left you severely injured. I 61 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you to, you know, just reflect about 62 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: what you do remember and about your recovery from that day. Wow. 63 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 1: For me, most of my story is from what people 64 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: told me. Um. I just turned thirty years old on 65 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: June one. I truly believed, without a shadow of a doubt, 66 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: it was going to be the best year of my life. 67 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: I had worked my butt off to be professionally where 68 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: I wanted to be, educationally where I wanted to be, 69 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: and the last probably five years before nine eleven, really 70 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: worked on myself emotionally, you know, to be the happiest 71 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: and most hopeful, positive person I could be. And I 72 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: woke up that morning and I woke up Greg, my fiance, 73 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: and I showed him I was wearing the shirt that 74 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: he bought me for my birthday, and I went to 75 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: the subway, the one in the nine, to go to 76 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 1: World Trade. The plane must have hit while we were 77 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: probably still in the subway car, because by the time 78 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: we got up to the stairs, the doors opened and 79 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: they were big guys with big um I remember the 80 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: shirts I think they were Navy with yellow writing with 81 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: w TC on them. But they said, we're going to 82 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: take you to safety. We walk out, and then I 83 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: remember looking up seeing the second well I didn't know 84 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: it was the second, but seeing a plane hit the 85 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: World Trade Center, someone yelled, run for cover. I saw 86 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: a construction awning, which is probably not the best thing 87 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: to run for cover over, but it was the only 88 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 1: thing I can find. And my last thought was I 89 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: have the worst shoes on for running. I thought it 90 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: was like my fault for wearing those shoes. And Greg, 91 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: it said to me, if you would run a second 92 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: slower or a second fest or you might not be alive. 93 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: That's why I remember. And Greg was then your fiance, 94 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: now your husband my husband? Yes, And the rescuers literally 95 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: picked you up off the sidewalk, and I guess rushed you, 96 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 1: carried you to the hospital as far as you remember, 97 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: Is that right. So there's four men who helped save me, 98 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: Paul Stefen, Orlando and Frank Orlando and Frank were the 99 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: a m T. S. Stefan saw the first plane hit. 100 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: He was I think a medic or helped out in 101 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: that capacity. So he decided to go head down to 102 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: the Wall Trade Center and CYA he could help, so, 103 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: he said he noticed me as soon as I hit 104 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: the street. He saw when the second plane hit, and 105 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: he saw me look scared. He saw me run, and 106 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: we were running together. I believe, he said. I was 107 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: on the left side of him, and he kept track 108 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: of me, someone he never met before or I knew 109 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: anything about. And um, he saw a huge it looked 110 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: like a propeller. I'm assuming this was part of the 111 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: landing gear coming towards us, and he thought we were 112 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: going to die. And the next thing he knows, I'm 113 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: thrown back. The propeller goes two feet into like a 114 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: cement wall, and he's feet away from me. I never 115 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: thought about what it must have been like after the 116 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: plane hit. You know, it's like a war zone. It's 117 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: like the apocalypse happening, burning pieces. I never thought of 118 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: any of that. I never really knew that he saw 119 00:07:55,560 --> 00:08:00,559 Speaker 1: all this and he chose to go run to death. 120 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: Pretty much for a stranger, it's nice to know that 121 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: there's kindness in really bad times, and that you know, 122 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: people really try to be there for each other, even 123 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: though it doesn't really look like it right now. I 124 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: mean That is one of the lasting lessons for me 125 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: is at that time, people did come together, They did 126 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: help each other, They tried to do whatever they could 127 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: in the moment of such crisis and tragedy. Your journey 128 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: is so incredible because you were severely injured. My butt 129 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: was literally on the road next to me, sliced off. 130 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: I mean when I visited you in the hospital, the 131 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: doctors and this was just a day or two after 132 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: nine eleven, you know, we're just amazed that you were 133 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: still going, given the devastation of the injuries that you suffered. 134 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: And I remember going to see you. I heard that, 135 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: you know, there there were people who had been injured. 136 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: And I remember walking into your hospital room, Debbie, and 137 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: you had these beautiful braids you had. Your hair was 138 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: in braids. The nurse ran up ten minutes before you 139 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: got here. For those reasons, I'll tell you. In the building, 140 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: I'll tell you you looked at gelic even though you 141 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: were devastatingly injured. You were so brave, Debbie. I remember 142 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: when I first saw your determination in action, when you 143 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: told me you were going to dance at your wedding. 144 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: This this young woman lying in this hospital bed, who 145 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: many many people thought would never walk again, let alone 146 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 1: dance again five or survived. Let's be honest, uh telling 147 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: me I am going to dance at my wedding. And 148 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: you know what, I can attest to that because I 149 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: came to your wedding. I watched you walk down the 150 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: aisle and myself and have that first dance. That determination, 151 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: your absolute tenacity in the face of the worst kind 152 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: of trauma. I just was so inspiring. Can you talk 153 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: about that moment and what made it such a milestone. Well, 154 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,319 Speaker 1: first of all, you have to think about what I've 155 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: been going through is eighteen months in the hospital and 156 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: then the next three years, every three months I had 157 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: a surgery. Yeah, so the year of the wedding, I 158 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: took the year off to get healthy, and it was 159 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: like kind of being an athlete for it. I trained 160 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: for it, I was working out, I was doing physical therapy. 161 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: I was doing everything I could. Thank God, at that point, 162 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: I wasn't sick on the opioids. Although I was sick. 163 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: I did throw up for two hours in the middle 164 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: of my wedding, and no one knew. I did not 165 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: know that. But um, I feel like in many ways 166 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: I was born this way. And I had a very 167 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: difficult childhood. I had to be a warrior to get 168 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: through my childhood. I also believe my gift to the 169 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: world is that a model healing. Yes, you do. I'm 170 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: wondering whether, as you think about the last twenty years, 171 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: is there some lesson that you would like other people 172 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: to take from, not just nine eleven, but from what 173 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: you've gone through. Well, you know, since I've figured out 174 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: about opioids, and less opioids mean less pain. And everyone 175 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: in the country talks about opioid addiction, but no one 176 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: talks about opioid dependency, which is millions of people. That's true, 177 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: and that's me. I'm the face of opioid dependency. Well, 178 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: you were in agony, and you were in pain for 179 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: so many years, and then I also had something called 180 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: opioid induced hyper algees yet, which is very common and 181 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: every payment mint doctor knows about it, but they don't 182 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: talk about it. And that's anyone who's on opioids for 183 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: an extended period of time, and that could be a week. 184 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: The opioids mess your nervous system and your brain up 185 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: so much that your body goes on the defense and 186 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 1: it causes all the pain. I was living on a 187 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: hundred milligrams and Methodona day. My level of pain from 188 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: one to ten was an eight to eleven. Seriously, and 189 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: I'm completely off of Methodona. I'd say I'm before on 190 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: once ten, I don't really have chronic pain. When you 191 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: think about your own journey and all of the challenges, 192 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: what do you want people to know about recovering from 193 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 1: trauma and in the case of so many recovering from 194 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: opioid dependence, what words of hope encouragement that helped you 195 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 1: that you can share. Well, I'll be Over the years, 196 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: when anyone we know has gone through a major tragedy, 197 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: I usually get a phone call M and um. The 198 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: last one, which was a long time ago, was UM, 199 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,959 Speaker 1: my husband's best friend's wife lost the baby at eight 200 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: a half months. Oh God. And she called me up 201 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 1: and she said, what do I do when I feel 202 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: like my world is ending and I'm in all this pain? 203 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: How do I go on? And I've been asked that 204 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: a lot, And it's when life is so bad and 205 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: all you're doing is suffering. You have to find the 206 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: moments to hold onto and you have to give yourself goals. 207 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: I mean, for me, a lot of times, my only 208 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: goal is to get out of bed. M hm. You 209 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: have to make really really small goals, but you must 210 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: have goals, and once you achieve your goal, you must 211 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: celebrate your successes. So what is next for you? I mean, 212 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: now you're focused on your recovery from opioid dependence. What 213 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: else is motivating you. My twin girls turned ten this 214 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: past April, and it was the first time we went 215 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: on a family vacation because I was well enough. I 216 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: was at Universal Studios. Me who can't even like do 217 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: three hours of work sometimes from ten thirty in the 218 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: morning until six pm at night. It was so much fun. 219 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: You forget like I was always a big ride fan before, 220 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: but you know, I got no butt, like you think, 221 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: can I do these things? And truly just feeling that 222 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: elation and excitement and fear and all that that comes 223 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: to the ride. It made me remember the joy of things, 224 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: you know like that. So for me, like the girls, 225 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: are you talking about it? What our next trip is? 226 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: And I think it or not. I think it's gonna 227 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: be to Washington, d C. In the spring. Excellent. I've 228 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: never been to the White House. I think it'd be 229 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: really cool for them to see that. I would love 230 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: for you to see that me too, you know. And 231 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: the other thing that I really want to do is, 232 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: you know, our country is and I want to talk 233 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: a pandemic. We are in an opio epidemic and the 234 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: world as well, but no one talks about the millions 235 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: of us behind closed doors suffering with our families watching 236 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: us on opioid dependency. So for me, the biggest thing 237 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: that I want to do in any way possible is 238 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: to save people from the twenty years of opioid dependency 239 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: that I had to live through because not eleven might 240 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: have changed my life drastically in a moment, but opioids 241 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: is what's stopped it for twenty years. And I really 242 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: feel like if the message gets out that people really 243 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: understand that the opioids is what's causing your pain and 244 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: making you feel worse, I really feel that that can 245 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: change the true factory of this epidemic and of addiction independency. 246 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: Your courage is inspiring and will get people to pay attention. Debbie. 247 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: I hope so, and I can't wait to see what 248 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: the next time in twenty years means to you and 249 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: your family. God bless you. I'm excited, take care, Thank 250 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: you so much. After twenty years spent rebuilding her life, 251 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: Debbie is now starting to publicly share her story. She's 252 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: currently writing a book about surviving nine eleven and then 253 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: overcoming opioid dependency. Knowing Debbie, I know it's going to 254 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: be a terrific read. Regina Wilson was only a few 255 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: years into her career as a New York City firefighter 256 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: when the attacks of September eleventh took place. She was 257 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: also then and now one of the very few women, 258 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: let alone women of color in the department. But that morning, 259 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: she was just starting the second of two back to 260 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: back shifts at her station in Brooklyn when the news 261 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: broke and the firehouse alarm sounded, and so she, like 262 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: so many other first responders, ran toward danger. She got 263 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: on the truck, she made her way to Lower Manhattan 264 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: with her fellow firefighters. She assisted in the immediate rescue 265 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 1: efforts that day and then the arduous search and recovery 266 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 1: mission in the months that followed. I was so honored 267 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: that Regina shared her story with me, and I am 268 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: so pleased to share that story with you. Welcome to 269 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: the show, Regina, Thank you. I am thrilled to see you. 270 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: We won't be able to convey to everyone listening to 271 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 1: this podcast everything special about you, particularly your extraordinary singing voice, 272 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: which I've had the privilege of hearing uh several times. 273 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: But it's great to be with you, and I just 274 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 1: want to start by checking in how are you doing, 275 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: How did you get through the pandemic? How are you 276 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: facing all of the weather and related challenges that we 277 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: now confront Well, first, I want to start off us 278 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: saying it's such an honor to be on your podcast. 279 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I've loved you since. Hopefully you remember the 280 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: time that we got stuck in California. It was a 281 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: group of women and you were able to get us 282 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: back home. The airline we flew all went out of business. 283 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 1: I was like, how does that happen? And so you 284 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: came and saved the day and got us home, and 285 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: just to see how much compassion and care you have 286 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: for all of us and wanted to make sure we 287 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: got home safely. From then, I've I've always been a 288 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: champion of yours and I will continue to be. But 289 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: on this side, um, it's been a difficult two years, 290 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: especially adjusting to so much to death going on in 291 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: the city, and how we had to shift a lot 292 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: of gears and be creative with how we were going 293 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,360 Speaker 1: to help the citizens of New York, and then just 294 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 1: the looming thought of this disease that may ravish us 295 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 1: and our family. It was very difficult time. I am 296 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: grateful to guy that I definitely made it through and 297 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: my family did. But it's just a hard toll to 298 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: bear to see that your neighbors and you know, the 299 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: person that you always greeted at the store or you 300 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: know at the car wash or the gas station is 301 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: no longer there, and to see how just hard it 302 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: hurt this city. But I'm doing well right now. It's 303 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: just it's just a really busy time, and this week 304 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: is it's tolling enough. But it's just a really hard time. 305 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: I totally understand that because you have been on the 306 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: front lines for more than twenty years now, so much 307 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: that has happened in the city, and be before we 308 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: jump right into your experiences on nine eleven, I wanted 309 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: to ask you a little bit about your history and 310 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: your life before that day. What made you decide to 311 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: become a firefighter. Had you ever known any firefighters or 312 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: have any role models. Absolutely not. It was nowhere in 313 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: my radar. Nothing I've ever thought about doing. When I 314 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: went to school, I wanted to come out and be 315 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: in corporate America. Right, that's when you come out of college. 316 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: Most of the times, you know, you want to get 317 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: into different fields. But it's never, um think about blue 318 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: collar how to really get in touch with the neighborhood. 319 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: You want to try and move outside of it. So, um, 320 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: I actually was at an expo at Jacob Javis Center 321 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: because I went there to look for clothes in the 322 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 1: latest styles and what was going on in black culture. 323 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: So when I was stopped by these firefighters, you know, 324 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: I didn't really pay them any mind. I'm like, I'm 325 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 1: like here to get bags. Like. So when they came 326 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: up to me, I mean their elevator speech was great, right, Um, 327 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,719 Speaker 1: in the beginning, it wasn't. And I was walking as 328 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 1: they were talking to me because they were like, oh, 329 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 1: you can make a million dollars and twenty years. I'm like, 330 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: I want to make a million dollars now. I don't 331 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 1: want to wait twenty years. You know, Oh, this is 332 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 1: a great pension. I'm like, I'm in my twenties. I'm 333 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: not really thinking about pension, even though people in your twenties, 334 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: you should think about pension in your twenties. And so 335 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: it wasn't really appealing to me and the and the 336 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 1: money that they were making. I was making more money 337 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: working at a real estate company. But what pique my 338 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: interest was that, well, you know, it's not a lot 339 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: of women and it's not a lot of African Americans 340 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: on the job, so this would be a great opportunity 341 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: for you to be a part of it. That's what 342 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: kind of left me intrigued, because I was like, everybody 343 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: loves firefighters, right, like everybody thinks that's the greatest profession 344 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: in the world. But why isn't it that women aren't there? 345 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: And why is it their blacks aren't there. So that's 346 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: what made me like fill out the paper and say, okay, 347 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 1: well let me see what this is about. Then I 348 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: was groomed by the United Women Firefighters Association and the 349 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: Votal Society. And if it was not for them mentoring me, 350 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: and I mean, because I've never had a job where 351 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 1: people will call your house to make sure that you 352 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: took the tests that you studied, They trained you physically, 353 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: they kept telling you how much. They wanted you. They 354 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 1: were like, what are you doing, Come to the firehouse, 355 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 1: Come see what it's like. So they were trying to 356 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: bring me into this family and it was just an 357 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: amazing thing for me to experience. And the Vulcan Society 358 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: is a very esteemed organization for black and brown firefighters. Right. Yes, 359 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: the society is eighty two years old and it was 360 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: start by forty one firefighters. But the main person who 361 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: tried to get a everybody organized was Chief Wesley Williams. 362 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: When he came on the job, they had black beds, 363 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 1: were only the black firefighters because sleep in his bed 364 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: and it was mainly near the bathrooms. They had black forks, knives, plates, 365 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: and spoons, and it was such um separation that he 366 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: felt that this was unjust for all other blacks coming 367 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: on the job. So him and forty one other firefighters 368 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,719 Speaker 1: later on in the years formulated the Vocal Society, which 369 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: is the reason why I'm here today. I know that 370 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: representation has continued to slowly increase, but still I think 371 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 1: it's fair to say, Regina that women firefighters are still 372 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: um small and numbered. So what was it like for 373 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: you joining the department as a woman of color. So 374 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: coming into the academy, I was the only woman there. 375 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: It was over three hundred candidates coming on and it 376 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: was seven black people. So to come from a culture 377 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: of being surrounded by like minded people that look like you, 378 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: and then to come to a culture where I can't 379 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: even find estrogen in the room like it was, it 380 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 1: was difficult. Um. I remember crying a lot. I remember 381 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: going into my bathroom and put in prayer scriptures on 382 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: the on the glass that I can be able to 383 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 1: see every day how God would be inspiring me to 384 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 1: keep going forward. But I'm glad that I was brought 385 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: through that journey because I was the first African American 386 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: woman hired in fifteen years since the Brenda Berkman days, 387 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: my idol, so since the lawsuit, I was the first 388 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: black woman hired in fifteen years. So the weight of 389 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: that was already on my shoulders. But I knew that 390 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,479 Speaker 1: it needed to be done. And you reference Brenda Berkman, 391 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 1: who might also know who had the guts to sue 392 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 1: the fire department because of the way women and people 393 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: of color were discriminated against. You know, you did stick 394 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: it out, and I think about all that you and 395 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:16,360 Speaker 1: your fellow firefighters and so many others gave and displayed 396 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 1: on September eleventh, two thousand and one. Can you talk 397 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: me through what that day was like for you and 398 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 1: how did you even learn something had happened of such 399 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 1: a terrible magnitude. I actually was working the night before 400 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: and I got hired for the day tour. So I 401 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 1: went into the house watch and that's the area where 402 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: you come and like check in. But um, I actually 403 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:46,159 Speaker 1: got assigned to work in the truck. So I was 404 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 1: working across the floor in Latta one oh five. So 405 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: when I was checking a sheet, um, one of my 406 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: co workers, John Chapora, he saw him. He was like, hey, Reginea, 407 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 1: I see that you're working in the truck today. Do 408 00:25:57,280 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: you mind if I work in the truck? And I 409 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: was like no, like I'm working over time, like I'm 410 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,880 Speaker 1: I'm getting extra money. I don't care where I work. 411 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 1: But I knew that he had his paper in for 412 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 1: the truck, and so I was like, no, go ahead, 413 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: you know, not a problem. You know, I know you 414 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,159 Speaker 1: want to transfer over to go to the truck, so 415 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: get some truck experience, and I don't mind. So then 416 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 1: as I was starting to check the rig. I was 417 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: hearing the guys in the kitchen yelling, and I was like, oh, 418 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: oh my god, and I was like, what are they watching? 419 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 1: Like this is crazy, and I thought it was like 420 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: a television show, but then I knew that it wasn't 421 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 1: because I started to hear the news broadcaster speaking and 422 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 1: then I saw like the signature line underneath that a 423 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,959 Speaker 1: plane crashed into the building. And so we were just 424 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: trying to wrap our minds around this tragedy. And then 425 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 1: you were kind of like talking to each other and 426 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 1: then the tone alarms go off and they called for 427 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: the truck to respond to the trade center. So we 428 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: tried to help them, you know, get extra tools to 429 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 1: put on the truck, and then one on five left, 430 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: so we just waited. We just watched the TV and 431 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: was seeing everything that was going on, and then I 432 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: think it was probably about an hour. We got a 433 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 1: call for a suspicious package after that, and as we 434 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: were going to the suspisige package run, they took us 435 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 1: off that call and then we went into the battery 436 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:25,640 Speaker 1: tunnel and started to proceed to go into the chaos, 437 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 1: which was not eleven. So as you're on the truck 438 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,439 Speaker 1: on the rig, heading towards the World Trade Center. What 439 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 1: did you see? What was your impression? Initially, as you responded, 440 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 1: as we were going through the Brooklyn Battery tunnel, this 441 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,640 Speaker 1: large gush of wind came and it shook the engine. 442 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 1: It shook the engine so violently we had to stop. 443 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 1: I knew something was wrong because the engine holes five 444 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: gallons of water. How were you shaking five gallons of water? 445 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 1: But as we went forward, we saw this smoke, this 446 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 1: white smoke that looked like a blizzard. But then all 447 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: of these people started walking towards us that like looked 448 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 1: like zombies, and they had all this white dust on them, 449 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:15,439 Speaker 1: and that was because the building fell. They were coming 450 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: and walking towards our way. And I remember there was 451 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 1: a woman that was asthmatic, and I had to try 452 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: and take water and put it all over her face. 453 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:24,360 Speaker 1: But there was nothing that I could do for her. 454 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:28,679 Speaker 1: So we we pulled the rig up down Water Street 455 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,359 Speaker 1: and then we started to walk towards the buildings. But 456 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: as we were walking towards the buildings, I remember on 457 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 1: my radio hearing we're under attack, We're under attack, and 458 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: then I heard like this swooping sound. My boss said, run, run, run, 459 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: so we ran back towards the engine, and when I 460 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: turned around to look at what was happening, there was 461 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: this big black smoke that was following us from that point. 462 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: I put on my mask real quick, and then I 463 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:06,479 Speaker 1: remember this smoke just covered all of us, and I 464 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: was just sitting there thinking like, oh my god, what's 465 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: gonna happen. What's gonna happen to me? I didn't know 466 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 1: what was going on. And then I saw that the 467 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: smoke was starting to pass, and so I said, okay, 468 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: I made it out of that. And so our officer 469 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 1: grabbed us up again and we started to proceed forward 470 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 1: with the with the vehicle, but we couldn't move anymore 471 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: because a lot of the vehicles were abandoned. As we 472 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: were walking, we just seen all of these cars on fires. 473 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: We saw buildings on fires. The hydrants weren't working, so 474 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: we had to collect holes from all of the abandoned 475 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 1: engines and draft the water from the river. It was 476 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: a crazy day to think out of the box and 477 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 1: figure out how to deal with the situations and what 478 00:29:56,600 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 1: happened to that first truck and with the firefighter who said, hey, 479 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 1: will you switch with me so I can get on 480 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:09,720 Speaker 1: that truck. Yeah, everyone in Lot one oh five died 481 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: that day and John's body was never found. They have 482 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: a picture of one oh five going across the Brooklyn 483 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 1: Bridge as the Trade Center was on fire. So knowing 484 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: and seeing the sacrifices of people going to that building, 485 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: not knowing how or what they were getting themselves into. 486 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: Um they still went, you know. And UM watching some 487 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 1: of these specials and you're seeing the firefighters walk in 488 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: the lobby of the building, knowing with fate they were 489 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:48,320 Speaker 1: going to meet. It's just devastating. I remember making a 490 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: phone call when I got on the scene. I called 491 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 1: my nephew's grandmother because her number is the only one 492 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: I can remember, to tell them to let my family 493 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 1: know that I'm okay right now, and if anything happened 494 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 1: to me, just tell them I died, loving what I'm doing, 495 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,959 Speaker 1: and for them not to worry about me. And then 496 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: I remember when I hung up the phone, I was 497 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: resolved and like a piece and a calmness came over me. 498 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 1: And then after that point, I just got to work 499 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: and I just needed to work until I couldn't work anymore. 500 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: And that's what you did. Absolutely. Do you remember when 501 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: you finally left the scene. Yes, I I left and 502 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 1: we got back about eleven thirty midnight to the firehouse. 503 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 1: And this is why I love people and why I 504 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: love doing my job, because when we got back to 505 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 1: the firehouse, all of the neighbors. When in the firehouse, 506 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 1: they brought us food, They gave us hugs, a change 507 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 1: of clothes if we needed it. You know, they were 508 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: giving me bobby pins and brushing my hair, and they 509 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,320 Speaker 1: just wanted to take care of us, you know. And 510 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 1: to know that people love you as much as you 511 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: love them, like it made all the difference in the 512 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: world to me, and it made me really want to 513 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 1: keep going back and keep serving the public. And like 514 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: I get emotional just thinking about it, because when people 515 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: don't feel loved, I don't understand it. When you have 516 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 1: e M t s and police officers and firefighters who 517 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: don't know you right and they want to rest their 518 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: life to save you. And it's weird because some of 519 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: these people hold these weird views of religion and people's 520 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: races and color, and it's crazy on the fireside that 521 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 1: they would have such disagreements about women and people of color, 522 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 1: but they would go and sacrifice their lives to go 523 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: and save one. So I just wish like the craziness 524 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:01,840 Speaker 1: of the thought of Hay would just leave people's minds 525 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: and just everybody just love each other, because there's so 526 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: much more fulfilling to love people then say it is. 527 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:15,840 Speaker 1: It's and it's empowering and it's energizing and it makes 528 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:19,840 Speaker 1: for a better life. Absolutely. You know, I will never 529 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 1: forget going to Ground zero the day after, and the 530 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:28,720 Speaker 1: air was so thick and acrid, and you literally could 531 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: see everything from the collapsed buildings filling the air and 532 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:38,920 Speaker 1: by extension, filling your lungs, and you know, I I 533 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: was told to wear a face mask, and it was 534 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 1: immediately clear to me that despite what was being claimed, Uh, 535 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,239 Speaker 1: the air was not safe to breathe. And part of 536 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 1: my work then going forward for years as a senator 537 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,960 Speaker 1: was to try to focus on the health impact for 538 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 1: survivors and first responders, workers and residents. Did you suffer 539 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 1: any health complications following your work at Ground Zero? Uh? 540 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 1: The only thing that I've experienced is like nasal drip, 541 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:16,279 Speaker 1: you know. But what I'm concerned about is, even though 542 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 1: it's the twenty anniversary, like I still don't know what 543 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 1: could possibly go on with my body, and the fact 544 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:28,760 Speaker 1: that there's so few studies on women in the fire 545 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: service and the effect that cancers or fires have to 546 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:36,600 Speaker 1: our bodies, you know, figuring out what happens with us 547 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: giving birth or our uteruses or anything like that, Like 548 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:43,200 Speaker 1: they're so afraid to touch that. That is definitely a 549 00:34:43,200 --> 00:34:46,920 Speaker 1: big concerned amone, especially being in the ceremonial unit and 550 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,719 Speaker 1: having to attend the depths of people World Trade Center 551 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:55,319 Speaker 1: related illnesses and how we're probably going to meet and 552 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:59,040 Speaker 1: surpass the number of firefighters that died on the day 553 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:01,960 Speaker 1: of September eleven with the number of people that die 554 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 1: from Wheelchace Center related illnesses. You said earlier that this 555 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:10,399 Speaker 1: is a week of lots of reminders because we are 556 00:35:11,560 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 1: approaching the twenty anniversary of nine eleven. Does this year 557 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:21,919 Speaker 1: anniversary feel different compared to the previous years that we've 558 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:26,880 Speaker 1: all gone through. Yeah, it definitely does, because there's a 559 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:32,160 Speaker 1: lot more going on and happening ceremonies across the city. 560 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:35,879 Speaker 1: But I just think it's good and bad. Right. It's 561 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:40,480 Speaker 1: good because you know, I'm started to see some of 562 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 1: the families coming out, Some of the firefighters sons are 563 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:50,319 Speaker 1: now firefighters on a job and getting together every year 564 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:53,360 Speaker 1: is always a blessing for me to be able to 565 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 1: see the people that I used to work with that 566 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:58,160 Speaker 1: may no longer be on the job, or their families 567 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:01,720 Speaker 1: or the kids of the members. That is always something 568 00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 1: that I hold dear. But it's always a time that 569 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:07,799 Speaker 1: brings you back and sobers you up in it. To me, 570 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:11,840 Speaker 1: it's just a gloomy day, but um as a city, 571 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:14,719 Speaker 1: we gather together and deal with it. That's why I'm 572 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:19,040 Speaker 1: so proud of my city. Right. You know, we're remembering 573 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:23,760 Speaker 1: a very terrible time twenty years ago. But the best 574 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:29,000 Speaker 1: way to be a living rebuke to what happened on 575 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 1: nine eleven is to serve others, to love others, to 576 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 1: reach out and lift up others. And that's what you've done. 577 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,520 Speaker 1: You've done that over those twenty two years. You will 578 00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 1: continue to do that. Thank you so very much for 579 00:36:45,239 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 1: everything you are doing and will continue to do. I'm 580 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:50,960 Speaker 1: very grateful. Well, thank you too. It's been an honor 581 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,520 Speaker 1: and a blessing to talk to you, and I'm so 582 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:56,640 Speaker 1: excited to be able to be here and have this conversation. 583 00:36:56,760 --> 00:36:59,840 Speaker 1: It's a dream for me, So I thank you so much. 584 00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 1: Regina tells me that, along with all the other things 585 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 1: on her plate, she is thinking of running for office 586 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 1: sometime in the future. I mentioned at the beginning of 587 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:18,320 Speaker 1: my conversation with Regina that she has a beautiful singing voice, 588 00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:21,759 Speaker 1: but don't take my word for it. Here she is 589 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:26,360 Speaker 1: three years ago, on the anniversary of nine eleven, performing 590 00:37:26,440 --> 00:37:31,919 Speaker 1: God Bless America at a Mets game to the Shaw 591 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:57,440 Speaker 1: Why Bless so may call by sweet by co Bye. 592 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,800 Speaker 1: My final guest today is Jay Winnick. Jay was also 593 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:15,680 Speaker 1: my guest at the State of the Union address in 594 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:19,040 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight when I was still the Senator 595 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:23,400 Speaker 1: from New York. Jay lost his brother Glenn on nine eleven, 596 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:26,160 Speaker 1: and when Jay and some friends came up with the 597 00:38:26,239 --> 00:38:30,080 Speaker 1: idea of a nine eleven Day of service, I supported 598 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,840 Speaker 1: their effort, both as a Senator but really as a 599 00:38:33,960 --> 00:38:39,280 Speaker 1: fellow American. Jay is a public relations professional, but he's 600 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:43,640 Speaker 1: dedicated the past twenty years to trying to make something 601 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:46,880 Speaker 1: good and positive come out of all the pain and 602 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:51,120 Speaker 1: loss and grief that his family and so many other 603 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:56,759 Speaker 1: families experienced after nine eleven. You know, Jay, it's been 604 00:38:57,120 --> 00:39:01,880 Speaker 1: a great gift for me to be able to follow 605 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,160 Speaker 1: and support the work that you've done over the last 606 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:09,160 Speaker 1: two decades. You took the tragedy of the loss of 607 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:14,480 Speaker 1: your brother and turned it into an opportunity for people 608 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:18,400 Speaker 1: to give back and to be of service. Could you, 609 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:20,720 Speaker 1: first of all talk a little bit about your brother 610 00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 1: and describe his heroic efforts on that day. Yes, thank you. 611 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 1: As you well know, Glenn was a partner at the 612 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:35,280 Speaker 1: law firm Holland to Night. Their offices were located at 613 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:40,000 Speaker 1: the Broadway Building, which was situated just a couple of 614 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:43,520 Speaker 1: blocks from the Trade Center. Glenn for twenty years was 615 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:47,279 Speaker 1: a volunteer firefighter in our hometown on Long Island, and 616 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:50,560 Speaker 1: he had first time served as the fire commissioner in 617 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:54,480 Speaker 1: that fire district. He was specially certified in building collaps 618 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:58,399 Speaker 1: rescue training. That morning, Glenn was in his apartment when 619 00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:02,440 Speaker 1: the first plane hit. He raced downtown. He helped evacuate 620 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:06,080 Speaker 1: the Holland the Night law offices, and then borrowed a 621 00:40:06,280 --> 00:40:09,719 Speaker 1: first responder medic beg from responders on the scene and 622 00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:12,799 Speaker 1: his building, and he raced into the South tower on 623 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:17,120 Speaker 1: foot to save lives and perished when the South tower collapsed. 624 00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:22,960 Speaker 1: His partial remains were recovered March two thousand two, surgical 625 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:27,239 Speaker 1: gloves on his hands, stethoscope on his person, medic beg 626 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 1: by his side, in likely what had been the lobby 627 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:34,960 Speaker 1: area of the South Tower. That's as best we know 628 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:40,360 Speaker 1: about his actions that morning. I know what a tremendous 629 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:44,880 Speaker 1: loss that was to you and your family, and I 630 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:49,239 Speaker 1: also know many family members were so devastated by their 631 00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:52,960 Speaker 1: loss and their grief that it took a long time 632 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:57,440 Speaker 1: for them to gain their footing again at all. But 633 00:40:57,520 --> 00:41:02,680 Speaker 1: it wasn't too long after you found Glenn and you 634 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:06,040 Speaker 1: began to think about, how do you make something good, 635 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:11,160 Speaker 1: something positive out of this terrible catastrophe. How did that 636 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:16,040 Speaker 1: thinking evolve for you? J Well. A good friend and 637 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:20,000 Speaker 1: colleague named David Payne, who lived three thousand miles away 638 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:24,440 Speaker 1: in California but was a New Yorker, originally called me 639 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:27,919 Speaker 1: soon after the attacks. Here he was this New Yorker 640 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:30,640 Speaker 1: in California, witnessing what was happening in New York, but 641 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:33,680 Speaker 1: really witnessing what was happening all over the country, people 642 00:41:33,719 --> 00:41:37,680 Speaker 1: stepping forward with acts of kindness to do whatever they 643 00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:40,319 Speaker 1: could in the aftermath at the attacks. And David called me, 644 00:41:40,360 --> 00:41:43,560 Speaker 1: and he said look, you're the only nine eleven family member. 645 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:46,080 Speaker 1: I know I feel terrible about your brother, but I 646 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:49,640 Speaker 1: have this idea about trying to create a ritual in 647 00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:53,000 Speaker 1: this country where each nine eleven people do good deeds. 648 00:41:53,640 --> 00:41:56,400 Speaker 1: And I thought, you know, that really makes sense to me. 649 00:41:56,560 --> 00:41:59,319 Speaker 1: Glenn was somebody who lived his life in service and 650 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:02,600 Speaker 1: died in so of us. When David first called me, 651 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:06,719 Speaker 1: my family was still reeling, as so many families as 652 00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:09,040 Speaker 1: you well know where. I said to David, let me 653 00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:11,040 Speaker 1: think about your idea. I have a lot on my 654 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:12,920 Speaker 1: plate right now. I'll get back with you. And I 655 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:14,920 Speaker 1: did you know some weeks later and I said, you 656 00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:17,719 Speaker 1: know what, I'm ready. Let's do this. Let's see what 657 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:21,000 Speaker 1: we can get going here. We had no staff, we 658 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:24,960 Speaker 1: had no budget, we had no plan. But you know, 659 00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:27,640 Speaker 1: we were a couple of public relations professionals. We knew 660 00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:30,480 Speaker 1: how to get the word out and it was important 661 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:34,720 Speaker 1: to both of us to try and make something good happen. 662 00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:39,080 Speaker 1: From this day, we felt like if in the future 663 00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:42,160 Speaker 1: people only learned about the attacks and they did not 664 00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:46,520 Speaker 1: have a good understanding about the way the world came together, 665 00:42:47,120 --> 00:42:52,319 Speaker 1: focusing on our common humanity, embracing our differences, then we 666 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:55,640 Speaker 1: will have lost an opportunity. And so one of the 667 00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:58,560 Speaker 1: first things we did was we arranged to meet with 668 00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:02,480 Speaker 1: the leaders of all the different nine eleven organizations and 669 00:43:03,719 --> 00:43:06,479 Speaker 1: trying to get a sense from them did they feel 670 00:43:06,520 --> 00:43:08,879 Speaker 1: like this was a good idea to create a day 671 00:43:08,920 --> 00:43:12,480 Speaker 1: of service in honor of those who perished or who 672 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:16,919 Speaker 1: were injured. And universally everybody we spoke with within nine 673 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:19,760 Speaker 1: eleven community was receptive to it, and they thought, yes, 674 00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:22,680 Speaker 1: as difficult as things are right now, this is a 675 00:43:22,719 --> 00:43:25,480 Speaker 1: good path forward for the future as it relates to 676 00:43:25,600 --> 00:43:28,439 Speaker 1: nine eleven. And so we were often running and here 677 00:43:28,440 --> 00:43:31,000 Speaker 1: we are twenty years later, still at it. And so 678 00:43:31,440 --> 00:43:35,040 Speaker 1: this initiative, with the help of so many people, including yourself, 679 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:39,880 Speaker 1: has grown into the nation's largest annual day of charitable engagement. 680 00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:42,560 Speaker 1: Between twenty and thirty million people a year marked the 681 00:43:42,680 --> 00:43:46,319 Speaker 1: day by doing good deeds for others. And that is 682 00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:50,480 Speaker 1: such a great tribute to your leadership and really to 683 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:55,320 Speaker 1: the mission. Have you found that by talking about Glenn 684 00:43:55,680 --> 00:43:58,480 Speaker 1: and the loss that represented to you and your family 685 00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:02,080 Speaker 1: and linking that to service, that you're able to help 686 00:44:02,160 --> 00:44:05,719 Speaker 1: people who also have suffered loss and are looking for 687 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:10,319 Speaker 1: some kind of positive path forward. Yes, you know. On 688 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:12,920 Speaker 1: one hand, I have a front row see because of 689 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:15,279 Speaker 1: the work I do in this initiative to see the 690 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:21,000 Speaker 1: most amazing outpouring of generosity by people who participate. On 691 00:44:21,040 --> 00:44:23,320 Speaker 1: the other hand, I also hear from a lot of people, 692 00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:24,719 Speaker 1: and meet with a lot of people and speak a 693 00:44:24,760 --> 00:44:29,399 Speaker 1: lot of people who have also suffered loss, and they 694 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:33,960 Speaker 1: express great appreciation that something like this observance exists. We 695 00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:36,240 Speaker 1: have a board member who was a nine eleven family 696 00:44:36,280 --> 00:44:41,080 Speaker 1: member who lost her husband, and she says this observance 697 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:44,480 Speaker 1: now gives her a safe and positive place to be 698 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:47,759 Speaker 1: on nine eleven. But it's not just about people who 699 00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:50,600 Speaker 1: are affected by nine eleven. You know, as we all know, 700 00:44:51,360 --> 00:44:54,759 Speaker 1: people suffer great tragedy in their life. But if if 701 00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:58,200 Speaker 1: this observance also gives them hope, then we have accomplished something. 702 00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:01,399 Speaker 1: And I know that we have because I hear from 703 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:05,279 Speaker 1: them all the time. As we approached the twentieth anniversary, 704 00:45:05,320 --> 00:45:08,200 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, but it seems a little surreal. 705 00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:11,520 Speaker 1: It felt like it happened yesterday. But I meet young 706 00:45:11,560 --> 00:45:15,200 Speaker 1: adults all the time who weren't born then don't fully 707 00:45:15,360 --> 00:45:18,200 Speaker 1: grasp the impact that it had on those of us 708 00:45:18,239 --> 00:45:23,319 Speaker 1: who experienced it. So what are your specific plans for 709 00:45:23,360 --> 00:45:26,600 Speaker 1: this year and how do you intend to try to 710 00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:32,480 Speaker 1: reach out, educate and involve young people as well well. 711 00:45:32,520 --> 00:45:34,200 Speaker 1: We have a number of plans in place. As you 712 00:45:34,239 --> 00:45:38,440 Speaker 1: might imagine, I mean a major milestone. We are again 713 00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:41,640 Speaker 1: staging large scale meal packs and cities all over the 714 00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:47,239 Speaker 1: country where thousands and thousands of volunteers come together and 715 00:45:47,239 --> 00:45:51,600 Speaker 1: they packed nonperishable, dry good meals that are then donated 716 00:45:51,680 --> 00:45:56,480 Speaker 1: through Feeding American food banks in those cities. We're partnering 717 00:45:56,520 --> 00:45:59,560 Speaker 1: with World Central Kitchen again as we did last year. 718 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:03,359 Speaker 1: I love them, raising the money to purchase meals from 719 00:46:03,440 --> 00:46:07,560 Speaker 1: independently owned restaurants and cities around the country, restaurants that 720 00:46:07,600 --> 00:46:10,560 Speaker 1: have really been hit hard by the pandemic, so it 721 00:46:10,640 --> 00:46:13,520 Speaker 1: helps them, and then those ready to go meals are 722 00:46:13,640 --> 00:46:17,399 Speaker 1: donated to healthcare workers and first responders. There's a way 723 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:19,640 Speaker 1: to say thank you for doing what you do to 724 00:46:19,680 --> 00:46:21,920 Speaker 1: be on the front line to keep us safe. We 725 00:46:21,960 --> 00:46:25,520 Speaker 1: have an education program in the schools UH and we 726 00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:29,400 Speaker 1: provide free lesson plans downloadable lesson plans on our website 727 00:46:29,440 --> 00:46:32,480 Speaker 1: for teachers to use so they can engage students. Nine 728 00:46:32,520 --> 00:46:36,120 Speaker 1: eleven day dot org and there they will find opportunities 729 00:46:36,120 --> 00:46:39,840 Speaker 1: to volunteer in so many different ways. We're launching a 730 00:46:39,960 --> 00:46:45,319 Speaker 1: national ps A campaign that is very unusual in that 731 00:46:45,360 --> 00:46:49,680 Speaker 1: we've brought together more than twenty people from a cross 732 00:46:49,680 --> 00:46:54,120 Speaker 1: section of the nine eleven community to together deliver a 733 00:46:54,200 --> 00:46:59,000 Speaker 1: message that we are stronger together than we are divided. Yes, 734 00:46:59,719 --> 00:47:03,920 Speaker 1: and as you know, well, Secretary Clinton, nine eleven did 735 00:47:04,040 --> 00:47:09,040 Speaker 1: affect just Republicans, just Democrats, just people on the East Coast. 736 00:47:09,400 --> 00:47:13,560 Speaker 1: It affected everybody. That's right. We were all Americans, and 737 00:47:13,600 --> 00:47:16,080 Speaker 1: we were a global community to you know. Of course, 738 00:47:16,120 --> 00:47:18,960 Speaker 1: people from more than ninety countries perished on nine eleven, 739 00:47:19,239 --> 00:47:22,840 Speaker 1: and the world responded together. So when we think about 740 00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:25,759 Speaker 1: the things that typically divide us, you know, all of 741 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:28,719 Speaker 1: that pales in comparison to what happens when we come 742 00:47:28,719 --> 00:47:32,839 Speaker 1: together to tackle challenges. And as you reference earlier, we 743 00:47:32,920 --> 00:47:36,280 Speaker 1: need that so much. I feel like saying amen, thank 744 00:47:36,320 --> 00:47:40,840 Speaker 1: you for that. No, seriously, it it is the message 745 00:47:40,880 --> 00:47:44,719 Speaker 1: we are stronger together. We have to start taking care 746 00:47:44,719 --> 00:47:48,319 Speaker 1: of each other. We do need to learn more emphathy, 747 00:47:48,760 --> 00:47:52,839 Speaker 1: practice more kindness and service. And some people I know 748 00:47:53,560 --> 00:47:57,720 Speaker 1: might hear us talking, oh wow, you know so Pollyannish, 749 00:47:57,800 --> 00:48:01,640 Speaker 1: so they have no idea how life changing it is 750 00:48:02,239 --> 00:48:06,240 Speaker 1: to actually serve somebody else. I mean, that's the great lesson. 751 00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:09,719 Speaker 1: You can lift yourself out of grief and loss and 752 00:48:10,520 --> 00:48:15,680 Speaker 1: even anger and confusion by going out and helping somebody else. 753 00:48:15,920 --> 00:48:20,480 Speaker 1: That's the beauty, that's the real message of everything you've 754 00:48:20,480 --> 00:48:24,920 Speaker 1: been doing for twenty years. Well, you articulated it very well. 755 00:48:25,680 --> 00:48:29,080 Speaker 1: I can't thank you enough. J. You know, losing your 756 00:48:29,080 --> 00:48:34,239 Speaker 1: brother Glenn as he ran toward helping people and then 757 00:48:34,440 --> 00:48:38,080 Speaker 1: was lost in the collapse of the South Tower was 758 00:48:38,160 --> 00:48:43,319 Speaker 1: such a devastating experience for your entire family. And the 759 00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:48,160 Speaker 1: way that you have summoned the best of us, called 760 00:48:48,280 --> 00:48:51,719 Speaker 1: us to service, called us to kindness. It's one of 761 00:48:51,719 --> 00:48:57,040 Speaker 1: the lasting legacies of not eleven and I am incredibly 762 00:48:57,040 --> 00:49:01,320 Speaker 1: grateful for your leadership and your example. Thank you, my friend, Well, 763 00:49:01,360 --> 00:49:07,360 Speaker 1: I thank you. As Jay mentioned, you can find out 764 00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:11,560 Speaker 1: more about the September eleventh National Day of Service and 765 00:49:11,640 --> 00:49:16,120 Speaker 1: Remembrance and how you can get involved at nine eleven 766 00:49:16,239 --> 00:49:23,520 Speaker 1: day dot org. As we mark this milestone twenty anniversary, 767 00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:29,000 Speaker 1: I'll be thinking about Debbie, Regina, Jay and the countless 768 00:49:29,120 --> 00:49:33,960 Speaker 1: other people I've met who were directly impacted by nine eleven. 769 00:49:34,719 --> 00:49:38,640 Speaker 1: I'll also be thinking about our country and the challenges 770 00:49:38,760 --> 00:49:43,240 Speaker 1: we've overcome, as well as the ones that still lie ahead. 771 00:49:44,160 --> 00:49:48,080 Speaker 1: And I'll be thinking about how this terrible tragedy inspired 772 00:49:48,280 --> 00:49:53,319 Speaker 1: incredible acts of heroism and service, giving rise to a 773 00:49:53,440 --> 00:49:59,279 Speaker 1: remarkable moment of national unity. Oh. I so hope that 774 00:49:59,480 --> 00:50:04,000 Speaker 1: as we mark twenty years since nine eleven, we will 775 00:50:04,080 --> 00:50:08,719 Speaker 1: be reminded to carry some of that same spirit of 776 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:14,040 Speaker 1: unity with us as we moved together into the future. 777 00:50:17,760 --> 00:50:20,000 Speaker 1: You and Me Both is brought to you by I 778 00:50:20,200 --> 00:50:25,400 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. We're produced by Julie Subran, Kathleen Russo and 779 00:50:25,600 --> 00:50:30,120 Speaker 1: Rob Russo. No relation, but they're both terrific and with 780 00:50:30,160 --> 00:50:35,040 Speaker 1: help from Juma Aberdeen, Oscar Flores, Lindsay Hoffman, Bree Henshaw, 781 00:50:35,320 --> 00:50:40,680 Speaker 1: Brianna Johnson, Nick Merrill, and Lona Velmorrow. Our engineer is 782 00:50:40,760 --> 00:50:45,440 Speaker 1: Zack McNeice, and the original music is by Forrest Gray. 783 00:50:46,040 --> 00:50:50,400 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me for this special episode. I 784 00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:54,120 Speaker 1: wish you and your loved ones all the best, and 785 00:50:54,280 --> 00:50:57,440 Speaker 1: I can't wait to come back to our weekly schedule 786 00:50:57,640 --> 00:50:59,879 Speaker 1: starting in twenty two