911 Reflection by Rich Hayes

9/11/2001 and Father Francis Grogan

It was early morning on September 11^th, 2001, as I entered our Osco Drug Kansas City district office for a Central Region District Manager meeting.  We had these meetings usually about 4 times a year and I always looked forward to getting together.  The mood was light as we gathered in the front office shaking hands with co-workers and telling stories of travels to KC from several Midwest and Eastern Region locations.  It’s always good to see my fellow District Managers and coworkers where we get a chance to share ideas and re-energize our team.

Laid out on a table were the usual fresh aroma of coffee and donuts provided by our great administrative support staff.  This time, as we gathered in the front office area, we noticed something different as our admin staff was gathered around a small 12 inch black and white TV that seemed to be showing a building on fire.  We asked what was happening on that TV as we all started to gather around much closer.  We were told of a tragedy that a plane crashed into one of the two twin tower buildings in New York City and the top floors of the building were engulfed in flames.  The room got extremely quiet as we listened carefully to the live TV broadcast wondering what happened.  As reporters were doing their best to give us information, there just weren’t enough facts to understand how this happened so speculation was on everyone’s mind.  Just then the TV showed another plane ripping into the second twin tower building toward the top floors just like the other plane, and at that point we all knew that this wasn’t an aviator plane malfunction or a pilot error.  We knew the USA was under attack and in an instant, we knew life was likely changing right before our eyes, we just didn’t know how.

Our leader quickly assessed the situation and decided to cancel the meeting and told everyone to make arraignments to get back home safely.  Immediately all planes across the United States were grounded and a no-fly rule was in effect.  One of my coworkers flew from New Hampshire to attend his first Central Region meeting in KC.  I knew him well as I worked in the Eastern Region with him for several years in the past.  I offered to let him stay at my house as I was sure the no-fly rule would be lifted in a day or two.  He thanked me for the offer but decided to rent a car and drive back home.  Luckily he was able to get a vehicle, as all rental cars across America were booked as weary travelers scrambled to find their way home.  Not only rental cars but several stories of cars on dealership lots were also purchased to get folks back to their homes.  Luckily, he made it home as the no-fly rule was in effect for a while.   

Life was certainly changed that day as we learned 2 other planes were used in attacks that same September morning, one that crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the second plane that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania where we later learned of the heroic passengers on board that flight who fought to take back control of the plane that they knew was destined for a building just like the other 3 planes.  The passengers learned this based on cell phone calls from their loved ones who shared what happened to the twin towers in New York City and in the pentagon in Washington DC. 

Yes, life has changed in many ways since 9/11 especially around airport flying with much tighter security measures put in place and to this day there seems to be less non-stop direct flights available.

I think for me the biggest change was the feeling we are more vulnerable than I thought.  Our sense of security was shaken to the core and although shaken we march on!

Sometimes when you see tragic events on TV in a place far from where you live, you get the sense it can’t happen where you are.  Well, we all know that’s not necessarily true.  But for some reason the 25-year anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy where thousands lost their live has me writing about the event not to scare or educate anyone, but just for my peace of mind.

That brings me to Father Francis Grogan, a catholic priest from my hometown of Pittsfield Massachusetts where me and my wife were born.  Father Grogan was my mother-in-law’s cousin.  He was a passenger onboard one of the 2 planes that crashed into the twin towers in NYC.  I didn’t know Father Grogan personally, but I have said several prayers for him at the Kansas City 9/11 memorial where his name is engraved along with all the others who were on those tragic flights.  Yes, sometimes tragic events are far away in distance, but can be closer than you think.