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It was nearly impossible to remain unemotional during Thursday's program "Remember 9/11: An Evening of Recognition and Honor." The event was an uplifting experience patriotically, in support of area police, fire and rescue personnel and spiritually.
John Teevan, pastor of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, introduced guest speaker Sujo John. This was the 83rd city John has visited in the past year, sharing his experiences and faith.
John was born and raised in a middle-class Christian family in Calcutta, India. He first experienced tragedy when his only sister, Elizabeth, died at the age of 7.
He and Mary were married in Calcutta Jan. 27, 2000, and moved to the United States Feb. 22, 2001. Sujo worked for Network Plus on the 81st floor of the World Trade Center North Tower. Mary found work on the 71st floor of the South Tower.
At about 8:45 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, John heard a loud explosion and the building started to shake and tilt. He and the others with him had no idea what had happened, at first thinking it was a bomb, then learning it was an airplane that flew into the floors directly above his offices. He had no idea which building had been hit and his heart sank as he thought of his wife in the other tower.
Soon debris from the plane flew into the office and everything started going up in flames. Everyone started making their way to the stairway for evacuation. John was unable to reach his wife or anyone else on his cell phone. He slipped into an office on the 53rd floor and was able to reach his cousin's wife in Queens.
As he kept going down the stairwell, his concern escalated over the well-being of his wife, who was four months pregnant with their first child.
While John descended the stairs, there were hundreds of firefighters and police officers going up the stairs to rescue those who were trapped. Those men never made it home.
As John reached the revolving door of the building, he heard a loud explosion and the whole building collapsed. All 110 stories of the second tower of the World Trace Center collapsed upon those standing at the foot of the building.
Although John was untouched by falling debris, he found himself standing in 3 feet of white soot and surrounded by silence. He could see dead bodies all around when he spotted a man with a flashlight, who turned out to be with the FBI. He revived the man, and a flashing light on top of a badly damaged ambulance showed the way out of the rubble.
The FBI man with the flashlight chose to return to the building in hopes of rescuing others. He did not return.
Although John was safe, he still did not know the fate of his wife. Crowds started running from all over downtown to safer places farther away from the WTC. Finally, at noon, his cell phone rang. It was his wife, telling him that she was alive. She had not made it to work, as her train had reached the World Trade Center subway stop five minutes after the first crash. She had been hysterical thinking Sujo was dead.
He met up with his wife on 39th Street, near the ferry. They looked back to see only a pile of smoking rubble and ashes. The relief that they were alive was almost more than they could bear, he said.
Today Sujo and Mary and their 6-month-old son live in New Jersey, where they lived before the tragedy. His wife is still with the same employer, whose offices moved to New Jersey. As a result of these experiences, Sujo was called to share his faith through telling of his survival of the WTC attacks. He quit his regular job in June and now speaks independently to interdenominational groups throughout the United States.
At a news conference Wednesday, John said, "The government, and especially nonprofit organizations, are doing an excellent job of supporting the survivors of 9/11." He said his son is a "beautiful child" and he is not overly concerned about his safety, as "God is there to watch over him."
Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church and Dave Rank, associate pastor, put this program together
The early portion of the program carried a patriotic theme throughout and recognized those who serve our community and the country. Sujo John, World Trade Center survivor, followed, dynamically telling of his experiences of Sept. 11, 2001, and how that day has changed his life.
The Warsaw Community High School Band played patriotic songs as people were being seated. Dr. Jennifer Brumfield, WCHS principal, welcomed the general community. Dr. Ron Manahan, Grace College president, addressed special guests, which included Warsaw Police and Fire departments, Winona Lake Police and Fire, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police, Multi-Township EMS, the Red Cross and Salvation Army, and spokesmen for Sen. Evan Bayh and Rep. Mark Souder.
"Freedom" featuring video and sound recordings and live readings of President Bush and Billy Graham at the 9/11 national memorial service, was followed by a video and vocal presentation of "God Bless America" by a local trio and the combined choir, comprising the Wawasee Select Choir and representatives of Winona Lake and Community Grace Brethren churches and other church choirs. The male quartet sang the national anthem a cappella.
The audience was asked to join in singing many songs with the words displayed on a large screen. A special salute was given to Armed Forces personnel by Army Chaplain Col. John Schumacher as everyone sang the "Armed Forces Medley." All present - former military personnel and families of those who have served - were recognized as their branch of service was mentioned in the song.
A standing ovation (one of many throughout the evening) was given to the family of the late Warsaw firefighter Jon Evans and "Taps" was played.
Schumacher expressed gratitude for those who gave their lives to protect, guard and preserve our freedom following the salute to our fallen heroes.
A soloist and the choir presented "His Truth Marches On" against a backdrop of pictures of Sept. 11, 2001.
Watch the Times-Union for details on special events planned for Wednesday, the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
