In aftermath of terrorist attacks, a time for reckoning for America

Emily M. Smith
ASME NEWS

Two months after terrorists hijacked four planes, crashed them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, the struggle to make any sense of a day in which more than 5,000 people died continues.

ASME's membership database shows that nearly 30 members are employed by companies that had offices in the World Trade Center. Most of them are employed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The others work for the American Bureau of Shipping, Aon Risk Consultants, Frederk R. Harris, Dean Witter, Seabury & Smith Inc. and the Washington Group.

At least three of those members are among the thousands of people who remain missing and are presumed dead in the World Trade Center attack.

Seven ASME members work at the Pentagon in the Defense Department and for the U.S. Navy. All of those members survived.

On the morning of Sept. 11, most of these ASME members had arrived at work or were on their way when the terrorist-piloted planes struck.

Also struck by an airliner on Sept. 11 was the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Engineers have been working tirelessly since then to repair damage and recover the missing. No ASME members are missing in this attack.

They were among the thousands who rushed to help, doing tasks that they considered simply necessary at the time, but quickly became heroic to the millions in America and around the world who were unable to assist.

They were among the hundreds who participated in the rescue efforts in the weeks that immediately followed America's tragedy. Looking for family members. Looking for friends and co-workers. Hoping to find survivors.

They are among the hundreds who remain at the sites supporting the recovery efforts in any capacity possible, and thinking about the future.

Below you can find a few of their stories.

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