Speaking at the community’s annual September 11 remembrance ceremony outside Milton High, survivor Beth Zampieri on Thursday recounted her harrowing experience and urged others to do what she’s done to cope – proactively thanking First Responders who bravely risk it all to help others, as she saw firsthand on that day.

Zampieri recalled excitedly coming early to work that day in 2001, the then 24-year-old’s third day of her new job, on the 51st floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. She sent emails and decorated her window cubicle, which on that clear sunny day overlooked the Brooklyn Bridge.

Until 8:46 a.m., when the tower shook.

As massive pieces of the building fell toward the ground, Zampieri joined others in slowly descending a crowded stairwell. She recalled the overwhelming smell of gasoline (from the crashed plane), as well as her hands and body shaking. But Zampieri kept going.

“There was one way out,” she said, “and it was down.”

Around the 20th floor, the stairwell fell silent as firefighters passed going the opposite way – up, intent on extinguishing the fire. Zampieri remembered then that “if they could get in, I could get out.”

By the time she reached the ground level, Zampieri followed instructions not to look up – where people were jumping from the towers – but “to just run.” She managed to contact her parents in Minnesota and make her way to her East Village apartment. And in some ways over the coming weeks, she resumed her life. 

Yet the psychological impacts from that day, namely post-traumatic stress disorder, stayed with her. Zampieri said 9/11 hit differently when her family moved south to Georgia (settling in Alpharetta), without others around with similar experiences as was commonplace in the New York area.

About eight years ago, she and her family began a 9/11 tradition of going to local fire and police stations to show appreciation for First Responders – a practice that Zampieri said has significantly helped her own healing.

“I don’t believe I was saved for a reason, but I do have a responsibility,” Zampieri said Thursday.

Zampieri closed her remarks with a challenge to attendees: find a police officer, firefighter, or other First Responder, look them in the eye and shake their hand, and thank them.

After all, harkening back to her own 9/11 experience, she said, “They run into the buildings so we can run out.”

SPEAKERS CALL FOR RENEWAL, KINDNESS, UNITY

Zampieri’s remarks came near the end of a solemn ceremony that took place outside Milton High School on a beautiful September day under mostly sunny skies except for wisps of clouds. 

 

Visitors entered the school grounds to the sounds of performance by members of the school’s orchestra. Drew Bowers, the Eagles’ Director of Choral Activities, then began the ceremony by welcoming attendees before his chorus sang the National Anthem.

MHS junior Jack Mikels spoke next, reflecting on “a day of loss and sorrow, but also a day of courage and selflessness.” He brought up the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree pulled from the Ground Zero rubble with snapped roots and burned, broken branches. It was rehabilitated and replanted outside the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, where it now thrives as a symbol (as Mikels put it) of “renewal, strength, and the ability to carry on.”

He was followed by Mayor Peyton Jamison, who noted that the same 9/11 museum this week on its Facebook page showcased Milton High’s planting of 2,997 American flags – one for each person who tragically lost their lives – on its lawn and the annual moving ceremony.

“Even those born years after the attacks feel the weight of that day – and the responsibility to ensure it is never forgotten,” the museum’s post said.

Jamison added, “September 11 mattered to us then, and it matters to us still.” This includes not just the horrific happenings of that day, but also how people came together afterward – a spirit of unity that he said must rise again in light of recent events.

Then came Deputy Fire Chief Richard Bushman, who noted every September 11 serves as a reminder to serve, to care for others, “and never take a single moment for granted.” He said students and others can honor 9/11 victims in simple ways, such as helping someone or just being there for a friend.

After Zampieri’s keynote remarks, Milton High students honored some of those killed on that day 24 years ago. Dozens stood by flags holding the pictures of men and women who lost their lives and were remembered at previous MHS 9/11 ceremonies. On Thursday, four more victims were honored: Robby Zampieri (the cousin of Beth’s husband), Christopher Gray (a former star football player turned bond trader), Valerie Ellis (a pioneering woman on Wall Street), and Welles Crowther (known as “The Man in the Red Bandana” for his heroic efforts that day to save lives).

The ceremony closed with a stirring performance of “America the Beautiful” by the Milton High orchestra, followed by senior Nathaniel Smith playing “Taps” from the school’s roof.