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Ray Balestri's avatar

I didn’t want to read this, but goddam you can write!

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Billy's avatar

Matt and all, at first I could not open this let alone thinking of even commenting here. It was like instead of a band-aid I was pulling a piece of Gorilla Tape reinforced with Super Glue from a fresh scab of a very painful wound.

I was in the White House on 9/11. Preparing for our next trip to Europe. I traded trip with President Bush to read to school children. A simple "down and back" day trip. I needed the "quiet time" to prepare for a grueling European trip with multiple stops in multiple countries. The First Lady was in her office with no significant plans. The V.P. was doing what the VP does when POTUS is not home. All quiet, peaceful and normal for us in the WH. My normal was interrupted by a USSS Agent saying they needed to scramble the Code Names for the VP and FL to Code Name for secure locations. My TV's in janitor closet size office were getting info on a plane crash... As I headed to get more info 5 USSS Agents led by 3 former D1 football players 2 former Linebackers and former Tight End had formed a Flying V. They were running and literally running WH staff over and under foot. Behind the V were several other Agents holding the VP under his arms. His feet running on air as they ran by me almost making me a floor mat. I knew at that moment we were in trouble. I gathered my radio and earpiece my phones and all of the sudden did not know where to go....You see this hallowed place. This place of absolute calm quiet efficiency even during drills was now in a state of controlled chaos. If you can call panic controlled. Our drills and practice were now real 2 planes into tower 1and 2 unaccounted for other aircraft. I used my phone to contact my counterpart earlier when VP was scrambled to alert him of our situation. He tolde at that moment the Chief of Staff was whispering to Code Name for POTUS. His reply and comment was F!, F! F! and the line went dead. They were on the move. Back at Home WH alarms were sounding people were in robot mode as the info sunk into or brains that normal was nevermore. Tomorrow I will continue this journey through my hell. Losing 4 USSS Agent friends in Tower 1. Being the Godfather to a son of a yet unborn son that would never know the touch or warmth or kiss of his hero dad. Ok God please help me get through this. Give me the strength to live through this annual nightmare that does not seem to get easier from which to live. Please.

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