The 9/11 national commander

As the 2001-2002 national commander of The American Legion, I was scheduled to testify before a joint session of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Veterans’ Affairs at 10 a.m. The location was the U.S. Capitol. It was Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001.

National staff had fully briefed me; my written and oral testimonies were prepared. At exactly 9 a.m. staff and national officers were leaving a breakfast gathering in the lower level of the House Office Building when someone mentioned that an airplane hit one of the World Trade Center towers in New York. There was not any additional information such as specific size of the plane, private aircraft versus airliner, etc. Most took the incident as an accidental occurrence with no idea that the event was orchestrated by terrorists hijacking a commercial airline flight. Of course, this was later identified as American Airlines Flight 11 crashing into the north tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 am.

Via underground tunnels and walkways, we made our way to another House office building to meet up with the Hon. Steny Hoyer, the U.S. House of Representative for Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Hoyer was the representative for my hometown of Greenbelt, Md., and he was to deliver my formal introduction to the joint session.

While en route to meet Hoyer, notification was given that a second aircraft had hit the other World Trade Center tower. As with the first report, there was not any additional information. But all of us had suspicions that something was not right. The second crash was later identified as United Airlines Flight 175, striking the World Trade Center’s south tower at 9:03 am.

By 9:15 am in the House hearing room that was designated for my testimony, American Legion Family members, staff and national officers had gathered. Security was bustling about in the hallways, but no additional information was made available to us.

Hoyer arrived in the meeting room and discussions were held on his introduction and my ensuing testimony about The American Legion’s legislative priorities. Security interrupted the meeting and reported that President George W. Bush had just announced that the events in New York City were the result of an apparent terrorist attack on our country and the House buildings may be evacuated. All air traffic was to be grounded.

Within minutes, security returned to advise Hoyer that he must immediately leave with security personnel for a safe haven, and that the House Office Buildings were being evacuated right away. As we prepared to leave, a noise was heard; the sound was faint from inside. Later, we were informed that the muffled noise was American Airlines Flight 77 crashing into the western façade of the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.

From a personal note and unbeknownst to me for days, my son, Steffen, was one of the hundreds of firefighters who responded to the call at the Pentagon.

Security ushered staff, national officers and American Legion Family members out of the House Office Building onto Independence Ave. Security provided no further explanation, except we had to evacuate the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and Senate and House Office Buildings. Once outside, and following discussions with staff, it was determined for the safety of all to get everyone back to the Hyatt Regency Washington on New Jersey Ave. The Legion contingent was led back on foot. The shortest possible route was east on Independence Ave. and north onto First Street toward the Senate Office Buildings. At Constitution Ave., we walked west to New Jersey Ave. and up to the hotel.

Sonic booms from unknown sources could be heard as we walked. Later, we found out that the booms were from military aircraft scrambling to protect the air space above Washington, D.C.

Upon arriving at the Hyatt around 10:30 a.m., information was provided that United Airlines Flight 93 was deliberately crashed into a field in Somerset County, Pa. It too had been hijacked. Within minutes, we had heard that the World Trade Center’s north tower collapsed.

After consultations with National Adjutant Robert Spanogle and other national staff, a decision was made to gather the more than 200 conference attendees into one of the hotel’s ballrooms. From an ongoing river of information provided by national staff, the conferees were updated on the terrorist attacks and subsequent events.

By then, Washington was closed down. All routes out of the city were clogged with traffic. The subway was not operating for fear of attacks. Surrounding roads were at a standstill. Cell and landline telephone communications were non-existent and remained that way for days. If anyone wanted to leave, getting out of D.C. was nearly impossible. As other events transpired, it was obvious no one was going anywhere fast.

Within 24 hours, some conferees were able to rent cars before the agencies were cleaned out. People pooled together for rides. Someone going to Wisconsin took others heading back to Illinois or Indiana. Those going to Arkansas took along riders to Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. American Legion ingenuity really showed in getting some conferees back home. Trains, planes and buses were not in operation.

On Wednesday, Sept. 12, it was obvious that more than 150 conferees were literally marooned at the Hyatt. Anyone who has attended a Washington Conference knows that D.C. hotels are not cheap by any standards. So, staff went into action to get reduced hotel rates. Staff’s prompt actions took a big bite out of hotel expenses.

Under the auspices of the national Public Relations Division, video recordings were taped and press releases were issued. The national commander’s laptop and portable printer served as our communications hub at the conference table in my hotel suite.

The days passed and few conferees were able to get home. Measures to lessen the financial burden on the remaining Legionnaires and family were considered. My national commander’s suite was opened to all to gather, socialize, obtain up-to-date information, make phone calls back home, have food and beverage, and to provide and receive moral support. Opening the suite gave all a sense of togetherness, safety and hope.

One heartfelt story came out of the chaos and confusion. As I mentioned earlier, some people were able to find rides home. One lucky Legionnaire who did so was a candidate for national commander from the Department of Michigan, Tom Cadmus. He had hitched a ride back to Michigan with other Legionnaires.

During his return home, a telephone call was received from Tom’s daughter, Nicki. She was frantic and worried about her dad’s safety and well-being. She had not heard from Tom following the events of 9/11. At the time of his departure, staff was unaware that this future national commander had successfully gotten out of Washington. With no immediate response for Nicki, she was promised a return call from Tom. As usual, national staff expeditiously went to work to determine where Tom was. Within hours, I was able to telephone Nicki and advise her that her father was well and had teamed up with other Legionnaires in a rental car. They were en route home. This was one of the few good highlights of not-so-good times.

As each day passed, in dribbles and drabs, some groups and individuals were able to obtain transportation. By Saturday, our numbers were dropping, and by Sunday, Sept. 16, we were down to less than 30 staff and conferees. All this time, staff held fast, keeping the suite open to all.

On Monday, Sept. 17, discussions were held with those remaining. It was agreed that staff would leave as transportation was provided. Legionnaires and family that remained would be on their own with no further staff guidance. With all bases covered, I departed for home. Of course, it was not a long trip for me as I lived only 12 miles from the hotel in Greenbelt, Md.

In looking back on how Legionnaires, Auxiliary members, Sons of The American Legion, national staff and national officers responded during these trying times, I am absolutely astounded. To past National Adjutant Robert Spanogle, to each and every national staff member, to national officers and to my aide, Joseph Miller, all who hung in there for eight grueling days and nights, providing leadership and guidance, exhibiting dedication, service and camaraderie, all the verses of acknowledgement, words of gratitude, letters of appreciation, and verbal and written thank yous are not enough, and never will be sufficient, to express my feelings about their dedicated and unswerving service.

On Sept. 11, 2002, after my term in office had ended, my successor, Past National Commander Ronald Conley, granted me the privilege of representing The American Legion at the first national remembrance ceremony for 9/11. The ceremony was held at the Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pa., not far from Shanksville, Somerset County, Pa., where United Airlines Flight 93 was brought down into a field.

The ceremony included airline personnel and families of those who perished in the four airplanes and on the ground. It was a very solemn event, attended by hundreds of people. I was given the opportunity to speak during the ceremony. In my remarks, I shared a common numerical denominator between the fateful day of 9/11 and The American Legion. The American Legion post in Shanksville is named Stonycreek Valley Post 911. You could have heard a pin drop.

American Legion Past National Commander Ric Santos is currently the adjutant of the Department of Delaware.