8/4/2019 kpa-911

1/11

In the moments before the first plane hit the WorldTrade Center on Sept. 11, officialsfrom 18 states had gathered for the annual SouthernGovernors Association conferencein Lexington. As Governor of Kentucky and

chairman of the association, I was hostingthe event.

Around 9 a.m. we learned that a plane had crashedinto the North Tower. At the time, webelieved it to be a terrible accident. Within minutes,we were told the South Tower hadalso been hit. Quickly finding a room with atelevision, I, along with West Virginia Gov.Bob Wise, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Gov.Mike Foster of Louisiana, and several

others, watched with horror and disbelief the destruction and devastation unfolding on thestreets of Americas most famous city.

When news of a jet crashing into the Pentagon came across the wires we knew our nationwas under attack. The governors needed to get home, but couldnt fly since all planes hadbeen grounded. We began sending them out with Kentucky State Troopers whocoordinated their safe return with law enforcement officers across the south.

In the days that followed, we came together as a country and a Commonwealth to prayfor those who had paid the ultimate cost in these acts of aggression. September 11, 2001,was a date carved in time for each of us a date when our blankets of security andshades of innocence were abruptly swept away by the acts of a few crazed terrorists adate when time stood still as millions of Americans were held spellbound as moderntechnology electronically transferred them to a scene of horror only experienced on oneother occasion in our nations history. Never again will any of us watch an airplane soaror gaze upon New York Citys altered skyline without thinking of these horrific events.

Over the past decade the world has observed firsthand the spirit of the American people,a spirit that others have described as a sleeping giant, and a giant that reveals itsstrength and greatness during times of duress and peril. As we mark this significant eventin our history, let us pause to remember the bravery and sacrifice of so many heroes andlet us continue to ask for Gods blessing on this great nation.

-- Paul E. Patton, Governor of Kentucky (1995-2003)

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2/11

Few people will ever forget where they were onSept. 11, 2001. I was in Dawson Springs for a fewdays visiting my parents, as their health had beendeteriorating. We were watching televisiontogether that morning after breakfast and saw the

terrible events as they occurred. Like many people,we stayed in front of the TV set for the rest of theday, trying to figure out what was happening andwhat these attacks meant for our country.

I remember feeling mixed emotions -- sorrow forall the people who lost their lives and for theirfamilies, and anger at those who would perpetratesuch a horrendous act.

The war on terrorism certainly escalated that day,

and its a war that continues even today. I just returned from a visit to Iraq andAfghanistan, where thousands of Kentuckians are continuing that fight to protect ourfreedoms. Those servicemen and women deserve our continued support and gratitude.

-- Steve Beshear, Governor of Kentucky

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3/11

I was in Louisville on September 11 and it wasduring the early stages of my campaign forCongress. I was working when Elizabeth called meand told me to turn on the television immediately.In an instant I was shocked, saddened and stunned.

It is a day that made us all want to hug our familiesa little closer and commit to being strongerAmericans.

-- Jack Conway, Kentucky Attorney General

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4/11

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was stillat home preparing to go to the U.S. Capitol when Iheard that a plane had struck one of the towers of the World Trade Center. Like most Americans, Iwas glued to the television and watched the attacks

unfold before my eyes. I saw the second plane gointo the second tower. By then, I communicatedwith the Capitol Police and they advised me to stayaway from the Capitol, to not come into the office.I then reached out to my staff to ensure they, likethe thousands of others who work in the Senate aHouse, had safely evacuated the Capitol grounds.My wife, Elaine Chao, came home from theDepartment of Labor and brought some of heremployees with her, and we continued to watcheverything on television. I saw the reports about the

plane striking the Pentagon and the plane that went down in Pennsylvania that we nowbelieve was intended to hit the Capitol. By the end of the day it was clear America was atwar, and things would never be the same. I joined my colleagues on the Capitol steps tosing God Bless America to show the nation and the world that our government wasunited and unafraid.

nd

-- Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senator/Kentucky

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5/11

I was in Louisville that day, having breakfast. Therestaurant TV was turned on and I rememberthinking that the hole caused by the first plane wastoo large for a private plane. Then I saw the secondplane hit and knew it wasnt a terrible accident but

an attack on the United States. I felt sickened andeveryone was bracing themselves to see whatwould happen next.

After calling into my Frankfort office to check onwhere member families were (Sen Toris son wason a commercial flight), I drove home by Ft. Knoxand not the usual I-65. I remember noticing quite abit of activity there.

That night, I was eating dinner at a restaurant and

they had the TV on to follow the coverage. At one point, the station played the nationalanthem and there was not a dry eye in the place after.

-- Senate President David Williams, Candidate for Governor of Kentucky

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6/11

I was at the practice facility at Memphis. I hadplanned a recruiting trip for that afternoon, whichwas obviously canceled. I was just plastered to theTV the entire day. I was supposed to go recruitingand obviously that wasnt going to happen. Some of

it we watched with our team. I was just trying tofigure out what in the world was happening. Likeeveryone else, I couldn't believe it.

-- John Calipari, University of KentuckyBasketball Coach

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7/11

I remember September 11th being a prettymorning. I was home in Prestonsburg and my wife,Mary Karen, was watching television. I heard herscream that the news was showing a plane had hitthe World Trade Center. When I came in, I could

tell that it almost certainly was not a small plane,given the damage. When youve been a pilot foryears, as I have, you look at things differently.There were perfect weather conditions, making itunlikely that it was unintentional. I told her thatsomeone had to fly that plane into the building onpurpose. Then we saw the second plane hit, and weknew for sure.

Nobody seemed to know what to do. Would therebe more attacks on government buildings? They

closed the courthouse, we closed my law firm, and I told my legislative staff at the stateCapitol to go home. It was a total feeling of frustration and fear. Then you began to feel,as the details emerged throughout the day, that fear turn into sorrow for the victims andthen anger.

-- Rep. Greg Stumbo, Speaker of Kentucky House of Representatives

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8/11

On September 11, 2001, I was living in Utahwhereas most of my activities, professional orotherwise, revolved around our ongoingpreparations for the 2002 Olympic Winter games in every category. I was intricately involved,

having served as VP/Marketing Director for 3 of Utahs ski resorts, representing the United StatesBiathlon Assoc., a long list of clients in the snowsports industry, tourism, recreation and resortdevelopment and not to mention my home wasapprox. an 1/8 of a mile from the Nordic OlympicVenue Soldier Hollow, which in addition I wasserving on the Legacy Board of and literallyhelping to finalize completion.

UT is of course two hours behind the East Coast, so

it was early. I woke up, took a shower and began to return phone calls I did not turn onthe TV. I noticed that I had 20 or so missed calls but honestly I didnt really give it asecond thought considering all the ongoing activity. It wasnt THAT unusual. I did think to myself - wow everyone is up and at em this morning. The first phone call I made thatday was to an associate who so happened would be celebrating his 50th birthday. He hadtold a group of friends the night before that no one ever remembered his birthday. Heexplained he had one of those birthdays that no one ever remembered because it was anodd number in the middle of a month with no real holiday so it was a boring sort of birthday. Because of his comments I was determined to make a special effort toremember and be the first to call him that morning. I dialed him up and said HappyBirthday! Rather than Thank you or you remembered he responded Dea go turnon the TV I knew by the tone of his voice something was very wrong.

While holding the phone, still connected, I stared in silence at the TV watching theimages of the first tower burning. I asked if he knew what had happened? At that timeno one knew exactly what was going on or even if it was intentional well at least thepress wasnt saying what they knew, although several were eluding to the fact it was anattack in their commentary. Within minutes I watched as the second plane flew into theremaining tower. Then I knew the US was under attack. My children were waking up inpreparation for school and I told them they would be staying home. First, I was shockedbut that was immediately replaced by the realization as to where or if the next attack would be. My thinking switched from trying to absorb what had just happened to whatcould happen to who and which of my friends or associates would be most under threat.Many of my clients, friends and associates did business all over the world so theyregularly commuted to and fro the state. UT had become an international port both inbusiness and in preparation for the Olympics. We were less than 4 months away frompuling off the largest sports event in the world, an event we had prepared for more than 4years to accomplish. I knew everything in that regard was about to change. I steppedout onto my back porch, a cold September morning spitting snow and looked around atthe surrounding Mountains. I knew nothing would be the same after today. I was right.

8/4/2019 kpa-911

9/11

There was an eerie silence as phones jammed too congested to handle the number of calls. The only planes overhead were Hill Air Force fighters; obviously patrolling beingin itself a terrifying visual as to the reality of the situation. It was the first time I declaredit was time for me to go home to Kentucky. I dont know why I felt that way, other thanwhen one is faced with such uncertainty one longs for those things that mean the most to

them. Kentucky was one of those things for me.

The impact was indescribable. Everything did change. Luckily I did not lose any friendsto the attack, but many were affected financially and generally business stood at a standstill for nearly a month. We did host the Olympics without a hitch or attack. To say theleast I have never forgotten that day nor have I forgotten the birthday of my friend whonow shares his birthday with one of the most memorable events in US history. I call himeach year and wish him a happy birthday.

-- Dea Riley, Candidate for Kentucky Lieutenant Governor

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10/11

The memory of the events of September 11, 2001will forever stir the emotions of rage and sadnesswithin me. The rage is directed at those terroristswho target innocent women and children as a partof their war mongering and the sadness is for the

victims and their families who bore the brunt of it.

I was driving to my law office and listening toWVLKs Jack Pattie who reported that a plane hadcrashed into one of the World Trade buildings. Nodetails were immediately available and, of course, Ibelieved it was an accident. When he reported thesecond attack, I was dumbfounded. Who would dosuch a thing?

Thereafter, like tens of millions of other Americans,

I was glued to the nearest tv set and watching in disbelief at the utter destruction andchaos. The later reports of the attack on the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania crash wouldonly fuel my fervent hopes and resolve that whoever was responsible for this could andwould be brought to justice.

Therefore, I was highly gratified when Osama Bin Laden was dispatched by a courageousband of Navy Seals who risked their lives in service to their country. This does not,however, remove the risk of further terrorist attacks on Americans around the world andthe lesson we should all take from 9/11 is to be forever vigilant in protecting ourAmerican way of life from those will never accept the fact that our way cherishesindividual and religious freedom.

We are, in fact, at war with those people and let the memory of 9/11 remind us never toweaken our resolve to win it.

The memory of the events of September 11, 2001 will forever stir the emotions of rageand sadness within me. The rage is directed at those terrorists who target innocent womenand children as a part of their war mongering and the sadness is for the victims and theirfamilies who bore the brunt of it.

I was driving to my law office and listening to WVLKs Jack Pattie who reported that aplane had crashed into one of the World Trade buildings. No details were immediatelyavailable and, of course, I believed it was an accident. When he reported the secondattack, I was dumbfounded. Who would do such a thing?

Thereafter, like tens of millions of other Americans, I was glued to the nearest tv set andwatching in disbelief at the utter destruction and chaos. The later reports of the attack onthe Pentagon and the Pennsylvania crash would only fuel my fervent hopes and resolvethat whoever was responsible for this could and would be brought to justice.

8/4/2019 kpa-911

11/11

Therefore, I was highly gratified when Osama Bin Laden was dispatched by a courageousband of Navy Seals who risked their lives in service to their country. This does not,however, remove the risk of further terrorist attacks on Americans around the world andthe lesson we should all take from 9/11 is to be forever vigilant in protecting ourAmerican way of life from those will never accept the fact that our way cherishes

individual and religious freedom.

We are, in fact, at war with those people and let the memory of 9/11 remind us never toweaken our resolve to win it.

-- Gatewood Galbraith, Kentucky Governor Candidate