BY GINNY PRIVITAR
WEST MILFORD — Sept. 11, 2001, is burned into Bruce Lockwood’s memory. Like most of us, he observes the anniversary with thoughts of those lost. A writer of poetry, Lockwood set down his thoughts in “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and shared them with us.
“The anniversary is coming up and I wanted to do something to show how I felt about the whole thing; how I and other people feel about it,” he said.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Lockwood was at work at MCI in Parsippany. His wife, Marge, pregnant with their second child, was home in Bogota and saw the attack on TV. She called him at work and told him what had happened.
“Did you hear?” she said. “Hear what?” he replied. At first he thought it was an accident, but while they were on the phone, his wife saw the second plane hit on TV. He knew it was no accident.
Lockwood recalled the scene at work.
“There were no televisions. MCI did have an office in New York, but it was uptown. We all knew people from that office and scrambled to find out if they were alright," he said. "It wasn't long before we were all sent home. No one was concentrating on business. Long distance service was the last thing on anyone's mind."
Thoughts of that day
“Every year when the day comes around, it’s a horrible reminder and I just think about it and those poor families (who lost loved ones) and the people who never got out," Lockwood said. "It was a tragedy for so many families.”
His dad was a former EMT, retired at the time of the attack, and his brother worked in the city in a plumber's union.
"It’s one of those things he doesn’t like to talk about,” said Lockwood.
And 15 years later, the ramifications are obvious.
“They’re still killing people — those who inhaled the dust,” he said, “We now have extra security as a result of that.”
Lockwood recalled the tributes to those who died that day and those first responders and volunteers who came to help.
“There are so many tributes,” he added. “I went out to Monument Park at Yankee Stadium and they have a plaque there for 9/11 and I thought that was so incredible for them to include it.”
Encouraging patriotism
He thinks it’s important that kids are taught about 9/11 at school. Lockwood is a member of the Teaneck/New Milford Elks and chairs their Americanism Committee. He said its aim is to encourage patriotism and insure that things like 9/11 are never forgotten.
“When you think back, right after that happened there was so much patriotism. Now I see (sports figures) talking and joking while the national anthem is played. It’s so disrespectful.” Lockwood feels quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to protest the anthem is disrespectful as well.
Heroes, survivors and changes
Lockwood, whose brother-in-law is a police officer, has great admiration for first responders.
“Police and firemen are the only people who go to work every day and don’t know if they’re coming home,” Lockwood said. “There were quite a few of them who dropped everything — even those off-duty, (to rush to the World Trade Center site to help).”
He has friends who were there that day.
“I do know two people who got out and obviously they were affected by the whole thing. One survivor felt the building shake and he just got up and got out. The other person was told to get out. One of them now works at the new tower. I’ve often thought you couldn’t pay me enough money.”
The events of Sept. 11, 2001 have affected most, including Lockwood, who says since then he won’t go to crowded events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square.
Remembering
“I generally have a moment of silence when the planes hit and obviously give thought to the people who died that day,” Lockwood said about marking the anniversary. He has visited the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan. “It gives you chills when you see it.”
Like most, Lockwood doesn't understand the actions of the terrorists that clear September day.
“I just don’t get how people are willing to sacrifice people," he said. "We were abroad in June and July and I was bothered a little because we weren’t here for 4th of July. Every day we turned on CNN and something horrible (a terrorist attack) was happening. I don’t want to turn on the TV anymore.”