Eyewitness to 9/11 (Washington DC)

by Steve Polin (Honorary) '70

On 9/11 while I was getting ready to go to court I saw a news flash on the Today show about Tower One being hit by a plane. I didnt give it too much thought other than how odd a plane would fly into one of the towers of the WTC. My mind flashed to the summer before when we went to the top of the world, a visit to the top of the WTC. It was a clear day, and it was such a majestic view of the New Yorker's view of the world. I listened to NPR on the way to my office and heard the coverage of the burning tower, and then a news flash of the second tower being attacked.

As I was sitting in Court waiting for my case to be called, I noticed a Marshall approach the Judge and whisper into his ear. The judge announced that the Courthouse was being evacuated, but he could not give a reason as why. Once again I didn't put too much stock into the evacuation order as the court had been evacuated about 6 weeks prior because of a bomb scare. As I watched the courtrrooms emptied out, and the escalators being crowded onto, I decided to take my time. I stopped at the railing to talk to my investigator. I was there for about a minute when a Marshall approached me and ordered me to move and get out of the courthouse in tone of urgency I had seldom heard before. Being one who can take a hint I headed for the stairwell. I bumped into an attorney friend of mine, former member of the 101st Airborne (Vietnam era) who told me the Pentagon had been attacked. I asked him how he could know, since we were in court, and he said as he was driving in from Virginia, the airliner flew over him and right into the Pentagon. I hastened my retreat out of the courthouse. Just as I got outside there was a tremendous explosion coming from the area of Virginia (and the White House). Immediately the street filled with police and fire personnel. The courthouse is next to Police Headquarters. I pulled out my cellphone and tried to call my wife. I get getting "all circuits are busy" message. Someone told me the subway was closed. I was beginning to wonder how I was going to get out of there. A couple of minutes later, someone told me the Capitol was under attack. The U.S. Capitol is about five blocks from the courthouse. I decided to see if the rumor was true about the subway, and fortunately it was false. When I got off the stop for my office, the streets were gridlocked with traffic. Sirens were heard in all directions, as the government had been closed and all government workers were ordered home.

I went to my office to wait out the traffic. Cathy called me and begged me to come home. One thing I knew for sure was that the Manulife Building ( the name of my office building) didnt rate as a target. I also knew that jets were being scrambled to protect the D.C. airspace. This was truly one of the most amazing and saddest days I ever experienced living in D.C.

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