The WDHA Staff Reflects on 9/11- 20 Years Later
JIM MONAGHAN- HOST OF THE WDHA MORNING JOLT /All MIXED UP
I was working weekends here at WDHA in September 2001. On the morning of September 11, I vividly remember walking through downtown Morristown to Scotti’s Records where I was working at the time, and thinking what a gorgeous late-summer morning it was. The sky was this incredible shade of blue, the temperature had just the slightest hint of fall, and it was one of those mornings that made you feel glad to be alive.
All that changed, of course, within a matter of about two hours – four plane crashes, the twin towers both piles of smoke and twisted steel, chaos, confusion, and the uncertainty of knowing what had happened to so many friends who were working in the financial district at that time. Foot traffic both in the store and on the streets of Morristown came to a complete halt.
Our sister station WMTR had an active newsroom at the time; I remember calling Terrie trying to see what had come across the wire services and hearing the tremble in her voice. And I will never forget the anguish in my wife’s voice as we waited for word from Washington as to what had happened at the Pentagon where her brother (a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force at the time) was stationed.
I didn’t know what was ahead for any of us. All I knew was that life as we knew it was never going to be the same.
TERRIE CARR- MIDDAY HOST AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR
The Morning was so beautiful. I remember being in my office (the same one I have now) and feeding the stray cat on my office doorstep as I always did while listening to the Big Greasy Breakfast with Rob Moorhead our then morning show host.
The traffic reporter mentioned that it “appeared as if a small plane had hit the World Trade Center” – We immediately ran to our news room to hit the wires. Never did I ever think we were under attack. Crash after crash, report after report. I actually remember crying with Rob in the studio when the towers fell. It was incomprehensible. The odd thing is what I don’t remember- and that is that day on the air. I must have been on over drive BUT I do recall trying my best to keep it together. I spoke with friends who were in New York, family too and worrying about family of friends who unfortunately never came home. As I sit in this very same office reflecting back I mostly remember the hopelessness that I felt. How could this have happened? I still ask myself. New Jersey lost so many fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, children, friends….It was life before 9/11 and after 9/11. The day everything changed forever. It took me a month to go back into the city I loved so much. There was so much sadness. But also pride. Pride that we all bonded together. As it should be. That unity is something I still long for. The 9/11 Memorial in the Eagle Rock Reservation is beautiful I feel that unity when I visit there.
MIKE ANTHONY- AFTERNOON HOST- PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
On that September 11th 2001, I remember sleeping in. I was in a deep peaceful sleep, because I had stayed up super late the night before.
When I finally woke up I turned on the TV and saw that the news was on. But I was groggy and remember thinking to myself “What Channel Is This? Is this some kind of skit or mock news?” But sadly, after a minute or two it hit me that this was in fact real. The World Trade Center was hit and I was in disbelief.
The rest of the day is a bit hazy. Watching news bits, talking with friends and family, reading updates and wondering…..how could this have happened.
Thankfully, I wasn’t in the city while this occurred, but I still realized the significance. We were attacked and innocent people lost their lives. The comfort I found was in how we came together as a nation after the attacks. However, that couldn’t undo how terribly sad I felt for those families that were grieving. 20 years later, I still think of those whose lives were taken and I hope those that were left with a hole in their family can find some comfort knowing the whole country is with them.
And we always will be….
SCOTTY B- ROCKTURNAL HOST Tuesday September 11,2001 Tallahassee,FL. I was making myself a cup of coffee and sat down and started watching the
Today show on NBC. Kati Couric was doing the morning news and all of a sudden a shot of the first plane hitting the Towers appeared and Kati started
describing what was happening. I was stunned! I thought that it was an accidental plane crash until the second plane hit the Towers.They started reporting that this is not an accident
this is an attack.I thought,Osama Bin Ladden. I hoped that I was wrong. Then later they report about the plane hitting the pentagon,then a plane crashing in Pennsylvannia which was
Uninted Airlines Flight 93. I thought Oh my God WW3 has just started. I had so many different emotins running through me. I called my then Fiance and now Wife Lauren at her job to see if
she knew what happened and she did. She said they were closing the Mall she was working in and that she was coming home. Tallahassee got shut down due to Jeb bush was our Governor.He is President.
George W Bush’s brother and they were concerned that we would be attacked for that reason. That awful day will forever be burned into my mind. I remeber it like it happened yesterday.
I will Never forget. God Bless all of the people who lost their lives and to their families and to our brave men and women that serve in our military thank you and God Bless you. Never Forget.
MICHAEL “FUZZY” LEE – PART TIME AIR TALENT
What I remember of 9-11-2001:
I was 25-years old at the time. I woke up at about 9 a.m. and went about my normal morning routine, as most people do. But that day soon turned to horror with a quick click of the remote control. Already preset on the local news channel, I will never forget the screams and the chaos that took place in New York City. ‘A PLANE JUST CRASHED INTO THE NORTH TOWER’, the news anchor reported. A phrase I will never forget …
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> From that point forward, I was glued to the news. My brothers fiance worked in the city that morning, and I remember her calling here to relay messages to him that she was okay; working some distance away from the towers. Cell phone service and overall communications was hit or miss. How she got out of the city and when, I do not remember. What I do remember is that sinking feeling in my heart for the thousands who died in this tragedy. Images of that day are still ingrained in my memories. Including the images of those who fell or jumped out of the tower before it collapsed, which I will not comment here.
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> What I can say is that on that day, I truly felt … helpless.
Terrie Carr is WDHA’s Program Director and midday–host and is a Jersey Girl - born and raised and has been rocking the Garden State at WDHA for more than half of her life! “Being a part of the lives of our listeners and community every day is a fantastic gift and I’m honored to bring the party to their workday and lives” Says TC.
Terrie loves interviewing artists in studio and on her “Reconnect With Rockers” online feature and has hosted nationally syndicated radio interview specials with Judas Priest, Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry and more and has appeared on multiple TV shows and rock host of live events.
Terrie’s passion is also giving back, and she started the WDHA Rock N’ Ruff program 14 years ago to raise awareness, and funds and find homes for shelter pets throughout the state of New Jersey. Terrie is also a supporter of The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention and the American Cancer Society and volunteers her time for many community outreach programs.
Her hobbies are hanging at the beach, going to concerts, and hanging with her best friend, her rescue dog Rosie.
