On that day, I was a young father with an infant son. I was also a young state trooper. I had worked the midnight shift on 9/11.

I returned home so my son’s mother could go to work. On days like that, I would try to nap when my son did. I fell asleep in a chair with my son on my lap. The phone rang waking us, which pleased neither of us. My son’s mother was on the phone crying.

I didn’t know what was going on as I did not have the TV turned on. She explained it to me and added that she was being sent home. At this time, the first plane had struck the first tower. As I was watching the news, I thought it was a reflection of another plane flying over, until that plane struck the second tower.

Needless to say the news remained on and I did not go back to sleep. A few hours later, the phone rang again. It was work. Every off duty trooper available was being called in. A presence was needed on the streets to remind people they were safe.

I went to work when my son’s mother got home. We were briefed, then doubled up in the patrol car as there were so many of us. The streets were barren. No one was out. No calls for service.

Everyone was glued to their televisions trying to find out exactly what occurred. It remained like that for quite some time. Then the U.S. flags came out ... flying everywhere, people became united. It also remained like that for quite some time.

Brian Sook

Palmerton