Survivor’s Tale from 9/11’s North Tower | Raleigh News

0:00So, we're talking about a survivor's first-hand account from the September 11th attacks. This individual, John Sirkira, grew up in North Carolina and landed a dream job as a sales rep in Manhattan, starting in June of 2001. His office, the 81st floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. He described the view as amazing in the building as storied, a real hub of activity. He was getting ready for his day around 8.30 a.m. on September 11th when everything changed. Within minutes, a massive impact shook the building. He and his colleagues found their hallway destroyed with fire and collapsing walls. It was clear they needed to evacuate immediately. Miraculously, they made it out of their building just about five minutes before it collapsed. They helped the woman into an ambulance and then witnessed the devastation of the other tower falling. It was at that point their own tower began to crumble, forcing them to run for safety up the Westside Highway. The North Tower fell at 10.28 a.m.

1:01Sirkira shared that, even after 25 years, the experience feels incredibly fresh, like it just happened yesterday. It was a defining moment that shaped his life profoundly. He eventually moved back to North Carolina and his sins had a very career, even running for Raleigh City Council. He now leads an organization focused on public safety and advocating for more resources for law enforcement. His message from this harrowing experience is simple yet powerful, life is precious, cherished for loved ones, and be grateful for peace. He stresses the importance of living life to the fullest, investing in relationships, and always being ready to help others, because the unexpected can truly happen at any moment. I'm Kory with the story and you've been listening to Raleigh News today, AI-powered local news.