Barbara Lester oral history interview conducted by Amanda Mancuso, June 17, 2014

About

Barbara was a social worker working on a Mobile Crisis Team that received referrals from the New York City Mental Health Hotline at the time of 9/11. She heard the first plane fly overhead and then saw the tail of the plane protruding from the side of the building. She went onto the roof of her building where she had a straight view of the burning towers, being only six blocks away. She saw people jumping, and thought it was debris. One image emblazoned in her memory was of a small man falling with his necktie fluttering in the wind. She got her children from school and they watched the second tower collapse. They ran as fast as they could. Later that day Barbara registered with the Red Cross for a shift the next day. Barbara was sent to Shea Stadium where rescue vehicles were being stocked. It was teeming with volunteers, donations, food, and blankets. At the end of the day, she was driven home by a Red Cross truck, and she saw lines of idling trucks that were being used as morgues. After working one more day, she was turned away because there was such an influx of willing helpers. This was her darkest hour since she only felt in control because she was staying busy and helping. She offered to open her home to rescue workers who might need rest or a shower. She left her house key with the Salvation Army truck on her corner, but no one came. She began helping the volunteers at this truck, providing food, painkillers, Visine, mouthwash, and clothing to those in need. Many…

Archive

Library of Congress, in Library of Congress

Licence or status

Rights statement at the Library of Congress, as the Library of Congress states it.

Credit

Library of Congress

Language

English

Country

United States

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