Jeanette Gutierrez

On September 11, 2001, Jeanette Gutierrez worked at One World Financial Center, which is across the street from the World Trade Center in New York City. She is a survivor of 9/11.

On the morning of the attacks, Jeanette was sitting at her desk when she heard and felt the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She recalls seeing the flames and smoke from the building window. After some time, her sister, Gail, who worked relatively close to the World Trade Center at the time, called her to say that a second plane hit the South Tower. Jeanette challenged her sister, saying it was the North Tower, she could see the fire and smoke. But Gail clarified for her sister that both Towers were hit by two separate planes and she calmly urged Jeanette to evacuate.

Jeanette recalls leaving her office building and walking up Vesey Street in Downtown Manhattan when she looked up and saw a gaping hole in one of the Twin Towers. She imagined herself sitting at her desk in her office, just like the people in the World Trade Center were sitting, when the buildings were struck. She recalls thinking that those innocent people must have been dead. Horrified by the thought, she started walking north to attempt to meet her sister. Jeanette recalls that when she and Gail finally found each other, they hugged for a brief moment, and immediately began to walk north for many miles. Gail remained calm and stoic for Jeanette as they walked. Eventually, they reached a friend’s house near the Empire State Building where they sought shelter.

Jeanette, Gail, and their friend turned the television on to find out that both Towers of the World Trade Center had collapsed during the time they escaped from the site. Jeanette credits her survival to her sister urging her to evacuate her office building on September 11, and then meeting her and walking with her. She believes her sister saved her life that day. If not for Gail, she would have remained in her office, and probably wouldn’t have survived.

After the trauma she endured on 9/11, Jeanette did not think about the events that took place for a long time. However, years later, she began to realize that there is power in talking about 9/11 and telling stories for those who cannot tell them for themselves. In telling these stories, she learned of the story of Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada. Because of the attacks, the airspace over the United States was shut down on September 11, 2001, forcing thousands of flights to be redirected to various airports. Gander International Airport welcomed 38 planes, holding over 7,000 passengers. With a population of only about 10,000, the citizens of Gander, Newfoundland, opened their homes, churches, and gymnasiums to their unexpected guests. They provided food, shelter, and support.

Jeanette has had the pleasure of meeting many of the individuals who played various roles in the Gander story. She has learned that kindness is contagious. If one thing is learned from the events of September 11, 2001, it is that displaying unconditional acts of kindness does not cost anything; you can never give enough kindness or receive enough kindness. There are opportunities every single day to be kind and helpful to others.