Community Corner

Remembering 9/11: Campbell Shares Where They Were That Morning

A mayor, a district superintendent, a principal, a bar manager and a Rotarian all share their stories of where they were on 9/11.

Patch sites around the country are recalling the stories and tragedies that befell our towns after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. A decade later, the memory of that day still has a strong effect on the daily lives of people throughout the United States and the world.

What are some ways that your life has changed after 9/11? Have you seen trends in the economy, foreign policy and political correctness that have emerged in its aftermath? We'll discuss these ideas, and more, over the next 10 days.

Don't forget to take part in Campbell's Boswell's OPENING NFL SUNDAY Tribute Brunch and PARTY on the Sunday anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

Find out what's happening in Campbellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Campbell Patch sat down with Campbell Mayor Jason Baker, Campbell Union School District Superintendent Dr. Eric Andrew, Blackford Elementary School Principal Katie Middlebrook, Boswell's Bar Manager Kelly Crowly and Campbell Rotarian Janine Payton to talk about where they were on 9/11 and how, if at all, their lives changed since.

Jason Baker, Mayor of Campbell

Find out what's happening in Campbellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Campbell Patch: Where were you on 9/11?

Baker: I was employed at a law office in San Francisco at the time. I woke up and heard mention of it on the radio by the morning disc jockeys. I thought they were joking.

I called in to my work, I don’t think the second tower had come down yet, and they told me not come in: "We’re closed." Our building was not too far from the Transamerica building and there was a fear that we were going to be a target.

You know, I talked to a cab driver from Las Vegas, and he said that people were trying to get out of there and back to New York but there weren't any flights. A guy ended up renting a limousine and he and about 12 to 13 people drove cross country in the limo to get to New York. 

My wife's twin brother was working nearby to the Twin Towers ...

Patch: How has your life changed since?

Baker: Sometimes I’m surprised, how far-reaching effects are, as far as logistics.

We did a tour of the water treatment plant and we needed badges to get in. Little, nondescript things, none of that was there before 9/11. All of these facilities ... You never think about.

The water plant now, has to be secure. All of these things. All of this money has to get out. The expense. That’s one of  the things that struck me. One of the things that you don’t think about.

I’ve always been interested in emergency preparedness, one of the reasons that keeps me going. Either natural or man-made disaster, part of it is earthquakes and part of it is other things that are coming. That, I think, is one of the things 9/11 did. It opened our eyes to something that can happen.

Dr. Eric Andrew, Superintendent at

Campbell Patch: Where were you on 9/11?

Dr. Eric Andrew: I was at an education conference in Santa Barbara. I was getting dressed and watching the news and it was just ... disbelief that this was happening. I was horrified by the inferno of the Twin Towers. It seemed to be surreal that this could be happening.

These were two strong buildings and they were incinerated just like that (he snaps his fingers).

Patch: How has your life changed since?

Andrew: I am more vigilant in maintaining my own personal information security. I make a deliberate effort to understand and dialogue with people of various cultures.

I have a heightened awareness of other cultures and how biases can creep into our mindsets. We need to be cognisant that we don't paint with a broad brush. People are individuals first.

Katie Middlebrook, Principal at Blackford Elementary School

Campbell Patch: Where were you on 9/11?

Middlebrook: For me, it was a call to duty. I was a teacher when it happened and it was a struggle.

Do you stay home with your family and be glued to the television and watch or do you go to school and try to create a safe place and a sense of normalcy for the students?

Kelly Crowly, Bar Manager

Campbell Patch: Where were you on 9/11?

Crowly: I was at home when it happened. My brother-in-law and I were watching it and the time and we both worked in the , at Boswell's and . We weren't sure if we should be at work or stay home but we decided that we needed to be open to provide a place for people to come.

It was one of the most community-felt moments at the Pruneyard for me.

When the band that night started, the lead guitarist pulled out and unfolded an American flag (she says with tears in her eyes). It's still a very emotional moment for me.

And it's not over for those people serving our country overseas.

Janine Payton, Campbell Rotarian

Campbell Patch: Where were you on 9/11?

Payton: My daughter was in kindergarten and I was opening doors at the now closed Latimer Elementary School. One parent came up to me and said, "Have you heard? They're attacking New York!" That was quite something.

We all went into the school library and watched. I thought it was the US army that was out there but it was one of our own planes ...

What's amazing to me is that my daughter, who was five at the time remembers.

Patch, through its parent company, AOL, is involved in a project called ActionAmerica. The project is a collaboration of several corporations, individuals and non-profits organizations designed to honor those affected by the events of 9/11 and unify the country through positive action.


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