Admin

I Will Never Forget September 11, 2001

By
Mortgage and Lending with George Souto NMLS #65149 NMLS #65149

I have shared what I remember most about 9/11 here on ActiveRain since 2012, and have made a commitment to share this memory each and every year on September 11, so today once again I am honoring my commitment with this blog.

September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget!  It is a day forever imprinted on my heart and mind.   September 11, 2001 is a day each of us has a special reason why this day will forever be remembered.  September 11, 2001 is a day we will not only forever remember the vicious attack on our country, but also a day to honor those who lost there lives.  It is a day for us to reflect on the memories, and thoughts which went through our mines as the events of September 11, 2001 unfolded 25 years ago.

Below is my special memory of that day, it is an event which hit close to home, and will forever live in my heart and mind.

Many innocent people lost their lives on September 11, 2001, including one whom I personally knew.  His son and my youngest son grew up playing baseball together, so I use to see him all the time.  On September 11, 2001 he lost his life trying to assist those he worked with out of one of the twin towers.  Just before he lost his life he was on the cell phone with his oldest son.  His son pleaded with him to just leave the building, but that was not the type of man he was, he would not leave others behind.  As his son continued to plead with him the phone went silent.  On that day, September 11, 2001, he lost his life helping to save the life of others.  That is my memory of September 11, 2001.  A memory which I will not only never forget, but one which will always be on my heart.

The South Fire District Fire Department in Middletown, CT was fortunate to obtain one of the beams from one of the World Trade Center Towers in 2011, and erected a memorial in remembrance of those who lost their life on 9/11/01.  The first picture below is of the beam and original memorial erected in 2011. 

12 years ago through efforts of The South Fire District Fire Department money was raise, and donations were made by residents of Middletown and surrounding towns to landscape and pave the area around the 9/11 beam.  My family and I purchased the paver in the picture above in remembrance of my friend, and all who lost their lives on September 11, 2001

I think The South Fire District Fire Department did an outstanding job on the 9/11 memorial which is proudly displayed next to the South Fire District Fire Department.  The 9/11 memorial below will stand in remembrance of the innocent people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 for many years to come.  I am proud my family's name will be a part of this memorial for as long as it stands.  September 11, 2001 I will Never, Never Forget the attack on our country, and all those who lost their lives on that day.

 

Original Memorial above

New Memorial below

             

 

Posted by

George Souto
NMLS# 65149

C (860) 573-1308
CALL 7 Days/Wk
Email Me
About Me
My Blog

I am a Mortgage Loan Officer who can assist you with all your mortgage & refinancing questions

I reside in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Haddam. E. Haddam, Higganum, Chester, Essex, Deep River.

 

Comments(14)

Show All Comments Sort:
Patricia Feager
Appraisal Review Board, Denton County, TX - Flower Mound, TX
Licensed to April 2027

George Souto - your 9/11 story has been shared many times. I never get tired of it. 

God bless the USA!

Sep 11, 2026 03:32 AM
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Good Morning George Souto 

Thank you for sharing your memory. The day is punctuated with the memory of one you knew who gave his life saving others.

Sep 11, 2026 04:13 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, George... your memories are as sharp as mine. Because NYC is my hometown, I always carry a level of sadness about how my city was scarred. I too lost a friend to the aftermath... cancer from working in the area for years afterwards. We need to remember the 100,000+ people who have now either died or are being treated for cancer from exposure. 

Sep 11, 2026 04:38 AM
Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
Retired from real estate; active in life!

Thank you for continuing to share your memory of that terrible day. I will never forget either.

Sep 11, 2026 04:45 AM
Lawrence & Sheila Agranoff
Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - crrli.com. We are Lic. Assoc. Broker/Lic. RE Salesperson - Plainview, NY
Listing & Selling Long Island Real Estate

George, So many lives changed in one day. Remembering them and making sure these stories are never forgotten!

Sep 11, 2026 05:29 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning George. Some things you just never forget. 9-11 is one of those events. Memorials are a constant reminder. 

Sep 11, 2026 05:59 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

The whole 9/11 thing is quite something with regard to how they want us to believe that it went down, and it seems like the story they tell us is not the real story at all.

Sep 11, 2026 06:52 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Hello George Souto thank you for sharing your memories for September 11, 2001. It was a very difficult day.

Sep 11, 2026 02:29 PM
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Wow George Souto . I had no idea. Being from the west coast, I woke up to 9/11 happening and found out when I turned on the morning news. But you knew someone who died there. That hits home very hard. 

Sep 11, 2026 03:42 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi George- I'm glad you share this each year because it's important to remember that each person who was lost that day, left behind family, friends, and neighbors whose lives were forever impacted.

Sep 11, 2026 04:47 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Oh, George! What makes this especially moving is that you have kept your commitment to share it every year since 2012. Your friend’s final act—refusing to leave others behind—is SUCH a powerful testament to his courage and character. Thank you so much for continuing to honor him, his family and every life lost that day. We will never forget.

Sep 11, 2026 07:50 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good Saturday morning, George. 

Have a great day and an outstanding weekend.

Many of  us will never forget the events of 9-11!

Sep 12, 2026 07:47 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Late to comment, George but want you to know that this story should be told for many years to come and used as a reminder of the monumental loss of Americans at the hands of soulless people.

Every year, an overwhelming sadness overcomes me and it makes me so angry that evil was the driving force that day, They will do it again if allowed.

Sep 18, 2026 05:55 PM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

I will never forget either. My brother-in-law was there two days later, and he shared what he experienced as a military man and pastor. Unfortunately, many have, and the high schoolers I talk to daily don't even think about it. 

Sep 20, 2026 11:27 AM