Scott Mayman: Remembering September 11

Experienced radio journalist and correspondent Scott Mayman is in New York to cover the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Here, he shares his own story and reflects on the day the world changed forever:

Once again, it’s great to meet up with my colleagues at CBS News and also provide first hand reports back to Australia.

I was living in the United States at the time of the attacks.  It’s still personal to me.  I saw the aftermath.

Thursday September 11, 2024 had weather conditions that were so similar to that fateful day, 23 years ago.   Bright sunny with cool conditions in the morning ahead of a warming trend.

Smaller weekend services in outlying areas of New York have now become more popular over the years. Airport Security remains tight across the United States, but going through Boston airport recently, many passengers revealed how “easy” it was to get through checkpoints and get to the gate.

Many said the worst of airport security happened in the few years following the attacks, but these days it would appear, policy has changed with staff making it easier for passengers to get through security checkpoints.

At the location, once known as Ground Zero, It was effective enough to honour and respect those killed in the September 11 attacks.

Of course, as a mark of respect, those killed had their names announced throughout the morning along with 6 moments of silence.

Just walk around Manhattan and you’ll find someone who’s been touched in some way. Even the Australian tourists I chatted with in New York had a friend or a family member who knew of someone who’d been a victim.

Then, nightfall in lower Manhattan. Two sets of lights beam into the sky, representing the twin towers where they stood, in honour of those killed 23 years ago.

For me, September 11 is personal. It feels good to be in New York and working to keep the awareness going, as well as keeping alive the memories of those killed. I knew people who were lost, however, I know of someone who miraculously survived the attack at the Pentagon.

We shall never forget – and once again, it was an honour to be part of various broadcasts.