On the 25th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, a few Calgarians who were there that day took some time Friday reflecting on the tragedy. Calgary entrepreneur Mogens Smed was staying at the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel, which was destroyed by the attacks, but had left for a meeting before two planes struck the towers. “We came out at Rockefeller Centre and the big screen was there and we actually saw the second plane go into the second tower,” he said adding that his wife was going to come with him to New York and may well have been in the hotel at that moment, but ultimately decided not to come. Smed didn’t realize the scope of the event then, but coming from a construction background recognized the danger. “None of those building -- including in Calgary here -- are designed to take that kind of weight load,” he said, “that this thing could turn far more catastrophic.” The towers both collapsed, crushing the hotel where he had left his luggage. Smed called his wife and let her know he was safe, then walked toward the chaos to check on his furniture company’s Manhattan showroom. “Hundreds, if not thousands, of people and smoke coming towards us and we’re going the other way,” said Smed. He borrowed a car from a friend, and drove to Toronto. “There I was just with my backpack, I did have my passport luckily and my room key from the Mariott Hotel,” he said. Heard a crash and grabbed his gear Photographer Lyle Owerko who was born and raised in Calgary was living in New York and heard a crash then grabbed his gear. “Making my way to the site, thinking, I was just recording a tragic event on a local scale,” Owerko said, “The true gravity of what I experienced didn’t come for many weeks after.” Time Magazine published one of his photos on the cover of its September 11th special edition and many of the others he took that day. “What I do remember about that moment (taking that photo) is the heat and the heat of the explosion,” said Owerko. “Danger was around every corner at every moment and I think that most of the individuals that are there running on instinct.” Along with devastation and destruction, Owerko documented unity and hope. He says the anniversary reminds him to focus on gratitude. “Love is always the way and understanding what another individuals going through,” said Owerko. “When you can remember what you’ve lost you can really bring people together and share what you have,” Owerko added. Smed agrees, saying respecting differences and finding ways to come together are key. “We have to get along, we just do, right?” he said. “I’m thankful that we live in Canada and specifically in Calgary, Alberta.” Smed no longer has his room key from the World Trade Centre Mariott -- he forgot it when he checked out of a different hotel when he returned New York City for the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 in 2011.
