Remembering 911

It is hard to believe that it has been seventeen years since the events of 911.  That day changed America.  I watched a special on television the other night about Flight 93.  The program had the actual recordings of the flight moments prior to our heroes taking back the airplane.  It was sobering as program ended with the pictures of the heroes and their names scrolling in alphabetic order.

Every time I see the planes hitting the Twin Towers I remember where I was and what I was doing.  I remember the following Sunday and how Gallion Baptist Church was packed.  I felt a loss for words. I trusted that the Holy Spirit took what words I said and used them to touch hearts.

From time to time when I think of 911 I think of Joe.  I do not know how to spell Joe’s last name.  I think it was Giano.  We talked only once.  It was September 1994 on the picket line at the entrance to Blue Circle Cement in Calera, Alabama.

Norred Security, under contract with Blue Circle Cement Incorporation, had painted a line across the driveway entrance to plant and placed guards along the line to prevent the employees of Local Union 50537 United Paperworkers’ International Union from entering the plant.  Hourly employees voted to strike on August 4, 1994.

Joe was one of the guards.  He, along with all the other guards, was very intimidating in both looks and actions.  The guards knew everything about every employee.  We knew nothing about them other than their boss who introduced himself to the union president and me.  I was a member of the negotiating team and spokesman for all the union responses.  I dialoged with the boss on several occasions.

After the fourth week, Joe walked to the “line drawn in the proverbial sand” and said, “Bobby, come over here.”

I responded by saying, “I ain’t got time to waste on you.”

It was the first time I had a conversation with him.  He was sincere and continued to ask me to come over to the line.  On several occasions I, along with other picketers, would walk up to the line to see the security guards reactions.  We had several confrontations with them away from the picket line.  Our confrontations were usually verbal.  Sometimes we joked with one another.  We were smart enough not to do anything stupid or threatening.  I would always tell the men not to tell me anything.  I wanted to be honest and not lie when asked about something that happened on or away from the picket line.

I walked up to the line and Joe extended his hand across the line.  I stood there and pondered what he was doing.

Joe said, “My name is Joe Giano.  I am a New York City cop.  I want to shake your hand.  The Union president and you have been gentlemen during this strike.  Norred Security has tried everything to intimidate you and you have been perfect gentlemen.  My grandfather brought the union to New York City from our homeland in Sicily.  I want to wish you guys good luck.  I’m going back to New York.”

I asked him what he was doing in Alabama.  He told me that he took four weeks vacation every year to work strikes.  He said he belonged to the police union in New York City.  He said Norred Security paid big money to help bust unions and stop strikes.

Joe said it was a pleasure to get to know me.  Boy did he know me.  A company friend told me later that they knew everything about my life.  They knew my finances, my debts, my friends, my family, my enemies, everything.  It was daunting knowing a company had that kind of information on you.

On the morning of 911 I wonder where Joe was and what he was doing.  I would like to think that he was one of the heroes that day.  I pray that my witness was such that it gave him a new perspective about God, about his family, and his calling in life and helped him on that tragic day.  I would like to see Joe again, this time under better circumstances.

Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you (Titus 2:6-8 KJV).