The graduate of St. Francis High is thinking about surviving terrorist attacks on September 11
Thursday marks the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 which saw two stolen planes in the twin towers in New York, killing nearly 3,000.
Kevin Danni was there. The graduate of St. Francis High and father of the Golden Knights secondary, Luke Danni, reflects each anniversary on the way he escaped the 61st floor of the South Tower.
“I am so lucky that there were so many people who sacrificed to save me,” he said.
Danni told his story to an audience delighted earlier this week at a YMCA meeting at Foothills QB Club, where he is president.
He was 22 years old, a recent graduate of the Western College and had been sent to Morgan Stanley in New York to start training at Twin Towers on September 10, 2001. The next morning, a training meeting ended up being 15 minutes late because an speaker went too long, so during a break, he decided not to go to the 107th floor observation bridge.
Instead, he looked through a window and saw what he thought was confetti flying around, it was the papers following an airplane flowing in the North Tower. Soon he saw a fire. At first, the evacuation of the southern tower was not recommended. But Danni said that security chief Rick Rescorla replaced orders and told everyone to leave.
When Danni reached the 55th floor while walking on the stairs, he heard an explosion. “The walls have cracked,” he said.
It was a plane striking the southern tower.
“I knew it was a terrorist attack,” he said. “I started to go down and pass firefighters by going up the stairs. It took 45 minutes to evacuate. “
When he came out, he said, “I saw both on fire.”
He went to find a paid phone so that he could call his loved ones and tell them that he was fine. Then the towers began to collapse.
“I heard a rumble,” he said. “It was 57 minutes since the plane struck. I saw the cloud of dust. I turned around and ran.”
Danni said he had learned that the security man, Rescorla, after escorting employees outside, had come back to make sure that all had been evacuated from the office. The security man and 343 firefighters died while trying to help others.
“I could see so many acts of heroism,” said Danni.
He went out with his future wife, Helena, at the time. They finally married and their son, Luke, was born. This week, he will have fun watching Luke playing in a quarter to St. Francis Friday evening against Muir.
“Every September 11,” he said, “Dad, I’m glad you’re here,” Kevin said.
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