Ohio River Valley Red Cross Remembers 9/11 23 Years Later

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – 23 years ago, the American Red Cross helped deliver blood and aid after the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley Executive Director Sharon Kesselring said there has been an overwhelming public support for the Red Cross’s work in Parkersburg following the attacks.

Hundreds of people showed up to donate blood, so many that the Parkersburg office was overwhelmed.

Several local volunteers also went to Ground Zero to support the first responders on the scene.

Kesselring said that despite the horrors of the attacks and the overwhelming task of drawing blood and organizing help in the aftermath, one of the things she remembers most from that time was the sense of unity and kindness in the community.

“What I experienced, and I think a lot of people would say they experienced, was a kindness that permeated the community that we don’t always see. We’re kind of caught up in the day-to-day. We have to go to work, we have to take care of the kids, we have to get to school, things like that. And sometimes we forget to be kind and we let someone cut in front of us, or, you know, just something simple like that. I think that kindness permeated the community that we really experienced at a high level, and as a result, everyone really felt more connected. It was the true definition of community, no matter where you lived, no matter where you worked, you were part of the community.”

Kesselring said the willingness of people to volunteer for the Red Cross on Sept. 11 and in the days immediately afterward enabled them to mobilize and provide relief on a large scale.

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