25 years later, Atlanta woman who worked in World Trade Center reflects on 9/11

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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Many people across the country remember where they were on Sept. 11, 2001.

For Denise Sharpton, that day is personal. She worked in the World Trade Center, and says she easily could have been there that morning.

On Sept. 11, 2001, two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, another hit the Pentagon and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania.

“It’s a very emotional time, because of course the co-workers who were at work that morning, none of them survived. So, it’s very emotional,” Sharpton said.

Sharpton worked in the corporate office of the Windows on the World restaurant, on the 106th floor of the North Tower. On a normal day, she would have already been at work when the attacks began. But that morning, she was still home.

“We’re not going to leave this earth until it’s our time, because I definitely could’ve been at work, because I was supposed to go in later that day for training,” Sharpton said.

Twenty-five years later, Sharpton worries that the significance of 9/11 is fading, particularly for people who were either too young to remember it or not born yet. She says the next generation needs to understand not only what happened but honor the people who were lost.

“Maybe they (young children) should visit and realize the sacredness of it and realize that they are blessed, their relatives are blessed,” Sharpton said. “But we have to think about those who have not been as blessed, which are those who perished in 9/11.”

Sharpton says she considers herself lucky and blessed to be here 25 years later. She says every Sept. 11 also brings back memories of the friends and co-workers who never made it out of the World Trade Center.

Several ceremonies and events are scheduled across metro Atlanta to honor the victims of 9/11, including:

9/11 Field of Flags Remembrance Ceremony on Sept. 11, 7:55 a.m., at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Kennesaw.
Atlanta Braves Patriot Day Game Tribute on Sept. 11, before and during the Braves vs. Phillies game at Truist Park, 755 Battery Avenue SE, Atlanta.
Austell 25th-Anniversary 9/11 Commemoration Program on Sept. 11, 8:25 a.m., at Threadmill Complex at 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Austell
Clayton County Remembrance Ceremony on Sept. 11, 8:46 a.m., at the Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services Headquarters, 6345 Garden Walk Blvd., Riverdale
Dunwoody to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11 Sept. 11, 8:46 a.m., at City Hall, located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Gwinnett County 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Sept. 11, 10 a.m., at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial, located on the grounds of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville
Douglas County Patriot Day Ceremony Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m., at the Douglas County Courthouse, at 8700 Hospital Drive, Douglasville
Chattahoochee Hills 9/11 Commemoration Sept. 11, 10 a.m., at Fire Station 51 at 6615 Rico Road
City of Suwanee 9/11 Memorial Event Sept. 11, 6 p.m., at Remembrance Plaza, a permanent art feature that commemorates the events of 9/11 and includes a steel remnant from one of the former World Trade Center towers. The plaza is located in Town Center Park near the intersection of Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.