StoryCorps is a New York-based non-profit organization that seeks to share the life stories of Americans from all types of backgrounds. They record ordinary citizens’ narratives all over the country, and then produce them as audio and video shorts, which are broadcast on NPR’s Morning Edition and archived at the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress.
The September 11th Initiative, which began in 2005, is a collaborative effort between StoryCorps and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. It aims to record at least one story for each life lost in the 9/11 attacks; to date, they have recorded 1,289 September 11th stories, about 619 individual victims. We’d like to share three videos from this initiative, which are tragic, moving, poignant, and—above all—human. (You may want to keep a box of tissues handy.)
The first video, above, is titled “She Was the One.” Here’s the video description:
“When Richie Pecorella met Karen Juday, she captured his heart and changed his life. They were engaged and living together in Brooklyn when Karen was killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, where she worked as an administrative assistant. Here, Richie remembers Karen, his love and inspiration.”
Click through to watch two more affecting narratives from StoryCorps.
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“John and Joe.” Here’s the description:
“John Vigiano Sr. is a retired New York City firefighter whose two sons followed him into service—John Jr. was a firefighter, too, and Joe was a police detective. On September 11, 2001, both Vigiano brothers responded to the call from the World Trade Center, and both were killed while saving others. Here, John Sr. remembers his sons and reflects on coping with his tremendous loss.”
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“Always a Family.” Here’s the description:
“On the morning of September 11th, Michael Trinidad called his ex-wife, Monique Ferrer, from the 103rd floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower to say goodbye. In the wake of his death, Monique tells the story of Michael’s lasting legacy—the family they built together.”
