Credit Union Times Vol. 12, No. 38 September 19, 2001

Looking back four years ago finds the United States and the world reeling from terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center, a pillar of America’s economic might, the Pentagon, a monument to America’s military and a plane crash in Pennsylvania that left a nation stunned and looking for answers. “It felt like the night had descended on us,” said National Federation of Community Development Executive Director Cliff Rosenthal describing the scene outside the windows of the federation’s offices on Wall Street located less than a mile from the World Trade Center. “You didn’t have to work in the World Trade Center to have been affected by this act of barbaric terrorism-it casts a very wide net.” Credit unions across the country quickly rallied to help the nation begin the healing process. “Right now we’re trying to facilitate as much accurate information as we can. We set up a separate account here at Empire with our foundation for donations. A number of organizations have already made contributions. We’re sharing our information with Empire Corporate and CUNA Mutual. That’s pretty much the role we are playing now,” said NY Credit Union League President/CEO Bill Mellin.