WASHINGTON – As the nation marked the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, FOX 5’s Jacqueline Matter shared her poignant memories of the day and detailed how the tragic events shaped her life and career.
Remembering 9/11: FOX 5’s Jacqueline Matter reflects on 9/11 and its impact on her career
As the nation marked the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, FOX 5’s Jacqueline Matter shared her poignant memories of the day and detailed how the tragic events shaped her life and career.
Matter’s father was at the Pentagon when it was hit by one of the hijacked planes. Nearly 3,000 people died when militants with links to al-Qaeda hijacked four planes, flying two into the World Trade Center in New York and one into the Pentagon before the fourth was brought down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
“His office was right where the plane hit. He had moved and was not at this location. But we didn’t hear from my father for three days. Maybe a little longer,” she told her colleagues on FOX 5 on Wednesday morning.
An American flag hangs on the side of the Pentagon to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, as seen from the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial on September 11, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Her father, who was involved in strategic operations, was led into the Pentagon basement during the attack. He was part of the group assessing the attack and planning the country’s next move. She said that’s why they didn’t hear from him immediately.
Fortunately, her father survived. But the experience had a profound impact on Matter, who was still in elementary school at the time. “I was eight or nine years old at the time and it was just a devastating day for me. I remember every little detail and after that, the course of my life really changed.”
The Washington DC region commemorates the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with tributes and tears
The United States is marking the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with tributes and memorial ceremonies across the country, including in the Washington, DC area
The period of uncertainty and the subsequent involvement of her father and stepfather in the “World War on Terrorism” had a profound impact on her, she says. She watched the news every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of her parents, which ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in journalism. “I sat there every day and watched the news, trying to catch a glimpse of my parents.”
Reflecting on the emotional toll, Matter admitted that talking about the day is still upsetting and often brings tears to my eyes. “It’s one of those days – you can probably hear it in my breathing – that I still find it hard to talk about. It gives me a little chill,” she said. “Usually I try to get through the news of the day and end up going home crying. But it’s been a rough day.”
Remembering September 11: US flag unfurled at the Pentagon
On September 11, 2024, the U.S. flag will be unfurled on the west side of the Pentagon to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
