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9/11 Survivors Share Experiences With WJZ

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- As we remember one of the most tragic days in modern history, we hear two stories of 9/11 told by two Marylanders who were in harm's way. One was inside the World Trade Center and the other in the Pentagon when the planes hit. Both survived to tell their emotional stories to Vic Carter.

These men never met but they have a bond of different experiences that happened minutes apart on Sept. 11, 2001.

Steve Peck was in the World Trade Center and Thomas Gourdeman at the Pentagon.

"We were getting ready for a meeting and [there was] a massive jolt to the building," said Peck.

"It's like something's going on. So everyone said, `What was that?' and someone said we were hit," said Gourdeman. "A lot of people were running down, coming my way."

"It was a significant moment when the mood changed. We learned through communications on a Blackberry that a plane hit the other building. I was on the 37th floor coming down; there was an explosion. [I said] `Tell the kids I love them,'" said Peck.

They both made it out alive and now especially cherish the time they have with their families. Both also learned similar lessons.

"Learned that I need to trust God more. It is comforting to know that you can trust God," said Gourdeman.

"Hugging my kids, loving my family. Whatever it is, it is a definite reinforcement that matters because it was just a Tuesday in September," said Peck.

Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

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