From busy blood banks to a contemplative mayor to watching television at work, these pictures tell the story of that day in the River City.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — No matter where you were on September 11th, 2001, there were ripple effects in every city that day… including in Jacksonville.

I pored through the Florida Times-Union Newspaper photo archives at Jacksonville’s Main Library from that day, and I found some remarkable images inside the

One photo shows a man watches the unfolding story of the World Trade Center attacks on multiple televisions for sale inside a Best Buy in the River City.  The attacks had just occurred.   The word “LIVE” is on the screens along with an image of one of the towers with smoke pouring out of it. 



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Another newspaper photo from that day is of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in downtown.  It shows an officer positioned on the building’s outside. The caption read: “Heightened security at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office was evident on the roofs of the various levels. The flag at the front entrance flies at half-staff.”

A third photograph shows one employee, sitting along at what looks like a Auntie Anne’s Pretzel stand in an empty shopping mall.  He is watching a small television, displaying coverage of the terrorist attacks.  Many of us were glued to our TVs that day, wondering what’s going on.

People around the country went to blood banks on September 11th to donate blood for the victims in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.   One Times-Union photo shows a blood bank in Jacksonville, full of people.  A caption in the newspaper stated that some people waited three hours to donate blood.

A different photo was taken at the Mandarin Florida Georgia Blood  Alliance.  It shows more people waiting to donate blood while they circle around a television set.  On TV were news reports of the terrorist attacks.   The caption stated there had been a line of donors out the door, waiting to give blood. 

One photo showed a group of people standing with suitcases.   These were people whose flights were cancelled at the Jacksonville International Airport because the FAA suspended all air travel.   Some of these folks were reading the latest in an special edition newspaper of the Florida Times-Union. The headline in bold print read, “TERROR.”

Transportation for many people came to a stop that day.   A photo taken at the downtown Jacksonville Greyhound Station shows a man standing outside of a locked door.  The station had been shut down in response tot he terrorist attacks.  On the door was a piece of paper that stated: NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD NORTHBOUND. According to the photo’s caption, Greyhound had stopped all northbound bus routes and closed down any stations within a mile of federal buildings nationwide. 

Another Times-Union photograph captures the Jacksonville mayor at the time, deep in thought. He shares the photo with a podium decked out with news media microphones.  He is off to the side of the photo with his face down.   The caption reads in part, “Mayor John Delany collects his thoughts before making a statement to the press on the terrorist attacks”

From that same press conference is a separate photo.   This one shows First Coast News reporter Charlene Shirk who is overcome with emotion while watching coverage of the terrorist actions in New York and Washington. She and other media were gathered at the city’s emergency operations center for a press conference with the Jacksonville mayor. The media members in the photo were watching the coverage on a small television.  The caption stated: Shirk said “I’d better cry now… I’m on the air in ten minutes.”

Another Times-Union photo shows two women sitting together at a the Jacksonville International Airport.  It was taken two days after 9/11.   Marilyn Hess of Jacksonville sits with her granddaughter. They were waiting to board a plane to New York.  The caption states that Marilyn’s son, Thomas Gambino Jr., was a member of the NY City Rescue Department and was one of the first units to responded to the World Trade Center. 

When this photo was taken, he was still missing.  

I looked up his name immediately after finding this photo.  Indeed, Hess’ son was one of those brave men who was killed while responding to the attacks.   

When this photo was taken, Hess did not know that. 

For her son… Thomas Gambino Jr.  and all those who died that day… we will never forget.

Thank you to the Times-Union and to the staff at the Memory Lab inside the Jacksonville Main Library for help with this story.