Clear Lake residents speak on witnessing 9/11 attacks on New York City (AUDIO)

CLEAR LAKE — Two long-time north-central Iowa residents spoke about being in New York City 23 years ago at last night’s Clear Lake Fire Department 9/11 remembrance ceremony.

Dawn Billings was in New York City for meetings with Girl Scouts USA and her husband Ron, who was retired, came along on the trip.

Ron was on his way to Madison Square Garden but then noticed one of the World Trade Center towers was on fire and decided to go to that area. He eventually saw another plane hit the second tower and then watched the first building collapse.   “The first tower went down, and it was strange. It was like it imploded. It sank straight down, and then the smoke came out, and I was just beyond the smoke and debris coming out from that building coming down. I was there with people walking out of the smoke, and needless to say, they were pretty emotionally confused.”

Ron Billings was emotional when telling the crowd how he watched in horror as the buildings collapsed.  “The thing that really struck me is I knew that there were firefighters, policemen, and people stuck in the buildings, and when they came down, I knew they were all dying, and that was another reason why I thought I can’t stay here anymore.”

With cell phones not working, Ron started walking back toward the building Dawn was in. The people she was with were emotional since they had friends and family who were in the Twin Towers.   “One thing Ron doesn’t like to tell, and I can understand, so I tell this part for him, that when he was down watching, at first he thought there were papers flying out of the windows and debris. I’m sorry, it was people jumping, and that’s also what made him back up, and I don’t blame him for not wanting to say that. Every time I have to say that for him, but it was hard.”

Last night’s ceremony was held at the Clear Lake Fire Department where a piece of steel from the World Trade Center is on display.

You can listen to the Billings’ entire presentation via the audio player below.