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CNN Live At Daybreak
America Recovers: WTC Victim's Girlfriend
Aired October 11, 2001 - 07:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ZAHN: Every one of the thousands of victims leaves behind family and friends who each have their own personal stories of pain and loss.
Sharon Cole's boyfriend was one of the more than 300 firefighters who died at the World Trade Center. In the month since then, she has also been laid off from her job. She joins us this morning. Thank you very much for being with us.
SHARON COLE, GIRLFRIEND OF WTC VICTIM: You're welcome, Paula.
ZAHN: Why did you get laid off?
COLE: Because of the tragic disaster that happened on September 11. American Airlines had to lay off like about 20,000 employees. I was one of those employees that was included on the layoff.
ZAHN: So it had nothing to do with the fact that you were trying to search for your boyfriend and trying to figure out what happened to him?
COLE: No, not really. No.
ZAHN: So what are you doing to feed yourself and your son?
COLE: We got some help by Pier 94 and I had a little savings. So that's what we're doing at the moment.
ZAHN: And has anybody been able to confirm what happened to Keith Roy, your boyfriend?
COLE: No.
ZAHN: When was the last time you spoke with him?
COLE: Tuesday morning, September 11.
ZAHN: And at that point had he been dispatched to the World Trade Center?
COLE: He was on his way to work.
ZAHN: And did he tell you where he was headed?
COLE: He worked for Engine 33 at Grey Jones Street in Manhattan. So he was on his way there. Being that the fire station is very close to the World Trade Center, I knew then that he would have been dispatched to that location.
ZAHN: And have you been able to talk with any of his fellow firefighters who last saw him?
COLE: Yes.
ZAHN: Did they describe that he was entering a building or do they even know that?
COLE: Yes, they knew he was in the building. The last thing we heard was he was on the 26th floor.
ZAHN: And it wouldn't surprise you that he was probably going up when everybody else was coming out?
COLE: Correct.
ZAHN: What was it about him that made him so committed to this job?
COLE: He had a very, I should say he has such passion for his job. He loves it. To hear him speak about it, it was like it was his life, you know? Even though it was dangerous and the job is not so easy to do, he makes it sound like it was just a piece of cake, you know? He loves it. He has this passion to just fight fire.
ZAHN: And how has his battalion treated you since he's gone missing?
COLE: They've been there for me in every step of the way. Every single day there is a firefighter, his name is Brian McKennan (ph). He has been there for me to make sure I have food to eat. If I need any place to go he takes me, you know, anything whatsoever.
ZAHN: And your experience down at Pier 94 has been OK?
COLE: Yes. He was there for me also.
ZAHN: I can't imagine anything more stressful for that because there are so many thousands of people in a similar situation to you feeling a lot of pain and desperation financially in many cases. But there was no question in your mind you were going to get the kind of help you need now to make it through this transition until you can find a job?
COLE: No, there was no question at all. He, Brian was there. He took me right through the ropes with the different agencies that were there, you know, helping me to get as much financial help as needed.
ZAHN: And I understand this obviously has taken a huge toll on the son you had with Keith Roy. He doesn't want to go to school anymore so what kind of pact have you entered into to get him to go back to school, mom? COLE: His father had, went with me because, to register for class for fall being that I was pregnant last year I didn't finish that semester. So I decided to go back to school. So I told him if mommy has to go to school and Keith Roy has to go to school -- and he said is that a promise? And I said yes. So that's the pact that we have together, if I go to school, he will go to school.
ZAHN: But in the meantime, mom has to go out and find a job.
COLE: Yes.
ZAHN: How difficult is this for you right now?
COLE: It is very difficult being that the disaster, you know, happened to us here and the rate of unemployment. So it's a very hard task and, but I'm on the move.
ZAHN: What is it that you want people to understand this morning now that we've reached that month mark, marking, you know, four weeks passage since this horrible tragedy unfolded in this city?
COLE: Oh, this morning when I woke up and I realized that today is October 11, one month since everything has happened, the body of Keith Roy has not been recovered yet and it's hard, it's very hard and it's like trying days for me every single day that I get up, especially to look at my son, who resembles his father so much and have the same name. And I'm just taking it one day at a time. I don't -- most times I don't even know which direction that I'm going. I know I have to be alive because of my son's sake, you know. And I have had counseling because it's a lot on my shoulders, you know?
It's not too long ago that I also lost a baby, you know? So it's like everything just happened in less than one year and it's a lot for a girl to bear.
ZAHN: Does it bring you any comfort at all knowing that all of America is basically saluting Keith Roy and the other firefighters and police officers and rescue workers who went down in this horrific tragedy?
COLE: Yes.
ZAHN: Does it bring you pride?
COLE: Yes, it does because, you know, when I thought about it, really, I realized that he wasn't even thinking about himself. He was not even thinking about himself. He was thinking about helping others when he went in that building, you know?
ZAHN: Well, that is a very powerful legacy to leave behind. We wish you tremendous luck as you try to rebuild your lives and I hope you can find a job and continue to go to school at the same time, and get some sleep in there somewhere in the middle.
COLE: Yes.
ZAHN: Sharon Cole, thank you for sharing your story with us.
COLE: You're welcome, Paula.
ZAHN: We know this is an incredibly trying time for your family.
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