President of the Ohio Farmers Union, Walt Streber (right) and Government Relations Director, Bill Liermann (left) are pictured in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the 9/11 attacks. The two were preparing for a meeting when they were evacuated due to the unfolding crisis.
Submitted photo
WILMINGTON, OHIO — As the country marks the 23rd anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Wilmington local Bill Liermann reflected on a day that changed the nation—and his life—forever.
In 2001, Liermann was serving as the Government Relations Director for the Ohio Farmers Union, a position he had recently accepted. At the time, Walt Streber, from New Vienna, was president of the organization. On that fateful day, both men were in Washington, D.C. preparing for a meeting with then U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, who was the chair of the Ohio House Agriculture Committee.
“We were just about to start our meeting with Congressman Pence when the red bat phone rang,” Liermann recalled. “It was the White House, letting us know we needed to evacuate immediately. The message was urgent, warning of a plane heading toward the Capitol with bombs inside, which would later be revealed as United Airlines Flight 93.”
United Airlines Flight 93 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight that was hijacked by four al-Qaeda terrorists on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. The mission became a partial failure when the passengers on the flight fought back, forcing the terrorists to crash the plane in Somerset County, Pa, preventing them from reaching Washington, D.C.
“It was a life-changing event,” Liermann said. “I will never forget that day.”
With Washington, D.C. in turmoil, Liermann and Streber had to act quickly to ensure the safety of their colleagues. “We had a group of people there, and with airfare no longer an option, we had to call our Columbus office and send in vans to get everyone out,” he added.
Liermann’s story echoes thousands of personal accounts from across the country, each filled with confusion, fear, and disbelief. His experience is a reminder of how far-reaching the impact of 9/11 was, affecting people not only in New York and Washington, D.C., but also in our local community.
“That day changed everything,” Liermann reflected.
