Raleigh, N.C. – Twenty‑five years after narrowly escaping the collapse of the World Trade Center, Mike Dempsey has turned his personal tragedy into a mission to educate America’s youth about the September 11 attacks. Dempsey, who now resides in North Carolina, co‑founded the September 11th Education Trust and works with charities that support survivors, victims’ families, and first responders.
From the towers to a new purpose
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Dempsey was working for Credit Suisse on the fifth floor of the North Tower’s annex. His wife, Amy, was scheduled to begin her shift on the 100th floor of the main tower. “If she had been on time, she would have been trapped above the impact zone,” Dempsey recalled. While searching for her, the second plane struck, and a crowd surged toward the street. Dempsey was trampled, knocked unconscious, and later rescued at a triage site outside the towers.
He spent the remainder of the day at the outdoor triage area, watching the second tower collapse and hearing a deafening rumble as debris clouded the Brooklyn Bridge. After being taken to a triage center, he was transferred to Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, where he remained for three to four days with a fractured skull and other serious injuries.
Building a legacy of remembrance
In the years following his recovery, Dempsey channeled his experience into education and outreach. The September 11th Education Trust, which he helped launch, provides schools and community groups with resources to teach the events of that day from the perspective of survivors and first responders. “We want future generations to know what happened from people like myself, our families, and the brave men and women who responded,” he said.
Dempsey says the unity he witnessed on September 12, when people around the world rallied to support New Yorkers, remains a powerful example of American brotherhood. “I hope the country can return to that sense of patriotism and helping each other,” he added.
Continued community involvement
Beyond the education trust, Dempsey remains active in charitable events, including Cantor Fitzgerald’s annual Charity Day, which honors the hundreds of Cantor Fitzgerald employees who perished in the attacks. He also collaborates with local nonprofits in North Carolina to support survivor services and memorial activities.
His work reflects a broader effort to keep the memory of September 11 alive for those who did not experience it firsthand, ensuring that the lessons of resilience, faith, and national unity endure for years to come.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
