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STORIES

Paul Cushing

Veteran

Paul Cushing
Military Affiliations

  • Veteran Child

  • Veteran Parent

  • First Responder

  • Military Family Member

MY connection to 9/11

  • I was a first responder (fire, police, EMT) on 9/11

  • I had a family member join the military after 9/11

Where were you when you first heard about or saw the 9/11 terrorist attacks?

I was in Washington DC on 9/11. My wife and I had just returned from a vacation and flew into BWI on 9/10 and left DC in the early morning hours of 9/11 to return to our home in Rockford, IL. We owned a private security company that specialized in suppling Explosive Detection dogs; our dogs were being re-certified in DC while we were gone. We received the news of the attacks while enroute to our home and immediately started to get calls from one of our clients, United Airlines. At the behest of UA we tried to get off the interstate to go to Cleveland Hopkins Airport due to a reported explosive on an inbound flight. That attempt was unsuccessful due to State Police blocking all traffic from exiting the interstate. Once home I was contacted and dispatched to the US State Department in Washington, DC to provide explosive detection services, utilizing the canines, for the protection of US Secretary of State Colin Powell. I have also provided these services to the Federal Reserve protecting then Chairman Alan Greenspan. After serving in that capacity for three months I immediately proceeded to Chicago to provide the same services to the Sears Tower, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Metra rail service and other high-profile targets. I’ve done numerous personal protection details for visiting political and Royal dignitaries. I have also provided these same services to a now decommissioned National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Military Base. After 10 years the need for such services slowly dwindled and we made the decision to retire form the security business. I now collaborate with various security businesses to share my knowledge and experience when needed.

How did the events of that day shape your life and inspire your service to this country?

As a veteran, the child of a veteran, the brother of a veteran and the parent of a veteran, it has always been important in my family to serve this nation. Freedom isn’t free and it is our belief that to live in a free society some of us have to be willing to pay the ultimate price.

What are you excited to contribute to your community, however you define it, for the next 20 years?

I will I instill this philosophy into my Grandchildren so that they may become the next generation to serve.

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