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Former students and officials commemorate 25 years since President George W. Bush received news of 9/11 attacks in Sarasota

Sarasota, Florida, served as the backdrop for a significant moment on September 11, 2001, when President George W. Bush received news of the terrorist attacks while visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary School. While listening to a second-grade class, Chief of Staff Andrew Card informed the president that a second plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, signaling that the nation was under attack. Former student Krystal Davis recalled the confusion of the children as the president's demeanor shifted from admiration to concern. Teacher Sandra Daniels noted that the president's expression changed immediately upon receiving the news. Another former student, Stevenson Tose'-Rigell, watched the devastation unfold from the school's library and front office while his mother, Gwendolyn Tose'-Rigell, served as the principal. Following the news, the president departed from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. Retired Col. Mark Tillman, who piloted Air Force One, executed a steep climb to get the aircraft into the air quickly, assuming the plane itself could be a target. Tillman noted that the local airport personnel and first responders worked together to provide logistical support during the crisis.

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