The September 11 Song Binghamton Listeners Wait For Every Year
Every September 11, we pause to remember. At 8:46 a.m., the exact moment the first plane struck the World Trade Center in 2001, 98.1 The Hawk plays a song that has become a tradition of reflection and remembrance here in the Southern Tier. It's our way of honoring the lives that were lost. It's also a way of sitting with the families who were forever changed, and with the unity that carried so many of us through those hours.
A September 11 Poem Born From Grief and Faith
The song we share each year began not as music, but as a poem. Written by Stacey Randall, it was written from God's perspective, imagining where He was and what He was doing during those tragic moments. Randall originally shared the poem with family online, never imagining how far it would reach.
From Shared Words to a September 11 Song of Healing
The poem quickly spread, touching thousands who were searching for meaning and comfort in the aftermath of September 11. In Los Angeles, radio host Bob Holiday read it aloud in November 2001, and it resonated so deeply that listeners encouraged Randall to turn it into a song. With composer Justin Copeland and producer Steve Sneed, the words were set to music. That song is now known as "Met In the Stairwell," also called "Silent Night 9/11."
Helping Binghamton Families Explain September 11 to a New Generation
For those of us who lived through September 11, the memories are still sharp. I remember exactly where I was standing. But for a lot of our kids, kids who weren't even born yet, this is history they've only read about. As parents, we sometimes struggle with how to share the weight of that day in a way they can understand. This song can be a gentle starting point, sparking conversations about resilience and faith and why remembering still matters.
Why 98.1 The Hawk Still Plays This Song Every September 11
When the opening notes of "Met In the Stairwell" play each September 11, it's more than just music. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we weren't alone. Every year, people reach out ahead of time just to make sure we're still going to play it. The answer is always yes.
