Wick man's family speak of his loss on 9/11
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THE family of a Wick man who was a victim of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in America spoke of their loss yesterday as the 10th anniversary of the atrocity approaches.
Ann Policelli, who lives in Cambridge, said she misses her brother, Ian Gray, every day.
“He is always with us,” she said, describing Ian as “a fun fellow” and said his death was “heart-breaking” for the whole family but, particularly, his elderly mother, Kathleen, who died a year ago.
Mrs Gray lived in Wick and initially thought her son was not on the plane which was hijacked by terrorists and crashed into the Pentagon but she later learned his travel arrangements had been changed and he was a passenger on the ill-fated flight.
“We still miss him every day. The 10 years seem to have passed quite quickly but on occasions it seems like a long time ago,” said Mrs Policelli.
“Everybody tends to focus on what happened at ground zero [the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York] but it was not the only atrocity.”
Glynis MacDonald, who stays in Tolbooth Lane in Wick and is a niece of Mrs Gray’s through marriage, said: “It is very difficult to put your feelings into words. A lot of tears will be shed as there always is at this time of year. It is tough for everybody.”
Mrs MacDonald, whose late husband, David, was a nephew of Mrs Gray, said September 11, 2001, is “a day I will never forget”.
She explained initially it was thought 55-year-old Ian was not on the plane as he was not due to fly that day. But the family later discovered his travel arrangements were changed and he was on board the American Airlines flight 77.
Mrs Gray, who lived in North Murchison Street, stayed with the MacDonalds for a couple of months after the tragedy.
"It was very hard on her," recalled Mrs MacDonald. "David was also absolutely stunned by what happened. He and Ian were like brothers. Ian was regularly up here on holiday after he left Wick," she said.
"It is difficult for the family on every anniversary but will be even more so this year as it is the 10th anniversary on Sunday."
Mr Gray was a passenger on the Boeing 757 which left Dulles International Airport, near Washington, and was on his way to California for business meetings when the plane was hijacked. It was crashed into the Pentagon, the nerve centre of US military and defence operations.
All 64 people on board died and many more lost their lives inside the famous five-sided building. In all, four planes were hijacked that day in attacks on America which claimed thousands of lives – two were intentionally crashed into the Twin Towers; and when passengers attempted to take control of a fourth it crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Mr Gray left Wick at the age of five when the family moved to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire but they returned north regularly for holidays.
After qualifying as a chartered accountant, Mr Gray moved to America and joined a medical care company.
He rose to become vice-president, principal and treasurer of McBee Associates Inc, a leading national financial and management consulting firm dedicated to the healthcare industry.
He was based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Columbia, Maryland. At the time his wife, Ana, was chief executive of Greater Southeast Community Hospital.
Mr Gray was survived by his wife and daughter Lisa who lives in Baltimore.
