Community Corner

Couple Was In France On 9/11

Julie and Marvin Crone of Deerfield were touring the beaches of Normandy when the attacks occurred in the United States.

When terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, Julie and Marvin Crone were overseas touring France.

It had already been an emotional day visiting the beaches of Normandy when their tour guide said they should head back to their room and watch the news because something had happened back home.

The news was shocking to the Crones. Julie used to travel to New York frequently with a friend — they used to take the subway from New Jersey to the World Trade Center complex — so Julie had been in the Twin Towers many times.

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"Our tour director told us to keep a low profile," she said of the remainder of her stay in France. She wasn't nervous being overseas for the remainder of her trip. Julie added that the French citizens were very nice to the American tourists.

When it was time to return home, it took Julie and Marvin four hours to get through airport security. They had a direct flight to Chicago, but ended up having a brief layover in Washington, D.C. Their flight was one of the first to return to the United States.

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"We were very lucky to get back," said Julie. “I’m really not a nervous flyer. I just wanted to really get back."

The Crones are still avid travelers, though Julie said everything has changed given the increased security and restrictions.

"It's not pleasant anymore," she said.

Editor's note: Julie and Marvin's story is just one of many that Patch sites across the country are sharing today. Patch put together a photo gallery featuring 911 snapshots of people whose lives were affected in some way by 9/11. Please look through this gallery: Touched By Terror: Patch Remembers 9/11 in 911 Snapshots. When you're done, feel free to share your thoughts.


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