9/11 survivor to speak about his escape

Michael Hingson will visit the Geauga County Public Library Sept. 16 at the Newbury Auditorium to share his inspirational story of how he escaped from the World Trade Center on 9/11 with his seeingeye dog Roselle.

Blind since birth, Hing- son defied expectations even in his early life, performing extremely well in high school and receiving both the Eagle Scout rank and the highest honor of Vigil in Boy Scouts, according to a press release.

When he was 14 years old, Hingson was given his first guide dog, teaching him the important les- sons of leadership, trust, teamwork, and adaptation, among others, the release stated. This aided him in his sales career and beyond, most notably when Hingson trusted and worked with his guide dog Roselle to lead him down 78 f lights of stairs during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Hingson’s book about his escape, “Thunder Dog,” is a New York Times bestseller.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Hingson’s new seeing-eye dog, Africa, who will sign “pawtographs,” according to a press release

Hingson and his dog Africa will tell the story of “Teamwork, trust, and vision — Surviving 9/11” at 2 p.m. inside auditorium, 14775 Auburn Road.

But first, from noon to 1:45 p.m. there will be indoor and outdoor activities and demonstrations. These include therapy dogs and Reading to Rover dogs; Guiding Eyes for the Blind dogs, search-and-rescue dogs. and Geauga County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Fields and his working miniature horse Rick O’Shay.

There will also be local first responders, sidewalk chalk drawing areas, Club Ink tattoo station and others .

he event is free, but registration is required at GeaugaLibrary.net.