story7167.xml

story7167.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-13

On 9/11/01 I was at work as an elementary guidance counselor in the Conneaut School District(Pennsylvania). The school psychologist arrived sometime after nine asking us if we heard what happened. We hadn't. I remember calling home to talk to my husband who was with our 1 year-old daughter. As we spoke the newscaster announced that the Pentagan had been hit. My strongest feelings were to be with my family. I lived 62 miles away from where I worked and could not leave anyway. I remember fear, shock and most of all horror. My mother works close to NY city and all the phone lines were busy. I could not contact her. My brother was geting his PhD at a school in Washinton D.C. Those lines were busy too. Imagine the families and friends who knew their loved one was in any of those buildings or planes and could not be with them, speak to them or even know if they were alive. Later that morning watching news footage on a collegue's television I couldn't stop thinking how much I had always taken my safety in this country for granted. I recalled watching things like this happen in the Middle East, Africa, etc. How ignorant I was. We made sure the students knew a little about the event before they went home for the day. We were concerned that the high schoolers on their buses would scare them. All the teachers read a written statement to their classes appropriate for elementary students. How ironic, the information was such horror to adults who didn't understand it and a country of parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, etc. had to explain it to a nation of children that night. It is now 9/13 2002 and 1 year later I sitll feel as much, if not more sorrow. I still cannot even begin to imagine the sadness of families, friends, etc. who lost a loved one in the attacks. I stay home with my daughter now. Yes, 9/11 had a great impact on this decision. I'm not sure we can afford it but we are willing to try. I am grateful my daughter was only 1 year-old at the time and too young to know or fear any of it. It is a mission of mine to wait until she is older and explain it all. We must never forget.