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Contributed by:
Leigh Snyder
Contributor's location on 9/11:
Contributed on:
12 July 2002
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How did you witness history on September 11th?
Although I live on the outskirts of Shanksville, PA I was at home that morning
with my baby boy Dawson who was one at that time. It was a georgeous day and a
gentle breeze was blowing outside. My other children were off to school for the
morning and I just settled in to watch the TODAY show on television. I can
remember watching the interruption of news to tell us about the first plane in
the first tower. I called my husband who works at the local state corrections
facility and he said that they knew nothing about it there. I then hung up and
went back to watching tv when the second plane hit the second towner. That is
when I became concerned knowing that something "was not an accident" at that
time. I was glued to my tv the whole morning. Suddenly, my house shook.
(Around our area it isn't uncommon for a large coal truck to tip over and create
the ground to shake hard and that is what I thought it was at first) I then
called my husband again and asked him if he tho!
ught I should be concerned as I was standing on my front porch speaking to him.
I was concerned as we live near the turnpike tunnels on the mountains and
wondered if we were entering into some kind of war if I should worry. Then I
saw a huge black cloud move very slowly across the air over the distance. I
kept thinking that something didn't feel right. "What was this?" Then the tv
reported that another plane crashed somewhere near Pittsburgh, PA and I thought
it was too coincidental, the black cloud to be anything else but the plane...I
just knew. Then a bit later, the report said Shanksville, PA. Still being in
my night clothes, I slipped a pair of shorts on, grabbed the baby and a bottle
and out the door we went to collect my other children at Shanksville school. My
heart was pounding and my mind was over reacting. I was driving irratically on
a road that wasn't fit to go over 30 MPH, but these were my kids and this was my
town. I was hoping to pull onto main str!
eet to see my familiar sites and to see people going about their business as
usual. As I pulled onto Main St. life looked okay and as soon as I spotted a
neighbor of mine who was picking up a child from daycare, I knew that our school
was still intact. When I got to the school, it was a circus. Parents quickly
signing out kids for the day till they found out what was happening in our sleep
little town. My children were frightened as well, telling me that books fell
out of their desk and that a light bulb fell out of a fixture. They knew that a
plane crashed but they were very confused as to why so many were scared and
pulling children out of school. Teachers did their best to explain the least to
children without making them scared. As I went to check on my sister's house
along Skyline Road (the road that the plane crashed) with my children, I was
surprised not to see emergency workers flooding the area yet. It still seemed
quite still except for the debris in her lawn. I will never forget that feeling standing there with the debris surrounding me and the kids. It became a reality
that terror was litterally in our backyards. Then a fireman directed me and the
children to evacuate the area... that is when the emergeny efforts began.
Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001?
In some ways, the American way of living will have to be lived with a cautious approach whereas before, everything in this country was so very carefree. In my mind, I will not let the "terroristic" thinking overtake my freedoms to do things that I used to do before Sept. 11, 01, however, some of the things may have to be done differently. I most definately love to see the country painted in red, white and blue and the patriotic spirit that the terrorist attacks have created. The loss of human live is difficult, but we have always been a nation on strong people. This was just a harsh reminder that we should not take things or people for granted...we should cherish all that God has given us.
What do you think should be remembered about September 11th?
The unity of this country, the outpouring to help and volunteer. For once, whites, blacks, hispanice, arabs, muslims, jews, indians, etc. as well as Republican, Democrats and other groups put their ideas and differences aside to think about our American human race. Why can't it always be like that?
The innocent loss of civilian lives, the loss of military lives caused by this war on terror, the loved ones and friends who had to suffer the pain of those losses. Also, the 3 locations (New York, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, PA) Some who survived, some who will live with the constant memory and the many who perished.
The heroic efforts of the rescue workers and bystanders that assisted without any thought. The way our flag waves high across our country and the spirit of the human heart in the time of need.
Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th?
I have collected flags for about 8 years. It was a hobbie that I started because I love the colors and the history of our country. So needless to say, I have many flags throughout my home flying high. My feelings have not changed toward the flag since Sep. 11, as I have always felt strongly about being an American. I can remember as a little girl, my father explained to me about the flag and that it should never touch the ground. I can still see him pushing in the smaller flags around the corners of our home on Memorial Day. It is just so nice to see everyone taking pride in something that has always been there...
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Leigh Snyder, Smithsonian Story #70, The September 11 Digital Archive,
12 July 2002, <http://911digitalarchive.org/smithsonian/details/70>.
603 words, 3288 characters
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