15 20 2325 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in school that day. In my Spanish class, someone told me that planes had hit some buildings in New York City. I thought they were joking. When I got to lunch, I had just sat down with my food when the Vice Principal walked in. She quietly explained that two planes had flown into the twin towers and that they didn't know anything else. A flurry of questions ensued, such as "What kind of planes?" and "What happenned to the towers?" The Vice Principal said that she knew nothing. After lunch, I went to my history class. The class spent the whole time talking about the history in the making. A number of students, including myself, left to go to the library to watch the television there. I couldn't believe my eyes. School continued for the rest of the day, but after-school activities were cancelled. When my mom arrived at school to take me home, all I could say was "Did you see it?". At first, she didn't know what I was talking about. "You mean the plane that hit one of the twin towers?" I explained to her that there were three planes. Throughout the rest of the car ride home, we consolidated our knowledge. Finally, I got home. The one thing I wanted was information, and lots of it. I had, for most of the night, a television tuned to CNN, a radio tuned to WZID 95.7 FM, which had skipped their regular music shows to cover the attacks, a computer playing BBC World, and three computers on different news web sites. Every time I learned something new, I just wanted to know more. I continued like this for the next week, only taking short breaks for dinner and homework. Finally, my parents convinced me that I wasn't going to learn anything else. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5293.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-11-21 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.189.94.109 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was working from my home pc when it happened. I turned on the TV and watched as Katie Couric and Matt Lauher described the situation. I wanted to see a real news caster, I scanned the networks looking for Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather or even Peter Jennings. Peter was the first one I saw so I watched him until Dan Rather came to his network. In this age of the demise of the network news anchor, I am amazed at how comforting it was to have a reliable known conduit for the unfolding tragedy. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Whenever I see a plane in the sky, I think about the horror on board the doomed planes. I am more interested in international events and consider them in the perspective, "how will that incent people to come and kill Americans?" I also feel empathy for the families of the victims and often think of how their broken homes are healing. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Of course the heroism of the moment, although that has been well documented. Maybe perhaps we should ponder the terrible human condition that spawns suicidal fanaticism. Consider human rights. Maybe if we all work to achieve a world where human rights are honored, we will not create people willing to die and kill inocents. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? No. The American flag is a powerful symbol. I cast a watchful eye to those who flash it around. The flag pins sold for profit at the office supply store, the billboards presenting the flag and a message about 0 percent financing, and now the politicians writing their names in stars and bars. I am first suspicious of ideas wrapped up in a flag, they oft times cannot stand scrutiny without it. Don't confuse Nationalism and a blind thirst for revenge, which are not noble, with patriotism, which is. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah220.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.9.19.89 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. Like many others, in California, I watched the disaster on television. On September 11the, I was called to worked as the general foreman of the entertainment, transportation department for the Disneyland Resort (Dept. 382- Show Services). I wasn't sure why I was being called into work seeing as our CEO, Michael Eisner had closed all Disney theme parks. When I arrived at work, I learned that even though the theme park was closed, entertainment was instructed to remain at the Disney Resort hotels, to entertain our out of state guests. Needless to say, it was a little bit eerie to walk around the park with no guests and very few cast members. And even a year later, knowing you're still a possible terrorists target, leaves people uneasy. With ample time on our hands, myself and two of my crew members, (Bryan Volmer and Roland Santos) were able to take photos of Disneyland, completely empty of tourists. These will be a reminder for myself, family and friends, for many years to come. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, my life has changed in that I have seen hours shortened and people having to find other work, because of a downturn in tourists. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4336.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.209.108 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I will remember September 11, 2001 for as long as I live. I was teaching a 6th grade language arts class in Chattanooga, Tennessee that morning. Our resource officer opened the door to my classroom and said that they World Trade Center had just been hit with a plane. I shooed him off thinking that it was just another one of his ways to interrupt my class. A few minutes later, I walked by a door that adjoined another class with mine and saw their television on the news. I couldn't believe it. I turned the TV on in my classroom so that my students and I could see what was going on. As soon as we turned the TV on, the second plane hit. We watched in awe, and a few of my students wanted to know why. I didn't know what to tell them. Lunch began, and some students stayed in my class to watch. As the first tower came crashing down, I started to cry as well, as some of my students. We were all glued to the television. When the second tower came crashing down, I had to leave. I ran behind the school and cried until I couldn't breathe. I was so angry and questioned God. I composed myself before I had to return to my classroom so that I could be strong for the children. The only teaching that was done that day was a lesson in human nature and comforting. Two hours before school ended, we had a bomb threat called into our school. The entire school had to stand outside for hours while the fire dept. and police looked over the campus. The students were already upset and this just added to their horror. Parents were driving by, worried about their children, and it was hard for the teachers to contain behaviors that come out in frightened children. After returning home, I realized that my Uncle worked at the pentagon and desperately tried to get in touch with someone. I later found out that he had just changed jobs and was no longer working in D.C. One month later, I flew to Washington for a teacher's conference in Baltimore. This was my first trip to D.C. The entire city was too quite to be comfortable. I stayed on the other end of the mall from the Capitol building because of the recent anthrax scares. It was unsettling to see sharp-shooters on all the rooftops. Everytime a plane would fly close by, my hear would flutter. I also saw remenants of the trade center at the metro station. This brought me closer to the actual event. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has certainly changed. I think about Sept. 11th all the time and have a whole in my heart for all of the families that lost a loved one. Every year, as we are all reminded of the great losses, I still cry uncontrollably. My son was only 2 at the time, so I bought magazines about that day to save for him. I think it will be important for him to understand what America has gone through. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The most important thing that needs to be remembered is that we are free. Freedom came at a great cost, and it takes reminders like this one of how much is costs everyday. I think that we sometimes loose the fact that it has always been like this since we seperated from England. We will always be persecuted in some way for our freedoms. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I think that I had more red, white, and blue on my house and car than paint itself! I still fly the flag during national holidays, all summer, and especially on Sept. 11th. I have always had special pride in our flag, and cry whenever I see it flying high during the national anthem. I remember saying the pledge of allegiance to the flag when I was a kid at our local amusement park everytime the roller coaster would be pulled up the first hill. It was almost like a prayer. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6843.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-09-27 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 67.213.47.52 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. When I was younger my mother would always tell me that she would never forget where she was or what she was doing at the time she found out that John F. Kennedy had been murdured. She said it was a moment in history that the U.S. will never forget and she always told me that she hoped that I would never have a simmular expierence. The day that I woke up to my grandmother on the phone saying that a plane had crashed into one of the twin towers, I remember thinking someone was playing a joke on the radio, that this couldn't be true. We turned on the news and I listened to the radio all the way to school. Throughout the entire day all that I did was watch as the towers fell and the moment the plane first crashed into the first tower was replayed again and again. It was a day in our nations history that I will never forget. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Because of September 11, 2001 I am more concious about the events that are taking place concerning not only our contry, but our world as a whole. I now realize that the people I see everyday could one day go to work and something could happen and I might never see then again. Because of September 11 I am more appreciative of those I might sometimes take for granted. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? One of the things that I think is most important to remember about September 11 is how our nation reacted as a whole. We mourned together for the loss of innocent lives, we gave thanks together for the bravery and courage shown by those who risked and in some cases gave their own lives in order to try and save others, and we also united in our desicion that a select group was to blame for this trajity not an entire nation. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3037.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.81.17.59 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. As a Canadian, I had visited New York City on business every Fall since '98. On September 11, I woke for the first day of an eight day trip. My friend and I had headed to attend a taping of Good Morning America, but decided to catch breakfast instead. We noticed how startlingly blue the sky was that morning as we walked to a diner on West 4th street. We had just paid the bill and come outside, when we noticed everything had sort of stopped. People were standing around. My friend said, "I hope it's not a jumper". I was afraid to look up, and then saw the gaping whole in the Tower. It was hard to process the image. I remembered a plane going into the Empire State Building in the 40s, and thought at first that it was amazing I was there when it happened again. I started to realize people might have been killed, and was very sad to see the 'accident'. People on cell phones were saying that an airliner had hit the tower. When we knew it wasn't a cessna, I thought it was terrorists. We both thought it was Bin Laden. We walked toward the Towers for about 10 minutes, and then an explosion ripped through the other Tower. It looked like an A-bomb going off. We didn't see the plane go into it. I thought a part of the first plane had fallen through into the other building and exploded. My friend thought it was a bomb. We kept walking toward the towers. At Canal St. we stopped to call home and tell everyone in Newfoundland that we were ok. A man said he had come down from around the 40th floor, and not to go any further because people were jumping. One man said "This is what happens when you don't support Israel." A Jewish man had turned toward the towers and was praying with a book. Another man said "Well, I've got to get a new office tomorrow. I was on the 32nd floor." Everyone was dealing with it their own way. Eventually we turned back and picked up the pace. When we stopped to rest, I heard the most sickening of sounds. A crowd on both sides of the streets stood and gasped while the first building collapsed. The collective sound of that crowd on that street is vivid. It's very hard to describe sounds. I've heard that sickest of sounds described in many ways. Everyone has their own description. The best way I would describe it would be to imagine if you were on a roller coaster with 500 people and then it went off the tracks. That's the sound. I thought the tower had crushed Canal St. We sat and every so often walked a block or two. But we couldn't really leave. We were watching and waiting for something. It was terrible, but I think we knew the other tower would fall. There is a conflicting feeling I've heard others talk of from 9-11. On the one hand you are disgusted and don't want to gawk. On the other, you feel the need to bear witness, so that no one will ever forget what happened. We stayed and watched. I wanted that other tower to stand. I wanted something good to happen, but mostly I just wanted it to be over. When the last tower fell, I heard that sick sound from the crowd again, turned to a gentleman beside me and said "At least it's over...no one is hurting...no one is afraid." He said the same to me. Cabs and cars had pulled over with radios blaring and circles of people in tens and twenties piled around them listening to the news. We heard "The Pentagon is in flames", "Another Plane is missing." We went uptown trying to avoid tall buildings. It felt like World War III. We kept walking to 63rd St. and went in our hotel to watch CNN. After a brief stop, we decided to go to Central Park, where it would be safer. By 2 p.m. we were watching squirrels climbing the trees. It was a mix of shock and disbelief for the next couple of days. It was surreal. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. In a word, yes. Having been in New York and actually being affected directly by what happened, has definitely been life-changing. There were thousands upon thousands of people who were impacted in much more direct and painful ways then someone like me who just had to run away from downtown. Still, if 9-11 has done anything, it has impressed upon me the strength of character that New Yorkers possess. I am not ashamed to say I am also an American (dual citizen). It has humbled me to think before I make some errant political comment or criticism. I still think for myself, but I also think of what my words mean to others. As odd as it sounds, I feel fortunate to have been there on 9-11. I have seen and heard too many people in my own generation understate the tragedy of 9-11 in trying to make some political point about mideast politics or economics. I feel blessed to remember 9-11 for what it was. A tragedy. An attack on innocents and innocence. An attack on freedom. An act of evil. There is no excuse, there is no reason. There is just a tragedy, which I hope we never forget. There is a challenge to stay safe, vigilant, and show the kindness to one another that I witnessed in New York that week. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Those who perished. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes. I still do as proudly today as on September 12th, 2001. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5645.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-05 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.251.215.250 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I first heard around 8:50 am that morning, as I was on email with a friend. A co worker had just arrived and began telling us that a plane (Flight 11) hit the North Tower of the NYC WTC Complex. Upon hearing this, I (and my co worker) ran into another room to turn on the tv...we got it on and in tune just in time to see United Flight 175 hit the South Tower. From that moment on, we ran back and forth from the tv room to our offices, making phone calls and sending emails to our loved ones, making sure they were ok and letting them know we were ok (I work at a government facility). Essentially, this was the routine until we were dismissed at 12:30 that afternoon. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Good question. I'm not sure if my life has changed, but I do know the way I look at certain things have definitely. For instance, I didn't pay much attention to things around the world. Now, I can't get enough info on other societies, other ways of life. in that sense, my eyes were opened. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The courage and strength of those who perished - one way or another, EVERY SINGLE VICTIM FOUGHT BACK. Whether it was through taking back a plane, climbing a staircase to help another, or finding the strength and courage to call their loved ones under such diress - they are all heroes. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Been flying one since I was a little girl. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5284.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-11-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 153.103.190.11 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was just getting out of the shower and to my horror i heard my step mom screaming for me to come to her. As i looked at the tv i was in complete shock. To see the twin towers being attacked by terrorists was completely mind blowing i thought it was just unbelievable that someone could have such a hatred for our country to kill inococent people. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. it changed my look on how i see the world. I now know that we cant take the lives of others and our country for granted because they can be taken away from u in a flash and we need cherish every moment of it and show pride for our country. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I dont think we should remember it as a moment in time where we begin 2 have hatred for those who where involved in it. I think it should be an eye opener for those who took this country for granted and to give thanks and praise for those people who helped out and died for those people involved. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes we put our flag out and havent taken it off since we feel as if we had taken our country and not shown it the respect it deserved. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6596.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.69.225 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was going to hang clothes outside on the line and decided that I should check the weather...living in Minnesota, you never know what the weather holds on any given day. I turned on the TV and caught the initial reports of the first plane having hit the tower. As I watched I was kind of disinterested because I assumed it was some unfortunate soul commiting suicide in a grand manner. I filled my basket with my clothes and came out in front of the TV again, watching in horror as I saw the second plane crash into the other tower. At that moment, it was obvious that this was no accident. Then my fears came racing to the surface. I thought about Minneapolis and how it might be in harms way. I wondered if I should run to the school to pick up my girls so that we would be together if our time on earth was coming to an end. I had endless thoughts going through my mind...and there was no way I was traveling into downtown Minneapolis to go to work. I watched in anticipation, waiting for the media to report any new information. They announced that all flights were ordered to land. They were still waiting for a few unaccounted planes....then finally all planes were down. Then the first tower collapsed...then the next...at times I felt I was watching a thriller movie, and that the credits would roll on the screen, and this would all be over soon. My heart was racing all day, and I was fighting back tears as I watched the endless newscasts. The fear I felt is indescribable. There was overwhelming sadness I felt when I thought about the countless lives that were lost and the pain I knew the loved ones would experience for the rest of their lives. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I have always considered myself true to my country, but more than ever, I feel the love I have for this land and the people in it. Each day I think about how fortunate we are to be Americans. I pay more attention to the news of the world, and pray that countries will find peace and love in their hearts for their fellow humans. I never fail to tell my family how important they are to me and how much I love them. I fear for the future of my children and their children. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I don't know how anyone could forget 9-11-01, but let us not forget the courage of the individuals that were on sight. -- Those that gave their lives trying to save others. -- Innocent victims and those they left behind. Let us always remember to not take life for granted. Let us always feel our blood running red, white and blue. Let us not forget that we must fight evil and not turn our backs and ignore it. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I have put a flag outside my house and flags in the corners of the windows on my vehicle. It has brought out the deep sense of American pride in me that was laying dormant or hidden in the tranquility of every day life in America before 9-11-01. I have always been attentive during the national anthem, but now there are emotions that surface each time I hear the song and see the flag...I am proud to be an American and I'm not afraid to say it out loud. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah331.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-20 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 63.225.141.203 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I am a surgical assistant for a veterinarian who specializes in orthopedics. We work within the ten mile radius of Three Mile Island neuclear power plant. My boss's wife came upstairs from grooming dogs, and told us that a plane was just flown into the WTC, we changed our radio station to an all news station and continued to work. We were getting a yellow lab. named Kasey, ready for triple pelvic osteotmy surgery, then we heard that the other tower was hit with a commercial airplane,thats when we knew it was terrorists attacking the U.S. One of my co-workers turned on a television in the doctors office, but I wanted to scrub in for this surgery, I had to keep busy, because I started getting alot of anxiety about TMI being a target. I was making a plan as to which one of of us takes which pet with them if we have to evacuate. Everyone else seemed much more calm than me, so I tried to fake it(that is probably what they were doing to). Then we heard about the attack at the Pentagon, I could not believe that they could touch a government/millitary building! Everyone was in the office watching the television when I heard on the radio that a plane crashed in a feild, a few hundred miles west of us heading our way, I was sure that the pilots crshed it to save many on the ground, we also talked about the fact that it may have been shot down, But my anxiety was getting worse that they were going for TMI, I called where my daughter works to tell her I love her, she was outside but her boss said he would tell her, he told me it would take a plane to hit straight down into TMI, because of the way it is built, for it to do anything, wether itwas true or not, it made me feel better. Then i called my son to tell him I loved him. Finally we got to work, when surgery was over on Kasey,that was the first time I went to look at the television, and I will never forget what I saw, it was images of the burning towers with debre falling everywhere, it looked so strange,thats when the commentator said they were people jumping out of the building. I could not believe what I was seeing. That had to be the most awful choise anyone would have to make. I was so glad when it was time to come home,not that it changed anything but your own house always lets you feel safest. I also felt safer when they said all planes were out of the skies, except our military. Another thing I will never forget is during the next days not seeing ant planes in the sky, there is a flight pattern high above where we live for Harrisburg Int. Airport, it was very strange and ery to go outside and look up and not see any jet streams. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I am more suspiciuos of people now. We were scheduled to fly to Cancun for a vacation on Sep. 14th 2001. I was glad that the planes were still grounded, because I was not ready for a vacation. It had been rescheduled for Oct. 10th. but I still wasn't ready to fly. When we got to the airport it was so strange and scary to see all these young men walking around with machine guns, it made me feel safe and scared at the same time,if something would have happened, I was glad the gaurds were there, but on the other hand, how accurate can you be in a crowded airport with a machine gun? When we got on the plane there was a man who may have been middle eastern,and I couldn't stop watching him. I felt predjudice toward people who probably had all the same fears that I did on Sep.11th. And a year later I can't help but feel that way when I see someone from middle eastern decent. I don't like that feeling. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? That we -the U.S.A.- is the strongest country in the world! and we let our gaurd down. We as citizens think that our goverment agencies are handling evrything,we need to report suspicious activities, even if it turns out to be nothing, at least we did our part to do "what we can do for our country" NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, and I will always fly a flag at my house. When i was young my grandma always had a flag flying, I don't know how we all lost some of our patriatism, maybe with the media always joking about our own government,whatever the reason, I now as an adult saw first hand how our country can pull together when needed, and that is what I feel when I look at the American flag. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4917.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.209.108 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. In school. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Not really. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Many people die for no reason. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? my parents did.no Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3791.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.204.95.2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was driving down the freeway in Houston where I live, with my wife when I heard on the radio that a plane hit the first building. My first thoughts were there had been an attack of some kind. The possibility of a plane hitting the WTC on accident was hard to believe. Several minutes later when the second plane hit, I think the whole country knew we were being attacked. Upon reaching my office, we piled into the kitchen along with everyone else and watched the horrific scenes of the buildings collapse playout in utter disbelief. It wasn't long before the emotions of shock and disbelief turned into fear, anger and rage and the desire for revenge. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I don't take anything for granted. Before 9/11 I took for granted I would see my family at the end of the day. Not anymore. I thank God each and every day for my wife and children and that I have the ability to be with them. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? First, is the obvious. It was a day that cowards murdered an awful lot of our countrymen. Secondly, from the passengers on the doomed flights who fought back, to the firemen and policemen who ran into those buildings, to the scores of other rescue workers who gave their lives trying to help others, their actions showed the rest of the world what courage in the face of adversity really means. These people represent the finest that this country has to offer. These people truly were heroes. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes I did and continue to fly one. I have always been a patriotic person and have strong feelings about our country and our flag. Our flag has always been and continues to be the symbol of everything good in a world that seems to have gone mad. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah206.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.34.65.136 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was at work in the World Trade Center when the attack occurred. I work for the Port Authority of NY & NJ's Comptroller's Department and we were located on the 69th Floor of 1 WTC. When the first plane hit, I was having a cup of coffee and talking with the person in the next office about what a beautiful day it was. When the plane hit, we had no idea what it was. The building shook violently and I remember crossing myself because I thought that the building was going to completely topple over. It swayed for awhile and seemed to steady itself. A lot of things were falling from the floors above ours and we knew whatever had happened, it was big. Like a moron, all I could think about was getting my books so that I would have them for law school that night. Smoke started to come up on our floor and we made sure that everyone was leaving. Eventually, there were 11 of us left on the 69th Floor. The Comptroller herself, nine men, and a co-worker that is confined to a wheelchair. The ten of us took it upon ourselves to carry him down. The stairs were tight but, as a result of the 1993 attack on the WTC, we had an evacuation chair that allowed us to slide him down the stairs. We took turns (2 in front and 2 in back) to make sure that the evacuation was safe. By the 44th Floor, the stairs had become to smoke filled to continue using so I ran ahead and found another set of stairs that was basically free of smoke but was a lot hotter. We switched stairs and continued down. At some point, an FBI agent, on the way up, told us that both buildings had been hit by planes. It was at that point that we knew it was terrorism. But we weren't scared. Not because we were a bunch of brave souls. I personally wasn't scared because I was clueless as to how bad it really was. We kept going and at about the 20th floor (I think - some of my co-workers think it was the 12th floor) some firemen asked us to stop and leave our co-worker behind because we were in the way of firefighters that were bringing up the equipment needed to fight the fires. We waited on that floor for a few minutes and then the building shook and the lights went out. We didn't know it at the time, but that was 2 WTC collapsing. We got the okay from the firemen to continue carrying our friend out but to stay to one side. We did that. At this opoint, we had been carrying him for over an hour and everyone was hot, tired and, because it was now dark, with holes in the walls and water on the floors, scared. The firemen were great. We were doing all we could to get out of there and they were telling us what a great job we were doing. Meanwhile, they were going up into the unknown, and with the knowledge that two planes had intentionally hit the buildings. We kept going. I had assumed that since we were going to get out that everyone else was going to get out. I was so wrong. At some point, a fireman stopped the crowd from leaving. He had us wait. Then a fireman came running down from the stairs above us yelling "Go. Go. Go." We went. We got to the lobby and it looked like a bomb had gone off in it. We made a right and walked through the blown out glass doors that used to lead to West Street. We got outside and put our co-worker down and some guys came to us ansd said to keep moving because it wasn't safe where we were. They helped us carry him for a block or so. They were the only people I remember seeing as we first got outside. We stopped near a firetruck, thinking it was safe there. It had to be - we were a block away from the building. At this point, we still had no clue that 2 WTC had collaped. The ground was covered with some gray stuff but we had no clue what it was. We looked back at our building, still on fire, and that is when we saw the people jumping. It was by far the worst thing I had ever seen in my life. I didn't want to turn away - not because it was something that I wanted to see but because I felt that if those poor people had no alternative but to jump, the least I could do was to pay my respects and say a "God Bless you" for themm. It was such a shocking day that a non-religious person like myself was crossing myself and saying "God Bless". Some police and firemen told us to carry our friend to a triage area set up at Stuyveasant High School. We carried him to just outside the doors and then it happened. There was a rumble and I had no idea what it was. I turned to look around the corner and that is when I saw some policemen running. They picked our co-worker up and started for the school. I turned back and a big cloud was coming. It was huge and it was coming from everywhere. It looked like something from an Indiana Jones movie but it was real. We got into the school just in time. Everything turned black as the cloud covered the school. Some poor person outside didn't make it in and no one was going to open the door until the cloud passed. By this time, my group had become separated. We were mixed in among terrified high school students who were probably more afraid than us. A possible gas leak emptied out the school after the dust cloud had passed. I ran into Rich Capriotti and we proceeded to walk uptown together. Some lady told us that 7 planes had been commandeered and America was under attack. It felt like the movie Independence Day. It felt like war. Eventually Rich and I parted company. He had to walk across the 59th Street Bridge to get into Queens for a ride home. I had to spend a few hours in line waiting for a ferry to Weehawken. In Weehawken, there was a bomb scare so I walked from there to my apartment in Jersey City. It tool hours. And when I got home, people stood on the hill next to my apartment watching the smoke from the WTC site. I didn't want to watch. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5153.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-25 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.196.3.108 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I didn't have television reception on September 11th, 2001. My first news of the event was a phone call from my father. My brother kept me posted from there on, but each new call with each new bit of information seemed confused and unbelievable. I felt very detatched. I spent the rest of the day on the internet and listening to local news radio. I emailed all of my N.Y.C. friends and was relieved to hear of their safety. I did have one email that was a first-hand account, witnessed from a block away. I cried a lot that day. I hugged my daughter probably too much and talked to my husband with disbelief. How could regular people have been convinced that this was the right thing to do? With all of the choices in this world, how could these people have been so consumed with hatred that they would willingly make this a life's ambition? NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I was a stay-at-home mother when these tragedies occurred. I listened to a lot of radio opinions, venting, blaming, and sharing. I took a serious look at how I could contribute to the solution, but first I had to determine for myself what the real problem was. My conclusion is that these people, who's hearts were so filled with hatred, will never be swayed. The solution is to build a better generation of people; people who won't choose hate based on opinions, skin color, origin or ancestoral transgressions. We had to teach our children to make better choices so that they can influence a better world. By the end of September, I decided that I needed to go back to public school teaching, a career that I had not reconsidered until that point. I was a good teacher, and I was needed. I regrouped my resume, had an interview with an inner-city district within a week and got the job on the spot. My fate was driven by the great loss and if there can be any silver-linings, I now impact the lives of hundreds of children, desolate, abused, migrant and homeless. I run a music department for a fine arts charter elementary school and am giving young children opportunities to feel successful, to be a part of a team, and to make a positive impact on the community around them. They all know why I'm there. I say, "I don't care if you become fantastic musicians... I just want you to be good people!" NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Hate breeds hate. We need to remember the feelings of commradery we had with complete strangers on the street. We need to keep our lives in perspective in respect of the memories of all those people who died and suffered. We have to believe that tomorrow can and will be better, but it needs our collective help. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I was never that connected to patriotism. I'm part of the disposable, detatched, and war-free generation. The gulf war was a mini-series and world politics is just an general college credit. Now that I have a family, it means so much more. I didn't fly a flag personally because I thought it would be too pretensious. I do pause and consider the flag more. I think about what it represents and am touched by that power. I have my little teacher lapel pin of the flag. I feel good wearing it. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5543.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-06-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.174.155.73 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. To answer literally, I watched the two towers fall on the news along with millions of other Americans on that fateful morning. More importantly, I watched history being made in the downcast eyes of my peers. This event will change my generation forever; it will keep us constantly aware of the delicacy of our liberty and safety. We are the future leaders of this nation, and I hope that this event will not breed hate for the Middle East that will eventually bubble over into the horrible mistakes of the future. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has not changed since September 11th. We as Americans wanted to think that we would remember this event forever, that the trade towers would become the new Alamo, but it is sad how quickly our resolve has faded. Life has pretty much returned to normal. See, New York is thousands of miles from where I live, and it is difficult to relate to an event that happened a year ago, in a city I have never seen, to people I have never met. While I am by no means saying that the events of that day did not affect me, I must admit that now that the great trauma of having our nation attacked is done with, my life is largely unchanged. Month after month, flags slowly disappear from cars and homes, talks of the event vanish from the radio, and soon it will be just another event written in a history textbook. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? From September 11th, I believe we as a nation need to take a greater sense of world community. Bombings and other terrorist attacks are daily events in the Middle East, but they have never received the incredible media attention that a single attack on America did. America needs to remember that we are not the only nation under attack from terror. We need to use this pain to help us sympathize more acutely with the conflicts in the East, and from this sympathy draw new resolution to end terrorism--not out of outrage and vengence for September 11th, but out of compassion for the war-torn Middle East nations. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I did not fly a flag after September 11th. Nobody flies an Israeli flag after they are viciously attacked, even though we are close allies with Israel; it just didn't feel right to do so for America. We in America are very elitist, and it seems that we use our flag not only to display unity but also our superiority over other nations. I felt that after September 11th, flying a flag would only enrage people more against the Middle Eastern nations, which is exactly the opposite reaction that the flag should have. The flag is a beautiful symbol that should inspire people to come together, and I certainly don't mind other people flying it. But it invokes too many negative emotions toward the Middle East, and that is why I choose not to fly it. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah1515.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-08 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 150.135.117.120 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I am a Pentagon Police Officer and I had just briefed my traffic squad of the situation in New York and told them to be careful. I went into the Pentagon for a staff meeting and as I was waiting, I was doing what most of America was doing, watching the news. I couldn't belive what was happening. As I stood there, all of a sudden I heard a transmission over my police radio that stated "a plane has just hit the building." I couldn't believe what I had heard, I ran to the phone and called dispatch. I asked if I heard correctly, they said yes and I was on my way outside. There were people running out the doors with panicked looks on their faces. Officer Ochoa and I ran outside together. As soon as we got out of the building, it was dark outside, from all the smoke. I looked at Officer Ochoa and I told her we weren't dying today. Both of us were terrified because our fiances worked at the Pentagon too and we had no idea if they made it out alive. As we drove to the heliport side of the building, I couldn't believe what I saw. There were millions of pieces of debris everywhere and the building had this gaping whole of fire. I saw my fiance and hugged him, that was the best hug of my life. We told each other to be careful and that we loved eachother and that was the last I saw of him for hours. Unfortunately, Officer Ochoa didn't have the same luck, she didn't find her fiance until three hours later. I left the supervisor's truck out for supplies and ran to the building. There were some additional explosions (acetalyne tanks) after a few minutes, that is when the fire department shouted to get back. I ran back to the truck and assisted the fire department in setting up the triage that nobody came to. Later, I assisted in guarding evidence for the FBI. For the numerous weeks following the 11th, I assisted families in locating vehicles of loved ones they lost and guarding the rubble pile for the FBI. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, I believe everyone's lives have changed. I feel very lucky to be alive and to have my husband with me. It was nice to get home after 12 hours working on the 11th to listen to our answering machine. So many people called to check on us - its amazing how many people's lives you touch. It was good to know so many of our friends love us and thought of us immediately when they heard about the atack. I live for each day. I know that there will be another attack and that it could be tomorrow. I make sure I tell my family and friends that I love them. I try to soak in everything, notice everything, realize just how wonderful the simplest things are and that we should treasure them. We have spent a lot of time together and with our family and friends. That is what is important now. As of Septemeber 12, 2001, its more about the little things that make you happy. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The people of the United States of America were more united than ever. I also belive we should remember all the innocent people that were lost and the families they have left behind. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes. I think the flag is beautiful and that everyone in this country should fly it. I know everytime I hear the Star Spangled Banner I cry. The land of the free...I can't believe someone would attack us because we are free. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah390.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-23 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 140.185.96.59 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. My husband works at home in northern Virginia and that morning, I was going into work later after picking my old car up from the body shop. He starts his coffee and turns on CNN every morning while checking newsgroups online. He told me right away when the first plane hit the World Trade Center when it first came on CNN. We were in disbelief like everyone else and just mesmerized by the footage we were seeing. After the second plane hit, we put the volume on mute while we started trying to call relatives. It was then we heard the crash at the Pentagon--it was so clear what it was--and it just sent chills down our spines. I ended up not even going into work at American University--the university closed that morning so everyone could be home with their families. Reality really set in when I called my one sister in our area to find out if she had heard from my other sister who works at Deutsche Bank across from the South Tower in New York. She did talk to her immediately after the first plane hit but then the phone lines jammed up. She ended up getting out after the first plane hit and her coworkers and her got out and on the ferry to Staten Island as it all unfolded. Because the phones were jammed in New York and DC, she couldn't get in touch with us in the DC area nor her husband in midtown Manhatten. We found out she was okay when around noon she was able to get in touch with her mother-in-law in Richmond who then was able to get in touch with us and her husband. When my neighbors started coming home that afternoon early, it seemed everyone had a 9/11 story. One works for the State Department and they were evacuated because of a supposed bomb threat. Another was heading on a metro bus from an early morning meeting to his work at the Pentagon and saw the plane hit the Pentagon from the bus. He's in the military and had just moved here a month earlier. Even American University received bomb threats later that week and we were sent home. Everyone was on edge. There was just that sense of fear throughout. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Because I drive along and across the Potomac River every day, a lot of planes follow the river down to National Airport to land. That was the first time I really became aware of the planes and heard them flying overhead and a fear would rush over me especially being in the DC area. Also, my coworkers and I got used to hearing the fighter jets flying around the city daily. We'd hear them around lunchtime come by American University. I am not sure that my life has directly changed but I think there is a feeling of paranoia of waiting for what might happened next. And I don't think that feeling will ever go away. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Besides the victims and their families who will be remembered that day, we have to remember our basic liberties that were attacked that day and we should look to the future for better ways to protect our freedom. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I did not fly a flag after 9/11 but choosing not to fly the flag does not mean I am not patriotic. I celebrate my patriotism by my words. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5657.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-07 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.92.148.39 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was working in a small town in Oklahoma as a Nurse Practitioner. We had just started seeing patients when the first tower was hit. I continued seeing patients thinking that this was a horrible accident. The physician in our clinic came to my exam room in tears to tell me that the second tower had been hit. At this point, I excused myself from my patient and called my father who travels quite extensively both in air travel and to the city of New York to make sure that he was on the ground and ok. My mother and step-father along with my brother and his family were in Oregon travelling to state parks. I called them and told them to turn on the television before setting out on their journey that day. At this point, the pentagon was hit and it really felt like an attack on everyone in the United States. I kept trying to see patients since I felt that it was something that I could contribute. Our waiting area was full for the entire week with patients just watching the news, I am not sure how many of them were actually there to be seen. Unfortunately, there was a rotten side of society that appeared that day in Oklahoma... gas prices rose to almost $4.00 per gallon. Within a few days, prices were back to normal but it will always be unsettling to me that there were people (Americans!) out there trying to make an extra dollar during a national tragedy. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. So many people lost family members and I have become very aware of how fragile life can be. Working in health care I already had an advantage over most in regard to our vulnerabilities. The flight that went down in Pennsylvania was very inspirational in that ordinary people acted in an exceptional way. I would hope that I would behave the same. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The bravery of humankind under extradinary circumstances. The generosity and spirit which makes our nation what it is today. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I wore an American flag on my lab coat. Although I feel that the American flag in certainly an important American symbol, I felt that it was more important to demonstrate American pride with personal actions. Not just with a display. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah219.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.3.82.95 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I live in Seattle WA And I was getting ready to leave for work when I saw that the first plane had hit. I remember thinking, how sad, and then leaving. By the time I made it to the "Park and Ride" the 2nd had hit and I just thought, what am I going to witness today. We do not have a television at work but we listened to it all on the radio we had many patients ( I work for an orthodontist) crying beacuse they had loved ones there. when I left work I wasn't sure how I felt. and as we pulled onto the freeway there was a man and a woman on an overpass waiving the American Flag. And I started crying. As I watched the news that night I just cried. I sat outside and watched the stars and I still can't remember when the stars had been so bright. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It has made me realize how precious my family is. I also have made a promise to never go to bed or leave the house angry or without saying "I Love You". I have much more pride and a greather respect for firefighters,police,EMT's and everyone who is willing to risk their life for someone elses no matter what color,race,or religion they may be because that is what they have chosen to do. They are truly our heros and our guardian angles. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I just hope that we don't forget. I know that my generation will remember. But will our children and grandchildren. I know that for the rest of my life that I will never be able to say September 11th with out sadness. But was it the same for those who witnessed Pearl Harbor? Can December 7th pass without sadness? I am sad to admit but for me it does and I just don't want this day to just be another day. Ever. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4958.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 4.35.107.83 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in Mrs.English's science class. She ran in the class room and turned on the t.v. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Since September 11,2001 my life has changed. I'm nicer to people at school and on the streets. I have been a better kid for my parents and I listen to them more. I take their advice more often than I use to. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The things that should be remembered about September 11th is the people that died in the building and the fire men that tried to save the people in the building. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? After September 11,2001, I didn't fly an American flag outside my home but I did fly a American flag inside my heart all the time. My feelings about the flag haven't changed becauseI have always loved the Amrican flag. M.G. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah1853.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.191.87.61