343 20 70359 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I was in the seventh grade when the events of September 11th occured.I was in my homeroom class expecting it to be a normal day. We were about half way through our morning devotion when our principal came over then loud speaker asking us to come to the gym for an assembly. I had absolutely no idea what we were having an assembly for, but like many of my class mates I was all for it, I mean we could be missing class. As we got situated on the bleacher seats in the gym our principal began to speak in a very soft voice and then we began to pray. What? What did he say? Most of the kids had not heard a word he had said neither did I, until I passed a tenth grader at the time telling one of the teachers that two planes had crashed into the trade center towers. I had not found out about the other two until i got home and saw the horrific footage on CNN. By this time we were admitted to our first period class which was Algebra 1/2. I remember that class period being particularly quiet. After class I remember joking around that the world was coming to an end and after being told off by a teacher I realized the seriousness of the situation. In my second period English class I remember asking to go to the bathroom and I had the first real cry since the death of my grandfather. 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 story10731.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. 2004-08-06 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.116.141 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: My husband called and said, "turn on the T.V.". I knew something was terrible wrong by the sound of his voice. I watched in horror as I felt that our freedom was in jeopardy. I was so sad for all the lives lost and I had the feeling of total helplessness. I own a dance studio and my first thought was to cancel classes.......but then I decided that the children needed normalcy now more than ever! We had class and out of about 100 students for that day there were only two students who did not attend. Everyone was glad to dance and show the terrorists that we are strong and will survive. I am very proud to be an American! Melisa Harris 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 story3131.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. 207.221.164.20 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: On September I was at school.Well this made me feel sad to see that many people lost there lifes.I'm happy that i was not in this because if I was I don't know what i will do.To the families that lost loves ones I pray that they will gain there strenght back.I thik that this was a bad moment and time.Listen to things about September 11,2001 just made my heart go out to people and their families.Watching this things on telvision just made me wonder if this was me what will happen.This just made me think about what's really going on in the world.Five years from now i hope things will get better and that the world will be diffrent.This make me wonder if they would plain to do this where I live how would it happen and why.I think that this was a sad situation and case.For those people who lost loves ones and their lives i no this is not a good thing and ypu wish they could be with you but put god first and he will make eveything I right.It was sad to see people stuck in the builidings and also to see people crying about what happen on September 11,2001.I don't believe that they crashed into the builiding with airplanes. 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 story20523.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. 2006-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.186.239.238 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: It was right after break when it happened. I was in Tech School for the Air Force. I couldn't believe what happened. I was full of rage and supriseness. I didn't even have family over there but I felt like I did because of all my friends and there family's that live over there. To me the only thing I could do was be god's solider and I start to pray over people. I asked god to spare there family's and friends. It might of been just luck but I feel god helped them. Only one person lost someone that I prayed over. It was a tragic and a very scary day. I was glad that I was serving my country. A1C Gonzalez 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 story9758.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. 2003-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.26.118.36 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I was watching the news and getting ready for my husband's grandmother's funeral. It was a sad day to bury someone we had loved and had in our lives for such a very long time. I heard on the morning news that a plane had hit the World Trade Center and I immediately yelled downstairs for my husband to turn on the news - this must be a terrible accident! Then my 10 year old son and I watched a second plane hit and we thought we were looking at a replay of the first plane. It took several minutes for us to determine what was really happening. We had to leave for the funeral and while we in the car listening to the radio - we heard the tower had fallen and then the Pentagon had been hit. It felt like the end of the world. Maybe it was okay that our grandmother did not have to live to see this tragic and terrible day in our country. 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 story6263.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. 2002-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 204.167.169.72 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I guess I was one of the lucky ones!!! I am a stay-at-home Mom who is able to work from home. While working on this horrific day, I received a call from my mom to turn on the t.v. and she repeated, your brother, your brother!!!!I turned on the t.v. and could not believe my eyes! My body began to shake. Besides my brother who works in a federal building in Washington, I was worried about my immediate family, my children at school and my husband at work. After calming my mom down, I began to attempt to contact my brother in Washington, D.C. After several hours, I was able to leave a message on his voice mail and he did call me back. He was sitting in his office waiting for the traffic to die down. Luckily, he drove in that day from VA. He did not understand the severity of what was happening. After returning to his home to VA, he switched on the t.v. and was in total shock. After a bottle of champagne and a bottle of wine, he called me and was very upset. I tried to calm him as best I could. I could sympathize with him how he felt, for the whole nation felt this way. As we look back a year ago, I am proud to be an American and am proud to see how our country came together. It will always be in my mind and my prayers are with those victims and their families. I was fortunate. My brother left Washington, D.C. not physically hurt, but emotionally, it will be a day he will never forget either. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!! Cathy Stamato, Woodbridge, New Jersey 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 story4254.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. 152.163.188.6 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I was getting my toddler breakfast and turned on the T.V. in the kitchen and did not understand at first what I was seeing. Then after I realized the the World Trade Centers had been hit I just stood there in complete silence - I'm sure my son was trying to get my attention, but for me it's like the world stood still for a moment. Then the plane hit the pentagon - that's when I called my husband at work to tell him I loved him and that he was a wonderful daddy. I didn't know if the whole country was soon going to be under attack. I was also about 5 months pregnant at the time September 11 occured and for a long time I kept wondering why God would want my husband and I to bring another child into this world. I felt so angry and scared, how was I going to explain to this baby that his once safe world was no longer that way. In time I came to realize that God wants us to bring people into this world to help make it a better place. To show that there is still innocence and peace and joy and laughter to be found. All of us have been forever changed by September 11, 2001. We need to always remember that day - but we need to press on and show the world that America is strong, its citizens are strong and that with every breath we take we show how thankful we are for living in Freedom. 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 story5437.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. 67.24.172.220 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I remember at 8:47, a co-worker next door came in and told us that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. My first reaction was - How can someone miss the World Trade Center??? As events unfolded, it was becoming clearer that someone hadn't "missed" the WTC, but instead INTENDED to hit it. Within a few minutes - a 2nd plane hit the South Tower and a bit after that was the plane crash in PA. I remember thinking, How many planes are going to crash!? At the same time, reports of terrorism were being circulated and it then became complete chaos. I didn't personally lose anyone in this disaster, however, it's something I will never forget and my thoughts often go back to the victims and their families whose lives have been forever changed. Maybe some day we will understand the reason for this seemingly unreasonable and dispicable act, but until then, my faith in God - although somewhat shaken - needs to take over. I hope the children of our future never have to go through anything like this. Maria 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 story2485.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. 129.42.208.182 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: On September 11th, 2001, I was sitting in my classroom waiting for the bell to let us out of school. From there, I hitched a ride to a friends house, where we were going to proceed to have band practice. As soon as I walked in the door, I heard panic and screams coming from the TV. I leaned my head over to see what the commotion was all about and saw that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. Needless to say, I was far beyond shocked. I couldn't believe that someone would do something like that! I waited, fixated on the screen, to see what effect this would have on the building as a whole. Then, out of nowhere, a second plane hit the second tower! I found myself speechless staring at the blazing infernoes coming from the two towers. At this moment, I knew that the best place for me to be at the moment was not at my friend's house, but with my family. So I hopped on my skateboard and high-tailed it to my house. When I reached there, my mother said she had some bad news. She told me that the first tower had just collapsed. And just moments later, I watched the second tower collapse in front of my eyes on the TV. After this happened, I don't remember much about what happened the rest of the day. I believe that I mostly spent the day watching the news, and reflecting on the terrible events that had taken place during the day. 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 story10365.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. 2004-01-24 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.209.42 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: Nurses from all over the nation were gathered in Reston Virginia representing all the different nursing organizations. Our goal was to unite as Registered Nurses in the face of the decline of RNs in the workforce providing care to patients and teaching of the profession for future nurses. Different groups of nurses who had never sat at the table before were together for a common cause to perpetuate the profession of nursing. We were divided into 10 groups, many differences came to light among individuals in the groups as we discussed how we could all unite with a common dialogue that would be subsequently know as the 10 domains of Nursing's Call to the Profession lead by the American Nurses Association. It was the last day of a 4 day meeting and during the morning session the main faciliatator came to share news that a plane had flown into the one of the World Trade Towers saying that it was thought to be an accident. One of the members of my group was a military nurse and she immediately called her post. I remember her saying it was no accident. Everyone immediately gathered outside of the meeting rooms. Then we heard that the other tower had been struck and then that the Pentagon a few miles from had been struck. Everyone was in shock and gathered searching out colleagues that we knew personally and then hearing people who work in NYC and Pentagon wondering about their colleagues and friends. It made all our differences seem so trivial. As RNs we just wanted to do something and be useful. We wanted to go and help, we wanted to donate blood, but we were told that our offers were appreciated but we should just stay put . Everyone just stood around the TVs in the lobby holding onto each other. There was a computer convention going on at the same hotel. People were trying to email and call, but very few could get connected. My husband had gotten through to the hotel from Ohio about 11:30am, someone found me and gave me the message he called. I couldn't get through to him until 2:30pm. He said, he was changing the oil in the van and would come and get me after he did the feeding on the farm. I talked with my other friends from Ohio who had been trying to get a rental car to no avail and we made a list of the who wanted to ride back to Ohio. I called him at 4pm and said come and get us. He waited until our daughter got home from school and told her he was going to get Mommy. She said, no at school had told them about it. Her teacher knew I was in the DC area. She stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. My husband drove all night from Ohio to Reston. He said the roads were empty. He drove a white van and was stopped a couple times by police. Once he told them what he was doing they let him proceed. He said, they looked into the van. Tim said, that it was strange to drive and not hear or see any air traffic, but he could hear a swoosh every once in a while assuming it was a military aircraft without lights. While he was driving, I walked the streets of the hotel/retail complex with stores and restaurants with a friend. We were in a daze. The restaurants were 1/2 full but quiet as all news was on everywhere. Some shops and restaurants had hand written signs saying they were closed to go home and be with family. We wished we were home with family, but prayed for those who would never be with family again. My husband made it the hotel about 7am, he slept for a couple hours and then we started the drive home. We were able to bring 4 other RNs home with us. It was a long drive, but we were all thankful to be coming home. I will be forever thankful for my "Knight in Shining Armor". Everyone at the Call to Profession bonded that day. We are now sharing our information about RNs uniting as the Call to the Nation. We are all thankful that there is a nation that RNs can provide care to. I am thankful to my colleages in healthcare who were there that day to provide care for those involved directly with 9/11. Reston, Virginia at the Call to Profession for Nursing 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 story795.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. 2002-06-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 146.96.92.54 Annotation Annotations to this item. Struggle to get home Television Coverage DOMESTIC N-YHS N-YHS 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: September 11, 2001 was a normal school day for me. Until 2:00. That's when the rumors that had been spreading through the hallways of the school reached me. Something had happened. The teachers had probably been advised not to tell us about the events that had happened in New York, Washington D.C., and my own state of Pennsylvania that morning. A few teachers had told their students, but most were in the dark. It still scares me to know that while I was upset about having PSSA practice testing that morning, three of America's most symbolic, and beautiful buildings were no longer beautiful, but ragged, torn, and crumbling to pieces, and many people who had brightly gone off to their jobs would not be returning. I didn't find out anymore information for awhile, besides the fact that all field hockey and football games were canceled. Sports, especially football, are very prided in my school district, it would take a disaster to halt them. Unfortunately, it was indeed a disaster that did. I rode the bus home that day, like everyday since I was in kindergarten. Except that this time, I was scared to go home and find out the truth. I didn't have to wait a long time, I wasn't even home when I knew. My bus driver had whispered the most important details to a student who knew the basics. When I got home, I went about my chores, which include feeding thirty young cattle on my father's dairy farm. Working side by side with my sister, she told me everything. At first I was angry, not because of what happened, but because we hadn't been told before. The highschool had watched everything on television, and halted classes. Why couldn't the seventh and eighth grade classes have done the same? I thought we were mature enough to handle it, and we were, because we all returned to school the next day, inspite of the facts. Then it hit me. We were right in the middle of a triangle of carnage. What would have happened if Flight 93 had been headed to Philadelphia? It could have crashed in my cornfield. That added an extra layer of reality to my world. This was a lot for a twelve year old to handle, but I could, because I had gone through a closer loss when I was much, much younger. The loss of my mother to cancer when I was four, prepared me, emotionally, for this devastating act. So I managed to stay strong for a few months, until things went back to normal. Twelve months have elapsed since that day. Yet, last night, I think it finally hit me. Somewhere between the CNN News report that security had been upgraded to an orange alert, and remembering the words that my music teacher had spoke to the class a several hours before, about that they could or might have been also targeting our nuclear plants taht day, but thankfully changed their minds, in fear of their safety, I realized how lucky I am. At any moment, with one fateful decision, or one false move on our part by angering the wrong people, my life could cease to exist as I know it. For the first time in a year, I shed tears over 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 story4853.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. 209.74.42.41 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: Five minutes before the first plane hit, I walked past the World Trade Center, coming down Church St. from SoHo, same as nearly every other day. It was a stunningly beautiful day, though I was mad at myself for wearing black (again). I was early-ish for work at Broadway and Rector Street (about four block south of WTC). When I entered the (small) office only two people were there. I picked up the ringing reception phone as I walked by and my boss's wife screamed "a plane hit the World Trade Center!" So I ran back out to see, got to the subway entrance at Rector and Trinity I think, and I tipped my head back and watch a (seemingly small) fire burn atop the north tower. As I stared, trying to figure our how bad it was, my entire eyeline was filled with the second plane coming in over my shoulder from the south. I thought it was somehow a rescue plane or army plane there to put out the fire. It was SO low, and SO loud. As it approached the towers, I then thought it was going to go between the towers, maybe doing some kind of reconnaissance. The explosion made me gasp. The fireball was enormous and I immediately thought, oh war. War. I also thought, briefly, maybe just maybe it's a movie? And then I ran because I thought the building would fall on me. I got to just above Battery Park and wandered around with all the other shocked people trying to make cell phone calls, until I stupidly went back in to work, where we were soon trapped because the buildings collapsed. For hours we watched the smoke and debris float by our windows, first white and then black as night. When we could leave, the area looked like a war zone. We walked to the east and up through Chinatown and I had to run past any tall buildings. I felt relieved to not to have known anyone in either building (amazing), but the sadness remains. I still have nightmares (always planes coming in from a distance and crashing near me and my family at my childhood home in Maine). And I will never ever forget the smell that lingered for so many weeks afterwards, wafting up into my apt. Sometimes my blow dryer has that smell and I have to turn it off and feel bad. 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 story944.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. 2002-07-29 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.4.159.5 Annotation Annotations to this item. Struggle to get home WTC, attack 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I heard a little about the first plane crashing into the first tower when I first got to work. Everyone was trying to figure out what caused the crash. Most of us thinking something faulty with the airplane. Then we heard of the second plane crashing. I began to call my mom every few minutes to find out the latest news. She was close to the television. My heart fell into my stomach. Of course as the day went one we heard of all of the other events. Everyone was just walking around saying they couldn't believe this had happened to the USA. My heart ached for those families not knowing if their family member was coming home. I lost someone this past April from a suicidal death and I have been going through post traumatic stress disorder from that. I have great sympathy for all of those who are going through that and the ache from their lost loved ones. I lost the man I thought I would spend my life with. I, like a lot of people, took for granted that tommorrow would come and he would be here. Since then and September 11, 2001 I have said the little things that mean so much in case tommorrow never comes. I have been doing more giving. I am more proud of this wonderful country than ever. There may not be justice for the terrorist here but a much higher power than any ruler here will make justice his. I am glad that this brought our country closer. Too bad it took such drastic measures. I am grateful for the smallest things that used to go unnoticed such as a flower or a hummingbird, the fact that I got out of bed this morning, etc. Too often people complain over the smallest things when they should be thankful for what they do have. There are alot of people who have it much worse be it healthwise, financial, etc. Be thankful if you have a family or friends, a house, a car, freedom to speak, freedom period. Just be thankful. I hope that every American will be more giving and less judgemental. That they will be grateful. That each day they will take the time to say the I Love You's and do acts of Kindness. Set and example and be someone that will leave a good impression. You never know whose life you might touch. My prayers and thoughts go out to all law enforcement, firemen and women, our military and their families, to all the families of those who parished on that day. To all construction workers, to anyone who has been touched by this in anyway. You are all true heroes. May God bless you and keep you. Let Freedom Ring. Sincerely, Cheri Reaves 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 story5304.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. 64.12.96.8 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: September 11, 2001 I Never Wept Before Today I am in Boston on business. I work for a software company, as an application consultant. This means that I customize our software for our customers. Yesterday I arrived at Logan airport in Boston from Minneapolis ? my home. I came to do, what we call, a knowledge transfer for a customer and a partner. But that is not important. In fact, my whole notion of what constitutes important has been radically challenged. At about 9:00am est my wife called my on my cell phone. I was in the middle of my presentation and I simply sent the call to my voice mail. Immediately, however, I received another call from her and then I knew something was important. I answered the call and my wife began to describe events that, little did we know, would only continue and intensify in their horror. After I got off the phone I, and seemingly everyone else in the office, headed toward the break room which had a big screen TV. There I saw images that will be forever burned into my memory. I saw the one of the two 110 story World Trade Center Buildings with a gaping hole about 2/3?s of the way up belching flames. Just several minutes later that building, what is largely regarded as a symbol of the U.S. economic way, collapsed all the way to the ground. A passenger jet liner that left from Boston?s Logan Airport destined for Los Angeles, California crashed, as a missile, into the trade center tower. The jet liner, laden with enough fuel was a guided missile in the hands of what is in all likelihood, a terrorist. The horror of this event was inexplicable. But it only increased in scope and magnitude. 21 minutes after the plane crashed into the Trade Center Tower, another jet liner, laden with fuel for a trans-continental flight missiled into the second of the trade center towers. The results were the same but the effects, the horror, and the fright that this second intentional crash generated were exponentially greater. Both towers are now gone. 2 hours later another jet liner, having taken off from Washington Dulles airport bulleted into the Pentagon. One section of the center of our National Defense department was completely lost. A bit later another jet liner crashed into a rural field 80 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The thought is that this flight was destined for another target in New York or Washington D.C. This is so overwhelming, yet the events of the day had not completed. World Trade Center building 7, a 40 story building, damaged severely by the collapse of the other two buildings, itself collapsed. The day saw 4 hijacked passenger planes with passengers and crew aboard, used as guided missiles; apparently at the hands of a highly synchronized terrorist attack against the United States of America. The collateral damage, that is, the damage not directly attributed to the impact of the plane/missile was even more than the direct damage. As the trade center towers collapsed, rescue personnel and civilians were trapped and many killed. Mouth agape, I watched all this unfold on a big screen TV in Boston; 1200 miles away from my wife and family. Only several minutes had elapsed since the initial phone call from my wife. As the tragedy unfolded, all air travel in the United States was suspended, the financial markets closed down, baseball was cancelled. Nearly everything we take for granted was violently and quickly brought into sharp focus and not taken for granted any longer. The rest of the day has taken a surreal and dreamlike sheen. Because we couldn?t go anywhere, we tried, lamely, to pick up the ?knowledge transfer? where it had left off. The banality of our metadata discussion stood in bleak contrast to the events that unfolded and continued to unfold as the ramifications of the attack swept over us. When I finally got back to my hotel I was overcome. I have never actually wept before, but broken, overwhelmed, and scared I sobbed on my hotel bed. Tears streaked down my face and I buried my face in my hands and wept. I wept at the magnitude of the devastation, I wept and cried out to God on behalf of our nation and those directly impacted by the destruction of the attack. There are those who are saying that the price of our freedom as a nation, as we know it, is the possibility of these kind of attacks. That possibility was realized today. What remains is the analysis and answering to the questions of balance between freedom and security. Casualty numbers are not in, nor are they important. The numbers great or small do not change the magnitude of what has happened and how the United States of America has been compromised. Yet this is but a taste of daily life in some other parts of the world, especially the middle east. It is not late, I am getting tired and may try to sleep. I doubt I will though. This is the Pearl Harbor of Generation X. A terrorist attack on America. Images haunt me, on this day, my Pearl Harbor day, a day I will remember like Boomers remember the assassination of JFK, the day I wept. September 12, 2001 Today I saw F-15 fighter aircraft flying protective sorties over the city of Boston. This was no air show, it was not a tribute to a downed pilot. They were flying for defense. Never thought I?d see air defense flying over a major U.S. city. Yet there they were. 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 story1113.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. 12.40.184.3 Annotation Annotations to this item. Economic effects Military DOMESTIC 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: Asleep. 9:00 a.m. 9/11/01 I was sleeping in, as I had afternoon classes that day. My dad called me, waking me up from my snooze, insisting I turn on the television -- something had happened in New York City. I said, "Nah, I'm going back to sleep." He said, "Sleep some other time. Go turn it on. I must go. Bye." I rubbed my eyes, drowsy, and shuffled down the hall. Turning the TV on, I could make out a building on fire, with a blurb at the bottom of the screen, in all CAPITALS: "WORLD TRADE CENTER, PENTAGON UNDER ATTACK." Then through my tired eyes, I saw the buildings fall. For some reason it conjured no emotion in me, due to the shocking chain of events unfolding all around me. I was so "dazed and confused" that I didn't know if I should go to class or not. I decided to go. The campus was deserted. About 10 people were in my classroom, too dumbfounded and shellshocked -- as I was -- to know whether to go home or open their books or cry or move. I walked out of the room, drove home, and turned on the TV. Replay after replay of the buildings being attacked, of the towers collapsing, and of the masses upon masses of people fleeing for their lives -- it was then that I realized what had happened to the country -- to the world. At that moment, I knew that this was going to be a morning of mornings when it was the lucky ones who slept through it. To make a long -- and oft repeated -- story short, I spent the rest of the day (and weeks to follow) still rubbing my eyes, waiting to awaken from the nightmare of that morning. 9/11/01 9:00 p.m. Awake. 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 story957.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. 2002-08-01 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 172.139.216.218 Notes Notes about this item. Students/Teachers Television Coverage DC: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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: On September 11, 2001, I was sitting in my sophomore scripture class at Boston College High School. During first period, an unexpected announcement came over the loud speaker that brought the entire school to a bone-chilling silence. We were informed that the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York had been struck by two airplanes in an act of terrorism. I remember my teacher's mouth dropping open. After the announcement was finished, there wasn't a sound made on the entire floor. No one began talking for a few minutes. My teacher eventually tried to calm any fears we might have had at the moment. After the period ended, I remember going to the library for my free period to find a computer but I don't think there was a vacant one in the entire school. As I sat in the library I remember some of the rumors that were going around the school, either just made up or false reports on the internet. "There are still nine planes missing in the sky", "Boston is supposed to be another target". This news was shocking and terrifying as what used to be Boston Gas had an enormous gas tank located on the same boulevard as my school. All throughout the day I remember seeing worried parents arriving at school and picking up their kids in fear of an attack on Boston. I stayed in school and remember that every time a plane was heard overhead the school went quiet. My high school is right beneath the route that planes take to land at Logan Airport, which is where the planes that crashed into the Trade Centers originated from. I remember my math teacher was very emotional over the event and many other teachers either dismissed their classes or just took the class time to inform the students of exactly what was happening. When the last bell of the day rang, teachers and faculty members lined the hallways telling the students that they had to get their books and leave as soon as they could. When I got home at 3:00, I finally got to watch the atrocity on TV for the first time. It was the most awful sight that I had ever seen in my life. The documentaries and magazines that came out in the ensuing months reinforced the feelings of disgut and hate towards the revolting act. It is an image that I will never be able to forget. 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 story9560.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. 2003-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 141.149.180.98 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I will never forget the morning of September 11. My husband and I had been planning our wedding to be held on September 22, 2002. That morning on my way to work I listened to a tape of music prepared by my organist so I could determine what my favorites were instead of listening to my morning news show. When I arrived at work people were frantic; the first plane had collided with the World Trade Center. Our office was chaotic, everyone had on their radios, we were receiving telephone calls from family members updating us with what they had heard, many of us were huddled into our break room where we have a TV.... I guess the worst part for me was when I heard a plane went down in Pennsylvania. My husband and I are "implanted Wisconsinites" we are originally from PA and were preparing to travel home for our wedding in a few days. A lady in the office came running to me and said Heather, another plane went down in some "burg" in PA, you better call home. I was frantic for a few minutes, I just wanted to hear my mother's voice to know that everyone was okay. I later felt very selfish about these emotions, I was lucky that day...I did not lose anyone close to me. I will never forget the surge of emotion I had. The bravery showed by people that day is just amazing. I am proud, more now than before, of my heritage and the fact that I am an American. 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 story4543.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. 208.171.49.126 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I am a social worker in Silver Lake Specialized Care Center, a rehabilitation and respiratory facility on the North Shore of Staten Island...where the back windows face downtown Manhattan. I came into work late that day, having stopped at the bank on my way in, but I heard a loud boom while waiting on line at the drive thru. I erroneously thought that it was a construction site across the street, not knowing what had happened. But by the time I got to work, I began to realize. I witnessed the smoking towers, and the fall of the first tower...something I will never forget!!!!! Other co-workers witnessed the planes hitting and the fall of the second tower, as well. One co-workers husband was among the missing, and when the first tower fell, she fainted. Thankfully, he walked all the way to Brooklyn, and eventually contacted her. Another co-workers daughter, also walked to safety and just last month gave birth to a miracle baby girl!!! Sadly, one of my co-workers lost her brother. Our hearts and prayers go out to her and her family, as well as to all the others who suffered great loss at this time. I live on the South Shore of Staten Island, just up the street from the Great Kills Land Fill. My family and I witnessed, every day, the tents set up there and the debris, and the bright lights on all night long, as the recovery effort went on and on. We often saw large dump trucks on the expressway loaded with twisted steel and metal beams. Overall, I must say, the whole experience was unbelievable. 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 story5242.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. 205.188.209.38 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: How I witnessed history on the 11th of September was looked at as a tragic to me. I didn't really know much of what happened until I got to school were then my teacher explained to me what happened. She had explained to me that two planes crashed into the World Trade Center a.k.a Twin Towers. She also that many people had lost there lives and some of her family was in the one of the two towers.I was in such shock when I had heard the news and scared at the moment more than I had ever been in my life. When i had got home from school I turned the television on to watch and on every channel I saw the president having a little ceremony for this very sad and special day. A question that I have to ask is why? Why did the terrorists have to kill so many innocent people? My life has not really changed but has somewhat changed. The way that I think has changed because now I think a lot more about history than I ever did in my life.My life has also changed because I wasn't as afraid to go on an airplane. What I think should be most remembered about September 11th is everything. I don't just think that only one thing should be remembered because just t he fact that this happened is important. All historyshould be remembered and kept in mind. In conclusion September 11th will never be forgotten. So keep in mind history is gone but never forgotten and so is 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 story8465.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. 2002-10-17 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.60.58.139 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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: It is my hope that you have already read my article ?The Attack,? which is readily available for view or downloading from www.cinemind.com/atwater. That article was done in a hurry, as there was no time then for a more in-depth sharing. Now, I want to be more specific and delve more deeply. Consider this the follow-up to ?The Attack,? and, like the previous article, it can be reprinted by anyone, anywhere, as long as credits are given. For those who do not know me, allow me to introduce myself. I have been a researcher of the near-death phenomenon since 1978 and have produced five books on my findings. I am also a multiple experiencer of near-death states. It?s because of my own episodes that I became a researcher. On occasion I have ventured out to speak about what I see and hear and experience on the ?inner planes? of the spirit realms, and I do give intuitive readings; but, for the most part, I have steered away from the usual psychic fare. I define the ?inner planes,? by the way, as that dimension, that space, that vibrational resonance wherein lies the untarnished soul (our Higher Self) and the reality of A Greater Plan for humankind. September 11th I had gone in spirit form to the inner planes at ?Ground Zero? in New York City after the first attack to help where I could, and was there to witness what followed. It is from that perspective, and from numerous other intuitive promptings and additional research, that I base the information for this article. A rush of odd accidents, illnesses, weather blips, people with similar feelings and dreams (whether positive or negative) always presages major events, accelerating in number the closer the timing gets. You don?t have to be a psychic to know something is about to occur. You need only learn how to listen and watch. The attack on America was no different. Changes in the environment and how people behave are ?readouts? to me, like looking at a barometer to check the current state of affairs in the earthplane and what may be building up energy-wise for the immediate future. Starting July 5th many people, myself included, suddenly became ill from unusual bouts of ?u, heart and lung distress. A level of frustration, almost a low-pitched anger, was apparent to me throughout the general populace, as well. This picked up July 15th, at a time when clusters of tectonic activity occurred, earth crustal slippage, and into August with unusual shark attacks and bee stings, powerful sun spot activity, the eruption of Mount Etna, and so many tremors and oscillations across the globe that it seemed as if the earth?s pumping system was in overdrive. None of this, in and of itself, meant that much, but taken together these incidents were beginning to form a pattern, one that bothered me deeply. Then, in late August and early September a barrage of mishaps blanketed our country, little things like cars that wouldn't start, enterprises that failed, people?s backs that went out, folks falling down and hurting themselves. Almost on cue, the phone calls and e-mails began pouring in from individuals almost desperate to talk about a feeling or dream or premonition they had had about a crash or explosion that would soon happen and a building would topple. Some were haunted by visions of death on a massive scale. I?m referring here to the hundreds who contacted me. The majority of them were so bombarded by these ?messages? that they developed headaches and stomach problems because of them. A number were specific: ?There?s a plane going to hit the World Trade Center in New York City.? None knew when, but most were convinced it was Middle Eastern terrorists. I want you to realize this, that our nation?s 911 emergency was ?known? and reacted to, I believe by tens of thousands, long before it occurred. We humans sense things, we sense the ?currents? major pockets or clusters of energy masses generate as psychic/emotional ?voltage? increases in the ethers. Because most of us have no belief system to accommodate this type of reality, that thought-forms and feelings have substance or that tension and stress can build up in the atmosphere, we miss the size and shape of what?s coming and the possible whys, and react instead as if we were jelly-like ameba being pinched or pushed around. Our busy lives blind us, too, as few there are who make room in their schedule any more for periods of prayer and meditation, or simply quiet reflection. You need to slow down a little to allow what?s ?eating? at you or being a bother to reveal itself. I make this point because I have no doubt that the attack on America was ?fated? in the sense that the people of the world, not just in our country, needed to awaken, recognize and admit how their desires/actions were hurting themselves, others, and the lovely ?blue marble? upon which we all dwell. It was a ?blow? that caught everyone off guard, including the terrorists, for more will come of it than any statement the misguided sons of wealthy fathers could have imagined (and many of the terrorists were indeed from rich families of the Muslim faith). A ?call? has sounded in the ethers and none of us will ever again be quite the same. As a matter of review, let me briefly describe what I witnessed on the inner planes at Ground Zero in New York City, the Pentagon, and at the field in Pennsylvania where one plane crashed. For most of Tuesday the 11th I couldn't separate the dead from the dying from those who survived. There was that much confusion. Too many souls left their bodies too fast. Wednesday there was still some confusion, a few screams and cries, but the majority of the departed souls were beginning to form a huge wave, like a ?hand? stretching. They were coming together as if one energy mass and they were ?waking up,? becoming aware. I have helped at many tragedies and led prayer vigils, but never have I seen anything like this. My sense was to aid the injured and those who hurt, as they needed me more right then than the souls of the dead. By Thursday morning the soul wave was fully formed, each soul totally conscious and possessed of knowing. The sound they made, their tonal vibration, was one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard. Music, the music of a great love, the love of those willing to die for the benefit of others overwhelmed me. Before I could think, the soul wave and I merged. This is what I saw, felt, knew, and experienced when that happened. Each person who died, regardless of who, victim or perpetrator, had agreed before birth to be part of this event to be there at that location at that time as that person. They had not ?contracted? as souls to die, necessarily, but to be present and accounted for, to be part of the energy that would ensure this event occurred. It was only as the moment neared that final decisions were made. A wake-up call was needed, one horrendous enough to reverberate across our country and the globe, affecting every man, woman, and child and in every nation. The people who died sacrificed their lives to make the needed statement that we cannot continue to live as we have, with the same motives, habits, and beliefs. We must change. Many are those who have grown complacent or frustrated in life, sloppy of dress, rigid in beliefs, uncaring in the consequences of personal activities, ever craving another addiction convincing enough to prove they are alive. In our country we have put ?things? ahead of service and long-term investments. We have numbed ourselves to a consumerism gone mad, a spirituality deemed little more than new age nonsense, a game mentality that puts profits ahead of reason. This will not be the only horror to occur. There will be more: this year around the holidays, next year from summer on, and throughout 2003 - and as many other times as necessary to make certain no one sloughs back to their former lifestyles. Even the Presidency of the United States will not be immune to the force of the call that has sounded. Weather challenges will heighten. On Friday, as an embodied human being, I joined the soul wave and dedicated myself to help with the healing. This for me entailed an immediate phone call. An editor in downtown New York City had a manuscript of mine on his desk when the attack occurred, and I felt guided to tell him I would be adding a new chapter on mass death and soul commitments. Over the protests of the editor, the book, The Real Truth About Death, Myriam?s Gift, was rejected by the publisher before I could mail in the rewrite. The reason? Not commercial enough. Although a publishing house turned thumbs down on the book I wrote, refusing to even consider the additional material on America?s tragedy, I am energized by the incident. It is no accident to my way of thinking that a book designed to help alleviate the pain and fear of death, written at the urging of my granddaughter?s soul after she had died, was sitting in the midst of the attack scene and since has been rewritten to accommodate that event from the perspective of the soul. I have no doubt that a more insightful publisher will now be found. Action like this can happen when you join the soul wave. And anyone can. Declare it so, and join in through your prayers, your activities, and your willingness to put God (Deity) first in your life. That means everyday, from now on. I was told while in the soul wave to dress up, stand tall, and step forward with courage. Whatever you are told or feel or sense that would make a positive difference and uplift others, it is important that you do it. Among the tasks you take on, consider becoming a healing helper. There is an article entitled, ?Healing Helpers,? on my website that has one idea of how this could be done in a church or group setting. The enemy in this affair is not who or what we think it is. Yes, we can look at ourselves personally and at our nation and see many faults and acknowledge many mistakes. It is good that we do this, and that we agree to overhaul our penchant for ignoring what we don?t want to see and for basing decisions on short-term expediency rather than valid, commonsense solutions. Just because something is traditional, for instance, does not make it right. On the personal front, here are a few issues many of us bypass: anyone who uses drugs for purposes other than medical or in sacred ceremony is directly contributing to the economic and governmental destruction of at least five countries, not to mention the quality of countless lives. Anyone who lashes out at another because of race, religion, or gender becomes the hated ?offender.? You never thought about these issues that way before? Maybe you should. Argue with me if you wish, but changes don?t happen until we the people initiate them first in our own life. Along the lines of questionable decision making is a campaign currently being conducted by pharmaceutical companies that would severely restrict the right of anyone, anywhere, to choose vitamin/mineral therapy, homeopathy, and any other ?natural? product in their healthcare. This campaign is aimed at the United Nations and the World Health Organization as they seek to establish a universal food code through the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The goal is to set international safety standards for such things as vitamin and food supplements, with enforcement of availability and dosage left to the World Trade Organization. But, what began as protection for the common good, has evolved into the criminalization of individual choice. Codex regulations, once fully instituted, will override existing laws in member nations, including ours. Personal letters and phone calls to legislators are the way to oppose this. Refer to Ruth James for more information, via her website at www.therealessentials.com. Now who?s the enemy? Us? Them? And who?s them? Is the enemy the terrorists who killed so many people and did so much damage, forcing our country into a recession? The truth is, terrorism is to Islam what the Klu Klux Klan is to Christianity an abomination. Still, there?s more to be said about this. Osama Bin Laden and his network of assassins are not Muslims, per se, but members of a totalitarian corruption of Islam known as ?Wahhabism.? Founded in the late 18th century by Ibn Abdul Wahhab, the cult was associated with the mass murder of all who opposed it taking as a literal command that verse in the Koran that says, ?Death to the infidels.? The Prophet himself warned that from the city where Wahhab was born would emerge a source of corruption and confusion a prophecy fulfilled by the spread of Wahhabism. The ideology behind the cult is an extreme form of puritanism, demanding inordinate punishments, with a hatred of ?ostentatious? spirituality, and harboring an ancient fear of women and female intelligence. Wahhabism, as one of the world?s leading sources of institutionalized terrorism, has spread in power and influence to over twenty countries, among them Pakistan, Chechnya, Bosnia, and through the Taleban into Afghanistan. It?s main money source and support comes from. . . Saudi Arabia, the protector of Islam?s heart. (Refer to the work of Stephen Schwartz and his book, Intellectuals and Assassins, Anthem Press.) Add to this mix the fact that huge oil fields have been discovered in the Caspian Sea Basin, enough oil to supply the world?s needs for another 500 years. Because of the terrain, the only possible supply routes out of the Basin are either through Chechnya and the Balkan States or across the length of Afghanistan. Now who?s the enemy? The Wahhabists as perverters of Islam? Muslim clerics who turn a deaf ear to ?brothers? who defame the faith? Osama Bin Laden and his network of terrorists? The Taleban? Saudi Arabia?s undisguised interest in the Caspian oil fields? Our own CIA and the actions they take to protect national interests in a drama that has wound up being more about the greed of who controls the gas pump than in ensuring the ready availability of ?black gold?? The notion that we are in the final days of ?ancient sunshine? - the waning of the Arabic oil fields as a source of fuel - is false. Neither is it necessary to drill in the Arctic tundra for oil, upset nature?s balance in wild and beautiful parklands, for there isn?t that much oil in those particular fields to begin with, nor will drilling in that area free us from dependence on our present suppliers. Turning our scientists and inventors loose on replacing the internal combustion engine and thus replacing not only the fuel we use but the pollution it causes, is a far wiser choice. But, experimentation takes time so, for now, we commit ourselves to a path complicated by Saddam Hussein?s desire to replace Osama as the world?s number one purveyor of mass murder. His weapon of choice - biological and chemical agents. And there?s another twist to this. In the book, Fortunate Son by Lewis Puller (Grove Weidenfeld, publisher), there is mention of the early days of George W. Bush?s oil company, and how his principle backer at the time was Salem Bin Laden, Osama?s older brother. Our President became quite wealthy thanks to that venture and the links he had then to the Bin Laden family. Not only Bush but several members of his administration have fingers in big oil whether that?s an advantage or a disadvantage is unknown. What is known is that the United States has become increasingly involved with the very nations that might one day pipe out oil from the Caspian Sea Basin, and so has Russia (reexamine, if you will, the Russian conflict in Afghanistan and the war they are still waging in Chechnya - as per ?motives?). And don?t forget China, as they are a source of weaponry to buyers in that region. We are warned that terrorists are everywhere, well-funded, and ready to attack ?the infidels? for the protection of their religious faith, their culture, and what they have been brainwashed to believe is a ?better? way of life dead or alive. And they will strike again. And they will continue to refuse negotiations, spitting on any peace proposal, compromise, or practical solution. Civilized societies such as ours are especially vulnerable to this madness. There is a counter-movement to the retaliation that is being planned by our government and those sympathetic with our cause, a loud cry springing from some individuals in various colleges, churches, and social groups. They propose nonviolent measures and point to how killing only begets more killings. And they point to Gandhi and how he championed nonviolence in his campaign to win India?s freedom from Great Britain. Those who quote Gandhi the most often forget another of his remarks, where he admitted that nonviolent tactics would have been useless against Nazi Germany and its Gestapo or any country or group like them. My memory is still emblazoned with the imagery and sounds of World War II. I know well what Gandhi was referring to. For that reason, I will not sign any petition asking for peace with the Taleban or with Bin Laden. I will, however, support, and with fervor, any measure that seeks to lessen the grip of what produces terrorism and the mindset of those who would enslave others. I am already active in prayer groups dedicated to this; my husband and I careful of how dollars are spent and where for each and every dollar any of us spend or invest is a vote cast for the world we would live in. We have a ?cutline? (extra sentence) printed on all our checks, and located over the signature line. The cutline reads: ?All our expenditures are our investment in life.? Whenever we write a check, we reaffirm the truth in what that statement means. Pages back, I said the enemy isn?t who or what we think it is. I?ve given you various ways since then to consider just who or what the real enemy might be. Now I want to give you another one that has a deeper place in our psyche. In several of the world?s great religions, particularly Christianity, there are stories of ?The Fall,? wherein some of God?s angels were cast from heaven for refusing to obey God?s Will. The first to disobey in the biblical version was Lucifer, the light-filled ?morning star.? Humankind has supposedly been plagued by this evil one and his ?light workers? ever since, tempted to commit misdeeds by them, seduced by pleasures of the flesh and the desire for power and attention. Those more fundamental in their religious thinking use this story to validate their fear-based opposition to spiritual tenets, the ?light? of enlightenment, cases of near-death experiences, and the process of transforming and refining consciousness. Any reference to ?light? they claim is a sign of the devil, proof that Lucifer, the great deceiver, has won over another convert. At issue here is not an ancient legend or myth of some devil running around deceiving people, but, rather, a fear so deeply embedded in the human psyche that it skips the notice of most moderns - and that is, a fear of individualism and the power of free will. That fear defines the line that separates Eastern and Western cultures, democracy and imperialism, corporate mentality and the entrepreneur, creativity and compliance, gender/racial dominance and relationships; and, for the purposes of this article, the line between surrendering to God?s Will (the religious challenge of Christianity) and submission to God?s Will (the religious challenge of Islam). There is no self-righteousness here, no chosen or privy anointment of sacred trust. Just a primal instinct to feel threatened or confused by or jealous of any person or entity capable of surviving and thriving in an environment where the power to choose and question is balanced with personal responsibility and self-discipline. You?d think we citizens of the third millennium would have outgrown this primordial fear by now, but we haven?t. Like a shadowy figure, it still lurks about in the subconscious mind, sabotaging the best efforts of many, blinding the rest of us to how ?civilized? behavior could possibly be viewed as rude, ungodly, or arrogant. There?s no give-and-take when any one side dominates whoever the ?us? or ?them? is. If ever a new goal or mission was destined for humankind, a time of awakening, it?s here now. Staring death in the face has a way of rearranging and redefining priorities. I know. I?ve been on that ?knife?s edge? three times. Our common enemy knows how to endanger our comfort zone. With drugs Afghanistan raises and produces three-fourths of the world?s supply of heroin and cocaine and they have stockpiled huge harvests. With money the terrorist network has seriously manipulated the stock and bond market and money transfers worldwide. With violence they have eliminated three centers of world trade, part of a military hub, nearly 20,000 jobs, in excess of 5,000 lives, several airline companies, and brought on a nationwide recession. . . all within minutes on a single day. But, our common enemy forgot something the will of a free people to remain free, the will of civilization itself to protect its potential for growth and improvement. In America, the generation many had given up on, the ?lost? Generation X, has become our most enthusiastic patriots, enlisting in the Armed Forces, giving blood at Red Cross drives, waving flags, giving generously to help those who hurt. The new children, the geniuses of the Millennial Generation, at last have a mission, a unifying goal they can tackle. These new kids are the creative problem solvers. Nothing like them has ever existed before, at least not in the numbers we now see. The Millennials are indeed the hope of the world, and we the people, you and me, will ensure that they have a world to live and thrive in. Our work is cut out for us. The month of October will be an example of how strange things will be for awhile, but, then, so was December a long time ago when the screaming sirens of Pearl Harbor were heard on my front porch in Twin Falls, Idaho, and throughout our nation and the world. We have birthed a global village since then, one people, one heartbeat. We can no longer afford to hate each other. We finally must learn to care. 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 story314.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. 2002-03-25 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.66.222.101