360 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 sleeping, and my cell phone rang it was my mom. I answered a bit irritated, I did after all have school until 12am that morning. She told me 2 planes just hit the World Trade Center in New York, and you can actually see one turn and hit it. A bit in a dazed I asked "What?", she told me again, two planes hit the World Trade Center. I jummped out of my bed, and woke up my roommmate, we made our bed, and got into our PT gear, and ran to the dayroom, to watch the TV. As we were watching in shock, I went to wake up a couple of the other girls in our dorms, I explained what was going on to the two of them, one grabbed her PT gear and actually got dressed in the dayroom. When we got back into the dayroom, there was a big cloud of gray smoke, and 2 colonial buildings and at the bottom of the screen it said the pentagon, I thought that someone from the pentagon was talking and it was a different shot of the WTC. Just then my mom called again and told me that the Pentagon just blew up. After that I ran downstairs and told the MTL (Military Training Leader) that the Pentagon had just blown up, as he ran in to check the TV, he got the phone call that we were in Force Portection Condition Delta, we had not been Delta since the Cuban Missile Crisis. About that time people were starting to fall out for PT, and most everyone had no idea of what was going on, those of us who knew started telling people what was going on, everyone still half asleep, were confused some thought that it was a joke. Just then the MTL came out and told us to get inside the building ASAP, for lack of better words. They pulled everyone into the Briefing Room, the TV was on and everyone was watching in total shock. The MTLs said that the US was under attack, and that some of would go to war, and there is a possible chance that we could die, and that is what we came into the Military for. As we listen to him those words the first tower fell, everyone gasped, and watch the room was completely silent. Some of us speechless, some of with a look of fear, and some crying. That day we all sat and comforted each other, called our friends and family, and watched all day. That night after I got home from school, I had about 20 messages on my cell phone from friends and family that I didn't get to talk to that day, wanting to make sure that I was ok, and see what was going to happen to me. 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 story9593.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. 132.61.176.6 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 remember watching the news and seeing the first tower on fire, then I saw the second plane, and said to myself, why is that plane so close to the tower, all of a sudden it crashed into tower #2, I was just stunned and I remember crying and knowing that our country was under an attack. I just stared at the t.v for the longest time, not believing what I was seeing. I called my family, who lives in New Jersey, to ask them if they were ok, and I called my husband at work and just cried. It has affected the way I feel about almost every aspect of life, not to assume that we as a country are safe. I have mixed emotions regarding the war we are in now, I feel were in the wrong country, we should be going after Osoma Bin Ladin, not Suddom Hussan. I just hope that we can bring the persons responsable for this to justice. I also feel that our inocence has been distroyed, I pray everyday for some sort of peace, both for our country and in our minds. Robin S. 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 story20535.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. 207.200.116.11 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 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 story starts a little before 9-11-2001. On sept 11th 1982, I was 13 years old, when my beloved mother suffered a near fatal heartattack. She laid in a coma for several days and it was very touch and go. Thanks to a miracle she survived, and almost lived another 19 years. My family lost my best friend, my mom on April 18th 2001. That next august I remember telling my dad how hard sept 11th was going to be for me, remembering all those years ago when my mother lie so sick in the hospital, me so young and begging God to spare her, to not let me grow up without a mother. My husband called me early the morning of the 11th to ask me if I had the TV on, I hadn't yet. As I turned it on, I saw the second plane flying into the WTC, I couldn't believe my eyes. The pain I felt for those victims and their families far outweighed what I went through all those years ago. The pain I still fill for their losses somehow helps me through my own loss of my mom. I know that she was waiting there, in heaven, for ALL the loved ones that were called home that tragic day, and that day will never be the same for me again, for many reasons 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 story4242.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. 63.228.243.252 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 of last year, the world changed and history was made. To me it seemed like an average day at first. on September 11 I was in school, attending my classes as usual, and I headed to my Science class. It was then that we were told a plane had crashed into the first World Trade Center building. At that point I thought that it was an accident, and everything was okay. The rest of the day went by, and I let the idea slip out of my head, As I headed home, I started to remember what I heard and started to worry. I headed into my house, and as I went through the door, I noticed my dad was watching something on the television. My jaw dropped. As of that moment, my life changed drastically. I began to realize that the events weren't accidental. I stared blankly at the television, and my father told me exactly what happened. I soon realized how many lives were lost, and how innocent they were. A sense of rage came over me from within. At that moment, I took the time to realize hate, and how it kills worse than anything. People who had no reason to die were killed because of hatred. Hatred molded the terrorists minds into thinking that it was right to kill, and that justice was being served by killing. My whole life I have laughed at the idea of solving conflicts with words, but if anything could have been solved with words, I wish this would have. As I flashed back into reality, I asked myself why couldnt I have known sooner, so I could have taken my mind off of it and forgotten. Now I know that it wouldn't have mattered because, to this very day, I remember. September 11 changed me as a person drastically, and I definitely witnessed history. My life has changed a lot since September 11. Since then I have gained a new sense of reality, and I have truly begun to realize how the world works. Some of the fellings I had have been turned inside out since that day. My feelings toward hate have definitely been altered. Now I can realize how hate works and what is accomplished from hate. I have, and forever will, be changed since September 11. There are many things that should be remembered about September 11, such as the people who died and why they died. I also believe police and firefighters should be remembered on september 11, for their heroic efforts which helped tremendously on that dreadful day. Not only those who died should be remembered in our minds and hearts, but also those who are living today who survived the encounter. This is what I believe should be remembered on September 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 story8476.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: I was sitting in my homeroom, talking to my friends, when we turned the T.V. on and all over the news was how a plane crashed into the WTC. Right then, I really didn't think much of it. I thought it was just a freak accident, because no one really knew any facts yet. Once I went to second period, the facts started coming in, and everyone was shocked. The whole swimming class was sitting in a little corner in front of a small T.V. next to the pool. Then all of a sudden, another plane flew intothe second tower. No one knew what to think. A few minutes later we learned of an explosion at the Pentagon and that another plane had crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. The whole classroom was in a panic, and some people were even crying. It was total chaos in the school. Then during lunch my mom came and picked me up from school. Even though no one i knew was killed in the attacks, it still changed my life. School security was tightened and airport security was tightened, too. The terrorist attacks of 9-11 will always be a tragic day in American history, and will never be forgotten. 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 story7501.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. 2002-09-15 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.20.53.149 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 the morning of sept 11 2001 i was getting my 2 daughters ready for school, it was a normal morning , of rushing around, me hollering at the kids to hurry and get ready so we would not be late again. i dont usually have the television on in the front room because it distracts the kids from getting ready for school, but for some reason i had turned it on and had it on the today show. i was sitting on the edge of the couch and i watched as they were covering the first incident still not sure what had actually happened. some were saying it was a small plane and many were thinking it was an accident..some were saying it was a big plane and looked intentional...but as we all know now a few min. later the whole world knew what was happening. gosh i cant tell you how upset i was...i held alot in till i took my children to school. i did not want them to worry. but as soon as i seen them walk in those doors it was released and i prayed all the way home. i couldnt believe what was happening. i think when i got home my husband had woke up and was watching it on tv and we just sat in silence for about 30 min. but after all 3 of the attacks we called the school and got our kids out to be with us..i was so frightened that something else was going to happen. from that day on our lives have changed..we are more alert with our surroundings, more concious about what is going on around us, not just in our town but all over the world. but not so much that we only worry about this, we have to go on and try and live normal lives with out worrying when or how or even why, just believing in God and trusting He will prevail. but i will tell you one thing it has not changed our hearts into believing what these terrorists want us to believe, because i know my God would not ask anyone to do what these people have done, they are cowards that had to sneak up on the american people to get a good hit...and the outcome of there attacks brought alot of people together and made alot of people stronger in there faith..i know my story doesnt hold a candle to many others who were directly affected by the attacks, but i just wanted to tell of how it affected one family in a small town !! thanks for letting me> 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 story1165.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. 216.106.67.10 Annotation Annotations to this item. Religion Television Coverage 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: I was at work, as many of us were, when my supervisor / manager came in and said "A plane's hit the world trade centre! Another one's crashed into the sea and a third is heading for Washington but they don't know where it is..." This was 3:05pm, 10:05 in NYC. After some initial confusion, he explained that all three jets had been hijacked but I had some difficulty in believing it all. "There's no way they'd let a plane even get close to Washington," I said "Because they'd shoot it down." Anyway, my Mum is retired so I knew there was a fair chance she was at home. I called her up and could hear the TV in the background. I just asked if it was true and she said "yes, I was sitting here watching TV when they interrupted the broadcast and they're showing it live." More than anything, I remember feeling the blood drain from my face. Shock doesn't even come close to describing it. As Mum explained what had happened, I repeated the details out loud... one by one I could see people coming off the phones and just listening to me. There were about thirty people in the room at the time. I was working in a teacher supply agency at the time and 3-4pm is a critical time for sales since school will often rebook a teacher at this time. No one was interested though. At that time, Mum had said one of the towers had collapsed but the other was still standing. This is my memory of it. She said no plane had crashed into the sea, two had hit the WTC and one had hit the Pentagon, which stunned me - I remember saying "but it must be the most heavily protected military installation in the world." She also confirmed that one plane was still in the air but that they didn't seem to know where it was. I came off the phone and must have told everyone in the room about three times what my Mum had told me... each time someone came off the phone I said it again. One of the guys sitting on another table came off the phone and called me over. Once again, I told him what had happened. He seemed interested in the Pentagon... about half an hour later I noticed he wasn't at his desk and I asked someone where he'd gone. That's when I found out his father was American and was in the US Navy - he worked in the Pentagon. He hadn't seen him in years. Fortunately, they confirmed a few days later that he was okay. I had a 20 minute break at about 3:30pm. I went outside and sat in the car with the radio on. The rest of the day was surreal. We carried on with our work as normal, but all the time there was this awful feeling, a sense of shock, a thought at the back of your mind telling you that somehow it must all be a horrible and dreadful mistake. It just didn't seem to be happening. Many times I thought of my friend, Susan Corso, who lives in New York. I wondered where she was, if she was okay. I knew I probably wouldn't be able to find out for days. I drove home that evening with the radio on... I got home close to 6pm and switched the TV on and that's when the full horror of it all hit me. And I mean it hit me. I'm not ashamed to say I wept at the thought of what had happened, the sheer brutality of it all. I still weep now. I was apalled, sickened and stunned. I watched it all unfold in morbid, horrified fascination. I felt ashamed to be watching, as though I were some sick voyeur. I sent emails to my friends in the US... my surrogate sister, Tomi, in Milwaukee, told me they had locked down the building, that no one was allowed in. People were allowed to go home if they wished to, but Tomi said she couldn't bear the thought of being at home with nothing to do and the TV showing nothing but the attacks. Her friend Michelle was pregnant and Tomi was worried for her as she refused to hear anything about it, afraid that it would reach the baby's ears. I sent a simple, one line email to Susan - "Are you okay?" - a few days later, I got a brief reply confirming her safety and thanking me for my concern. I remember talking on the phone to my Mum, honestly believing that we could be facing a third world war. Later that night, I was in my regular chat room when a kid I knew in the UK came on. Not one for sensitivity and tact, he almost caused more bloodshed by saying it looked "cool" when the towers collapsed, like something out of a movie. I remember completely losing my cool and ranting "Maybe when you grow up you'll realise that up to 50,000 people may have died today." I woke the next morning and had to remind myself of the previous day's events. It seemed like a dream, a nightmare. It just didn't seem possible that it had happened. Around Halloween I spoke to Susan on the phone and she told me of the the deep effect it's had on the psyche of the city. People were afraid. Each time a plane flew quite low overhead, people panicked and cried. Susan lives just a few blocks from ground zero and she said when the wind blows, she had to have the air conditioning on. Each time she looked at the skyline, it was like being punched in the stomach. Even now, I can't explain why it affected me so deeply. I didn't lose anyone in the attacks, I've never been to NYC and I can't say I have a special connection in any way to either that city, the World Trade Centre or Washington. People say we should move on and of course we should. I think ahead to the future and I wonder where we're going. I believe that history will look back on the 20th and 21st centuries with a sense of stunned wonder at the harm we caused one another. People will read about our part in history and will be completely unable to comprehend all that has happened. I hope, by that time, the human race will have learnt to embrace our differences, to celebrate the diversity of life on Earth, and not seek to destroy it. The alternative does not bear thinking about. 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 story6471.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. 213.122.131.149 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: What follows is the text of an email I sent to my family and friends on 9/21/2001, entitled "Where were you on September 11, 2001?" At their request I gave my eyewitness account of the attack on the Pentagon. We as a nation have just experienced what may be the most horrific event this generation will know. For those who lived through it, this will surely be one of which people will ask, "Where were you on September 11, 2001?" And we will all remember where we were and what we were doing that morning. As for me, I was there, sitting in my car on the parking deck, less than 80 feet from the Mall entrance to the Pentagon. My wife, a Col. In the Army National Guard Bureau, assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, had her office in the "A" ring with a highly coveted window overlooking the inner courtyard. I was there that morning to assist her in moving boxes since her office was due to be transferred to another building by the end of the week. At about 8:15 a.m. we said good-bye to our two children, a thirteen year old daughter and seven year old son, whom we home school and left them to work on their assignments. I expected to return within two hours, so I admonished my son to stay focused on his work so that we could get started on math class as soon as I got back. I had been up very late the previous night making preparations for a family reunion I would host at our Fort Belvoir home on Saturday the 15th. I was still very sleepy and had to slap myself a few rimes to stay awake. I spent the whole drive in, trying to work out how I might squeeze in a nap, given the packed schedule I had for the day. When we arrived at the Pentagon it took several minutes to get the van cleared through security at the River entrance ramp. According to my temporary pass, we pulled in at 8:41 a.m. and swung the car around to the Mall side parking deck and slipping into one of the scarce visitor's slots near the entrance. Between her walk to the "A" ring and the usual interruptions she gets, I knew I would have up to 30 minutes before my wife and her assistant, the "Gunny", would come out with the boxes. That took care of the nap issue! The morning air was crisp, clear, blue, not a cloud in the sky. A pre-Autumn chill in the air made me keep the windows rolled up and it was easy to settle back and doze. Eventually I spotted the Marine "gunny" from my wife's office pushing a large cartload of boxes through the doors. I backed out of my parking space and pulled up to the base of the broad entrance steps. Together we emptied the cart. "I'll be a little while coming back with the second load," he said. Just then my wife descended the stairs in a hurry and said, "I have to go back to my office for about ten minutes. I have to write a couple of memos. They've just hit the World Trade Center in New York and we don't know if there are other targets." Over the years she has been stationed in the Pentagon, I had often complained of the low over flights permitted and that the METRO runs directly beneath the building. I always imagined that when the attack did come, it would be a sudden rush of terrorists up the escalators from the subway. So, I gave the Col. a kiss and said, "I don't know about other targets, but I would be more worried about THIS building." As usual she dismissed the idea as ridiculous, "This is just a glorified office building full of bureaucrats; we're not worth the effort." She dashed up the stairs and disappeared through the entrance, followed closely by the "gunny". As the guards tend to get a little edgy when unofficial vehicles linger at the entrance, I moved the van back to the parking slot and settled back again to wait. A few minutes later I sat bolt upright, my attention suddenly snapped back to the building, instantly aware of the ROAR of engines. I could not see the source but I knew without doubt what was about to happen! I can't explain how I knew what I could not see but time suddenly slowed to a crawl and I thought, "It's coming and it's going to hit." The scene seemed to move almost in a series of still pictures, frame by frame, . . . Click! . . . Click! . . . Click! The roar of the engines came to a sickening stop and there was a fraction of a moment when for me there was no sound in all the earth. Then an oddly hushed THUD! Debris sloshed over the roof and rained gently along the parking deck before me, like water from a child's wading pool, nothing big, all small pieces. Then came the concussion; the ground shook; the building shook; and then the noise came back! I looked up into the beautiful blue of the sky, filling now with an angry, boiling, swelling thing. A black and blinding orange ball of pure hate rose to what seemed like two hundred feet in height and breadth above the Pentagon's central courtyard. Then came the heat blast, like a concussion, only silent. Through the glass I felt my skin begin to burn and for those few seconds I knew the face of Satan! From where I sat I was positive it had hit the central courtyard. Judging from the direction it came in, I knew it would have taken the whole "A" ring, passing through my wife's office on its way to the Offices of the Secretary of Defense. Of course! That would be the logical target! Did Denise hear the roar as I did and look out the window? There would be no time to run. Did she see it? Did she suffer? These were the thoughts as my mind grappled with the conviction that my wife was now dead> I sprang from my car but realized I would not be allowed in the building. I tried to climb on the parking deck wall as if that might help me see over the roof into the courtyard. I ran mindlessly back to the car and dialed her office and let it ring 30 times, no answer. I thought of our children at home on Fort Belvoir. MY GOD! MY GOD! Are they bombing other military installations? No, no, this was a plane, not a bomb. Should I call the kids? No, they should not be alone when they hear! Have they heard? No, no, the radio is going on and on about New York, old news; they don't know yet. Thank You God! I need to go to them! I need to stay here! I called Denise's sister at the Department of Education. "I want you to go get the kids. Get them off the installation!" "I CAN'T," she screamed. "I have to get my sister!" I begged her to go to our children. "YOU go get the kids," She screamed. "I'm going to get my sister." I tried to calm myself. "You don't understand," I pleaded. "There's no getting in and there is no getting out." "I don't care, I WILL GET MY SISTER OUT OF THERE!" I was no use. Her primal instincts had kicked in. There would be no reasoning with this woman. I could not bring myself to say out loud to her, the certainty I felt in my heart that her sister was dead. Finally I just had to let her go. Try to call Aunt Jean. She could get to the fort in 20 minutes if the roads weren't jammed yet! "We are sorry but all circuits are busy. Please try your call again later." Ten agonizing minutes went by as I struggled to get word out to someone who could help. Sirens all over now, yet no crowds pouring from the doors; only a few stragglers, coughing, brushing off plaster dust, trying to breathe. Was it so devastating? Are there more dead than alive? Maybe she made it! Maybe so! Is it possible? I grabbed a lady in a gray suit. She was dazed and doubled over, trying to catch her breath. "Did it hit the courtyard, did it hit the courtyard", I yelled as I shook her. "I don't know. What was it," she asked. I told her it was a plane. "Oh God! If it hit the courtyard then they are all gone!" "Did you know someone in there," she asked. "Yes, yes I did," I said. "My wife's office was on the courtyard side." The woman gave me a sorrowful look and walked off. Back in the car again, trying to get a line out, trying to adjust to my new status as a war widower with two children to raise. I rest my forehead on the steering wheel and pray: "God be with me. I need you with me now." I look up through the windshield across the parking deck. There is someone over there; a little black lady, searching, looking for someone. She is wearing the green suit. She turns in my direction . . . and I look into the face of an angel. God, Oh God, it's her, unhurt, looking for me! We ran for each other and embraced, just like in the movies. I can't describe the joy and relief that rained down me, gently like the debris on the parking deck. "Where were you when it hit," I cried. I think I must have been the first to ask that question . . . "Where were you when . . ?" Where was she? She was in her office, after all, preparing her memos and worrying about her oldest son who lives in Manhattan. She was distracted by a noise and glanced out her window in time to see Flight 77, on its final approach, drop below the horizon of the roofline of the newly renovated wedge directly across the courtyard from her. There was no time to run, no time to warn, just time to watch in stunned horror as a second later it hit. The fireball mushroomed before her as her thoughts now turned to her friends on the Army Staff side who had just moved into the new section. Some of them were fellow Army Guard. Collecting herself she moved quickly to the hall to alert unbelieving ears to evacuate the building. . . . And my children at home? They received a call from their Aunt Carrie about the "accident" at the World Trade Center, with a sly inquiry about the whereabouts of their mother. They turned on the television just in time to watch the second plane hit Tower 2 and wonder at the fate of their brother in Manhattan. Soon the New York coverage was interrupted with "Breaking News from the Pentagon." The bone-chilling scream that escaped my daughter's lips as she collapsed to the floor brought a neighbor running from the house next door. She knew her parents were dead. We were not dead, of course, and on her way through the building to find me, Denise managed to slip a call out on her cell phone to tell the children she was safe and looking for me. From the Mall parking deck we were evacuated down the grassy slope, past the heliport, to Washington Boulevard where police were hastily stringing tape around the site. All of us glanced back, like Lot's wife, to the inferno raging near the heliport. Fire and smoke, joy and relief, guilt and grief all swirled together as we watched the hungry flames. I felt guilt and grief, knowing Denise was alive because others were dead and dying, while simultaneously I was feeling the joy. It is done. I can't change it. She is alive and they are dead. Ad now I stand in the middle of the highway and touch her and know that it is done. A shout suddenly rises from the police line. "RUN! RUN! ANOTHER PLANE HAS BEEN HIJACKED AND IS ON ITS WAY TO THE PENTAGON!" I struggle with our bags and we begin to run. Hundreds of us run, not crazed, but running for our lives down Washington Boulevard toward Rosslyn; the USA Today twin towers loom before; the Washington Monument, brilliant and tall in the sunlight, to our right across the Potomac. People break between Denise and I, running. I see only bits of her as the distance grows; now a calf, now a shoe, now a shoulder, like the little bits of debris back on the parking deck. Focus on the pieces, I tell myself. Don't let her slip away again! My stomach drops. I hear her shout, "TIMMY!" She always calls me "Timothy" or "Tim," never "Timmy," unless in a panic. I shout back through the crush, "I'm here!" I drop back a few paces; find an opening and dash through, dropping in behind her. "I'm here, here!" She reaches back. I grab her hand and I feel her skin again. My joy returns. If we are to die in the nest moments we at least have fair warning and we will be together. After half a mile the pace slows. We begin taking turns making calls on Denise's cell phone. She calls Manhattan; circuits busy. I call an aunt in Baltimore who was recovering from recent heart surgery. I don't want her to worry. I get through: "This is Sister Mary Lucy. Please leave your name and number and I will return your call shortly." I leave a hurried message. Denise calls New York again; still no line. She begins to take inventory of people, recognizing this one and that one. "Did so and so get out? . . . Have you seen the guys from . . . ?" I begin to notice things in the road; a gear here, a bolt there, a piece of creamy plastic something, a spiked silver metal disk I recognize as a hubcap blasted from its rim; nothing big, nothing big, all small gentle pieces. No one leans over to touch or pick up. It is a crime scene and all respect that. We hear a rumor that the State Department was hit with a car bomb. We don't know what happened to the other incoming plane. People speculate it has been shot down. On the bridge now, walking toward the Lincoln Memorial, I have time to start thinking silly thoughts, a healthy sign. The Washington Monument still stands. I think, "How beautiful the view is from the bridge; Arlington National and the smoldering Pentagon on the right, the Memorial and the Capitol on the left and the glassy river running calmly in between. How can anything be calm?" People walking from Washington, some running, adjusting uniforms pulled on in haste - young reservists running to the Pentagon to see how they could help, not waiting for the call. God bless them! I suddenly remember my mother-in-law, Lucinda and Richard, her son, who lie together in a grave across the boulevard from the attack site, in the back section of Arlington National Cemetery. In my mind I see Lucinda reaching up from her grave, like the statue of "The Awakening" in Potomac Park, to grab that plane and pull it down. "Oh no you DON'T," she would say. "Not my baby! Not today!" Then she slipped gently back to her rest and the guilt returned for the other "babies" who died. Still, I thanked Lucinda for giving her daughter to me twice. We approach the Memorial. Park Police on horseback direct us away. The city is obviously closed, no buses, no subway, for it runs under the Pentagon. Nothing to do but walk back to the Pentagon; try to get across to Pentagon City, somehow, and try to get home from there. On the bridge again, we manage to get the kids on the phone. "Daddy?" "Yes, Baby Doll." "I really thought you and Mommy were dead." She sobbed. I paused, my heart breaking. "I know, Baby, I know what you felt." Another miracle, we get through to my sister-in-law. Thank God. If we can somehow get to her she can drive us home to the children. Bad news, we are on opposite sides of the Pentagon. We tell her to go on to get the kids. We'll figure another way home. More bad news, "What do you mean you don't have a car?" It seems Carrie was true to her word. She did make it to the Pentagon. She even managed, beyond all odds, to get her car into South Parking where she ditched it and made her way toward the building, only to be dragged kicking and clawing from the South Entrance doors. She was now, like us, trapped on foot! I try Aunt Jean again - no circuits. I try my sister in Columbia, Maryland and get through. She reminds me that our nephew lives near the Fort, in Lorton, Va. I reached him and within twenty minutes he was on his way to the kids. We approach the Pentagon again, still on Washington Boulevard, on foot, as close as we are permitted to get. After desperate hours of trying to get through to New York, we finally discover that my stepson was at home in his Manhattan apartment when the towers fell - sixty blocks away! The three of us shared our joy over an open cell phone line; Michael in Manhattan, gazing ten floors below at the street jammed with people fleeing lower Manhattan, and us, standing on the highway watching the Pentagon burn. And I think of an old nursery rhyme we used to sing as kids, except under my breath I sing new words: "Guilt, guilt go away. Come again another day!" You may wonder how we did make it home that night. After trekking a couple of miles around the northern perimeter to the South side of the complex, we got on the only operating bus in sight. My sister-in-law, Carrie, who happened to be aboard and had spotted her sister in the crowd a block away, was forcefully holding it in place for us. She hollered and waved as she physically blocked the doors open. "That's My Sister! That's My Sister!" The next morning, my wife and thousands of others rose before dawn. They quietly pulled on their uniforms, white, blue, kaki and green. Traveling by foot or by thumb, begging, borrowing and sharing rides, they arrived ON TIME at their desks and put in an honest day's work getting the nation's business done, while down the halls of their "glorified office building" still burned bright with flames. Family members began to call. "Are you still going to hold the family reunion on Saturday," they asked. "YOU BET I AM," I replied. "If we have to plan our lives around evil things, then we must submit ourselves completely to the power of evil. I am not in a submissive mood." Timothy Yingling, Fort Belvoir, Virginia P.S. 03/11/002 Several weeks after the attack, the remains of one of the victims were laid to rest after positive DNA identification. Her name was Sandra Foster, "The Duchess" to her husband and stepsons. She was the "baby" of one of our friends with whom we attended church for over two decades. For over twenty years Sandra worked as an civilian employee in the budget office of the Army Staff, which had, just days before the 11th, moved into their newly renovated suite. Sandra was incinerated when the fuselage of the plane passed through her office. My children and I attended her services and burial. By special order of the President, she was buried in the back section of Arlington National Cemetery, which overlooks the attack site at the Pentagon. She lies 50 yards beyond my mother-in-law's gave. 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 story335.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. 2002-04-01 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.103.23 Annotation Annotations to this item. Gov't workers (non-military and non-rescue) Military Personal connection to someone at site Politics and politicians Premonitions/Coincidence/Fate Rumors Telephones and Cell Phones Victims DC:1 Feature 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 rememeber it like it was yesterday. I was sitting in my senior English class when another student came in late. He mentioned something about being in the school office and people were watching the news and that a plane flew into the World Trade Center. I think everyone thought it was an accident. Our teacher turned on the television in time to see the second plane it. I think it hit everyone at the same time in that classroom that this was no accident. The whole room grew quiet. All day at school people were talking and you could tell that there was a real fear of uncertainty and anger and sadness. That day is burnt in my mind.... 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 story10938.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. 2004-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 69.132.165.68 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 years ago on September 11, 2001 I was at school in the 5th grade and we were watching Channel One and it was telling us about how the plane crashed into The World Trade Center. When I saw it on tv I decided to look it up on the computer at home. While I was on the internet I saw lots of pictures about things that happened. They had pictures of the people covered in dust and they were running down the roads. I think it was sad for everyone because everyone lost something and someone. 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 story20441.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: On the Date Of September 11th I Was in Paterson N.J. At the hour of the attack I was in P.S.# 10 in math class, and all of a sudden the alarm goes off and the building had to be evacuated.By the time we came back into the classroom's the Principal came on the intercom and said Student's and teacher's may I have your attention please. Our country has just been attacked, Just a few minutes a-go two planes hit the Twin Towers by terroists. Then he said to us,If we can have a moment of silence for those who perished on this morning of September 11th.That morning everyone's parents had been contacted and everyone was sent home for that day and also for September 12th.This morning is a morning like no other it has changed the american lives for ever, but we will not fill our selves with fear, we must achive the goal of fighting back.Our persident George W. Bush and his representatives have fought back for over a year and a half and we are making progress.I will like to end this off by saying God Bless the families of the ones who perished on that morning, and God Bless America and our troops in Iraq. (WE WILL NEVER FEAR OUR ENEMY'S) Davon McCants / Age 16 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 story11173.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. 2004-11-23 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.160.104.250 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 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 11th, 2006 My name is Rob Webb and I live in Bristol, TN. About one month ago I ran into a friend of mine whom I had not seen for about 9 years. We began catching up him about his near fatal car crash and me about my Red Cross volunteer work including being a Supervisor at Ground Zero. It was at this time that my friend got choked up and began explaining to me that he last his Aunt in the World Trade Center. At that moment it made the terrorist attacks so much more personal to me. I responded to Ground Zero as a Mass Care Specialist and was the midnight Shift Supervisor at Respite Center 1. After closing the Respite Centers I went to the Staten Island Landfill for a couple more weeks. I returned again a few weeks later to work at ARC 9/11 Headquarters in Brooklyn, NY as a Dispatcher and Courier. After leaving NYC I returned home and was given the opportunity to go to ARC National Headquarters in Washington DC to develope the first Operational Manual for Respite Centers. I worked with two other people, an International Red Cross Representative and the overall operations coordinator of the NYC 9/11 response and confered with the coordinator of the Oklahoma City Bombing. The ARC had never provided services directly and exclusively to the Emergency Responders within a security zone until the 9/11 response at Ground Zero. It was a very big honor to have been chosen from all of the Ground Zero Supervisors to work on the development of this Operational Manual that will be used as a platform in the event of another man made disaster of this scale. During the time immediately after responding to 9/11 I was also a Chair of the Disaster Services Diversity Task Force. These two projects along with 2 major floods in my area, a wildfire, and a chemical spill on the interstate kept me busy enough to not have to deal with the emotions enflicted by 9/11. Although I was not there during the attack, I was there during the Anthrax scare that we all seem to forget about, the continuing threats and false alarms, breathing the dust and ashes on a daily basis, that, to this day is still surrounded in a political mystery as to wether or not it was harmful and wether or not I will be likely to develope one or more of the diseases linked to breathing it that will eventually cause my own death. It was difficult to see the men that are always strong and walking tall come dragging in from the destruction, but on the same hand was also rewarding to see their spirits lifted, if even slightly and trying to smile as they walked out the door to head back down to the recovery site. I saw men much bigger and much stronger than me break down and cry. But they were always ready to go back until they had found everyone. I hope that I never have to witness anything again in my life like the things I saw, smelt, felt, and touched at Ground Zero. It personally took me 2 years until I was fully recovered from the overwhelming mental stress that was caused by the constant range of emotions. One of the hardest parts for me after returning home was that I had no one to talk to about my experience. My Red Cross Chapter could not relate to it. My family and friends could not relate to it. And I surely did not think that a local therapist could relate to it. So, I spent 2 years in a shell. I can only imagine what mental distress those who were actually there went through during and immediately after the terrorist attack. Especially the first reponders who were at Ground Zero through out the entire rescue and recovery operation. I went to my local 9/11 first anniversary event, but have not been to another since. I will not attend another one until I can actually walk on Ground Zero to honor those who lost their lives there that day. I spent many nights walking Ground Zero with Mental Health workers offering refreshments and snacks to the recovery workers. I will never forget that experience. I also watched as they tore down buildings like 5 World Trade Center...it was like living and breathing in a war zone. I have finally dealt with my own demons from those days, and I will most likely be dealing with health issues th rest of my life. I have moved on in various volunteer avenues. I am currently the Chairman of a Resident Council where I live and will actually attend my first class tonight of the Bristol Tennessee Police Departments Citizen Police Academy. My heart goes out to everyone who was lost, their family and friends who miss them every day, and to my fellow Americans who came to the aid of those affected by the attack of the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. Robert Webb 400 Shelby St. Apt. 507 Bristol, TN 37620 American Red Cross Volunteer Mass Care Specialist 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 story20636.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. 24.151.243.150 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 sitting in my 8 a.m. geography class. Another teacher ran in and told us that a plane had flown into the world trade center. First thing I thought was "ohman, thats so sad". I just thought it was a plane crash. We turn on the tv, and next thing you know they are reporting on the second plane hitting. When that happened I thought I was gonna get sick. Everyone in school was saying "This is our pearl harbor, blah blah blah". I didnt WANT "my pearl harbor". It didnt' really sink in though how much this would change my life until that afternoon I was driving through town and at the gas station the police were there and people were in actual fist fights over gas. I started crying when it hit me that everything I had ever known was changed forever. 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 story9914.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. 149.160.170.152 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: A friend called me to tell me to turn on the TV. She had seen on TV that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center and she knew that my husband had family in New York near the city. I could not shut off the television that day. It all seemed so surreal. I called my husband at work to tell him what was happening and they turned radios on in the plant where he works. I tried desperately to reach our family members to make sure that everyone was ok and was finally able to get in touch with them late in the afternoon. We are making our first trip home to NY since the attacks in a few weeks and I'm sure that it will feel very empty to not see the Twin Towers gracing the skyline of Manhatten. I still tuck my children in each night and pray to their guardian angels to keep them safe. In rural North Dakota we used to feel relatively safe but this has made me realize that terror can strike anywhere. AT the same time it has strengthened my resolve to not let fear cripple our lives. 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 story5756.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. 66.163.140.23 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 woke up to the news as I always do. The breaking news came in of the attacks. I watched as the buildings burned and fell. I prayed. I called my husband, told him I was scared and that I loved him. I could not help looking out over the water (I live over a large lake) at the sky and noticing how empty it was. I just kept looking out to the sky expecting to see something horrible. I was angry so I put my flag up on my house and went to work. I cried the whole way there. 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 story3533.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. 208.188.1.147 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 live in California with my husband and 2 sons, so we were still sleeping. My sister called from Boston. She sounded very frightened. I couldn't believe it when she told me planes had attacked the World Trade Center. My husband had just gotten home from work. (he is a restaurant manager. Long hours). Before I turned on the tv, I actually debated whether I should wake him or let him sleep. Then, I turned on the tv. I was in total shock and disbelief. I immediately ran to wake him up. We couldn't believe what we were watching.Calls from my family came pouring in. I was so scared. I cried the whole day. I kept my kids home from school. I remember us going to the supermarket that day. Everyone was walking with these blank expressionless faces. It was the eeriest, strangest feeling watchin these faces slowly walk past us. My kids didn't really understand why I was so upset. Now, 2 years later, I feel that they Do indeed understand the magnitude of that day. Unfortunately, the world has forever changed. Instead of hiding them from everything, we let them watch with us as events unfolded. They helped me attach a flag to our car... we watched the candlelight vigils etc... I have saved so many clippings etc from that day so as to never forget. There is one instance in particular that I will Never be able to get out of my head... ever. I was watching the news and there was a "montage" of pictures and sundbites. This man said that he was looking for his brother. He said that he used to push him out of his bed when they were little. Now, he wishes he could find him to hug him. To this day I would love to give that man a hug. I have 2 sons and can totally relate to love like that. It will forever haunt me wondering if that man is okay. 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 story9881.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. 68.122.105.202 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 the beginning of the day. I was in my classroon teaching thr morning lesson to a group of Sixth graders, at the Mt. Pleasant Christian School Located at 6000 radeke avenue in Baltimore Maryland. As brought forth the mornign lesson on of our school administrators came to the classroom to instruct me to prepare my students for an emergency early dismissal. I was then curious asto why an "Emergency Dismissal". My Admistrator pulled me to the side and said we are under attack by terrorist activity. For a moment i could not believe it.However in time like these I am quickly reminded that anything could happen. My administrator then told me that I needed to find a way to gently break the new to my students. I thought aboout the issue, and continued to think. GOD showed me that this was not a time to think Anthony But to fall on our knee and began to pray to God for his mercy o our Country. So i told my Students to begin to pray. They almost instantly asked why? I then turned on the televison that wa intstalled inmy classroom, and to my wondering eyes would appear that the USA as we knew would be nolonger. I began to cry at the glimpse of innocent, hard working american runnign jumping and screamming for their lives. My female students began to cry and the hardest most troublesome student that i had was in tears. Truly this day was a humbling experience. We then without instruction began to pray for our nation and the individauls that were involuntarily made apart of this major travesty. we also praed for the individuals behind this henious act and ask God to change their ways, and their heart. Before leavig the room we agin view the televison. I began to thank God for My Country and for allowing me to reside in a place where when the chip were down we would all rally togehter and help on anther. I then turned off my classroom lights and lockled my room and left the building. Because we here in Baltimroe are so close in proximity to Washington, nd Relatively close to New York we became very scared for our own lives, garnering our families, and friends close to us to let them know that we love them and that we truly cared for them. 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 story2525.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. 64.212.128.3 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: The weeks following September 11 were perhaps more difficult for me than the fateful morning itself. As an American living in Canada I felt terribly disconnected from my family ? both my blood relatives and my fellow Americans ? during a time of great need. When other Americans were embracing each other for comfort, I felt totally alone. And it would be months before I again set foot on American soil. Please don?t get me wrong, Canadians were also deeply affected by the attacks and history will remind us that Canada responded heroically and neighbourly to America?s disaster (by receiving, for example, numerous flights originally destined for the States but diverted following the attacks). Nonetheless, I could clearly discern on the streets of Montreal that my blood was ?red, white & blue?, whereas the blood of those around me was ?red & white.? From the very beginning there were murmurs that America somehow deserved it, that our foreign policies had come back to haunt us. (Interestingly, I could never get anyone to confess to exactly which foreign policies they were referring). Nevertheless, at the national level Canada always expressed solidarity with the U.S., and complained very little even when four of their own were killed by American ?friendly fire.? Truly Canada did stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States during this time, but oh, how I wish I had been home in Virginia on September 11, 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 story1044.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. 2002-08-18 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.202.26.17 Annotation Annotations to this item. Americans overseas Foreign Policy Politics and politicians INTERNATIONAL 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: Just another warm, sunny beautiful, early September, Tuesday morning. I arrived at work about 8:15 am. It's a very busy office so hearing someone say, "a plane just hit one of the Trade Towers" struck me at first as an accident Our office windows faces the two towers and when I glanced out of our 15th floor window, I noticed smoke coming from the left tower. "Oh my goodness", I thought, "what a horrible accident". Time flashed again as I got involved with ringing telephones when suddenly I heard another of my co-workers say, "there's another plane, it's going to hit the other tower". When I looked out again, I saw a large circle of fire and smoke coming from the right tower. "It's a terrorist attack", someone said. The entire office gathered and remained staring out of those windows frozen in disbelief, some beginning to cry, others mumbling perhaps prayer but most was quiet and in shock. Then anger took shape and form for this senseless, selfish, unhuman act of premeditated murder. The radio volumn was then turned up or perhaps it was already loud and the announcer's voice shrilly told what had just transpired. The office continued frozen at those windows watching the upper portion of the two towers both surrounded by smoke. Our view of Manhattan spoiled by such a sight and the thought of innocent office workers and passengers on those planes victims of terrorism. Without a word to each other just a look, we all had the same words being played over and over in our heads, "Please, Please catch those responsible and make them pay". Those victims were as innocent and defenseless as new born babies and didn't deserve to die. Nor did the heros who raced to Manhattan either on foot or in a vehicle in an effort to save people without a second thought of their own lives and well being. 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 story4668.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: My best friend and I were always late to school and we normally had to rush to be on time to science. For some weird reason, we were on time that morning, and we were standing by my locker talking with a couple friends.Then, Daniel walked up to us and said that there was a hole in the Twin Towers, no one really understood what he mean't by that, so we ignored him and went off to class. When we walked into 1st period science, everyone was standing at the front of the room by the tv's, and when the bell rang, our teacher didn't tell everyone to return to their seats. We were some of the last people to walk into class, so we asked someone what was going on. They told us that the Twin Towers had been attacked, and hundreds of people had died, and more were trapped inside. When I heard that highjackers had taken over our own planes and crashed them into the towers, I was scared. Before that moment I had never really known about the problems concerning terrorists, or other things in the Middle East. It was like a wake-up call for me. After 2nd period, the teachers were told to turn the tv's off and try to run the rest of the day as any other Tuesday. It wasn't that easy though. People were worrying and crying over family and loved ones that were traveling that day, or that lived in New York. No one knew exactly how much damage had been done, or if the terrorists were going to come back. I remember all after school activities were canceled, which included a boys football game. Some of them were really bummed, and complained about not being able to play, and i couldn't understand how a sport was more important to them than their own country. People really came together and helped each other out during that time,and we remembered what America was all about. Sadly, that unity has died out, and people have started to forget that it happened. Hopefully, the September 11th anniversary will help remind us to keep the unity...and that we are the United States of America, and we will stick together and get through our hard times. 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 story3513.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. 207.193.126.63