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              <text>September 11th, 2001, was a very tragic and emothional day for the united States of America.  What started out as a normal everyday Tuesday, turned into a day that will be remembered in U.S. history forever.  As a twelve-year-old, most people do not think about the horrifying lives and tragic deaths that other people in other countries may experience every single day of their lives.  On the day of September 11th, those types of expreiences became reality for the people of the United States.  That Tuesday and the following days were lived in fear, confusion and sorrow.  The lives of the others that we had never given one thought to, suddenly becaome ours.  As we grow older, we tend to forget things that have happened in out past.  September 11th will be a day that everyone will remember forever, while the other memories slowly float off to the past.

The way that I witnessed September 11th may seem a bit coincidental to some people.  When the first plane hit the first building of the World Trade Center, at 8:48 a.m., I, along with 29 of my classmates, were walking doen the stairs from math class to a bus-evacuation safety drill.  As we got on the bus, everybody was really wild adn goofing off because we did not have any idea of what had happened.  While the bus driver, Ken was trying to get us to quiet down, we continued not to listen to him, because we thought, "Oh this is no big deal, we have done this a million times."  I can still remember the words Ken spoke when telling us of the horrible thing that had just occured.  He said, "Boys and girls, if you think bus safety is an issue to be taken lightly, just listen.  A few minutes ago, aplane that left from Boston, heading toward the West Coast, changed direction and crashed into the World Trade Center Building at full speed."  I was sitting next to my friends Caitlin and Aj when he told us.  We turned to each othe in disbelief.  We thought Ken was just making up this cruel story to make us quiet down and listen to him.  When we got off the bus and back into our school, we knew something was seriously wrong.  Most of out teachers were crying and the students around us were all confused and scared.  We went back up to our math class adn our teacher, Mrs.Tanona, turned on the television to the news.  While watching the news, I realized that the awful fact had suddenly become my reality.  By the time we had gotten back up to the school, the second pland had already hit the second World Trade Center building at 9:03 a.m.  We heard the news about a third plane hitting the Pentagon, at 9:43 a.m., witnessed the collapse of the south World Trade Center tower at 10:05 a.m., a fourth plane crashing in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and witnessed the collapse of the north tower at 10:28 a.m.  The rest of the school day, needless to say, we did not do any schoolwork.  Our teachers were very helpful and conforted us.  They answered any question we had and told us that everything was going to be okay.  Our day at Marlborough Middle School was one filled with sorrow, stories about New York City, and confusion.

After school, I had soccer practice.  Soccer praactice was similar to my day at school: questions, answers, and comfort.  When I got home, my mother, stepfather, brother, and I had discussions about the tragic day.  They had answers and facts I had not heard before.  That night, at home, we received countless phone calls from family and friends to make sure we were okay.  My father and stepmother live in Oregon, my stepfather's family lives in Canada, and the reast of my family is spread out across the United States.  My stepfather works in New York City at the Cornell Medical School.  He comes home on weekends and sometimes for a week at a time.  I am so grateful every single day my stepfather was in Marlborough that Tuesday instead of in New York City.

My life has changed a great deal because of September 11th, not just as a person, but as part of a nation, and asd a friend.  My values have also changed.  During the last school year, there were many events I learned lessons from.  School, friends, parents, teachers and even sports have taught me many valuable things.  September 11th, 2001, was by fat the most life-changing event last year for me.  On September 11th, many people thought it was going to be a normal day.  It turned into a living nightmare.  People young and old, black and white, perished out of hatred and jealousey.  None of those people deserved to die, but they did becaose of the envy someone else felt for the United States of America.  Because of the great loss an September 11th, I not only feel sorrow, but I also learned some very important lessons for life.

The first lesson, or virtue that I have taken to heard and soul is to be grateful for what you have.  Although the people who did this terrible deed devastated the UNited States, they also taught us to be grateful.  One may assume the people responsible wanted to give us a little bit of what they go through every day of their lives.  As citizens of the most powerful country in the world, we do not realize the harships and tragedies other people go through every day.  Our concerns are more centered upon whether or not our outfits match or "I need some more CDs because I love this one song on this one CD".  Our concerns do not even touch the subject, "Am I going to get to eat tomorrow or will I have to wait another week?"  We do not need to question whether we are going tohave enough food or water to survive the rest of the week or if we have enough clothers on our bodies to survive the winter.  In many nations world wide, people are starving, thirsty and cold with no clothers or electricity to warm them.  These basic necessities are part of most of our daily lives.  Although we may take them for granted, there might come a day when we do not have those things.  So, as a lesson to have for life, be grateful for what you have and never take anything for granted.  

My second lesson is never miss a chance to say, "I love you", for there will come a time whe ntomorrow never comes.  Many of tge people who died, probably did not ge to say "good morning" or "goodbye" to their loved ones.  They probably thought, "Oh, I do not want to wake them up, I will se them later".  Or, their loved ones may  have been angry and did not say "goodbye" or "I love you".  Just think, has there ever been a time when you were mad at your parents, friends or children and you never said "I love you" and "goodbye" to them?  Then, the next thing you know, your loved one is gone and you did not take that little moment to let go of your anger just enough to say "I love you".  I think a lot of people take their families for grated and are even sometimes wanting to get away from them as soon as possible.  But then when you think about all of the people in other countries who have no parents because we bombed their country of went to way with them, I wonder how anyone can take their families for granted.  I think to myself how lucky I am to have two parents and two stepparents and a family who loves me and will support me in anything I do.  If you have ever thought you were unlucky to have parents or thought they were overprotective, you should just think about how much they love you and how luucky you are to have parents who care about you.  The second lesson I learned was no matter how angry you are, opr even if you are not angry, just take the time to say, "I love you".

The third, and maybe most important lesson, I learned from September 11th, is respect, honor and bravery for yourself, others, the environment and your country.  All of the people who dies should go to their graves with honor and respect.  Some people perished our of hatred, while others perished from trying to help save the life of someone else and for that I honor them.  I wish that in this world there would be more people who would act with the same courage and bravery that the rescuers and heroes displayed.  They died trying to save the lives of others, while many other people did just turn and run in horror.  The heroes also dies to try and help our great nation.  This showed they had respect for others and their country.  Those people are heroes acted with respect and bravery and for that I honor and respect them.  So, the third lesson I take to heart is respect, honor and bravery for yourself, others, the environment and your country.

Although many people perished and were hurt, the people all around he should should have learned something from it.  People, families and our nation were torn apart because ot someone else's hatred and envy.  For the people that stood a little above the others to try and help, thatnk you, I owe you freatly for the lessons and virtues you taught to me and to the rest of the world.

September 11th wa a bhit of a wake-up call to people of the United States.  It showerd them the world is not just made up of people that have everything they need, like most of the people in the United States have.  Because of September 11th, I have been thinking about these kinds of things a lot.  If you believe for one minute you will always have everything that you need, I believe you should seriously reconsider.  Just because you have it now, does not mean you are always going to have it.  Your life can change in the blink of an eye.  You can have everything on moment, and nothing the next.  All of the people who were affected by September 11th had their whole lives changed in a split second.  They lost loved ones, money and some even lost their spirit to live.  The people around me have also changed because of September 11th.  September 11th opened the eyes of everyhbody whether they realize it or not.  I can defenitely see a change in the way a lot of people live their lives and how they view things.  Because of September 11th, 2001, I feel that my life, personality and values have chnged drastically.

There are a lot of things that should be remembered about the morning of September 11th, 2001.  I do not feel the sorrow, such as the number of people who dies, should be dwelled upon the most.  It should defenitely be remembered, but I do not think 50 or so years from now people should be saying, "on this day, 50 years ago, .... people lost their lives".  It should be a day when people remember the actual people, not the number, that had their lives cut short.  It should be remembered that everyday people, such as you and I, lost their lives because of somebody else's anger and envy.  The thousands of innocent mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children and so forth died.  Just think, normal, everyday loved ones.  One may think this was a massacre and it never should have happened, but they should then also think about the other countries where things like this are happening every day.  Did most of is feel sorry for them or even think about them before Septmeber 12th?  Or is it just when something happens ot the United States, that we wake up and think about it?  September 11th, should also be a wake up call to the United States and other countries that war is not the answer to things.  Thousands of people have been victims of ways, and have had their lives cut short and their families torn apart.  Although it is impossible to stamp out terrorism and war, I hope governments and leaders will realize and try to talk to others and settle things peacefully, rather thatn just saying, "Oh that made me mad.  Let's go drop a bomb".  Does that seem like the right answer?  I do not think so.  The things that should be remembered about September 11th are the ordinary everyday brothers, and sisters who had their lives cut short because of the anger and envy of another person or group of people targeted at the United States of America.

September 11th, 2001, was a day of sorrow, fear, and confusion.  The way we, as a nation and as people, are coping with those emotions, and obstacles, are helpin to shape who we are.  Whether we it be together or apart, we as people of  a nation must realize that what happened, wa not justtargeted at one person, group of people, or government, but at the United States of Ameica.  It was targeted at us as a whole, not as individuals.  As the most powerful nation in the world, I think we tend to get a bit conceited or overconfident.  Sometimes I feel our nation thinks only of itself, rather than all countries of the world.  Sometimes I wonder if the United States thinks about what effect its actions will have on other countries of the world, or if it just acts without considering anyone else.  But now we know, as we should have known before, anything can happen.  The United States can bhe the target of teeorism adnits people can be hurt.  The way in which we respond to that shapes who we are, as people and as a nation.  We must come together and act as one.  We must remember our mistakes from the past, so we will not repeat them in the future.  We must remember September 11th, 2001 as a lesson to shape how the future United States of America will handle things and make decisions.

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              <text>I was on my way to school when the radio said... "There has been a terriorist attack on the united states." I looked at my dad and we both sat there shocked. They then went on to say that the twin towers both have been struck by airplanes. I then got in class and started to talk to my friends about it and we started to watch it on tv in class. When i saw the people jumping out of the building. I then felt for all the poeple who had died or was dying and immediatly feared for my dads friends that worked around the twin towers. I felt sorry for all those poeple that had died and hatred towards the pepole that had done this to us. </text>
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              <text>I was a sophomore in Okemos High School. It was the beginning of second period - U.S. History class. It was before my teacher, Mrs. Glicksman started her lesson, so my friends and I were just talking (I believe the subject was about how we get too much homework). While we were chatting, the phone rang. My teacher went to get it, and we continued talking. It was nothing unusual for her to get a call during class. Since my desk was right near the phone, I was able to hear the tone of her voice, even though she spoke softly. It sounded frightened, and when I looked at her face, it certainly matched her voice. She got off the phone in a matter of seconds, and when she did, rushed over to the television. As she was changing the channels she explained to us why she was just called. It was her husband, a professor at Michigan State University, had called to tell her that something horrible had just happened. A plane hit one of the World Trade Center towers.   
Confused, we all turned to the TV screen, turned on to CNN. Sure enough, we saw there was a huge tower on fire. But after looking at the picture on the screen closer, we noticed that both towers were on fire. Had the fire spread over? No... it was too far. Then another question popped into my head, what caused the plane to run into the building. I figured that it was just a helicopter or something that lost control and ended up running into the tower. But there was no video of the plane hitting, so I wasn't sure. The news soon cleared our confusion by saying that the second tower had just been hit as well. They even had footage of it: A large plane running straight into the tower. The plane didn't look like it was out of control at all, it flew without ever waviering. Also, as I said before it was big. It looked like a passenger plane. We all stared, some of us literally with our mouths open, at the screen. Nobody moved except for an occasional glance to the person sitting next to them to say, "Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening." 
As we watched, there was a phone conversation going on between a TV broadcaster at the CNN headquarters and one at the Pentagon. All of a sudden, the broadcaster at the Pentagon stopped talking. A second later, he reported that he had just felt a rumble inside the building and was being exacuated. We later found out it was the third plane crashing. My fellow students and I started to get scared. What if they were more planes still out there? 
Class got out and reluctantly we left our chairs to go to our next class. Surprisingly, not everyone in school (it was around 9:45 am) had known about the tragedy. I told many of my friends in the hall, and I noticed others doing the same. I rushed to my AP Statistics class to continue watching the TV. Of course, it was already on and many of my classmates were already there watching. But when class started, my teacher turned off the TV and continued with her scheduled class plan. This made me a bit angry. Something this important and historic was happening and we had to learn about the probability of rolling a six on a dice. I could tell other students were equally frusterated, but what could we do? Fourth hour orchestra and fifth hour literature composition 10 were about the same. Those teachers did let us watch TV near the end of class though. I was mainly surprised at my fifth hour teacher because her son and daughter-in-law lived in New York City, both of which worked relatively close to the towers. Wasn't she scared for them? She didn't look like it, she looked exactly as pacifistic as she usually was. But I believe that she was trying to hid her feelings so not to worry us. Sixth hour Biology, we only had busy-work to do, and the TV was on all hour. My only male teacher was glued to the screen, I don't even think he moved the whole period. After school, I went to cross-country practice. We ran only a short distance, maybe four miles that day. I believe that our coach undrestood we all wanted to get home to our families as soon as possible. 
My mom picked me up from practice in our blue mini-van. I hopped in the front seat. She was usually quiet, and I could tell she was upset. I talked a little about it with her. She was at the mall when she heard over the radio. She was mostly bothered by the rumors that people were spreading around. I even remember one ridiculous one about us being bombed. Unlike the usual pop songs on the radio, it was turned National Public Radio (NPA), not a station that we usually listen to. They had discussion on what was happening and also sounds from ground zero. It was all screaming. Constant screaming. 
I arrived home to my 12-year old brother and my one-year old nephew. We were babysitting my nephew for my half sister that day, thank god. He was so happy that day. He would just giggle and gurgle. My mom would just hold and hug him. I believe he was a huge comfort for her. My brother was rather impartial. I don't think he really understood the magnitude of the disaster. My dad came home around 5:30 from work. He's a ob/gyn doctor in Lansing. My mom usually works in the office w/ him, but she was taking a day off that day. My dad is from Bolivia, my mom is a straight desendant of the first Pilgrims who came to America (the Whites). Even though my dad usually showed more loyalty to his native country, on 9/11, he was surprisingly patriotic. He wanted to go out and get a flag as soon as possible and would barely leave the tv screen. 
I did my homework (i only had a bit) and watched TV until 10. I was exhausted, mainly mentally, but physically as well. With so many feelings rushing through my head, it took a while to get to bed, but I finally did it and finished off the worst day in my living history.</text>
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              <text>The sky was clear and blue on the morning of September 11, 2001 in New York City.

Walking down Park Avenue in midtown on my way to work, I noticed pedestrians  looking in a bank window. I stepped up and looked in at the TV displayed through the window and saw the World Trade Center Towers. One had smoke pouring out of it, but it wasn't clear what had happened.

When I finally arrived at work (at a midtown investment bank on Park Avenue), I found out what happened.

I need to first note that the office I was working in had cable-TV situated in the collective work area, so my entire team was watching the events when I arrived.

I was told that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center Tower 1. It wasn't known yet whether it was an accident, or what. As we watched, Tower 2 exploded. My first thought was a bomb, while others thought it a side effect of the Tower 1 crash. The TV station then replayed the video, revealing a second plane crashing into Tower 2. It suddenly became horribly clear this as all deliberate.

We watched in amazement as one, then the other tower collapsed.

Word then came in about the Pentagon, and the plane in Pennsylvania. A coworker couldn?t understand why a plane would crash in the middle of nowhere, and I guessed that the passengers somehow found out what was going on and brought it down themselves (later on I was surprised to find out how accurate that was).

Our boss announced without a second thought that we should all plan on leaving the office and going home soon. As we were preparing to depart, the news announced that all traffic going in and out of the city was stopped, bridges were closed, and public transportation and trains were halted. I called my girlfriend, and arranged to meet with her on 3rd Ave and 41st street, to then walk home to Park Slope, Brooklyn together.

As I waited for her, it became clear that all pager and cell-phone service was non-functional. People were lined up using payphones all over the streets. The sidewalks were incredibly crowded with people leaving work and trying to get home. I could see the immense column of black smoke against the clear blue sky, and could start to smell it as well. 

My girlfriend and I found each other and proceeded down 3rd Ave, then switched over to 2nd Ave, which was less crowded. As we walked, she kept 1010WINS (NYC news radio station) playing on her Walkman headphones, giving me periodic updates. I think it helped give us both a little sense of security. One thing we found out was that all the radio and broadcast TV stations using the tower at the WTC were now off the air. Only those using the tower at the Empire State Building were still on.

The traffic dwindled down to none on the avenue, except for the occasional EMS, police, or military vehicle. As we walked by Bellevue, there was a group of medical staff waiting out front, obviously expecting to receive a large number of injured. As we waled, any sound of an airplane overhead made us nervous.

We reached Canal St, and found a huge sea of people migrating from uptown and downtown, merging to cross the Manhattan Bridge, or find a different path home. We crossed the Manhattan Bridge, and could see downtown Manhattan enveloped in smoke, with absolutely no traffic or people visible on the streets, and all buildings dark from the power being cut. The column of black smoke from the WTC site was stretching an incredible distance out over the water, with the acrid smell just getting stronger. Most of those crossing the bridge did so silently. At this point, military aircraft were starting to patrol the skies, which I found reassuring.

When we reached the Brooklyn side of the bridge, we were greeted with a contingent of medical personnel and others with water bottles to attend to those in need. To me, this was a great example of how New Yorkers pull together when push comes to shove.

After the 3 hour exodus we arrived home. 
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              <text>I couldn't believe what happened yesterday.  I still can't believe it.  I feel as if I am having a nightmare.  My head is a little cloudy and fuzzy.  I am walking around in a daze. You know when you get up really early in the morning, and turn on your light you feel a little dizzy and light headed.  It's kind of like you're sleepwalking, but you're not.  This is reality.  Now, wake up!
Yesterday was September 11, 2001.  I was in second period when the phone rang.  That's normal; all of the teachers call each other.  Mrs. Capen walked over to the television and turned it on to CNN.  Everything was normal up to that point.  When the television was turned on, I thought we were going to watch a movie.  But, we weren't.  The news was showing a plane crashing into the World Trade Centers.  I didn't think that this was really happening.  I thought that this was some kind of computer-generated joke that she was playing on us.  A very cruel joke.  I wouldn't think that she would just go and put in a movie of something cruel like that.  The week before that we were talking about Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban, and  that was why I thought that the incident with the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon was just a joke.  Then the second plane crashed into the World Trade Centers.  At that time I was in shock.  I didn't care if Mrs. Capen was playing a joke on me or not.  Thinking about that, even if it wasn't real is enough to shock you.  The average citizen didn't hear any warnings about anything like that happening.  We didn't know that something might happen to us on that day.  The time that I realized that this was real was during third period in art.  I was shocked and ashamed that I really didn't think that what was going on was real.  I was ashamed that I actually thought that Mrs. Capen would ever play that dirty of a trick on us.  
Then, another shock came during third period.  A plane hit the Pentagon.  I was scared to death.  We live near a power plant, and the people (including me) were scared that a plane was going to crash into that.  There were people jumping from the windows high up on the World Trade Centers to try to save their lives.  We all started to pray.  That was something that I never thought would happen.  People were praying that don't even believe in God.  
Then came fourth period.  That was when the inenviable happened.  The first tower hit by the plane came crashing to the ground.  I thought that I was going to die.  
Throughout that day none of our teachers made us do work.  They wanted us to sit there and watch what was happening.  Well, they didn't have to want us to sit there and watch it, because we already were.  I didn't want to leave any class because I didn't want to miss anything.  I was in a hurry to all of my classes, too.  Sometime during that day, people in a plane that was headed toward the White House took over a terrorist and got the plane to head away from the White House.  They crashed the plane into a field in Pennsylvania.  
I am very proud to say that I live in America where the average citizen went running into a building that a plane crashed into to save people.  They risked their lives for complete strangers.  The police and firemen and women also were very brave to die for strangers.  The K-9 dogs should be recognized for their help as well.
							Brittany Vanderwalker        

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              <text>     The day way going along as any other-books checking in and out, patrons asking questions etc- then people trickled in with shock on their faces telling us that a plane had crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center in NYC.  Everyone wondered if it was an accident, until a short while later others came in saying that the other tower had been hit and possibly the Pentagon and another site in DC.
     As librarians, we are usually the ones to give others information, so this situation was unusual because we were without contact with the outside world as far as radio and television as concerned.  All we knew was what we heard from patrons coming in.  
     Within a few hours, panic-stricken people (many of whom had never been to our library) were coming to the library to try contacting relatives in NY &amp; DC by e-mail on our public access computers;  many were on their phones at the same time.  Usually this is considered rude in a library, but for this tragically special day no one complained.  Most people were very understanding and sympathetic to those trying to find family members.  This was heartwarming as many times people are very firm about not letting other cut into their computer time. 
     One of our own librarians had 2 children in NYC and a daughter in her 9th month of pregnandy in DC who worked across the street from the Pentagon, so we were all aware of how this tragedy could hit home from afar.  
      We did everything we could to help people throughout that day and did not close early as did many other businesses.  Many who came into the library were shocked that we had not shut down and gone home, but we felt that we needed to provide a place for people to use the internet and that some people may not have had anyone else to talk to that day.  It was also said that if we closed, we would be giving in to the terrorists who wanted to see this country crippled by their acts.
      Later, when I got home from work around 6pm and turned on the news all I saw for hours were "talking heads."
Peter Jennings, the ABC anchorman, kept saying that people had been seeing pictures of the the event all day.  The media people apparently thought that the whole country had shut down as well.  It wasn't until nearly 9 pm that I finally saw what had happened.  It was horrifying.  I became as shocked as the people who had been coming to the library all day.  I sat and cried as I watched the films that people had taken as the events unfolded.  
     The next day at work, my co-workers were discussing what they did when they got home.  All had family to hold and share feelings with, which made me all the more aware of how difficult it is to be alone in a crazy world.  I was unable to reach my mother or adult daughter by phone and my cats were undaunted and unconcerned with the world or my feelings- there was kibble in the bowls so they were fine.
One woman at work said how she sat in her husband's lap and cried all evening as they watched the news.  I left her office and had to take a short break, as I was struck by loneliness along with the fear everyone else was feeling.  Even after all these years of women's liberation being thrust upon us, strong arms to hold you in the midst of tragedy can still be a great comfort.

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              <text>My husband and I were getting ready to take my little one to preschool.  He was watching TV and called to me in the bedroom that a plane had hit the WTC.  At first, he and I, probably like other Americans thought that I was a mere accident.  A few minutes later when the second plane hit, we knew it was no accident.  We were stunned.  Then as the news unfolded about the third plane in Washington, I wondered "When is this going to end" and really started to fear for my family and my country.  When we dropped my little one off at preschool, the moode was very somber with all the teachers.  Amazingly, the children who are the future of this country were playing and having a good time, not knowing and understanding what was going on around them. 
During the next few days and weeks, there were pleas of donations being made over the television.  My older son, who was not quite 7 years old at the time saw this on TV.  He was aware of the situation as the teachers discussed it in school.  My son wanted to go to his wallet and send his only $2 that he had to his name for a donation!  I was touched by that and thought that anyone who is directly affected would appreciate this little note of story.</text>
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              <text>I am a Californian and I was 31 on 9/11/01.  I am embarrassed to say that if you had asked me, prior to 9/11/01, I would not have been 100% certain that the World Trade Center was in New York.  

I moved to a new home in Malibu, with my son and my husband, the last few days of August, 2001.  We have a Great Dane and the house didn't yet have a fence enabling me to let him roam the yard to find the perfect spot to go to the bathroom, and because he is a skittish Great Dane, he hadn't gone to the bathroom in 2 days due to the change of environment.  I had been walking him while my son was getting ready for school and my husband was running.  My dog had just gone to the bathroom and I was overjoyed.  Suddenly, my husband drove around the corner, fast enough to barely miss hitting us and he told me he just heard on the Howard Stern Show that a plane had hit one of the Towers.  I didn't know what that meant.  What kind of plane?  How is that possible?  What does it mean?  

We ran in the house and turned on the television.  My husband, my son and I watched the television in awe, in horror, in silence.  

This was inconceivable.  My generation lived under the assumption that the United States was untouchable.  We knew about Pearl Harbor, but look at our response to Pearl Harbor?  Who would put themselves in that position to welcome the kind of revenge that is characteristic of the United States?  I was born in 1969.  I am too young to have any memory of Vietnam.  My life was not changed by Desert Storm.  

We didn't know what would happen next.  This wasn't the usual kind of aggression that is expected in war.  I couldn't imagine who we were at war with anyway.  Had I missed something in the news?  While I was so embroiled in moving to a new home did I miss some vital information going on in the world that would explain this?  

I knew there were rules in war.  Civilians are never supposed to be the main target.  Who would do this?  

I didn't cry for days.  In fact, it wasn't until weeks later that, while watching footage of the events that took place that day, that I broke down.  I cried for hours and on and off since that day.  My initial reaction was one of horror, anger, and fear, but the long term reaction has been one of such sadness and grief.  I have spent months trying to come to grips with the reality of it.  In fact, on this one year anniversary, while my family and friends have shied away from media coverage, I have saturated myself with it in hopes of trying to understand, or at least, to allow myself to accept the reality of it.

I like the analogy of the United States as a family that argues within itself, but when faced with an insult, bands together and forms a shield of righteous dignity.  I have been so touched by the outpouring of grief across the world for a nation that has made freedom in every nation one of it's primary goals.  I understand that the strongest will inevitably be resented by the weakest,  and I am so proud to be a citizen of the strongest nation in the world.  </text>
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              <text>When this happen I felt very sad. I just felt like crying because when ever my family and I would go to New York we would always go to the twin towers.I also felt very bad because so many peolpe had died and the day was so sad.Because I was at school and my mom wastring to get me from school and could because she was in trfic.It was very sad. </text>
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              <text>The morning of September 11, 2002, like many other mornings, began with my husband rocking me gently awake.  Only this morning, he had the phone in one hand and was quickly reaching for the television remote with the other.  "Amy, wake up" he said, "we're being bombed."  He had been woken by the phone call from a friend.  In the coming hours we learned that though we weren't technically bombed, our beloved nation was under serious attack.  

My husband and I clung to each other for hours that morning at we watched the horror unfold on our television.  At the time we lived in an apartment attached to a college dorm.  My husband, Brent Tallman, was the resident director of Hills Hall on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University.  All classes were cancelled that day, and students began to huddle together around television sets, cell phones and tissues at hand.  Brent and I watched this group of young students in America as they tried to make sense of the world as it spun and changed around them.

Later that afternoon, I had to go to work at a daycare center where I cared for 12 infants.  Something changed in  me as I held those fragile babies that afternoon.  They would grow up in a world that was drastically different from what I had grown up in.  They would hear stories and see pictures of how their world changed forever on September 11, 2001. 

I was not covered with dust that day.  I did not have to wonder if my loved ones were alive.  I did not see, smell, taste, hear or touch the horror as many did.  But I was changed.  

May God continue to save and heal our nation.  May peace prevail.  May pray be a priority.  May we cherish those around us today, knowing that tomorrow is not ours.  May we never forget...to remember.</text>
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              <text>The day started out as any other day in a hospital setting. Answering phone calls from pt's family and friends and doing
patient care. One of the empty patient's room had on "Good Morning America" and all of a sudden one of my peers call for all of us to come and see what just happened to the Twin Towers. None of us could believe our eyes. An airplane just hit the North Towers and smoke was bellowing out from the windows and where the plane entered.. We at first thought it was just a plane that was having problems. When all of a sudden the South Tower was also hit. They interrupted the broadcast and said that there are possibly more highjacked airplanes out there. I never in my life have been so scared and wanted to be with my family which was impossible at that time. This incident has made me appreciate every day and everything that GOD has given me. Life is like a fragile piece of crystal and is to be treated carefully and cheerished. 

                       Sandy T</text>
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              <text>well.  i was in reading and my teacher turned on the tv. we all kinda got the gist that something was wrong beacuse we have never watched cnn on a regular basis. my teacher told us that something tragic had happend. we all had no idea what it was or who did it but we were all determined to find out! later we saw both of the towers fall. many of us were VERY scared but many of us did not show it. me well i did i was crying like a lil baby. my teacher was a very nice one and she helped me overcome the fear that we all have to die someday.i want to thank you for takeing time out to listen to what i have to say and my views on things.


                thank you ,  and GOD bless!  </text>
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              <text>We were to have a fire drill that day and my granddaughters teacher was so glad that I was there to help with the first drill of the year. About 9:30 am they came over the P.A. and said that the drill had been cancelled. I thought nothing of it, as did the teacher. At 11:00am I was on my home when my cell phone rang. It was my daughter, sounding very upset. She said where are you! Thinking that was not her usual I said in the car on my way home. She said mother have you heard what has happened. Upon which I told her no that I had been working in her daughters class room. She said mother, I think you need to go back to the school and get the kids for me. I said what has happened? Then she told me and I almost stopped dead in the road. I was so upset, I  could not focus on anything for such a long time.
I could not tear myself away from the TV. I was young during the Cuba crisis, but this was far to close to home and now I had a child and grandchildren.
I could not sleep, I was a mess. I really was afraid that I needed a psychiarist. This was just to much for me to swallow.
I have freinds that have gone to NY to see ground zero and have asked me to go........NO!!! I could never just stand there and imagine what all of those people went through. What there loved ones must still be going through and WHY would some one do such a thing to so many that had done nothing to them. I would love for all of them to know that my heart breaks every day for all of them and pray to GOD, that he will heal them and give them streath to go on for the ones that are no longer here.
Gloria J. Forys </text>
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              <text>My name is Robert Rivera(age 21)and I am a Draftsmen for Duca/ Huder &amp; Kumlin Architectural Planners and on September 11, 2001 I was on my way to work from Philadelphia, PA. I can still remember the announcement over the radio as if it were yesterday. At first the information did not register, it was not until I reached the Acme market in Moorestown (next to my work) that I realized what was happening. A small television had been setup by the registers to display the horror that was taken place. On a typical day this Acme would be full of customers rushing around trying to purchase food items on the way to work. Today it was absolutely still as a group of about 20 customers and staff, including myself stood in utter dismay as the South Tower was struck by second plan. In an instant the reality of what was taken place finally sunk in. People began to cry and some left stricken with panic. How could this be happening, I felt so alone. When I was 12 years of age I went on a field trip with my sixth grade class to the World Trade Center in New York City. The highlight of the trip was going to the top of South Tower where there is an observation deck. I can still remember the view from the top of the World Trade Tower as the wind whipped by my face, it was one of the most magnificent memories of my life. I recall thinking to myself, "How could man build something so great". I can't explain the feeling you have when you stand on the top of the tower. It is like standing on top of the world. It was from this day forward that I knew what I wanted to do. I want to be an Structural Engineer, I want to build something this great, something that would stand tall, and proud for ages to come. It hurt me so much to see the Towers collapse. It felt as if my very own aspirations were collapsing right in front of me, how could this happen, it's not fair. It was all to much for me I ended up slouching down beside the register in tears overwhelmed by emotions of pain and anger. All I could think about is how no man or woman will be able to experience the same calling as I did when it finally hit me, my uncle works in the North Tower. Every year I will shed a tear for those who lost there lives in this cowardily attack. I want the people of United States to know that despite the fact that the terrorists took away the twin towers that inspired me to become the design proffesional that I am today that they can never take away the memories of inspiration, my feeling of being on top of the world while visting the observation deck at the South Tower, and most importantly all the unecessary loss of innocent life. May God bless us all and may we never forget September 11, 2001.</text>
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              <text>I was in bed when my phone rang.  It was my sister telling me to turn on the television that a plane had hit the WTC. I asked her if it was it an accident?  A few minutes later I saw the second plane come into the television screen.  I screemed to my mother that they were going to hit the tower.  I sat there crying and knowing that it was an intentional act of terror and that we were going to war. The safety we all felt was gone. The devastating sites of the WTC towers was overwhelming.  I couldn't leave the television.  I had to absorb all I could see and hear.  I still have trouble understanding the thoughts that would lead anyone to think this act would solve any problems the world may have.  To take the innocent lives of many a wife, husband, mother, father, sister, brother, son or daughter doesn't solve anything.  I still struggle with trying to understand the hatred for the USA. My father, who is dead,  was a Disabled American Veteran, and I miss not being able to discuss this with him.  My prayers are for the victims and their families and the survivors.  I hope our country will stay united in the way they came together after 9-11. </text>
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              <text>        September 11, 2001 is one of those days that everyone will look back on and always remember. Till this day, three years later I can still remember where I was and how I felt at that moment that I heard the nation was under attack. It was a typical school day, my alarm went off at six and I forcefully got myself out of bed. Finally, I was ready to face yet another day of my senior year at Falls Church High School. The morning had passed like any other; there was the normal scurrying out of the house and through the busy hallways to make it to my Calculus class just in time to not be tardy. Calculus was one of the classes I dreaded most but the best part of it all was that I had the class with my best friend, Gloria. 
	The bell rung and Gloria and I sat at our usual spot in the back of the room. Like, every other day we took our morning quiz, reviewed the homework from the night before, and went over the new material for our next assignment. Everything was going normally until all of a sudden near the end of class one of the administrators came over the intercom and announced that everyone should remain in their classrooms and not leaves the classrooms until further instructions. Announcements over the intercom always meant something was wrong, and everyone expected the worst. A few minutes had passed and the principal came over the intercom announcing that the Pentagon and the Twin Towers had been hit and that everyone should remain in their classes. The intercom went off and Mrs. Allard turned on the television and every channel was covering the tragedy, showing images of the towers and the Pentagon. A silence fell over the room everyone look worried and shocked. Our nation, one of the strongest nations in the world was under attack.
	Thousands of emotions ran through my mind and it all seemed so overwhelming. How could just such a normal day turn out to be such an important day in history? Who was capable of doing such a thing? Why would anyone attack innocent human beings and cause so much fear for a nation? The days following the attack were when reality finally began to hit, terrorists had in fact terrorized innocent people. However, this tragic day had changed America in a positive way as it had negatively. Something this tragic had to occur for a nation to become united and work together. Out of September 11, 2001 came the phrase, ?United We Stand.? September 11, 2001 was a tragic day that many lives were lost but it was also a time when people finally noticed just how important unity and compassion for one another is. 
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              <text>I am the front office supervisor at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.Upon returning from a break I heard that an airliner had just hit one of the world trade center towers.  My heart jumped in my mouth. My daughter Kari lives a few blocks from the trade center. By the time I returned to the desk, I discovered another plane had hit the south tower. The desk area has a TV for guests. Needless to say, I tuned in to find out what was going on. As I am watching, my wife phones from her place of work very distraught about Kari. As a Christian, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me at that moment, "I'll take care of Kari, you take care of Judy"(my wife). 
   Judy returned to our home and kept the phone lines open. 
For the next few hours we answered concerned friends and family as best we could as to how our daughter was doing.
One friend phone from Austria and others from over the U.S. 
Our concern was that she told us the previous week, that she thought on Tuesday she would go get her books and the antivirus software for her new computer, and then go look around the trade center. Several hours later we discovered, that her class at New School University had interviewed Bruce Willis and ran late into the early AM hours and she had slept in that morning. She was in her apartment dorm. 
   Greatly relieved at her being alive, we kept hearing from her sporadically because of communications breakdown. Her room mate's father worked on the 72nd floor and she was also dealing with a distraught companion.  By the time Building 7 collasped the National Guard evacuated her building. For the next several hours we again heard from her as they moved them from building to building due to bomb threats. As we watched the TV broadcast we could hear the local sounds in the background everytime Kari phoned.
    By the early AM of September 13, we could speak with her. We discovered that she and her companion had returned to her companion's parents home. Her father had survived and they were trying to rest. We celebrated with that lengthy phone call and were pleased to tell her of the many friends inquiries and prayers. She was touched and replied (I'm paraphrasing now)I love you all. God's presence got us through, but pray for the people who didn't make it. It was terrible. When I heard the noise, I grumbled about the noisy city. Later I realized they were running for their lives. One of these days, I'm gonna take some pictures to show my children someday of what hate can do. 
    Judy and I understand the term running because we were also running;definately not the same literal sense of people in NY but running none the less. Our family was changing and we had no control. We couldn't get to NY to help Kari nor even if we could get to NY we couldn't get in. Even after we knew Kari was alive and in the presence of a caring home away from home, we slept very little. Little things disturbed our rest and would for the next few days; a flash of light, the noise of a neighbor next door. At one point I turned on the attic fan in our hallway off from our bed room and my wife bolted out of bed calling my name and saying she heard an airplane coming at our home. The next minute she realized all was well. 
   It has been a year now and by the grace of God there was a September 13 for us in 2001 and one in 2002. Our family will never be the same but we go on. Our hearts go out to the families of others that day that will also never be the same and some of them will not go on. Thank you for taking time to read our story. God took care of us and He will take care of you.
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              <text>I left my home in Surrey, England on September 10th 2001. I arrived in New York and was very excited as I was about to embark on a 6 week tour around the USA. Little did I know that the following day would change my life. I was due to leave New York with 'Trek America' on September 12th, that left me with one day to visit as much as I could in New York. That day was September 11th, now the most famous date in history.
All of my friends and family knew I was visiting New York and they all knew I had one day to see as much as I could. On arrival in New York i went as soon as I could to the Empire State Building because I wanted to see the city come alive at night from the top. I remember that on the monday evening was one of the biggest storms I have ever seen, which is probably why the weather was so nice on the tuesday. Because of the storm, the visibilty at the top was terrible so I was advised to purchase my ticket and return the following day.
I woke up very early on tuesday and I remember that the only headline on the news was the fact that Michael Jordan was returning to basketball. It is really strange how small, insignificant things seemed to have stayed in my memory!
I got on the metro early and headed down to Battery Park as my aim was to work back up Manhatten during the day. I almost got off the metro at the WTC stop, but for some unknown reason I didn't. That was probably the best decision I have ever made.
When I got down to Battery Park I began following the signs round to the Statue of Liberty ferry. It was then I remember seeing some people looking up at the towers. I saw that one of them was on fire. My initial reaction was to brush it off as just a fire, and I am sure it will be out soon. I had no idea a plane had ripped into the building. I carried on walking towards the ferry station, where I joined about 20 or so people just standing amazed at the towers. 
Then from no where was this rumble. A noise I will never forget. It was an engine. I turned away from the towers, and almost within touching distance was a bright silver plane. It was gleaming in the sunshine. The engines began to increase in velocity, the noise increased and then to my shock flew into the other tower. There was the fireball first and then followed by the boom of the explosion. Now I thought I was in a movie, like I had removed myself from reality and was watching these events happening but not to me. It was like I was on the outside looking in. But then there were screams as people starting running into the park and this bought me back to reality. People were trying to phone relatives. Tears were following everywhere I looked. I knew no-one at all. I was alone. It was honestly the most alone and terrified I have ever felt in my life. The coolest man in the park was a policeman. I will never forget him. He was telling everyone to calm down and stay where they were and not too panic. That kind of assurance was exactly what I needed and whoever he was, I thank him. But now as people began running into the park they were shouting thats 2, thats 2, get outta here. It was then I realised that this was no accident and something more sinister was happening. I would have given anything to see just one familiar face but nothing. I was completely alone.
I began walking away from the park and followed a group of american guys. I heard from them that the pentagon had also been hit, and I thought what on earth is going on? and why am I in this country? It was a strange, selfish thought but at the time it just seemed natural. The full reality of the situation didn't strike me until I returned to the hotel. On the walk back, I heard that one of the towers had collapsed and the other I saw drop as we stood watching from a safe distance. After two and a half hours of walking I got back to the hotel and began watching the events on TV. Things started to hit home then. How close I was to it. The fact that if a terrorist I have never met chose to delay this action by an hour or so i would have been stood at the top of the towers. The fact that so many people had lost their life. The fact that when that plane flew over me the people inside were alive, but more terrified than is ever possible to imagine. Things like that still haunt me today. I sat at the bar in the hotel and broke down. It just hit me. The strangers in the bar were supportive and I can't thank them all enough. After finally speaking to a very worried family back home, I continued with my trip and have to say it was excellent. But that day will stay with me forever, and I know I will never forget it because there are constant reminders in my life. But I see that as a way I can try and make my life better. That day showed me not only how precious life is, but what constitutes a real hero and real spirit between people.</text>
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              <text> Hi my name is Marjorie Murray, I was at school in Alanson Michigan, taking a social studies test, when suddenly a student ran in the classroom saying that their had been an attack in New York. At first I was thinking an attack big deal! Then after hearing tons of people were injured, and killed, and the trade centers being destroyed, I had then began to get a tear in my eye, knowing that lots of people from lots of heritages had been hurt non the less killed, knowing that I could have had ancestors in the trade centers had terrified me deeply. I don't think that anyone with family or ancestors would be happy that they had been hurt so I did what any normal persons would do, I cried!!! I cried in deep feelings and sorrow for those that had lost their family, those who will never see them, and most of all for those who had dreams of becoming something or someone that the world would terribly need. And which now is over. 

I am sure that what has happened on September 11, 2001, 
in some eyes, will always be a mystery, of such if possible, though the grief and feelings are hereditarily
To lots in the eyes of this attack, this will always be remembered, much like the revolution, or the Declaration of independence. This is my story.
                      Marjorie Murray
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