413 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 sitting in my classroom when my principal came in and told us what was happening. Immediately students and faculty everywhere turned on televisions to watch the devestating incidents. My Spanish teacher had to cancel class for the day. She had told her friend the day before that she was glad nothing like Pearl Harbor had happened in her life and then the next day was 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 story1789.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. 2002-09-05 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 204.169.201.233 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: As my wife was bringing me to the railroad station for my commute into NYC, we learned of the attack. Immediately the entire region was being closed. All offices closed before the morning was over. After leaving our Long Island offices and collecting our children after school ended, we explained to our oldest daughter the reason that both of us were home. That day after getting home we contacted all of our family and friends who we knew that work near the World Trade Center. Although our family and friends were spared suffering any loss, we felt that a large piece of us was gone. No longer did we feel as safe as we did when we awoke on 9/11. That evening as my wife and I sat at the kitchen table we knew that we were being protected by the military as our attention was directed to the sky. There was a ban on all air traffic, but out of the silence flew directly over us a military helicopter. We felt relieved, but realized that our world had changed. 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 story7385.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.188.6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I was far from the devestation but I was affected by the events. I teach ABLE (Adult Basic Literacy Education) and GED classes at a site in Ravenna, Ohio. On September 11, I stopped in at the site to gather paperwork for a national project seeking new ways to document the progress of our students. That afternoon I was to fly to Portland, Oregon, for a four day seminar. Just as I was getting ready to leave the facility, another teacher, who was going to substitute for me, walked into the building and asked, "Did you hear about the Trade Tower?" I said no, wondering if there was a punch line. (Yes, really! This teacher always seemed a little vacant.)She told me that something had happened to one of them. I said, "Well, I have my radio on. I guess I'll catch one of the reports." Then I said good-bye to my co-worker and got into my car. On the radio was a report of the disaster. Only one tower had been attacked at this time. I hurried home and found my husband (who had the day off) watching some "dumb" movie. I told him to turn the station, quickly! There was the first building to be attacked, smoking. As we watched, the second building was hit. Now I must tell you, I'd been in both towers...the south one more than once. In many visits to New York I'd gone up to the observation deck often. I have even walked on the viewing site that was on the top of the south tower...outside! On New Year's Day, 1978, my sister and I had dinner at Windows on the World, inside the north building. And now, here they were...dying. I can't remember the order of events after that, but I watched the south building come down and the north, but somewhere in that walking nightmare, the word came over the telelvison that there was one airplane still in the air. It had, apparently, ignored the orders to land. (Well, there went my flight to Portland. How petty could I have been!) Surprisingly, I heard an airplane coming from the northwest toward our house. It was a jet and high enough that I could not see it, but it seemed to pass almost directly over our house. I can only think that this was Flight 93 on its way to Shanksville. Several days at the ABLE center were spent in allaying the fears of some of the students, channeling the anger of some, and in general, learning from this experience. Last year (2004) my husband, our two grown children, and I visited Shanksville and stood in tears at the many expressions of thanks and love that were there. In May of this year, my husband and I went to New York and visited "Ground Zero". Again, we were overwhelmed, not by what we saw, but what we felt there. Never forget! We were attacked. The closest event that I can compare this to is Pearl Harbor. 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 story11463.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. 2005-06-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.54.15.21 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 one of the kids came into my social studies classroom and said "The empire state building was hit by a plane. Maybe it's on TV, can we turn it on and watch? Thinking it was nothing, I said no and proceeded another few minutes with class as usual. Suddenly, either more kids or a teachers came by and said the WTC had been hit. At this time, I turned on the TV and the firey images of the second plane hitting the second tower burned onto our eyes. This was second hour. For the rest of the hour and really, for the rest of the day, we watched the TV in horror as we were updated with news of the Pentagon being hit and Flight 93 crashing in Pennsylvania. As much as I could, I tried to turn the TV off from time to time so that the kids wouldn't have to see the same horrible things over and over. Lesson plans were instantly scraped and I began reviewing the world political situation--what makes us different from other political regiems and why our freedom and success threaten despots around the world. 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 story2076.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. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.213.5.238 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: September 11th was a stressful day and made me realize how small our world really is. At the time of the attack, I was getting ready for work at the Lake Forest Park Elementary school. I was a teacher's aide. Since then i have moved back to Ocean Shores to get away from the big city and anything that could possibly be a target. Besides that i love it here! My brother in law Klaus works at the Pentagon so of course we were so scared that he got killed. It took hours and hours to finally know that he was okay. But the thing that struck me the most besides the fear, was the fact that at the school i worked at, the gym teacher Mindy, had an aunt and uncle on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon.... here we were thousands of miles away and two families at the same school so deeply affected by the terrorists. I was lucky. My brother in law lived. Mindy was not. Her aunt and uncle died. I think about this every day. It affects me most because I am a mother and i worrry about how the world will be for my children. God Bless America!!!! My Prayers and Love go to all those who lost someone or even almost lost the ones they love. Sincerely Carol Hoehna 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 story6858.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. 64.146.157.193 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: Having suffered a seizure on 8/25 I was due to come home on 9/11. My son just having his first child on 8/07 had been to see me every night after work before he went home. On the evening of 9/10 he called me and said "Mom I'm really tired. Would you mind if I didn't come to see you tonight?" I replied "of course not I'm coming home tommorow." "He said that's great now we can have the baby baptized. I'll see if I can leave work early so that I can take you home." I replied "If you can that terrific if not grandma can take me home. I love you Jimmy." He said "I love you too Mom." We didn't know it then but this was the last conversation we would ever have. You see Jimmy worked on the 105th floor of Tower 1 at the World Trade Center. We did have the baby baptized but not until December. Before that we just couldn't believe that he was gone at the age of 33. My beautiful baby was gone forever and his beautiful baby boy would never know just how special his Daddy was. Kathy Roman 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 story6733.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. 64.12.96.8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I was a teacher aide for my favorite history teacher. She was out of the classroom making herself a snack.She had been gone for only a few minutes when she came rushing into the room; "we've been attacked" she said to me, "turn on the tv." So I ran to the TV still not understanding what as happening and turned it on. I watched in horror as the planes crhashed into the bulding, an the towers tumbled down.All day the students and staff at my high school sat and watched, some cried, some talked about it, and some just sat there watching terrified. Many of the studnets and teachers have loved ones that work in the nearby Wright Patterson airforce base, as you can imagine, the base was of full alert; all civilians could leave if they weren't misson essential, but my aunt and uncle were both still there. That was extremly scary for me... that on top of the whole day, was just extremly overwhelming. The week of septeber 11th was also the week of my homecoming, i'm varsiy cheerleader, and on friday night at our game we wore red white and blue ribbons in our hair, and we also observed a moment of silene for everyone who had lost their life. At the begining of the game,when we all rose to sing the National Anthem the whole stadium was filled with voices, everyone was singing, we put away our differences,and all rose as one united nation. September 11th changed my life,it was the most horriffic thing i've ever lived through, but it jut maks me prouder to say that i'm an American. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource story1838.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. 2002-09-07 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.188.195 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 September 11,2001 I had taken my husband ,Michael to the Salisbury Maryland airport. He was suppose to fly out to California to attend his Grandfather's funeral. I then proceeded on to my job that morning. I remember the last words I spoke to him that morning.... "I love you" and "please don't make me a widow" I myself am terrified of the thought of riding on a plane. I am too afraid to get onto a plane....... I was at work when a fellow employee came to me and asked if I had heard that an airplane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. My reply was no......and I didn't give it much thought ........as they thought at that time it was a small private plane....... then over the radio came the announcement that another plane had hit the trade center. It was then that I got worried and turned on the radio. I then learned of the plane hitting the Pentagon and that we were under attack. It was also then that I heard all of the planes that were hijacked were fully loaded with fuel and headed to California. Panic set it as I did not have my husbands itinerary with me, it was at home. I started crying and praying. I went into the cafeteria at work and watched as the horror unfolded on T.V. I pulled myself together. Somehow,I knew I had to get home and find his itinerary. I left work and searched frantically for his schedule and the phone number of the travel agency where he had purchased his ticket. I called the travel agency and they tried to reassure me his plane was still in Philadelphia. I would not accept their answer so...... I contacted the airport. They told me his plane was still sitting on the runway and that his flight was cancelled. I felt better by this information but was still unbelieving until I heard his voice. I was praying so hard that he was safe. The phone lines were all messed up, not knowing what to do....... I waited. It seemed as though hours had passed when the phone finally rang! It was the operator! She had a long distance phone call for me from my husband,Michael. I could not believe my own ears!! He was still at the airport in Philly. His flight HAD been cancelled!! He was on the runway, ready for take-off when they cancelled his flight! He did not know that we were under attack until he got off the plane and went back into the airport and saw what had happened on T.V. It took him several hours to reach me by phone as the phone lines were all jammed. I will never forget this day as long as I live. All I know is that miracles do happen. I pray for all of the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy. I also realize how fortunate my husband and I are. 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 story1773.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. 2002-09-05 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 129.174.27.149 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: I was sitting where I am now, at my computer at work. I work in a corporate park that is located in Trumbull, Connecticut in an enviroment seemingly far removed form the hussle and bussle of wall street. At work, I had no access to TV as the events, of Sept. 11th unfolded. There were scattered radios in the office and any attempt to sign onto CNN on the internet was futile. People present, were walking about trying to find out what was going on, as concerned calls from relatives were coming in telling us what was unfolding on the screens of their television sets. It seemed unbelievable, but did not hit home or become too scary until we started looking out the front of our building which is located directly across from the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. We watched as the bomb squad arrived. That is when people really started getting nervous and personally, that is when it started getting scary. To think out here amongst this pretty setting, so far removed from the New York scene that we too may be in danger. It was at this time that the building we were in was notified to evacuate. There is only one road out of this complex and cars were backed up in single file. As we left the building, we passed the bomb squad across the street at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. Policemen had rifles out and at the ready as they looked into cars slowly streaming out. As we got to the end of the road out of the corporate park, there were more police officers with rifles drawn and even more scary, a huge truck filled with sand blocking the road off completely, except to allow a single file of cars slowly pass through. That is when I realized, that even amongst this beautiful rural setting lined with trees, that I was no where as removed from what was unfolding in New York as I thought I was, and like everyone else in this country will have my own special memory associated with Sept. 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 story3704.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. 204.110.170.5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: September 11, 2001 was to be an extremely happy day for our family. I had walked my oldest daughter Hannah to school for another exciting day of first grade. Our youngest daughter Morgan was to start Pre-School on that day. We took pictures and walked to school on that bright, beautiful blue-skied morning. When Morgan and I arrived home, our neighbor was standing in her door waiting to tell us that a plane had hit one of the Trade Towers. An accident I thought then went inside for a few minutes before we had to leave for Pre-School. I didn't turn on the tv as we didn't have time. We got in the car and I immediately turned on the radio. The first thing I heard was that another plane had hit the second tower and that there were reports that the Pentagon too had been hit. It was no longer an accident I feard, But a horrible attack on the United States. I didn't know how to "feel" that day. Sad? Fear? I was numb. I remember watching tv-all alone and crying at the sight of the survivors. People covered in dust, all looking the same. I couldn't make out the color of their skin, but all had the look of fear and disbelief in their eyes. Little did I know of the true devistation that had occurred or the horror that would unfold over the hours and days ahead. It's funny though. The pictures I took that morning did not register the date as 9/11/01 in the corner. It wasn't until I took pictures later in the day that 9/11/01 actually showed up. I guess something was telling me that such a joyous event on that day didn't need to share the date as something so tragic. Peace to all the familys who lost loved ones on 9/11/01. 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 story7279.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 67.233.157.79 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: At approximately 5 minutes to 9 am I was just finishing up teaching the first block of instruction to my recruits at the NYC Police Academy. As I looked over at the doorway I saw one of my fellow co-instructors standing there, I assumed waiting for me to finish so she could come in to start her block of instruction from 9-10:30. I gathered my things together and walked towards the doorway. I noticed a blank look on her face and I asked if eveything was ok . She looked directly at me and said a plane just hit one of the twin towers. I asked if we were being mobilized (which happens during any large event or occurence), she said "I don't know but they want you to get back to your office". So up I went. As I entered the office I could not believe what I saw on the television which was the North tower with a hugh gash in it, on fire, burning furiously. Many of the people in my office were just stunned watching it as if they were in a trance. Then literally at that moment I saw something out of the corner of the screen ( which I thought was one of our police helicopters, or a news helicopter ), I said "who is that?" , and as I said it , the 2nd plane hit the South tower and their was a horrific explosion. You could have heard a pin drop ! Any thought of an accident was now completely erased and now we knew for certain we were under attack. The whole building seemed to erupt with a frenzied "battle preparedness", wondering were we (or headquarters) going to be the next target? Immediately, everyone started suiting up into full patrol gear with our riot helmets and accessories getting ready for what we knew would be a long day and night to come. At 9:15am we were being told to get a "head count" of how many recruits each instructor had present , gear them up as best as possible (they had only recently started their training 2 months prior), and we'll all get down to the trade center to help evacuate the buildings and the area. So as I did that I called my parents and my partner and who ever I could think of that worked in Manhattan - particularly in lower Manhattan or the Trade Center area. I said we are going to leave within 5 or 10 minutes to go to the trade center, we should be down their by 9:30 or so. One by one I could hear the fear building in each person's voice that I spoke to. For the first time in a long while, that I could think of I was starting to feel it too. For a time I wondered if I would speak to them again, having this feeling that we may not finish the day. Then the training takes over and you attempt to focus on what the task is at hand. I was not able to speak to anyone again until much later that afternoon. When the time came where many of us had our "numbers" and were ready to go, we were given an order to "standby", and corral all of the recruits down into the main gym area and receive assignments from that point. I had already picked 10 recruits that I considered my "top ten" and also had military experience - for whatever it was worth. A decision was made at some point, that instead of sending all of the instructors with the recruits, (which would have totaled almost 1,000 people), directly to the trade center, we would be posted all throughout southern Manhattan, to aid in the evacuation of the whole area (and to make it easier to receive incoming assistance from the outer boroughs , New Jersey and Connecticut. By the time we actually got our assignments and made it down close to the trade center area the buildings were collapsing. Some teams who were very close, now had to turn around and run back the opposite direction to avoid being injured (or killed) by the falling debris. We worked all through the day and when we finally were dismissed at around 10:30pm that night, most of us went down to ground zero to help aid the rescue effort. We stayed until we had to come back to the academy at 3:30 AM to start our first of many "12hour tours", which many times lasted 14 to 18 hours a day. Physically and emotionally we were all drained. The only thing that really kept many us (the emergency workers) going (aside from our families and friends ), was the outpouring of public support that followed the attacks. Looking back now, I recall being down at ground zero right from the beginning, looking for bodies but only finding "parts" many of the days we were there. It was very surreal, the shock was so great it didn't even seem real. The first sense of reality hit me on 2 separate times, within the first couple of days into the operation. The first was when I saw a caravan of trucks with firemen in them driving up to the academy. I could see the out of state plates as they approached. When the lead truck stopped and asked "We're here to help...where do we go?", I almost fell apart when I saw on the side of one of the trucks it said Oklahoma City Fire Department. They had driven all way from Oklahoma, not only to "repay" the help New York City provided during the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 but ..."just because"! The other was within the first couple of days after the attack, we were posted on West street a few blocks North of ground zero for security purposes. At this point West Street had steadily ballooned up with news trucks, supplies, and supporters. Many people (groups of kids and adults) were coming in with flyers and posters of their "missing" friends and relatives. Probably the most heart-wrenching moments was when some of the kids (with presumably their parents or relatives) stopped to give us some drawings they made of cops and firemen helping at the world trade center, and as they were thanking us, I remember one girl asking "Officer, did you find my daddy yet ?" I briefly held my composure for about 6 seconds, just long enough to say "Not yet, but hopefully very soon". She very politely and innocently said "OK, thank you". I had to walk away within seconds because I must have cried for the next 5 or 10 minutes right after that. That was the worst part, looking people in the face and telling them we haven't found their "missing" friend or relative, when we knew that first night, the odds of anyone walking out of there was slim at best. There wasn't much time for grieving at that point however because we had to stay sharp and be on the lookout for any other potential threat. People working at ground zero had a high level of determination to rescue and retrieve as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. I must have known almost a dozen people, between police officers, firemen, and friends that perished on September 11th, and attended almost twice as many funerals. The "survivors guilt" for many of us was or has been prevalent since then. Many of the tv interviews reflect that when you watch them. As a rescue worker, one of the main things that I think has aided the healing process for many of us, is the "sense" of unity that immediately followed the attacks and that has waiverd some, but remained at some level since then. That, and the urgency of many people to not forget the people lost that day. Their rememberance is vital to our overall success. It will be the driving force to keep us focused on our goal of keeping our country as safe as possible, and to seek out those who would threaten our way of life. We may not be able to prevent another "September 11th", but with a strong resolve, and commitment we should be able to become a stronger and more unified country through whatever adversity we have and may face. It is truly the best way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice that day, and to make some good come from one of the darkest days in history. Sincerely, Thomas Verni, Police Officer NYC Police Academy 235 East 20th Street New York, N.Y. 10003 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 story6374.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. 152.163.188.195 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 had gone to work as usual and had't a clue as to what was comming. It was not as busy as usual, the hussle and bussle wasn't there and I went to see where everyone was. I found them watching the television and thinking to my self "ok, this is new" and when i saw the burning buildings(on the tv) and heard people on the phone in the office sounding frantic I knew this was real. What I was looking at wasn't a joke or a movie you would expect hollywood to come up with like so many other disaster movies. This was real and then the unthinkable happened and we watched the first building colaps....All we could do was just stare with our mouths open, it was so hard to comprehend that we just sat there trying to let it sink in. Then you couldn't get on line because traffic was so congested and the phones were busy as could be especially trying to reach new york you couldn't get through without a miricle. I felt so unsafe and watched the sky for weeks after, never knowing what was next. I remember my hubby called me and said lets pray, lets pray for our nation and it's leaders for wisdom and lets pray for those people and families. God bless all of those who lost or survived, tragedy was ment to harm and seperate but keep your faith in God. Don't let your hearts grow bitter. We should remember to pray for those who have struck against us as well because imagine the difference if they came to know Christ....WOW. Love to all in Christ. 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 story2860.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. 12.31.201.130 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 following is something I wrote a few days after 9/11/01. I have previously sent this to friends and relatives, but I feel it's time to share this with everyone so it may be read by future generations. God Bless, Ken Phoenix Uncertain by Kenneth Austin Walsh CATHARSIS I: The Road to Damascus I need to write all of this down right now, while the smells, sounds, and experiences of the past few days are fresh in my mind. I also need to do this now because I?ve gotten some clarity in the past few hours and I don?t know how long that will last for. I have alternated between disbelief, sorrow, confusion, and anger?and sometimes all of these simultaneously. On Tuesday, the man I was ceased to exist. The light has been extinguished from my eyes. I?ve tried to explain things to my wife and broke down every time. I cannot even begin to explain to my daughter Katie how lucky she is to have her Daddy around, nor can I explain to her why her Daddy screams in his sleep or why he shakes for no reason. I cannot explain to her why every time I head a loud sound or bang, I practically jump out of my skin. All I can do is try and take the medication that keeps me normalized and try and make some sort of sense of the whole thing. Now that I?ve just popped a ?happy pill?, I?ve got 8 hours to write this all down, before I descend into my own abyss once again. In the past 72 hours, I have witnessed events that I never thought I would see with my own eyes. What you are seeing on your television is absolutely nothing?and I do mean NOTHING?like it actually was to be there. I keep telling myself that something or someone must have had a greater plan for me, and that is why I am alive today instead of being buried under a ton of rubble. Perhaps that plan just to write this document of my experience to share with others so that they may carry on the memory of those who survived like myself, and the memory of those who were lost. Perhaps it is to share with you that amidst all of the evil, I witnessed some of the finest moments of compassion and humanity that I have ever seen?an affirmation of a belief that I have always held: that we have greatness inside all of us. Perhaps it is about the redemption of my own soul, for like Saul on the way to Damascus, I?m slowly coming to the realization that my life has indeed reached a turning point. I also know that there is no going back to the person I was, and I just have to figure out just who the hell I am now. CATHARSIS II: Abnormal Normality TUESDAY, September 11th, 2001: 7:22 AM, Little Silver Train Station, NJ Kissed my wife and daughters good bye as they dropped me off at the station. Took my coffee, laptop, and briefcase?bought a copy of the NY Daily News. Thankfully since the NY Giants/Denver Broncos game ended late, I don?t have to read about how my team was defeated. Read through the paper all the while sipping my coffee on the one hour ride to Newark NJ, where I will catch the PATH Train (a subway between NJ and NY) to the World Trade Center, just 3 blocks from my office at 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza. 8:20 AM, Penn Station, Newark, NJ Board the PATH train?and actually found a seat! I consider this a good omen for the rest of the day, especially as I was lugging around a very heavy laptop PC in addition to my regular briefcase. It was for this reason that I decided NOT to listen to my CD Player today?it would be just too awkward carrying around a CD player strapped to my waist as well as a laptop and briefcase. I close my eyes to catch a few winks on the 22-minute ride into Manhattan. 8:42 AM, World Trade Center, New York, NY Leave PATH train for the ride 6 stories up a series of escalators to the street level. I decide that my laptop is sitting awkwardly on my shoulder, and that I would fix it when I reached the top of the escalators. 8:45 AM, WTC Path Square (located in the center of the WTC Complex, 1 story Below Ground, where there?s a Shopping Mall) Reach the top of the escalator, and begin to fix my laptop. As soon as I get myself situated?something happens?a sound?something different. Sounds like a crash at first?then a low rumble?then a ?whoosh? throughout the complex. People are starting to run, and once others see people running, they too scramble for the exits. At this point, I think it?s a good time to get the hell out of there, and start to run toward the exits as well. Someone, in his or her haste to get out, knocks me over. I?m falling face first toward a plate glass window in one of the shops. Somehow, I manage to contort my body so that I land on my left knee pretty hard, but my face hits the floor. I?m dazed?compose myself for a minute?and realize I have to get out no matter what just happened. My knee is killing me, but the endorphins take over, and that pain is quickly gone. I feel something warm on my chin, and realize that it?s blood. My fall knocked one of my front teeth into my lip, putting a nice gash in it. I wipe some blood away, and follow another crowd into the lower level of the Border?s bookstore, which also has an exit to the streets?it?s much less crowded, and a calmer exodus of people. I reach the street and exit into the air. There is a burning smell?I?d never smelled anything like it. There are thousands of papers falling from the sky in a quiet procession of calm amidst the chaos. A paper rain, much like one of those party favors that you might have had when you were a kid?you know, the fake champagne bottles filled with confetti. I start to walk across Church Street. I can see smoke, but because I?m so close to the tower, I can?t really see anything. I begin to walk westward toward Broadway past St Paul?s Chapel. As I walk, people are looking up at the North Tower, then looking back down at my blood stained face. I see their eyes are filled with confusion. When I reach the corner of Broadway and look up I can finally see what happened. There, at the top of a building that is approximately ? of a mile long is a HUGE hole?several stories in length?plumes of smoke and flame billowing higher into the air. I can only stand there, watching in disbelief as I realize that what we had all feared had probably taken place: a bomb had gone off in the World Trade Center. CATHARSIS III: Another Ulysses APPROX. 9:00 AM, Broadway It?s funny how the mind operates. You know, kind of like when you see a magic trick, you can?t believe what you saw?or when your team makes a triple play?or when you witness a birth. You know you?re seeing something, but your mind sends signals that it?s just not possible, but there it is. From out of the Tower, I?m seeing debris fall?but it?s coming in very irregular intervals. Usually, debris falls in a pattern as a structure is weakened, and at the same rate of descent. This debris was sporadic, and it wasn?t just falling in a straight line from the Tower?it was arcing. I saw it happen once, twice?but on the third time, I saw what I thought was debris MOVE, I thought I saw arms move?and I realized that debris cannot move, nor could it have arms. I had just seen people throw themselves from the North Tower to escape the consuming flames. I began to shake, began to shout ?No F***ing way!? and ?Oh my God? at the top of my lungs. Someone came over to me and put their hand on my shoulder and asked me if I was all right. I think I said something to the effect I was, but they offered me a bottle of water and some tissues to wipe the blood off my face. I accepted and I asked if they had seen the explosion?and that?s when they told me it was a plane that had crashed into the North Tower. They also told me it was an airliner. The brain couldn?t register that one really?except for the fact that I thought it was a terrible accident, and thank God it wasn?t a bomb. Another person in the crowd came up to me and asked if I needed help getting to where I was going. I realized that my hands were trembling and couldn?t hold either the tissues or water steady and my knees felt weak. Brain kicks in again: yeah, take this guy up on his offer. It turned out he worked for my company but at another location. We began to walk toward my building, and I notice some debris along the way. About a block from my office, right in front of the Federal Reserve Building I see some debris that catches my eye: some tacky looking upholstery that looks like it came from an airline headrest. It was then that I saw a seat cushion and an armrest?THANKFULLY empty. APROX 9:12 AM, 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza I walk one block further south to my building, and reach the Plaza. Just as I?m about to turn to enter my building, I hear the whine of jet engines. I look down the block at the South Tower, and see a fireball engulfing the building, showering flaming debris across the skyline, arcing outward and in my general direction. There is a low, rumbling sound, very much like what I had heard earlier?a sound that grew as the flames spread and debris rained down upon Manhattan. The crowd begins to run frantically toward the east, away from the falling debris. I overhear someone say that it was another jet that collided into the South Tower. It was then I realized that this was no accident, that my greatest fears were realized: we were under attack. It was at that moment, I knew that I had to somehow survive this?get the hell out of there?and get home to my family. I had just become a modern day Ulysses. CATHARSIS IV:The Silence before the ROAR APPROX 9:20 AM, 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza I?m pretty superstitious. I usually sit in the same seat for a baseball or football game if my team is winning. I never pick up a penny ?tails up?, and I don?t walk under ladders. In some convoluted manner, the Universe played a trick on me, for I work on the 13th floor of my building. It never bothered me before, but on a day like Tuesday, there was just no way I was going to go up into my office?so I decided to go downstairs to the Branch to use the phone to call my wife to let her know I was OK. >>A footnote here and an important one because it?s going to come into play later: The Branch is an underground structure, kind of like a rectangular ?donut?. It is just below the Plaza, with a circular glass enclosure in its center containing a fountain. There is an opening at the top of this enclosure to the Plaza to let light in. From the Plaza level, there is a circular wall that allows viewing of the fountain from the Plaza, and it?s quite beautiful when viewed from inside the branch at the level of the fountain.<< Just before entering the Branch, I meet up with a co-worker who sees me and is pretty amazed at my condition at this point?I can only imagine: A deer in the headlights look accompanied by a bloody face. I try and tell him what?s happened so far. It turns out, he?s not going to his floor either?and he helps me into the Branch. Needless to say, the Branch had been closed to all but employees with ID. I also know the Branch Manager, Assistant Branch Manager and many of the staff well because I?ve worked with them directly when I was in the Branches myself. I got in there; they sat me down and got me some first aid as well as some water. I called my wife, told her I was OK and told her of what I was going to do next: try and take the Staten Island Ferry and get to either my parents or my in-laws and have them drive me home. I just wanted to get the hell off Manhattan as soon as possible, especially with the thought that there were two ? mile buildings a few blocks away that had the possibility of collapsing. I called my parents and told them of my intentions as well. Needless to say, I?m pretty shaken up at this point. I decide to sit a few minutes to try and relax, collect my thoughts, and move on. A woman named Maxine (who I?ve never met before) sat with me and comforted me. She also spoke with my wife during my phone call and said she was taking care of me. God Bless her?she was a BIG help. We turned on the radio to listen to the news, to see exactly what had happened, and it was just as we feared: two jet liners were hijacked and were rammed into the World Trade Center?and one other thing that hit us all like a ton of bricks?the Pentagon was also attacked the same way. Nothing was the same anymore. CATHARSIS V: No World Order APPROX 10:15 AM 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza Some people talk about a ?New World Order?. At this point in my life, there was definitely a New World, but anything but order. I had finally calmed down, and was about to make my way toward the Staten Island Ferry when the unthinkable happened: That ROAR happened again?that ungodly Roar that still was imprinted in my head from the last few hours? ?And then I saw the debris and smoke fill the glass enclosure around the fountain. The ground shook, and we all began to rush toward the escalators that would take us to the vault sub-basements in the Plaza. We arrived down there followed by a cloud of smoke and dust?we made our way through passages that led to the underground cafeteria where security told us to go. My first thought was that my building was attacked, but something completely unexpected happened. We had just found out that one of the icons of the New York Skyline, one of the World Trade Towers had crumbled to dust?and that rubble had spread across Lower Manhattan, washing across the Plaza. We were told to stay put?it was safer here, and there was NO visibility AT ALL outside. More people started to file into the cafeteria?all of them covered in dust?stark white ghosts with terrorized eyes peering from the rubble that had been strewn onto their bodies. Among them were two people who worked in my department. I rushed up and the three of us hugged and held onto each other. We got a table in the cafeteria; got some of the water and wet rags they were handing out to help us breathe. ?And we sat?for two hours?and waited for news of when we could leave the building. In the meantime, there was another dull roar in the distance?THAT ROAR? ?And the other Tower had fallen. ?And God only knew what the rest of the world outside looked like. CATHARSIS VI: A Hole in the Sky APPROX Noon, 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza Now I know what my cat feels like when I let him out of his carrier after we bring him back from the vet. He always wants to get the hell out, and yet he steps out gingerly, unsure of what he can expect. I kind of felt that way as I exited our building after we were told to head toward the East River. I also felt like a B-Movie actor on one of those bad 50?s ?Day After?? movies, the ones usually used for cannon fodder on ?Mystery Science Theater 3000?. There was dust everywhere, and it looked like it was snowing in September. There had to be two inches of dust and debris on the streets as CJ (one of those guys I mentioned earlier who worked with me) and I made tracks for the South Street Seaport. We?re wandering around, towels around our faces like some post-apocalyptic version of TE Lawrence and The Shadow trekking across the Nafud, or Paul and Jessica across Arakis in ?Dune?. We looked back where the Twin Towers had been?the same two towers CJ and I came through every day from the PATH (she?s from North NJ)?the same two towers that had dominated the skyline since we were children (we?re both 40, born a month apart). There was nothing. Absolutely nothing?except for a huge black cloud where those beautiful towers once stood gleaming in the sunshine. It was as if you used a photo program on your PC, highlighted the Towers, deleted the image and filled the blank area with smoke. It hurt to breathe (and I?m a smoker, so I can just IMAGINE what a non-smoker would have felt). The dust stung your eyes and skin. It was raining dust?a horrible snowfall on a late summer day?a snowfall that contained pieces of building, asbestos, paper, jet fuel, and God only know what else. I was reminded of Good Friday for some reason? We finally got to the River, and began to follow the exodus uptown toward God knows where. All CJ and I knew was that we had heard there were ferries still running to NJ (the SI Ferry was shut down at this point, so my first plan was abandoned) and we had to catch one. The air was clear, and I decided I REALLY needed a cigarette at this point (NOTE: A martini was my first choice, but the bars were closed). I offered one to CJ?who hasn?t had a cig in 10 years?she took it, we lit up and moved on. CATHARSIS VII: Dorothy and The Scarecrow EAST RIVER ESPLANADE: Approx. 12:30 PM I?m thoroughly convinced that The Universe has a sense of humor. CJ and I stop and look out at the river just below the Brooklyn Bridge. We can see hundreds of people walking across the Bridge to Brooklyn, the same for the Manhattan Bridge in the distance. It?s actually a beautiful day; there are no clouds in the sky?there are people just sitting on benches on the esplanade looking out at the water?some are fishing?some are making out. Order amidst chaos. We had just come from chaos into one moment of perfect beauty. I think to myself that this is really a beautiful day, and I imagine myself at the Shore or in my backyard with my kids?and then it hits me? ?No beach to walk on unless I get home. No backyard and no kids and wife unless I get home?and God only knows what else happens on this day. Snap back to reality?we?ve got to get home. CJ and I meet a Police officer who says ferries are leaving from Pier 11 for NJ and directs us Uptown. Just a slight problem?Pier 11 is just South of us a few blocks, so CJ and I are headed in the wrong direction. Like I said, the Universe has a sense of humor? SOMEWHERE ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE: Approx., 1:00 PM CJ and I have walked for a while. I?m still carrying the laptop and briefcase, and I really can?t feel the pain in my knee yet, but at least my lip has stopped bleeding. Needless to say, both my shoulders are killing me. We walk around trying to find Pier 11, just Dorothy and the Scarecrow trying to find Oz. We walk through neighborhoods that we would never walk through regularly, and people are coming up to us and asking if we are OK (we?re covered in dust at this point). They give us water and comfort. We see others helping people?a woman in a wheelchair giving directions and a bottle of water to two people?four people hugging in the middle of a street glad to find each other?Police Officers with their arms around people offering them comfort as well as direction. I realize at this point what my Dad always said about the blackout of 1964 (he was trapped in the subway) that New Yorkers are people who put all differences aside when in a crisis. We finally find a cop who points us in the right direction?we head back downtown. CATHARSIS VIII: Just Click Your Heels Three Times? PIER 11, New York, NY: Approx. 2:00 PM We found OZ. No emerald city here, just a bunch of ferries that were going back to New Jersey. CJ and I parted company here. She headed back to Jersey City and one of the few remaining trains that were running out of Hoboken. I got on a high-speed ferry bound for the Highlands on the Jersey Shore, about 10 miles northeast from my house. I decided I?d worry about how to get home from there?I?d walk if I had to. The Police search our bags before we get on? The ferry is VERY comfortable, complete with bar that is, unfortunately closed?it costs approx. $18 each way, about twice my cost for the trains (which were NOT running at this time), but they were ferrying everyone at no cost. They gave us water, and there were two clergymen on the boat, a Catholic Priest and a Minister, both Chaplains of the Highlands Fire Department. A call comes over the loudspeaker asking for 50 volunteers to take the next boat. People get up and leave, willingly with no problems. I see the Priest and yell out, ?Father, are you riding this boat?? He says yes. I decide to stay. NY HARBOR, Approx. 2:20 PM The boat leaves, and the Scarecrow decides to look back at the Emerald City. The Towers are gone. The Black Void is still there. The Scarecrow loses what Brains he had left and breaks down. Like the Towers, I?ve just crumbled into a pile of rubble. IN TRANSIT THROUGH NY HARBOR AND THE ATLANTIC: The Minister sees me and comes over to talk. He was in Viet Nam for two tours of duty. I tell him what I?m feeling, and he tells me what happened to him. He?s describing what I?m feeling to a ?T?. I?m amazed that someone else can describe what I feel?and realize just how fragile we really are as humans?and I also realize at this point, I?m not the same person who woke up that morning. We both pray publicly. It is my first time praying in public since I was 14. Like I said, the Universe has one hell of a sense of humor. CATHARSIS IX: ?And Say ?There?s No Place Like Home? HIGHLANDS, New Jersey Approx. 3:00 PM We arrive in New Jersey The Minister walks me off the boat and asks if he can do anything else, and I tell him he did more for me than anyone in a very long time. I follow the crowd off the gangplank. We are told that we will have to present ID. We are also told that if we are covered in dust we will have to be decontaminated. I am told to go to the ?left? line. By belongings are put in a bag; my laptop and briefcase are scrubbed by men in isolation suits by hand. I am told to stand forward a man with a fire hose that then proceeds to spray water on me from head to toe. As he is doing this, I can see the NYC skyline in the background. What two gleaming towers, had once dominated, was now dominated by a huge cloud of smoke and a gaping hole where the towers should be. I was told to turn around so they can spray my front. They do so?and I have been baptized into the New World. I?m handed my belongings, and a Police Officer takes my statement as he was informed that I was in the WTC when the first plane hits. It?s the second time that day that I?ve told my story?but this time more emotions are coming out?and I find I cannot look anyone in the eyes when I talk to them? I?m directed toward a bunch of vans, busses, and private cars where I?m told that someone would drive me home. I walk slowly, drenched?laptop and briefcase still present?away from the water and toward a parking lot. All I can do is stare straight ahead and make no eye contact with anyone. I feel like I?m there (here) but somewhere else. A woman named Doreen asks me where I?m going, and I tell her. She says she volunteered to give rides to people, and really has nothing to do?mainly because she was just laid off from Nike the day before. She offers me her cell phone to call my wife?it?s the first time we?ve spoken my phone call in the morning. I tell her I?m coming home in a few minutes. Doreen assures her I?m shaken, but OK. We drive off to my home. CATHARSIS X: Who Says You Can?t Go Home Again? We arrive at my house?and I run to my wife (holding our month-old daughter) and my 4 year old daughter, Katie. Everything comes back to me in a big rush?I break down. We all thank Doreen, and I give her a big hug goodbye. In the next few hours, I try and explain things to my wife?and some of them I can?most of them I cannot. We call my doctor who tells me to go to the ER at the Local Hospital for a chest x-ray and some tests?apparently the stuff I was exposed to may have contained asbestos?and God only knows what else. While getting tested, they had me speak to a Psychologist?just like others who were coming in. I told my story the best I could, and she was a HUGE help for my family and me. I needed to talk and I did?and I realized that there is a lot I still have to deal with. CHARTHIS XI: Phoenix Uncertain I?m hanging in there as best as I can?and for the past five hours, I?ve been spilling my guts out for those of you I know, and those of you I do not. This has been my story, and there are thousands of others such as I. I mentioned before that I am not the same person I was when I woke up on Tuesday. Quite frankly, I?m not sure who the hell I am anymore?but these things I do know: *I am a Father of two beautiful girls *I am a loving husband of, quite simply, the most amazing woman on the planet AND THOSE THINGS ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE MY LIFE! Please?just take the time to hug your kids, wife, partner, loved ones?NEVER take them for granted! Hold on to your friends and keep them close?chances are that this has touched us all in one way or another. We have all been transformed in one way or another by this event. We are all filled with a plethora of emotions?I certainly know I am. Let us work together to seek justice for those who have been killed or injured. Let us offer a hand to those who need it, whether or not they have been there first hand. Let us all show the strength of humanity and compassion that we are all capable of. Let us rebuild our city, our nation, and our fragile planet. Let us go forward with one voice that says we shall never allow this to ever happen again. God Bless You, Your Families, The United States Of America, and our Beloved Planet. Kenneth Austin Walsh BORN: Mar 14, 1961 DIED: Sept 11, 2001 REBORN: Sept 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 story10855.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. 2004-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 69.142.244.217 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 had just been at so school for about only 2 hours when I first heard about the planes crashing into the world trade center. I was in my American history class when the announcement had just been made. Ironically history was being made while i was attending my class learning about the past. It didn't even quite hit me, what had happened until i actually saw it on the news. that day was my friend's birthday so all of us were self-involved with our own lives instead of realizing the mayhem that had occurred earlier that day. how selfish were we to not even consider the livees lost and those who knew those who were in the world trader center. my heart just sunk in after it finally hit me... terrorists hadd attacked us at the most brutal way ever... attacking innocent civilians! ! ! how cowardly can they be??? i just don't understand what people are actually thinking when these acts of violence are brought out upon us. September 11, 2001...a day that can never be forgotten, a day of rememberance for those who lost their lives in the building, for the couragious heroines, who risked their lives to save another and jeapordizing their own lives, and for those who just want to remember. 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 story8225.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. 2002-10-02 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.71.248 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: On September 11th I was sitting in Mrs. Bravard's fourth period Science Class. We were finishing up class and getting ready to leave. We had just gotten our homwork. Mrs. Bravard then turned on the T.V. We were fine and content until what happend next. It would change History forever. We saw a replay of the plane hitting the first Trade Tower. We couldn't figure out what had just happend. We thought it was an accident.Until a second plane hit the other tower. We then knew that it wasn't an accident.We just sat in shock for lack of words. We all went to lunch silently and also ate silently. In fifth period, we dropped all of our work and watched T.V. I didn't know what else to do, so I jsut cried. It seemed like the only thing to do. For the rest of the day we watched in disbelief. That night there was a memorial for all who died. I didn't sleep at all that night. My life was changed forever. I will never forget what happend or where I was on that fateful day. Peace and God Bless!! 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 story6450.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. 156.63.116.141 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: September 11th 2001 began for me like a boring but normal day, because it was raining a lot here in Brazil and I had to go to school. Then I arrived school, and at class I started talking with my friends (as I do everyday). Then we had a break at 9.30 a.m. (8.30 a.m. in NY). We came back to the class... Then, the time passed... and passed... At 11.30 a.m. (10.30 a.m. in NY), one of my friends asked to go to the toilet downstairs. When he arrived, he was pale!!! We didn't understand what was going on with him, then we asked what was happening, and he said: "I saw on the news downstairs that NY suffered a big attack. He was nervous and scaried. Then, everyone got downstairs, and we saw on TV one of the towers in fire (at this time, one of the towers had already collapsed, but the TV was just repeating the images). I didn't believe that, because I love NYC although I've never been there! It was raining a lot, and me and my friends went home... When I arrived home, I can still remember perfectly, I saw the second plane hitting the other tower. Then I said to my mother: What's happening? And she said: NY is under attack!! I went to my bedroom to see that horrible images, and I can say I cried because of that!!! It was 12.30 a.m. in Brazil and I still couldn't believe in that scene! I saw people running on the streets to escape of the dusts, I saw people jumping by the windows. All of these scenes made me cry an scream at the same time!!! I slept for some hours and when I woke up, I watched the same scenes I did before sleep... A famous journal put an especial edition about this attack in the afternoon (a thing that i've never seen before!!!) At night I just saw the dust covering Manhattan... Then I asked to myself: Where are the towers? I can't see them!! Course I couldn't, because they were already on the ground!!! I never had a day like that until today!!! Nowadays, I still think about the attacks in the WTC towers, I have more than 350 pictures of that, because I love NYC, and sometimes I pray for all who died there!!! I hope do not pass for days like that never more! I was not in NY, but I felt horrible just watching this! And I think today NY should rebuild the capitalism symbol(WTC), to show for all the people that NY's stronger than ever! 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 story7412.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 200.191.184.251 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 wasn't anywhere around the Towers or the Pentegon or Pennsylvannia....I was watching at home on tv. I was getting ready to go to my mom's house with my two little ones when the phone rang. It was my husband telling to turn on the news. I ran to the tv thinking it was another school shooting at one of my kids' schools instead, everything was a mess in just seconds! I did make it to my mom's house to find my sister in tears because her husband is an airplane mechanic and he was at the airport. She couldn't get through to him and she thought something was happening at our airport as well. Turned out he was fine. I watched all day...glued to the tv and I felt so much pain for all those people trapped in the buildings and killed in the planes. I can't even imagine the pain the families were feeling. I went to give blood because I felt that was the only way I, in Missouri , could help. I said many prayers for everyone affected. I commend those brave heroes who gave themselves to help others. I commend the Mehlville Fire Protection who went and helped out. For me, alot has changed. I think I am more aware of things going on and I take more precautions. Yes, I am one of the many who are petrified to fly now....I try not to be. America is stronger than any terrorist. God bless all those who was lost, their families, and the brave men and women who gave of themsleves. I'll always remember and keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I can't believe it has already been a year....feels like yesterday. 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 story6741.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. 208.191.101.25 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: My husband in in the US Navy, stationed aboard the USS George Washington. He had left the week prior to the attacks. At the time I was 3 months pregnant and my son was going to be 3 in October. The morning of the attacks we had just gotten out of bed and I was so excited because my husband was due home on the 11th. I turned on the t.v and started flipping through the channels, and there it was, the second tower had just gotten hit. I called up one of my friends who also had a husband, and brother on the George Washington. We sat there and cried as she couldn't get a hold of her mom who lived in New York. I left the house and went over to hers, where she had finally gotten in touch with her mom and everything was ok. I stayed over there all night waiting to hear something from my husband, finally he called and told me that they were on there way up to New York, just in case. The feeling that I had was a sense of lonliness on the tragic day. But knowing that all these other people had lost so much, and knowing that my husband was making them feel somewhat secure, made all the feelings of being scared not matter so much. It is scary when your husband is out to sea for up to 6 months at a time, but knowing that he is protecting our country makes so much more sense. My heart goes out to all of those who have suffered a great loss. God Bless all of you and God Bless America. 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 story3409.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. 68.7.221.28 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 had just moved to Chillicothe 2 days before to open up a new store for my company as general manager...we were into day 2 of unloading semi upon semi of merchandise and unboxing and setting it all up....luckily the store that was there before had a stereo system set up through intercom that we were all listening to...we were about a half an hour into our day when we heard the first reports of an airliner slamming into the world trade center. This event is enough to shake anyone (like me) that has ever been atop the World Trade Center. Minutes Later we were all HORRIFIED and SHOCKED that antoehr plane hit the second tower....at this point we knew it was not an accident....that was followed by the pentagon, and the crash in Pennsylvania....I felt safe because i was in Chillicothe...no terrorist targets there....but i felt a true deep fear for ANYONE who lived in any major city, metropolitan area, near a national monument, and the more i thought about it myself and others even in a small city in southwest ohio. I was expecting the capital building, the statue of liberty, and the Sears Tower all to gone before he day was over... A report came over the radio that one of the towers had fallen...and my visualization was that it had fallen sideways....having been atop those towers before i knew how tall they were....and i just cringed thinking how many people may have been crushed by the toppling building... I went home for lunch and watched CNN footage of the event....and was at the very least relieved that the building didnt fall OVER....maybe taking the death toll into the tens of thousands... That day was the sadest and the proudest day of my life.... it was the saddest because of the thousands of INNOCENT lives that were lost for NO good reason. It was the proudest because i feel that America grew MUCH stronger as a NATION that day. I was afraid there would be massive looting in the streets of NY and that did NOT happen! The people of NY came together...delivering pizzas to the brave men and women that served in the NYPD and FDNY. Flags were raised where there was no flag before. Flags already standing were erected at only half-mast. One thing is for certain...i will NEVER EVER forget that day. I could tell you the name of everyone that was there with me, what i was doing and exactly where i was when i heard certain bits of news that day. To my mothers generation....it was "where were you when Keneedy was SHot?" to my Generation: " Where were you when 9-11 occured?" I have a series of about 10 photos taken from atop the World Trade Center only days after I turned 16. I am 28 now...I was 26 when 9-11 took place. I also have a ticket from the observatory the day i went to the top of the World Trade Center....I will cherish those pictures the rest of my life...it IS (not was) a symbol of American Power and always will be. I have been there...and have felt the "rush" of being there...and the wrenching feeling in my stomach the day it fell. To see those photos even two years later brings me to tears. I feel for all those who perished unneccisarily and for the brave members of New York's emergency response services who died trying to save the life of others--and for the friends and families of all victims. The group of terrorist cowards that brought the World Trade Center down brought attention to themselves that will only increase pressure to erradicate such extremist groups. May all of the souls who died on September 11th know that they will NEVER be forgotten by my generation or any generation soon to come. They died as innocent loved ones, friends, and HEROES! I dont know what else to say......but 9-11 will LIVE forever as a reminder of how fragile life is, as a reminder to the sanctity of life and as a reminder that the only reason that America, and American interests are a target to extremist groups is because we dont tolerate threats to our country! Go Bush, Juliani...et al.... You are heroes to us all. New York, Washington -- God Bless you! Stephen T Carson Ft Mitchell KY (5 mins from Cincinnati) 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 story9419.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. 2003-08-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 12.220.82.71 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 home from work because of illness. My husband called and told me to turn on the TV. When I asked why, he just repeated "Turn on the television". I turned it on and then asked him what I was looking at. He said that someone had called their spouse and said a plane had just hit the World Trade Center in NYC. I said "Yes, there's smoke coming from the building but, they must be showing a replay cause there's the plane....wait, why is there smoke coming from the building before the plane hits it?" That was when the second plane hit and I saw the flames and smoke from the second tower. My husband immediately turned to the people he works with to tell them there was another plane. He then said he would call me back. As I stood there staring at the television, my mother came downstairs and instead of looking at the TV, she came over to me to ask what was wrong. I couldn't answer her....I just turned her around and pointed to the TV screen. At that time, we both started to cry. And then, we heard the news of the other flight crashing into the Pentagon. And the last plane went down in a small town in Pennsylvania, not too far from the area where both my husband and my families live and where we both grew up. In February of 1987, my husband was working in NYC for a few months and my son and I flew up to visit for a long weekend. I have a picture of my son and myself outside on the lower level of the Statue of Liberty with the Twin Towers in the background.....little did we know that day how precious that photo would be. 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 story5011.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 67.208.75.55