446 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: Wednesday, September 11, 2002 It has been exactly a year since the horrific tragedy of the fall of the twin towers and the beginning of America's fight against terrorism. I woke up this morning put on my red, white and blue to represent my partriotism. I headed out the door and off to school. After i sat in my first period art class for a half an hour our room was called to go out to the stadium for our assembly. I met up with one of my friends in the hallway and we walked together down to the stadium. As I looked towards the stadium and at the hundreds of kids before me all wearing their red, white, and blue the stadium, the atmosphere, the mood, it suddenly all brought on a different feeling. I can't even think of any adjectives to describe it, you can't describe it really, it was just something that was needed to be felt in order to understand what I'm talking about. As we walked on our loose gravel track onto the bleachers the wind was wiping and throwing the loose rocks into our eyes. Everyone turned their backs and began to walk quickly to the stadium to get saved from this stinging. As I sat in my seat I observed everyone around me. I couldn't help but notice my English teacher of the previous year walking up the steps with the most solemn look on her face. It touched my heart. After knowing how hard it was for her last year to cope with tragedy I knew the pain she had to be feeling in her heart at that very moment. I felt like crying suddenly, but my thoughts were interupted when the teacher who is in charge of Student Council came to the podium in front of the stands and welcomed everyone. After his speech was done the band begin to play a song by Mozart that was being played but millions of other people in our country at that very moment. At that very moment the wind stung harder than ever, but I realized something just then. The wind, it wasn't really wind at all. Rather, it was the souls of the people who had lost their lives exactly one year ago. They were spinning around us and through us letting us know we are still strong, we are still wise and we will still stand strong. If we can make it through this, we as a country can make it through everything. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason even though at the time we may not understand or even know the reason. Sept. 11th, 2001 will be a day never forgetten and never forgiven. Without it though, we would not be the strong-willed, determined, perserving, and loving country we are today. We have conquered something that many other countries could've crumbled from, but us Americans, Never! I still cry sometimes when I think about the mothers, the fathers, the sisters, the brothers, the child who's mommies may never been coming home, and all the people who were unable to come home to their loved ones that day. America will never be the same again, and although I didn't know any of the people who were killed that day I still pray for them and carry them with me in my heart for they have become a piece of me. This day will forever belong to them. For there courage, compassion, and most of all their love for one another. For all of those who were lost, I would like to say one thing, I will carry you with me everywhere I go and you have changed my lives you never thought imaginable. 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 story3072.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.50.139.249 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I was at My home In Texas. I was on Vacation because My husband and I had just bought our home and had moved that the weekend before( 8th, 9th). I was 7 months pregnant and so I was very tired form moving and unpacking boxes. I received a phone call aound 10:30 or 11:00 from a friend . He asked me If I had heard what happend. I had been esleep so I had no idea. He told me to turn on the T.V to any channel and then he told me that the Pentagon had been hit by an airplane and this it was on purpose and that there were two other buildings that were hit and collpsed.I could hardly beleive what I was hearing and my first thought was oh no , we are beingattacked and they are going to go after the White house or the Statue of Libertynext.Ifinishedunpacking all day and had the T.V on the wole day every day. I would get very emotional when I would see poor desperate people on T.V who were holding up picture looking for their loved ones.I thought What if that was My husband or Father. The thought was hard to bear and for some it was a horrible reality. Then came the realy scary stuff, TALK OF WAR! I was so stressed the following months after this happened wondering what was in store for my unborn childs future and if there was going to end up many years down the line being drafts. I hated the thought I my husband or brothersbeing killed in a war.It was hrd to find peace with it everywhere on the T.V. There was nothing exciting about my day. I knew no one but,I was with everyone in spirit and felt their pain. It will be a day I will NEVER forget. Gos bless all those who were lost and the ones left behind who loved them so much! 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 story4345.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.209.38 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: My remembrance of September 11th actually begins long before the attacks occurred. On September 19, 1985 the Mexico City earthquake took my mom away from my sisters and me. My mom was a cleaning lady in a building that collapsed on top of her while trying to exit the building. Rescue workers and volunteers did find her body months later. All these memories came flooding back to me on Sept. 11th. As I watched rescue workers on top of all the rubble and chaos at the WTC site I couldn't help but think of all the people that lost a loved one the same way I had. I wept for the children who I knew would grow up without one of their parents. After my mom's body was recovered my dad lost his battle to leukemia in February of 1986. I learned about two boys who had lost both their parents in a similar way. The dad in the WTC attack and their mom due to illness a few months after. My heart went out to them. Even though Kuna, Idaho is a long way from where all the attacks took place, it really affected us. The few days following Sept. 11th, the feeling around here was eerie. Everyone seemed to be going about their business, but nobody looked as if their heart or mind was really in the task. Most people looked bewildered. I myself couldn't believe what had happened. I was adopted after my parents passed away and brought to this great country. I couldn't fathom the idea of someone sacarficing their lives and taking the lives of thousands of innocent people. I found myself glued to the tv after the attacks. I think I needed to see what I didn't in Mexico. My dad sheltered us a lot after the earthquake and we were not exposed to any media. I think I needed to watch and cry along with those people and get that out of my system. September was always a month I always dreaded. Now, it's even more painful for me. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource story6601.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. 216.222.108.245 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: One September 11, 2001, I was at home awaiting the birth of my 2nd son who was 7 days late. I hadn't turned on the TV yet, but I remember thinking something was strange after I received a call from my Mother and Mother-In-Law within minutes of one another wanting to know exactly what I was doing. Soon afterwards, my husband calls and tells me to turn on the TV, because the twin towers in New York had been hit. I thought back to all the years I had debated on whether to bring another child into this crazy world and now here we are in what seems like WWIII. Three days later my son Chase was born. After looking into his eyes, I knew everything would work out just like they always do with a little time. I thanked God for the miracle of my 2 sons, my great husband, and wonderful family. My heart and prayers go out to the victim's families who are still trying to cope with their every day lives let alone their future. As I celebrate Chase's 1st birthday this Saturday, I will also celebrate the lives given so that we may have these special moments. God Bless the USA 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 story3213.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. 216.166.229.130 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: I was at work on 911, and my office is mobil all over the state of utah, I just happened to be in provo that day, and I was driving to a business meeting. I heard the news, and immediately called home to check on my partner, then called my aunt in houston, as she has a daughter in new york. It turns out that My cousing was supposed to start contracted work on the twin towers that day, but was running late because of traffic. Unlike so many others, he was able to go home to his family that night. I was late to my meeting, because of all the emotions, and phone conversations, and just taking a moment to let everything sink in. 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 story9943.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 12.210.164.11 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: On September 11, 2001 I was 11 weeks pregnant with our miracle baby, doctors said I would never conceive. At 10:30am on September 11, 2001 I heard our baby girl's heart beat for the first time. It scared me to think what this world was coming to and what I was bringing my baby girl into. Now she is here, I realize she is the generation to come and the bright spot to show that healing does come. Life does go on. 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 story7774.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. 2002-09-17 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.114.45.61 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 couldn't believe what I saw when my father got me out of bed in the morning. He turned on the television and we watched the buildings fall. I didn't really know how to react, but all I could feel was sorrow for the families and friends of those lost. When I went to class later that day my teacher told us to leave because we had worries that were more important than his lecture. I shared a somber afternoon with some of my classmates in the school lobby where we watched the footage on the news. It seemed so distant at the time, I live in a suburb of Chicago. My insightful little sister asked me how I would feel if it had been the Sears tower in Chicago, or if my parents had been killed at work. It was unimaginable to me, and I just have to share the nation's greif over September 11. I can only hope that our "war on terrorism" is the right thing to do. We are in a difficult situation, but America has done well to unite and support itself. It's been seven months and I think America has done it's best to pull through a horrific trajedy. 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 story493.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. 2002-05-02 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.201.82 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: on september 11, 2001 it was one of those gray and gloomy days and all i had on my mind was going back to bed cause school was the last place i wanted to be. i went to the bathroom during my second period class, two girls were talking about one of the teachers in our school and how she was hysterical and talking about planes hitting the twin towers and the pentagon i brushed it off not giving it any thought. towards the end of that class some one came on the PA system and told us that planes had indeed hit the twin towers and the pentagon i think every one was kind of in awe cause no one really said much. during lunch ever one was crouded around the tv's tring to find out more about what had happened. during my last period class a friend from the cross country team, came up to me in the hall and asked me if i had heard about what had supposively happend to our "ex-coaches" husband.he asked me if he had been on one of the planes that hit the world trade centers, i didnt know what to say cause i hadnt heard any thing about it and i didnt know if it was true. after returning to class an anouncement called the cross country teams to a meeting in one of the empty rooms in our school. it was then that we found out that what most had heard was true. eventhough i only met him once i knew he was a nice person and couldnt begin to imagin what his wife was going through. we all stayed and cried for a time. and later that day we had a meet and we ran it as a team and for our coach. the next meet we had we dedicated to her husband Mr. Sweeney we all wore red ribons with his name on it. september 11 was a day that any one who live through will never forget because in a matter of minutes the world as we knew it was changed forever and durning those moments the world seem like it was upside down. 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 story4795.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.30.139.31 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 girlfriend and I were visiting her parents in New Hampshire that weekend, and as I was getting ready to head for home on the morning of September 11, her father turned on the news. The first plane had struck the tower just a few moments earlier; at first we thought it was one of those "what if?" disaster shows. Then we thought it was a hoax. Then we realized it was neither. I had left the Marine Corps in 1999 but I was still in the inactive reserves, and I knew I needed to get back to New York. I woke my girlfriend and we left within fifteen minutes, driving south as fast as possible. We listened to the radio the whole way down, weaving in and out of traffic and driving on the shoulder to make better time. The confusion was incredible: more planes were missing, there were reports of bombs being detonated elsewhere, and nobody knew who had done it or what was next. The drive seemed to take forever. The rest of the afternoon I stayed at home and waited for the Marines to call me up. I didn't hear anything, so I got a few hours' sleep, put on my utility uniform, and left Orange County for Manhattan. The Palisades Parkway was closed down at exit 2 or 3, but I showed them my ID and they waved me through the roadblocks. I continued south, the only other car near me a white van being driven by a sailor in uniform. The toll booths were deserted at the George Washington Bridge. We were the only two cars in sight. We crossed the bridge alone, and as fast as we could, still not knowing whether that would be the next target. On the far side of the bridge, I passed through a few more roadblocks and was directed to an Army Reserve armory in Harlem. They didn't know what to do with this lone Marine, but they soon brought out their commanding officer. I wish I could remember his name, but when you're a corporal, a colonel is just "sir". We went back to my car and he rode with me to the Bloomberg Building, where a makeshift command post had been set up. I parked in an alley a few blocks north of Canal Street. At the command post, a confusing (and confused) mix of National Guardsmen, reservists, cadets, and veterans were trying to figure out an organized way to approach the Trade Center. For a short time, they had us doing nothing but directing traffic on the West Side Highway, sorting out spectators from emergency vehicles. Mostly, the officers stood around and argued about the right way to proceed. A few hours later, I approached a fellow veteran (this one an Army specialist who had been in Haiti) and told him I was heading down. We both had some training in search and rescue, neither of us was officially on the books, and neither of us was accountable to the officers. We had had enough bureaucracy and decided just to go it alone. We walked south together, through the barricades and into the cloud. It's impossible to fully describe the scene, and photos just can't do it justice. Cars overturned, fire trucks smashed by debris, the air filled with concrete dust and smoke. The smell is the strongest memory for me, like wet cement and raw meat. It's just something that can't be properly passed on to future generations. After an eternity, we found our way to the American Express building and met up with other loose teams of rescue workers. They handed us hard hats and gloves and we went to work on the bucket brigades on the north side of the Winter Garden, still under the illusion that there might be survivors somewhere below us. Although most of the debris was just sludge and bits of building material, I was struck by the amount of little plastic caster wheels from the bottoms of desk chairs. No chairs, just the wheels. Thousands upon thousands of them. All I kept thinking was that every few wheels represented a person who had been at a desk in those towers. The closest we came to finding survivors during my short time there was when we recovered two mostly-intact bodies. Most of what we found was no more than blood-soaked scraps of clothing. Sometimes they would have us run for cover when it looked like a collapse was imminent. At one point I heard the distinct sound of a nozzle being knocked off of a container with contents under pressure; I looked up to see ten or fifteen of the biggest construction workers you've ever seen running towards me with terror on their faces, and I turned and ran right along with them. A moment later it turned out that the tank was carbon dioxide, not acetylene or some other explosive, and we all had a nervous but much-needed laugh at our little stampede. At some point (I believe it was night) we uncovered an American flag. It wasn't the famous one you see in all the paintings and photos. This one was real. This one wasn't just tattered; it was torn to pieces. Most of it was gone, but there was still one star left on the field of blue, and one of the workers who dug it up said it was New York's star, a sign that we would make it through. We all cheered, and taped it to a wall to watch over us. It was a really stirring moment, one that was just for those of us who were there. A month or two later when I found myself there again, the tape remained but the flag itself was gone. I hope someone has it in a frame somewhere, and I hope it's the guy who inspired us all that night. Probably not. There was an incredible outpouring of support from the community, both at the Trade Center and beyond the barricades. People donated food, drinks, and blankets. They handed out pins and flowers. It was a long walk out when my time there was over, and it was strange because people were taking my picture and thanking me and shaking my hand, and I didn't feel like I had done anything. There was still so much left to do, so many missing and so many dead, and it seemed like whatever I did there was useless. I know people who were at home felt useless, and I know people who were thousands of miles away wanted to be with us, but I can tell you that even right there in the middle of it, that feeling of helplessness didn't let up. Nobody down there felt any pride. Nobody felt like they were making a difference. I went back to "Ground Zero" a few years later, and I was amazed at the progress they had made there. The spot where I had worked is now a perfectly manicured lawn in front of a beautiful visitors' center. What had been a devastated parking lot is now surrounded by a baseball field and a bike path. It made me feel great to see that kind of healing. Not everything I saw made me smile, though. The rows of vendors selling T-shirts and Twin-Towers shaped cookies along the fence made me want to scream. Same with the people walking past who had the audacity to talk about something else, or laugh at some private joke, or grin for a photo in front of the footprints. It has the beginnings of a tourist trap, and that kills me inside. It shouldn't, I guess, but it does. I want to thank all those who got off their asses and did something - anything - that day, and in the days that followed. Every little bit was appreciated, and helped someone carry on just a little longer. I wish I could have done more. I think we all do. 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 story20606.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2006-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.193.191.10 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 and I were laying in bed listening to the KQ morning show and they were talking about something that hit the World Trade Center. My husband and I were surprised and in disbelief so we turned on the television and sure enough the WTC was hit. At first they didn't know if it was a bomb or what - later they figured out that it was a plane. I was watching the TV and saw another plane hit the other tower. We kept the television on the whole time and then as the time went on...the towers fell. I was speechless, sad, all that I could do was pray for the families and the rescue workers that lost their lives. Then we saw all the death tolls. It was very depressing. I cried all day. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource story4699.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. 204.31.50.59 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 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 mother calls me for everything - drive-bys in LA, police pursuits on the 405, bad traffic on the 210 Pomona. On 9/11 she called me to tell me to turn on the tv. She insisted when I told her I had to get the kids ready for school. I couldn't understand what she was saying. I turn on the tv to see the second plane hit. I couldn't believe it. It had to be an accident, no one would do such a horrible thing. Then the channel I was watching split the screen to show the Pentagon in flames. The Pentagon?! You can't hurt the Pentagon. Its the center of our Nation's defense. Then the plane crashed in Pennsylvania. I felt as if the world had stopped. I sat on the couch with my middle daughter and watch. I held my son's hand. I could explain anything to them - I couldn't understand it myself. At work several people in my department didn't make it in due to the traffic at LAX. The rest of us surfed the internet and listen to the radio to get more information. After work, my older girls went to the Red Cross. We watch the continuing news casts and prayed for the missing. On Saturday, my kids and I went to see Pat Benatar at the LA County Fair. While we were watching the concert, the Ontario Airport was open again. I remember crying as I watch the airplanes' lights twinkle and fly away. The cheering of the crowd and the feeling of community was overwhelming. 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 story6543.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. 162.119.232.100 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 wondered if you would be interested in the poem below which i wrote about 9/11 and which is currently on the museum of the city of new york website. thank you. The Days Since In Union Square a shrine appears and then another til the place attracts reporters who report its volunteers' hard work and grace. A fireman with a haunted look sits on the bench, his eyes rimmed red. A woman asks him, "Coffee? Bagel?" Without a word he shakes his head. Around, a wall of Wanted posters, "wanted" in that other sense. The Missing. All so very young. The pictures stay up on the fence for weeks. For who will tear them down? Who'd commit that sacrilege? And yet one night somebody does when hope takes its last breath. It was in retrospect a far-fetched dream that anybody would be found and nursed to health when a million tons of stuff had crumbled to the ground. A firetruck, not red but beige with dust in which someone has written, "God bless the New York Fire Depart- ment." Someone else has drawn a heart. Across the street, the rectory where Father Mychal combed his hair (they said at his memorial) and raced downtown, to die in prayer. T-shirts needed, dogfood, boots. AOL provides a list, all obsolete. They're overwhelmed downtown. The chance is sorely missed by millions who want to help out and be part of this aweful thing. For nothing matters next to this. God Bless America they sing at services all over town, at meetings of the PTA, at school, in concert on T.V. they sing from sea to shining sea. The weeks go on and still the fire burns. At Fulton Street the smell still greets whoever's on the train and says, "Ascend and witness Hell." Upstairs the crowd stands quietly and takes it in. The tired cops sigh, "All right, move it. That's enough," to tourists snapping photo ops. For foreigners are less appalled, they, never having known it when. Its metal's bent like willow branches. The church clock's stopped at five to ten. WTC, those letters, now a code for grief and fear... When I was studying music they stood for the Well-Tempered Clavier. A few blocks down at Trinity the ancient graveyard's buried, itself, in dust. Another poignant sign: Its clock is stopped at five to nine. Home is no relief. Indeed it fuels the burning energy that drives us to consume more facts. Here life is centered on T.V: The people falling upside-down... A man says he stayed in the room by clinging to the doorknob which saved him from the fierce vacuum. A man and woman holding hands fall - Lovers? Strangers? Who cares now? willing, finally, to greet Death just to get out of the heat. The cast of characters comes on: Rumsfeld, grim, tight-lipped, thank God. Powell and Fleischer jauntier as they joust with the press. It's odd how recent enemies are saviors, Giuliani, for example. Former wits are reverent towards our formerly witless President. No one ridicules him now. Indeed, he's less ridiculous. If he said "Pakistanians" now, no one would make such a fuss. He gears us up for what's in store. This is a whole new kind of war. The women: Paula Zahn, Queen Noor. At one A.M. her time, Amanpour, reporting from Islamabad in khaki, like a Sabra, say. "She has a son, you know." "She does? But where is she from, anyway?" "Eat dinner out! Go spend your money!" they tell us. "See a play; a game! Don't let the bastards get you down!" And don't buy Middle Eastern honey. "Be careful of suspicious mail! Don't touch it, move it! Leave the room! It could contain an anthrax powder. Call 911!" You can't assume the world's a friendly place these days. Despite the work of CIA, the FBI's half million tips, we're speeding to Apocalypse. New Yorkers soon are introduced to war and its accoutrements: Gas masks, filters, body suits, an omnipresent vigilance. We acquire expertise in germs and chemicals right quick: Sarin, hemorrhagic virus. Meanwhile, a little Arabic: A money system based on trust that leaves no trace, the East's hawala. Schools that feed while they instill a willingness to die for Allah. We're not so loved as we had thought. The world prepares for years of war as oppressed people rise protesting, "We won't take it anymore!" In China the disaster footage is seen as just another thriller, interspliced with scenes from films found on the shelf next to Godzilla. In Pakistan the angry mob protests American arrogance. From Malaysia to Nigeria many think we've had our recompense. Especially the Taliban who escort foreign journalists to show them what the angry mob'll avenge: the mile miss outside Kabul. Monday, P.M., to the doctor. After all, life must go on. "Oh by the way, could I have Cipro?" The doctor, adamantly con, however, thinks I am in error to give in to those guys whose aim is not just to destroy and kill but also to instill in us, terror. The city's quieter, subdued. " Where did everybody go? Will we be quarantined? Cut off? Do they know something we don't know? To leave New York, ah! There's the rub. And yet the first thing's to survive. But if we move to Canada I really have to learn to drive. I walk down to the river's edge. A child places a bouquet at a shrine outside the park where I used to take my son to play. A picture rests against the fence to show the viewer where the World Trade Center stood before that day when we all lost our innocence. Poem by Jenna Orkin 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 story9388.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. 2003-07-25 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 146.96.207.50 Annotation Annotations to this item. da 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 hadn't started back to work and was I was watching t.v. Bryant Gumbal was showing pictures of the World Trade Center and was telling of how a plane had hit it. I watched in horror, absolute horror as the second plane appeared on my television screen and you knew that it was going to hit the building and it was not an accident. When it hit I sat there stunned, I coulnd't move and I could barely breathe. I sat there praying and crying hoping that people would get out. When the building collapsed all I could do was pray. Then our family started calling a cousin in New Jersey who was there for a job interview. It was a long day waiting for him to finally call us back. A part of me died that day but I started feeling better hearing about babies born on 9/ll. My grandmother always said that a baby was a sign that God hadn't given up on 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 story4493.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. 24.29.47.60 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 interviewing for a job when I found out about the attacks the interview committee members asked if I wanted to quit and reschedule the interview I said no, but within that moment in time I remembered that I had a friend that worked in the south building of the world trade center. My heart sank and I had to compose myself for a moment and continue on with the interview. I learned that day that my friend was in fact one of the people that was at work during the attacks. Unfortunately for her family and friends she was one of the countless victims of this cowardly attack. This day will forever bring a day of sadness and tears to my eyes. May God Bless all that read this Michael J. Cooper 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 story2752.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. 128.32.106.125 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 Sept.11,2001 I was 10 years old and I was at school when I heard about it.I was in the 3rd grade and my school got a phone call.At that time I really couldn't understand what was going on I was confused and didn't know what to think.My mom was talking about it to people and she sounded very sad.I was sad but I really didn't understand but, now when I look back at it 5 year from now (15years old)I understand what the people were going throw.I feel sad for the people who had to try and get out and the people who try to save the other people that were still in the twin towels that died .This is something that I will never forget.This was a very hard time for the familys that lost love ones and friends.Some people lost there moms,dads,aunts,cousins,grandmothers,and grandfathers on Sept.11,2001.I'm sorry for there lost and hope that the world bacome a more safyer place for us to live! 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 story20528.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2006-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.186.239.238 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: SEPT.11TH 2001 WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN MY SON HAD HAD APPENDIX SURGERY AND WAS TO BE RELEASED FROM THE HOSIPTAL THAT DAY SO WE HAD TURN ON THE TV TO PAST TIME UNTIL THE DOCTOR CAME IN TO RELEASE HIM AND THE FIRST THING WE SAW WAS THE FIRST PLANE CRASH INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT AND A LITTLE LATER ON WE SEEN THE NEXT PLANE HIT THE OTHER BUILDING OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THEN WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND AFTER WE FOUND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENENED WE WERE IN SCHOCK OUR HEARTS WENT OUT TO ALL THOSE FAMILYS FIREFIGHTERS POLICE AND EMS TRYING TO SAVE LIVES AND EVERYONE THAT TRIED TO HELP AND EVEN THOUGH MY FAMILY WASNT AFFECTED DIRECTLY THE WHOLE COUNTRY WAS IT HAS BROUGHT MY FAMILY SO MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER AND MADE US RELIZE WHAT WE REALLY MEAN TO EACH OTHER AND TO THANK GOD WE STILL HAVE ONE ANOTHER OUR HEARTS THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO EVERYONE AND THIER FAMILIES HURT INJURED AND KILLED THAT DAY A DAY THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource story6913.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. 24.158.33.144 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 friends and I had just started boarding school the day before. We woke up on the morning of 9/11 anticipating our first day of real school for the year. We walked down to breakfast as we had the year before, and walked to the study hall to do a bit of last minute homework. None of us knew what would happen about an hour later. We all went to our first and second periods as normal, and then went back to study hall, as most ninth graders did during their third period. I remember walking down to the school bookstore to get a few of the books I needed for my courses. My friend and I were the only ones in the bookstore. Little did we know our headmaster was walking around to the different classes filling the different students in about the events that were happening that morning. Anyway, my friend and I were in the bookstore, and the first thing the lady behind the desk said was "Hey, did you hear what happened?" My friend and I both said, "What?" at the same time. "Well....two planes have just hit the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon." Well, being from San Francisco my first thought was' what the hell is the WTC?' A second later I remembered and I backed up against the wall. "Your kidding!!" Well, she wasnt, and even though we thought she was untill our friends told sus differenetly, the actual idea didnt sink in untill that night when we watched CNN in the dorm. Even though I was not dirrectly effected by this tragedy, I had nightmares for a very long time afterwards, and many of my friends were. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource story1993.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.209.38 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I m a firefighter for the fdny,I had gotten off the night before..My friend woke me up early that morning to borrow my car to take his sick cat to the vet...I was up so I went to my local bagel store for my coffee and paper...when I heard a lady scream a plane had hit the trade center...I thought since it was a beautiful day that perhaps a cessna with the pilot having a heart attack had accidentally done this...I ran home to put the tv on...as soon as I saw what damage was done I knew this wasn t any cessna...my god people were jumping...phone rang it was a fellow ff from my station and he hadn t turned his tv on yet...i screamed to him to turn his #*#* tv on...when the second plane hit...I said goodbye and told him i was going in...now calling the vet to get my car back asap...my pal pulled around the block and I jumped in my car and was off to the races...the highway was closed..but open for us...I had the gas pedal to the floor as im headed toward the city looking out my window i see both towers burning ...when i hear a rumble and see the south tower #2 fall...i couldn t comprehend what had just happened...did it fall?...how many people just died?...i have to get my gear so i pull off highway going down the on ramp...traffic was a mess and i decided to go up 1 way streets the wrong way until i got past the park...arriving at the firehouse everyones in shock and we know we gotta get there now to help...as we re getting ready to leave the 2nd tower fell#1...we commandere a bus and we re off...we arrived at a staging area and then finally got the ok to go in...we report to another staging area...whos in charge?...all the chiefs are dead?...7 is burning i see 5 burning...shoes papers and dust are everywhere...we wait til 7 collapses...what a mess...chief gets us into the site by going thru the financial center and bam there we are...10 truck upside down burnt to a crisp...pieces of the outside wall sticking out of the highway...debris up against the finalcial center about 2 floors up...all windows broken...cars on fire...buses gutted...is this the end of the world?...do we live in beirut?..those bastards got us...caught us flatfooted...i saw numerous acts of courage that day both civilian and uniformed...the looks on the faces of the people coming out of the city that day will haunt me forever...everyone was the same color...dust white...women crying...men crying...men cry?..wow...we must never forget the men and women that died that day...their sacrifice will live on for generations to come...was assigned to the task force for the first month and we recovered a few bodies...then last month (march)..we recovered over 40 firefighters,cops and numerous civilians...we got the job done...lets never forget what our flag stands for...freedom and loyality to the greatest country on the planet...fly it proudly...lets be nicer to one another and this will be a better place to live....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 story400.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-04-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.206.194 Annotation Annotations to this item. Firefighters Ground zero- at or about Patriotism Rescue/clean-up workers/volunteers NY:3 Feature Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: My Account of the Terrorist Attack on America ? Tuesday, September 11, 2001 I had plunged into the workday about an hour earlier, and was just leaving the bathroom when I saw people hanging around Conference Room 504. The TV was on. "What happened?" I asked. "Two planes hit the World Trade Center," someone answered. That didn?t register at first; the fact that there were two planes. I right away thought of the plane long ago that smacked into the Empire State Building. Maybe it was some sort of bizarre accident, I wondered. But then I saw video footage of this: one trade center tower burning, smoke pouring out of a gaping hole, and then, THEN, a plane curving and smashing directly into the second tower, near the top. Suddenly, this looked nothing like an accident. We all stood there for while, watching with our mouths gaping as the morning steadily grew more terrifying. They cut to President Bush in a Florida elementary school, trying to reassure us. But moments after, live reports kept breaking in: a fire at the Pentagon, make that a PLANE crashed into the Pentagon, the White House being evacuated. No one wanted to leave the TV at this point. As we were watching, the most extraordinarily terrible thing happened: one tower buckled and fell to the ground. Then later the second tower disintegrated before our eyes. There were reports that people, in a panic, were seen jumping from the floors as the building went down. "Oh my God!" we kept saying over and over. I began to shake uncontrollably. I felt like I was watching a movie or in a bad dream. Sue tried to call her sister, who works in Manhattan. The lines were overloaded. Marie began panicking because her nephew works in the Pentagon. I was afraid to walk away because it seemed as if every few minutes, something worse was happening. I wondered if terrorists would blow up the White House, the Statue of Liberty, or the Golden Gate Bridge. A sort of numb panic made everything disoriented. The FAA announced every plane in the United States was grounded; international flights were being diverted to Canada. This came after news that four different planes were hijacked ? two in Boston, one in Newark and one in Dulles, in D.C. Two hit the Trade Center, one hit the Pentagon, and one crashed in Pennsylvania. In this crazy modern world of technology, people actually called their relatives from cell phones as the planes were going down. They talked about hijackers stabbing the crew and taking over the controls. One of the flights, a United scheduled to fly from Boston to L.A., actually passed right over the Springfield area, probably as I was starting my day at work. They closed down Disney World and Disney Land and cancelled major league baseball games, the Emmys, the Tonight Show. The media reported that President Bush was on Air Force one flying somewhere but wouldn?t say where, for his safety. By now it was almost lunch time, but I couldn?t eat a thing. In the afternoon, I was sent over to Baystate?s Command Center, where we were on a Disaster Plan "standby." Employees kept calling to say they were willing to help in any way if needed. People began pouring into the Blood Donor Center to give blood. I was supposed to meet Mark Tolosky to do a TV interview with Channel 22, but in the craziness of the day, lost him briefly. Channel 40 was also there doing a story. All around the hospital, TVs were on and people were talking in shocked and hushed tones. Springfield schools cancelled after school activities; the colleges closed and the malls closed. Later in the afternoon I went back to the office. The TV was still on; everyone was still shell-shocked. I read a little bit of BBC News on-line, where condolences were pouring in from people around the world. When I got home I began to cry and watch TV and cry some more. So many people lost for no reason at all. It was the strangest sight: all of the Democrats and Republicans got together at some site in Washington, I forgot where now, and for the first time in ages overcame their bipartisan spats to express their condolences. And then they started singing "God Bless America." Once again, things felt surreal. I can?t believe that someone came in and just ripped away the World Trade Center. I can?t believe it. I can?t believe four planes were hijacked, or that people were leaping out of windows. How will I sleep tonight? How will anyone sleep? ? Wednesday, September 12, 2001 I?m sitting here in the sunshine on a beautiful September afternoon and everything is so very wrong. I feel as if I can?t bear to learn anything new about this devastation or my heart will just split into pieces. All day was nearly a repeat of yesterday. TVs and radios on everywhere. News of FBI agents raiding a hotel in Boston; stopping a train in Providence. More reports of people calling on cell phones from those planes. Thousands feared dead. Thousands. The World Trade Center just a pile of rubble. Stories of body parts everywhere; people jumping and killing firefighters, people wandering around the city in a daze, looking for missing loved ones. Why? Why have we been so violated? Why? Why? Why? I feel as if all the images are just collapsing into each other in my brain, too horrible to comprehend. Today I gave blood because I had to do something. There were 50 people there before me ? black, white, young, old, from doctors to secretaries and many people who did not work at Baystate. No one complained about the hour wait. People rarely spoke at all, instead reading newspapers or just thinking about everything that?s happened in such a short time. ? Thursday, September 13, 2001 Today at work for a few minutes I laughed, really laughed, and it felt so good. But later in the car I started to wholeheartedly cry when I thought of driving to Wal-Mart while someone was tapping, buried under rubble. Such emotions?such horrible things. At some moments I pray and pray and cry that I didn?t pray more at first. I cry that on Monday night I was furious that Big Y gypped me out of a magazine, when some terrorist-friend was telling a bartender in Florida that "tomorrow Americans will see blood." I was driving and spilling coffee on myself and people were terrified and screaming in the air above me. It?s as if my imagination is a curse; each thought is worse than the one before it. And every bit of information is just horrid. Five minutes ago I heard they recovered the body of a flight attendant with her hands tied behind her back. Some things take so long to sink in, and others hit me right away. Tonight, for the first time I really thought about those buildings going down, and how many more were killed because of that. When it happened, it was like a dream or a movie. I didn?t think of people actually in or under the building. I was too shocked that the towers were just gone. I still am. Everyone?s buying flags to display them in their cars or outside their houses. I went out tonight to get some small ones. At Ocean State Job Lot, everyone in line was buying them. I saw one of the cashiers leave the register to go in the corner and wipe her eyes. Outside, a huge thunderstorm/burst of rain hit as I left the building. I didn?t even hurry to the car. I just walked and let myself get drenched. ? Friday, September 14, 2001 I know I will never forget this day, for so many reasons. This morning I awoke to rain and cold for the first time in weeks. It was as if everything had shifted and fall had arrived. Dead leaves were scattered all over the street. I put on my red, white and blue, as did everyone else. At 280 Chestnut Street, some guys from Engineering unfurled a huge American flag down the front of the building, despite the pouring rain. I still couldn?t concentrate on work. I tried?I wanted to be able to, but I couldn?t. The biggest weight on me is just the thought of all those people?and so few survivors. I keep saying this, but it just breaks my heart. I pray and wonder?who am I to be angry with God, but I wish?I feel like He doesn?t hear. There was a prayer service in Washington around noon. It was beautiful, and sad, and needed. Clinton and Gore, Hilary, George and Barbara Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford were all there. Billy Graham spoke, and George (W.) talked about people looking for signs, and that sometimes God?s signs are not our signs. That stayed with me. Tonight at 7 people were told to go outside with a candle to show their support. What I saw over the next few hours warmed me to tears. Dan and I were driving down Memorial Drive at 7 p.m., in Chicopee. Groups were outside of restaurants, apartment buildings, churches?waving flags, with lit candles, some with signs. Wherever I looked there were flags on cars or candles lit in windows. Later as we drove closer to home, clusters of people lined the streets in the darkness, illuminated by candles. Cars, many with flags on antennas, honked continually in support. Later I drove and found many intersections just packed with people. About a mile down the road, Dominos was delivering free pizzas to the crowds. The sight at the "X" was amazing. At least 100, maybe more people stood on all corners. One had a sign that said "Honk if you love the USA." This is a Vietnamese community and many there were of Vietnamese descent. One man stopped the light to stand in the center of the street with a large flag, chanting "USA! USA!" At close to 10 p.m. they were still out near home, shooting red, white and blue fireworks over the streets. Watching all of this I felt moved to tears again and again. Black, white, Hispanic, Asian?rich and poor, young, old, and everything in-between?they were unified before my eyes, and I began to feel stronger. More than ever before in my life, I felt proud to be an American. This is what we have to do to overcome. Fear cannot stifle us. Dear God, I feel as if I am taking so much in. I?m just saturated with emotion. I also feel as if we?ve jumped back in time and it?s World War 2, and we?re all rallyingaround a cause. I have never felt like this before, not even during the Gulf War. I?ve never cried so much while simultaneously embracing hope. I will remember this day for the rest of my life. Sometimes, I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear, and I can't help but ask myself how much I let the fear take the wheel and steer. It?s driven me before, and it seems to have a vague, haunting, mass appeal. Lately I?m beginning to find that I should be the one behind the wheel.|Whatever tomorrow brings I?ll be there, with open arms and open eyes. Whatever tomorrow brings I?ll be there, I?ll be there..." -- "Drive" ? Saturday, September 15, 2001 There is little to say today. No survivors found, just more horror. I?ve heard such sickening things I don?t even want to write them down.This morning I looked up into the sky and saw planes. I saw them this evening, too, but they looked like military planes, flying one after another. There are red, white and blue and flags everywhere. Wherever you turn, someone is collecting donations for New York. We went to a party this afternoon. There were kids all over the place, playing. I wished wholeheartedly I was one of them. Today Tuesday is hitting me. I?m finally able to absorb the horror of what was truly one of the most frightening few hours of my life. I keep thinking of those reports coming into the news anchors, almost constantly: the Pentagon on fire, the White House evacuated, plane crash in Pennsylvania. Air Force One somewhere secret. I was afraid to leave the TV. I was afraid the White House and God-knows-what was next. My body began pulsing with adrenaline; my hands began to shake. I went into the bathroom and prayed, shivering violently. I came out and watched both towers disintegrate. Everyone just gasped "Oh my God!" over and over. Jenn said something about the end of the world. It crossed my mind. I thought about the panic spreading rapidly across the country. I pictured kids leaving Disney World with their parents, bewildered. I thought of the skies across the United States being completely quiet, except for those still in the air. Then I wondered about everyone up in the air and shivered. I didn?t even think of everyone in the towers. Not then. This shock and grief and realization seems to come in waves. Dear God, when will I have a peaceful dream again? ? Sunday, September 16, 2001 It?s amazing how every day something new hits me. Today I began to let go of the fear and trust in God, and that felt, in some ways, incredible. At the same time, this afternoon I just began to feel so sad. The death toll has risen about 5,000. Five thousand people. It?s painful to write, to say, to think. It makes Oklahoma City look achingly minor. The thought of all those people and their families and friends just crushes my heart. I wish so badly I could help them, hug them. We all need to look after them in our prayers in the months and years to come. Around 7 p.m. I decided to drive down to Bradley to look at the planes take off. Something very strong within me needed to see them. God, it was such a beautiful evening. The sky was absolutely cloudless. The air blowing through the window felt like Fall, and I saw the first little pumpkins for sale along the side of the road. When I got to Bradley, I parked across the street and just watched. There was a US Airways jet right in front of me, and I realized the sound had immediately gotten my heart racing. I tried to ignore the panicky feeling, but at first all I could hear and see in my mind was that first plane barreling into the first tower. After a few minutes, though, I was able to watch it take off, literally into the sunset. I watched until it disappeared from sight. For awhile I stayed there, just watching and then inexplicably cheering them on as the planes went. I noticed there were what appeared to be military jets in the distance, keeping vigil. It gave me a warm but unsettling feeling. I also noticed the airport seemed very quiet and definitely working with a diminished flight schedule. Still, something about watching them go up and come down helped me feel more grounded. And it helped reassure that part of my mind that felt so frightened Tuesday when, for the first time in America in decades and decades, the skies fell silent. As I was driving back through Suffield in the dark, I saw tons and tons of parked cars. On the green, wherever I looked, were tons of people holding candles. There must have been hundreds of people, yet they were perfectly still, listening to someone lead prayers for the dead. It was so sad and haunting and beautiful. Tomorrow we all have to go to work. And soon our country will be going to war. Again, I marvel at how life has changed in just 5 days. Before I sleep tonight I wish I could rid the latest pictures and memories from my head. Each day a new movie plays in my mind; a delayed reaction. This time, it?s two images: One is a few hours after the planes hit. Thousands of New Yorkers, covered with dust, eyes vacant, crossing the bridges to get out of the city. They didn?t run. They walked like zombies, as if they didn?t really comprehend what was happening. All they knew is that they needed to get out. The other is just a whole block of time ? from about noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday. They had just announced on TV they thought another hijacked plane was heading for Washington, when Michael asked me to go over to the North Campus to the Disaster Command Center. I left in a complete daze. I felt like a scared animal. I heard a dump truck make a slamming noise and jumped a foot. In the car every single radio station carried the news. I looked up at the blindingly sunny sky and saw nothing, heard nothing. I felt as if the silence was burning my ears. At the Command Center people were watching TV; phones were ringing. Everyone worked as in a dream. People didn?t yet feel the horror. Later I went back to my car and back to the radio. The day was still beautiful; skies still empty. At home just about every one of the 60-something channels played the story. Even MTV. And the Home Shopping Network. So the nightmare began. ? Tuesday, September 18, 2001 Dear God, when will I feel better? When will I feel normal? When will my heart not be so heavy? The girl upstairs always plays loud music. I haven?t heard any in a week. Every time any of us at work hears a plane, we look up and watch, enthralled. We check to see if it?s in the air where it belongs. Whenever a group of people are standing around a TV at work, someone inevitably comes by and asks, "What? What happened?" in a panicked voice. I feel stupid right now worrying about the future, or thinking about Fall foliage. Stupid. Everything about September 11 was so terrible. I try to split it into parts. Each part is terrible People terrified on planes, some with hands bound, some with throats slit. Planes actually hitting the buildings, killing people. Then, just when you think it?s over, buildings crumbling, killing more people, and rescuers. And now, more body parts than bodies being found. Now, war approaching with the promise of more deaths. I know my hope and strength comes from God. But how, how is it possible to be filled with joy with all of this horror? I feel very hardened. I just wish I could be silly and feel like God is saying there will be no more silliness or frivolousness. Dear God I don?t want to wallow. Still I can?t forget. ? Friday, September 21, 2001 After Princess Diana died, I remember going in to work at The Big E, doing ordinary things, going about my business. But as I was stuffing envelopes or typing this voice in my head kept running over and over, saying "Diana?s dead. Diana?s dead." It moved in rhythm with me, putting the rest of life slightly out of focus. That?s how I feel now. I feel as if life is moving on but how can it be moving on? I am talking and laughing and eating but somewhere in the background I am thinking, "There are more than 6,000 people dead." And there is no more World Trade Center. It?s just gone. And we are preparing for a long war. When will it sink in? They show pictures of the New York skyline: before and after. I think it?s to desensitize people, to try to help them accept reality. But still, STILL it feels like a bad dream. Yesterday the weather became gloomy. After dark, it really began to pour. And in my mind, for some reason, I could see New York City very clearly, all lit up. While seeing the city in my head, and the lights of all those buildings, I could suddenly feel the most crushing grief. It?s as if I could sense or even hear thousands of people wailing. The sound went out and drifted up into the air, and my heart just went out to New York. I think, I truly believe, the grieving has now just begun. How I wish I could help! I wish I could counsel them and hug them. I can be here and pray, yes, but I wish I could speak to these people and physically be with these people. I just feel this heaviness, like it?s hard to go about the mundaneness of life when so many people are hurting so deeply. ? Saturday, September 29, 2001 Life is better but not normal. Maybe it never will be. In some ways, I hope we don?t return to the days before September 11. We were, I?m sorry, but such greedy, selfish, self-absorbed, spoiled brats. Dear God, please don?t ever let me lose my perspective again. There are some thoughts I am trying to put aside but it?s hard. I find myself imagining the people on those planes, and what they were thinking. Or everyone at the World Trade Center, contemplating and then jumping. Then I tell myself, "You have to stop this!" Last night I went to the video store. I checked out the new releases on DVD. Quickly, I became sick to my stomach. About 1 out of every 10 movies had the New York City skyline on the cover. Ghostbusters, Men in Black, Family Man, and on and on and on. I felt my eyes welling with tears and then just grew incredibly angry. How dare they? How dare they do this so that forever we have to see all of these movies and pictures of the past of how it used to be? How could they?! I ended up picking a moving I knew was filmed in Chicago. I also kept thinking this: I can?t believe I was around for what many feel was the worst day in U.S. History. That just blows my mind. And I feel because of the events of September 11, I am forever bound to that day and the people I was with that day (I only pray there will not be more like it, but who knows?) I can just see it, one year from now; 5, 10, 25?I see myself as a middle-aged or old woman, always pausing with the country to remember that terrible day which is now only 18 days past. And no matter where I go in life, I?ll always remember all of us at 280 Chestnut Street. I?ll see in my mind my younger self as I left the bathroom and saw the people standing outside and in Conference Room 504. I won?t be able to forget, even 50 years later, Elzbieta or Sue, Jenn, Jodi, even Candace and Alberto and the HR people. Do I sound crazy or silly? Maybe. I guess I feel awful, but it is better knowing that millions of us have gone through the same thing. I guess that?s why they have support groups. ? ? ? ? ? ? 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 story633.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. 2002-05-17 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 146.96.95.21 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 had gone asleep late that morning, so I had woken up late to go to school by my mother, I remember me being asleep and I heard her knocking, to hurry up and get ready for school, I go to college. I open up the door and she tells me, that the towers in New York had been hit by a plane and that they thought it was a terrorist acts, I told her, "I don't think so, I think it was just some kind of accident," So I turn on the TV, while getting dressed. I saw the images of the towers and all that smoke going out of them, and how they kept on repeating the moment that the planes hit them. It was hard to believe but each time, it just kept on sinking deeper making the thought a reality, I told my mom "I have to record this, THIS IS HISTORY in the making!" So I put a tape in the VCR, not knowing it will take a total of 4-5 tapes to get EVERYTHING, and told her, "forget it, I'm NOT going to school, this is HISTORY," A few minutes later, we heard the reports of the Pentagon being hit, and then seeing a few images. Thats when it hit me and I told my mom, "This means WAR, we are at WAR," I guess she didn't understand the seriousness of the Pentagon also being hit, at that time she did not know what it was, her not being a citizen from here, she told me, "How could it be war?" I told her, it was so OBVIOUS that 3 planes go hijacked and hit some of our most historical buildings, we watched as President Bush have his first reaction and speech of the tragedies while being at an elementary school in Florida. It was so painful. We watched as they reported how he was taking to a undisclosed location. We watched when we heard of the 4th plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. IT was HORRIBLE. so painful that I cried, I cried for those people, that I had never met in my life, I watched in horror, seeing the people jumping out of the windows of the towers, the most awful sight that I will never forget and have engraved in my memory forever. I couldn't imagine the panic, that these people were feeling, trying to get out, or knowing that they will die, and prefered dying other than getting burned and jumping out the buildings. I couldn't imagine what would of happened if the last plane would have actually hit the White House, the most symbolic building of the U.S. What would of happened? I couldn't imagine the last thoughts of those who died in the planes, the thoughts, the pain and the terror. It hit me hard, after almost EVERY channel on TV was covering this, from the FOOD network, even MTV, some stopped programing, i found it overwhelming. that made it a reality. We watched in terror when the first buidling colapsed, I had called my aunt. She lived in New York but we didn't know what part she lived at. She didn't know anything that was going on because she had overslept and didn't go to work, where we later find out she worked a few blocks away from the towers. As soon as the first tower is going down, about half way, the line gets disconnected, i was HORRIFIED, i started thinking the worst, that maybe she lived near to the towers and the building had gotten destroyed, damaged, all types of thoughts going through my head. we tried and tried to reach her, the line was busy, we had heard in the news how some people had lost power and everything....We didn't have contact with her until 2 am. which brought so much relief. just seeing the images of that first tower hit, brings me back with those feelings of sadness, disgust, and pain. 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 story5963.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. 172.139.197.119