story2622.xml

story2622.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I am a high school math teacher and I was in class on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. My students were working on a lesson when my phone rang. It was my husband. He told me, "Turn on your TV. Some planes just flew into the World Trade Center." I really had no idea what was going on at this point. I just thought that there had been some kind of strange accident with some planes hitting skyscrapers, but when I turned on my television I started to hear differently. My students and I watched as the commentators explained that they were hearing the planes were deliberatly flown into the buildings. Aside from the television ther was complete silence in the room. We continued watching and we heard the news that a plane had also crashed into the Pentagon. I remember the news anchors were stunned. Some were saying things like, "What is going on here?" Everyone was in total shock. The WTC planes were absolutely shocking, but then to hear of the Pentagon being hit in addition was an even greater shock. The students continued to watch and begin to ask question: "Who would do that?", "What's so special about the World Trade Center?", "Why the Pentagon" and "What are they going to do to catch them?" We talked about the terrorist and the importance of the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon and what they represented to the world. Then we watched as President Bush came on from the school he was at and make his statement about finding the terrorist and "hunting them down like dogs". Most of my students liked that because we're from Texas and that seemed like a Texan statement! By now most of the teachers in the school had on their TV's watching the news channels. Even as the classes changed, my next class came in and it was all they could talk about. I knew this was all we were going to do for the rest of the day. My next class and I sat and listened to the commentators talk about the situation and we watched as they covered when the first building fell. I had students ask, "They didn't all have time to get out did they?" I just remember replying, "I don't know, I hope they did!" Then a little later when the second tower fell, we actually watched it live. Again there was a silence. I also hearing about the plane that went down in Pennsylvania and waiting to see if this was a realted incident or just a coincidence. All day long my TV stayed on, whether students were in my room or not. At the end of the day when it was time to leave school. I left and went to my husband's work. He is a youth pastor at a church nearby. I rememeber walking in and they had set up a TV in the foyer of the church and most of the staff was watching every so often for updates. I sat with some of the teenagers who come over after school and we watched and talked about the events of the day. Like most Americans the rest of the evening was filled with conversations at home with my husband and watching continuing news coverage all night long.
I will never forget the events of September 11, 2001. I was very greatful that I could share this day with my students and other young people who I could help discuss the events of the day and how they felt about it. Although I might not remember all of the details of my day forever, I will never forget the looks and questions that came from my students. I know I, along with all Americans, will remember and share my recollections with others forever.