story8840.xml
Title
story8840.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-12-17
911DA Story: Story
How did you witness history on September 11?
Our principal, Dr. Frossard came on the speaker and told us that there was some breaking news, and if we wanted to turn our TVs on in our rooms we could at our discretion. I know that at that time, only the first plane had struck and it had just been a few minutes. I had a very small class at that time and they were seniors, so we continued to watch CNN. I can't remember if it was an A or B day but I think B, because I continued watching TV after that class was gone and on B days I was done after second block. I remember watching the the second plane strike, reporters jumping from that scene to DC as everyone heard the Pentagon had been hit, and then even as word of another plane and then finally we knew. I remember watching the towers fall in disbelief and shock, thinking how this could have happened here.
Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how.
I feel there has been a change in my life for sure. I remember that Sunday after 9/11 when we went to church, the minister talking about trying to make sense of something that didn't, trying to understand the non-understandable and that all you ever know you have is that moment. When we got home from church that day I told my husband I wanted to call all my family and have them to dinner. It was so important to me to be with them at that time. I noe know that even here in our country we may never feel totally safe again from outside terrorists and, because of that, innocence is gone. Many years ago my husband and I went to Rome right after a terrorist killed many at the airport and when we arrived there were guards with machine guns and not only were your bags checked, but each person was frisked. Could this now be what would happen in my country? Even though I have never been afraid of flying, I would still get butterflies at the thought of that big piece of metal- now I have more butterflies because it is a "different" world for us.
What do you think should be remembered about September 11?
We need to remember the tremendous loss not only to thousands of individuals, but also to us as a country. We need to remember the unselfish bravery of many who tried to save others. We have to remember that even though we live in the greatest country in the world there are still many that will come here to try to destroy our spirits. We must be more vigilant to all that goes on around us and committed to protecting our way of life. We must be sure that everyone knows we feel this way about our country and way of life. We must never forget the gravity of the incident, the loses we suffered, and the power of the American spirit.
Have you flown an American flag since September 11? How has your feelings about the American flag changed?
Yes. I don't think they have changed really, more that it has been brought to the forefront of my thoughts as opposed to a background of my everyday life. Even the mere thought of removing the phrase of "one nation under God" bothered me tremendously, and I know it would bother me more today than it would have prior to 9/11.
Our principal, Dr. Frossard came on the speaker and told us that there was some breaking news, and if we wanted to turn our TVs on in our rooms we could at our discretion. I know that at that time, only the first plane had struck and it had just been a few minutes. I had a very small class at that time and they were seniors, so we continued to watch CNN. I can't remember if it was an A or B day but I think B, because I continued watching TV after that class was gone and on B days I was done after second block. I remember watching the the second plane strike, reporters jumping from that scene to DC as everyone heard the Pentagon had been hit, and then even as word of another plane and then finally we knew. I remember watching the towers fall in disbelief and shock, thinking how this could have happened here.
Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how.
I feel there has been a change in my life for sure. I remember that Sunday after 9/11 when we went to church, the minister talking about trying to make sense of something that didn't, trying to understand the non-understandable and that all you ever know you have is that moment. When we got home from church that day I told my husband I wanted to call all my family and have them to dinner. It was so important to me to be with them at that time. I noe know that even here in our country we may never feel totally safe again from outside terrorists and, because of that, innocence is gone. Many years ago my husband and I went to Rome right after a terrorist killed many at the airport and when we arrived there were guards with machine guns and not only were your bags checked, but each person was frisked. Could this now be what would happen in my country? Even though I have never been afraid of flying, I would still get butterflies at the thought of that big piece of metal- now I have more butterflies because it is a "different" world for us.
What do you think should be remembered about September 11?
We need to remember the tremendous loss not only to thousands of individuals, but also to us as a country. We need to remember the unselfish bravery of many who tried to save others. We have to remember that even though we live in the greatest country in the world there are still many that will come here to try to destroy our spirits. We must be more vigilant to all that goes on around us and committed to protecting our way of life. We must be sure that everyone knows we feel this way about our country and way of life. We must never forget the gravity of the incident, the loses we suffered, and the power of the American spirit.
Have you flown an American flag since September 11? How has your feelings about the American flag changed?
Yes. I don't think they have changed really, more that it has been brought to the forefront of my thoughts as opposed to a background of my everyday life. Even the mere thought of removing the phrase of "one nation under God" bothered me tremendously, and I know it would bother me more today than it would have prior to 9/11.
Collection
Citation
“story8840.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 17, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/11071.