story2271.xml
Title
story2271.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
I had reported to work at the Fire Department where I worked as an EMT. The morning was slow and we had only had one run that morning so we were watching television. The program we were watching was interrupted by news of the first plane going into one of the towers. I remeber sitting there with my partner and thinking of not only the lives of the victims of this catastrophe but of the fellow public safety personnel that must respond. We sat there and thought how we would respond to the emegency and bantered around different ideas.
We also received calls from other EMS agencies that had seen the tradgedy on the news. Iwas talking with a friend on the phone when the second plane hit and I remeber being almost catatonic at the site on the tv. The phone fell from my face and I felt my heart just ache at what I was watching. After the initial shock died down I remember this overwhelming anger that gripped me , as I assumed that this was now an attack and not just a random accident. I was so mad at those who would take human lives so senselessly. I felt the pain of a nation as we sat and watched the resue efforts and watched the following horror of the day unfold. As we are near an airport we were alerted to our response plans for any possible situations that might unfold in our area and to initiate our plans for response in the county. I like many other americans sat by the television when I could, unbelieving of the pain and suffering one human would inflict upon another. I wept for those who perished and were injured, I cried out for vengeance against those who initiated such a vicious attack, but most of all I felt pride for the response of my fellow EMS, Police and Fire personnel who responded so valiantly without regard for themselves. It is something we do without thought and usually omly those of us in this work understand it.
The one thing I recall throughout the event as it unfolded was the pride I felt for those fellow personnel, the public and how it responded and now in reflection the Nation, in how we have moved forward.....determined to persevere...holding true to our values and steadfast in our resolve
We also received calls from other EMS agencies that had seen the tradgedy on the news. Iwas talking with a friend on the phone when the second plane hit and I remeber being almost catatonic at the site on the tv. The phone fell from my face and I felt my heart just ache at what I was watching. After the initial shock died down I remember this overwhelming anger that gripped me , as I assumed that this was now an attack and not just a random accident. I was so mad at those who would take human lives so senselessly. I felt the pain of a nation as we sat and watched the resue efforts and watched the following horror of the day unfold. As we are near an airport we were alerted to our response plans for any possible situations that might unfold in our area and to initiate our plans for response in the county. I like many other americans sat by the television when I could, unbelieving of the pain and suffering one human would inflict upon another. I wept for those who perished and were injured, I cried out for vengeance against those who initiated such a vicious attack, but most of all I felt pride for the response of my fellow EMS, Police and Fire personnel who responded so valiantly without regard for themselves. It is something we do without thought and usually omly those of us in this work understand it.
The one thing I recall throughout the event as it unfolded was the pride I felt for those fellow personnel, the public and how it responded and now in reflection the Nation, in how we have moved forward.....determined to persevere...holding true to our values and steadfast in our resolve
Collection
Citation
“story2271.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 23, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/11252.