story4791.xml

story4791.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

At the time I was teaching Profoundly Handicapped Teenagers, and we were just finishing up our morning group time. My assistant, Crystal Foster, came into the room saying a plane had hit one of the towers. We were horrified at the terrible "accident". I asked her to go back to the classroom and see if there was any additional information such as if the pilot was ill, had they radioed in a mechanical malfunction. She returned visibly shaken and telling us a second plane had hit the other tower and the news was saying they were hijacked planes. We couldn't believe it! My class went to music and I went to the room with the television, in shock and hoping, somehow, there was a mistake! As I entered the room, the news was replaying the image of the second tower being struck by a speeding silver arrow - the second plane. I watched a few moments, in horror, then went to the music room to tell the music teacher what was happening. When we received news of the Pentagon being struck by a third plane, that is when the reality of this un-reality set in and we started to cry. Hearing about the bravery of the passengers on the fourth plane, and that tragic end, started the growth of fear and sickness within me. I felt the world as I knew it had spun out of control and no corner was safe enough for me to be in with my children. Were we about to fight a war on our soil? I was mesmerized by the news accounts that evening, trying to see if South Carolina was hopefully safe, or not. I still cannot completely believe that we were attacked and so many thousands of innocent lives were destroyed! Amid accounts of the long lines to blood donations, I can still see the images of idle hospital workers, frustrated at the lack of people to treat. The quote from one doctor saying they were ready to help but not many injured people (compared to the thousands that work in the Trade Center) were being brought to them, breaks my heart. It is still so incredible to me that literally only a few survivors were found after the collapses. I cannot wrap my brain around the reasons why. To attack a beacon of hope - America - was an attack on all of civilization. I can still cry when I think about the services held around the world for us. The other enduring image that floats before my mind's eye is the political cartoon on the 12th. The Statue of Liberty in a crumpled posture, weeping, torch held down and the other hand covering her face.