story675.xml
Title
story675.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-05-28
911DA Story: Story
Chris Cordaro
As I entered my third period classroom a most disturbing sight befell my eyes. I observed a flaming tower. In the clamor about me I heard that a plane had unintentionally collided with the great structure. I still had no real sense of what was unfolding when my instructor turned off the monitor and began the lesson as he normally would. As I stepped into my fourth period study hall I was still unaware of the gravity of what was occurring. As I entered I saw my teacher and several classmates gazing awestruck at the monitor. In joining them I saw a second plane strike what I recognized as one of the World Trade Center Towers. I listened in terror as the full situation was laid before me by the newscaster. Three separate planes had launched an assault on the trade towers and one upon the pentagon. Mere minutes later I watched in shock as the towers disintegrated without warning. The dust seemed to engulf the whole of New York City and camera shots were a cloud of gray. As the dust settled and the immediate danger had passed a search was already begun for those who had committed the most abominable of acts. I was shocked that this search and anger had begun prior even to grieving for those who perished. Televisions in all remaining classes were tuned to news stations while my classmates and I sat anticipating the next event in the horrific sequence. Little occurred other than the government saying the blame rested on the shoulders of Bin Laden and the governing body of Afghanistan. I returned home to an awestruck family. My father seemed anxious as he consoled my distrait mother. All media outlets enduringly reported the latest developments for several days. Yet eventually this ceased, as did the overbearing nationalism that had been caused by the atrocities. At present all seems to have returned to its typical state. This although comfortable leaves us exposed to more attacks such as those that occurred. It is clear that much must be altered in order to prevent such occurrences in the future.
As I entered my third period classroom a most disturbing sight befell my eyes. I observed a flaming tower. In the clamor about me I heard that a plane had unintentionally collided with the great structure. I still had no real sense of what was unfolding when my instructor turned off the monitor and began the lesson as he normally would. As I stepped into my fourth period study hall I was still unaware of the gravity of what was occurring. As I entered I saw my teacher and several classmates gazing awestruck at the monitor. In joining them I saw a second plane strike what I recognized as one of the World Trade Center Towers. I listened in terror as the full situation was laid before me by the newscaster. Three separate planes had launched an assault on the trade towers and one upon the pentagon. Mere minutes later I watched in shock as the towers disintegrated without warning. The dust seemed to engulf the whole of New York City and camera shots were a cloud of gray. As the dust settled and the immediate danger had passed a search was already begun for those who had committed the most abominable of acts. I was shocked that this search and anger had begun prior even to grieving for those who perished. Televisions in all remaining classes were tuned to news stations while my classmates and I sat anticipating the next event in the horrific sequence. Little occurred other than the government saying the blame rested on the shoulders of Bin Laden and the governing body of Afghanistan. I returned home to an awestruck family. My father seemed anxious as he consoled my distrait mother. All media outlets enduringly reported the latest developments for several days. Yet eventually this ceased, as did the overbearing nationalism that had been caused by the atrocities. At present all seems to have returned to its typical state. This although comfortable leaves us exposed to more attacks such as those that occurred. It is clear that much must be altered in order to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Collection
Citation
“story675.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 16, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/12744.