story2516.xml

story2516.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I work in the Sears Tower, in the beautiful city of Chicago. On September 11, 2001, I noticed several news cameras outside the building, but thought nothing of it. As I entered the first elevator to get to my office on the 58th floor, on the news tv in the elevator it said a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I was surprised, but figured it had been an accident. Upon arriving at my office at about 8:35 a.m., I was greeted by people running around talking about the second plane hitting. I was shocked, but still not realizing that this was an attack on America, and being in the world's tallest building was probably not a good idea. Then a friend of mine said, "the Pentagon just got hit." Then it clicked. I didn't want to be there. I went and got my close friend and together we left the Sears Tower.

On the train ride home, I was surrounded by people who were listening to their radios and filling the rest of us in on what was going on. I couldn't believe what was happening.

Later on that day, they showed downtown Chicago. It was completely empty. Not a person, not a car, not even a bird. It looked like tumbleweed should have went rolling down the street.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I can only imagine what the Chicago skyline would be like without the Sears Tower, and New York lost their Sears Tower. Everyday day when they look out they are reminded, if not already but the loss of lives, that America is changed for ever.