story2982.xml

story2982.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I remember hearing on the radio that plane had crashed into the World Trade Center and I thought what a horrible accident it was. A few of us stood around wondering what type of plane it was, were there passengers on board, was it the result of miscommunication between pilot and air traffic control? Then we heard of the second plane and through the fog I began to think that both planes crashing were a terrible coincidence and maybe there was something more going on. The image of those moments that stands out in my mind, is the face of one coworker as he came to tell me a plane had also struck the Pentagon. The look on his face was a mixture of horror and surprise and confusion and his face mirrored what I was feeling inside. The rest of the day is a blur - we only had our radios and 1 television and most of us spent the day crowded around 13" of unbelievable pictures. I spent that evening and most evenings the next 2 weeks watching the rescue efforts, watching the CNN video of the 2nd plane, watching
the tear-streaked faces and hearing the pleas of those how had loved ones missing. Although I did not know of anyone personally who lost someone in the attacks, I felt the pain as surely as if I did. It was the only day in my life that I can recall being frightened in every aspect of my life - at home, at work, in my car...in all the areas I'd previously felt comfortable and safe I suddenly found myself waiting for the floor to give way again. I lived in anticipation of the next attack and although some of those feelings have abated and fear is no longer palpable, I know another attack will come again. And I wonder if our nation and our citizens have the resolve and strength to withstand it.