Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 11 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: I first learned about the attack as I was laying on a hospital gurney, strapped into a fetal monitoring system. My obstetrician came dashing into the observation room another expectant mother I shared, and turned on the television. As I watched the newscasts, my adrenaline kicked in and the baby started reacting as well, a reassurance of a hopeful future at a time when the world seemed to be crashing down around us. I was expecting my first child. The pregnancy had gone well but at the beginning of the third trimester, I started experiencing early contractions and developed gestational diabetes so was sentenced by my doctor to weekly hospital visits to ensure Baby?s and Mom?s well being. The mother next to me had just been told she was sufficiently dilated such that she would deliver that day. As we both stared in disbelief as the story of 9/11 unfolded in front of us, we shared our fears about the future, not just for us, but for our soon to be born children. We were also less than a mile from the largest military base in the free world, Fort Hood where both our Army husbands were stationed. This base also serves as a landing site for the President Bush when he visits his Crawford, Texas ranch. We were quite concerned that it too might come under attack. Fortunately, I was able to reach my husband by cell phone and her reassured me the situation was under control by then. After the other mother was wheeled off to labor, I wondered what would happen to her and her baby as nurses started discussing the hospital might close. We didn?t realize it then, but the free world was experiencing the fear, rage, disbelief and uncertainty along with us. Almost a year later, we?re both new moms and our lives are vastly different in many ways. We both get less sleep, but have a beautiful new life that brings us joy. We share sorrow for the families that lost loved ones, but have seen the American people come together with resolve and observe countless heroic acts from everyday people. My husband was deployed to Kuwait for almost five months of his new daughter?s life, but we as a family recognize the weight of his serving to uphold the values of our free democracy. The possibility remains that he may be deployed again, but we will carry on as strong and independent military families have before us, proud of him that he is a soldier, brave and willing to fight for the democratic ideals that affords us the wonderful life we as Americans live. Although we see daily, minor inconviences resulting from 9/11: it is more difficult to get on post; air travel is less convenient; and the news from the Middle East demonstrates the threat of violence is ever-present; we need to remember the big picture: who we are as a country and how much our freedom is worth. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource story1035.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-16 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.26.208.177 Annotation Annotations to this item. Military Patriotism DOMESTIC