story6647.xml

story6647.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I didn't have to begin work until a later on September 11, 2001. For some reason I didn't listen to the radio or the television while I was getting ready. I got into my car and whatever radio station I had had on was reporting that planes had struck the Pentago and the World Trade Center. I thought it was some kind of horrible accident. It took me a long time realize that it was a planned attack. I think many other people figured it out before I did. I called my mother and told her what had happened. I arrived at work in shock, not sure what to make of eveything.

I work as an admissions representative for a local two year college and I travel to a different high school every day. Fortunately, on this day, I was relatively close to home, in Monroeville, only about 15 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.

The teacher asked me if I knew what had happened. I said that I did, even though I didn't really understand any of it. I began my presentation, trying to focus on that and not the horrors I had heard of. During my presentation, there was a lot of commotion in the halls and the teachers wee coming in and removing students. It was very disconcerting and I kept wishing that someone would tell me what was happening. I later found out that Flight 93 had just crashed in Somerset County, a little over an hour from Pittsburgh. Parents were coming and taking their kids home.

I quicky wound up my presentation, as no one wanted to hear about future career options in the midst of all this and I didn't want to be talking about it. The teacher told the remaining kids about Flight 93; having a plane go down so close to Pittsburgh was scary. My dad grew up in Derry, PA, only about 20 minutes from Shanksville. It hit very close to home for me.

I was notified that they were closing all the bridges and tunnels around the city so I took a back way home. When I returned home. I hugged my mom and my daughter. I tried to shield my four year old from all of the images, but she ended up seeing them anyway. Later that evening, she drew apicture of a builiding falling down. That upset me greatly.

As the day wore on, I began to feel helpless. I have several friends in New York City(not to mention my daughter's father) and had been trying to call them but couldn't get through. EVentually, I decided to do something constructive and I went to donate blood.

The wait at the blood bank was two and half hours. They told this to everyone that came in and the most amazing thing happened: Everyone said okay and sat down. No one left because of the long wait. People from all different walks of life were there, wanting to do their part. I was so proud to be an American and felt so close to all of those strangers.

When I returned home, I put out our flag with a mixture of great pride and sadness. I said countless prayers for the victims and their families. That flag has not come down once in a year.

I appreciate the honor it is to be free and to enjoy the liberties that we have. The flag has great meaning to me now, as well as the national anthem and other patriotic songs. May we never forget those brave heroes who perished on that day and may we never take for granted what a wonderful country this is. God Bless the USA.