story4993.xml

story4993.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

September 11, 2001 began like any other day for me...I dressed and drove to Belleview High School, where I was working as a secretary in the Media Center.

At the time the first plane crashed into the tower of the World Trade Center, I was in the office to pick up some things for the Media Center. Along with several guidance counselors and secretaries, I watched in horror as the first plane struck. We all thought it was some sort of bizarre accident...I remember running back across the campus to the Media Center to turn the television on to CNN.

Within a very few minutes, the second plane struck the other tower. We watched in disbelief as the commentators pointed at the smoke and flames that now billowed from both towers.

Students filed out of classrooms as the bell rung for classes to change...some stayed in the Media Center to gather with the Media Specialists and myself to watch this awful story unfold.

By the time the third plane struck the Pentagon, it began to feel like it might be the end of the world! Many students now filled the Media Center...watching, crying, some of them hugging friends who had relatives in the Towers, some praying quietly.

I ran to the phone to call home and let my husband know what was happening. I asked him not to tell my 14 year old daughter, wanting to explain to her myself, not wanting her to be afraid without me home to hold her. My husband could not believe what I was telling him...we quickly finished our hurried conversation so that I could return to the news.

I cannot describe the horror I still feel when I close my eyes...I can still see the images of the planes crashing into the buildings, the people jumping from windows, the faces of the people as they ran from the area. As the towers fell, my tears did also...and as I stood there weeping, the Pledge of Allegiance began to play over the school's loudspeaker. My librarian was so overcome that she could not lead the students in reciting the Pledge. I was barely able to speak past the lump in my own throat. Never had those familiar words meant so much to me.

In the days that followed, the Media Center's television was constantly tuned in to CNN so that we could participate, from a distance, in the memorial services, public addresses and prayer vigils that occurred in the wake of these horrendous attacks.

Today, I prayed for all of the families that lost loved ones in the attacks, to find peace and healing, to never forget that in the darkest days of America's recent history, we saw the light of America shine its very brightest...in the heroes who perished saving the lives of others, in the courage that continues to make America great.

God bless America!