nmah5112.xml

nmah5112.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-18

I went to work in the Pentagon on September 11th. We had just come out of a staff meeting and noticed the "breaking news" story of the World Trade Center on fire. As we watched TV the second plane hit and we were devastated. Our attention was immediately drawn to our Air Force Colonel who said something hit the Pentagon. He made a phone call and you could see his face brace for "battle". He said everyone "get out now"; don't worrry about your cover, (telling the military not worry about there hats), just get out. We "briskly" walked out of the Pentagon using our normal evaluation route. When we got outside, we could see black smoke bellowing from the other side of Pentagon. Our Colonel kept us all together but briskly kept us moving away from the Pentagon. On the way, we saw a Navy enlisted man and woman with blood on them. One of our co-workers went to get medical help for them. Then we were told to "move back-take cover" there's another plane coming. We took cover behind trees. Thank God it was our fighter jets overhead. We finally got to Lyndon Johnson Park and a man had his car radio on and we heard the first World Trade Center collapsed. We finally orchestrated how everyone was going to get home. I got to my in-laws house and tried to calm down. I couldn't call my Mom in Ohio because there was cellphone "gridlock". She finally got word that I was not hurt and A-ok. I went to work the next day, September 12th because by gosh the President said the government is open and I was not going to let the "terrorist" win. It wasn't until a week later that I was notified two of my co-workers were killed. It's a day I'll never forget...Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my story.

I really, really appreciate my homelife, family, and friends more. Like Dorthy says, "there's no place like home".

The "shot in the arm" of patriotism that these tragic events created for our country. We need to remember those that died and the heroes that worked day and night to bring calm out of "chaos"

Absolutely, we put our flag out everyday. I have always appreciated the flag and the freedom that it stands for.