nmah215.xml

nmah215.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-19

That morning, I had arrived at work at The Boeing Company, like countless mornings before it. Frazzled and rushed from getting my kids ready for school and then getting myself to work. I habitually waited to eat breakfast until arriving at work. Like every other morning before it, I went into our cafeteria for breakfast. As I was standing in line to order, I heard some people talking about the horrible "accident" in NYC. I turned to see the TV screen, tuned the the CBS morning show, and saw the billowing smoke from what everyone at that time assumed was a horrible accident. It was the first plane.

I got my breakfast, and went back to my desk. I told everyone along the way what was going on, and immediately tried to access CNN.com for further news. Frustrated by not being able to get on the site, I went back into the cafeteria to watch the news. I walked in, and there was already a crowd gathered in front of this one small TV. I sat next to a co-worker and asked what all was happening. At about this time, the second plane came in and turned toward the buildings. She and I clutched hands and watched in horror as the second plane intentionally smashed into the second Tower. I ran back to my desk, panicked by this point.

I told everyone that a second plane had hit, and that this time it was clear that this was no accident. I called my mother, who doesn't work, to ask her what was going on. She was in shock, and nearly speechless, as she said that the TV news was reporting it as a terrorist attack. I remember telling her that there was no way it was that. This is America, and that doesn't happen here! I asked her to keep me posted on anything else going on. By this point, our entire building was silent, as everyone was huddled around a TV screen, unable to pull away from it. I stayed at my desk to continue to try to access the internet for news. My phone rang again, and I knew it was my mother.

I picked it up, and she told me that there had been an explosion at the Pentagon. That later turned out to be an airplane, and not an explosion as was first indicated in the confusion. Again, I told her to keep me posted, and I went back into the cafeteria to watch the news more. When some time had gone by without any further incident, I went back to my desk, to be met by a ringing phone. It was mom again.

A plane had been crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. At this point, I didn't know what to think. This was unheard of. I couldn't understand it, and I was scared. I have two small children, and I worry for them.

Shortly after the plane in Pennsylvania went down, we were dismissed from work for the day. It was a strange and awful drive home that morning. I was glad to hug my husband (who worked in a building across town), and hug my kids when they got out of school.

My life hasn't really changed, in its day to day activity. I am more wary, and live just waiting for another attack to happen. I am grateful every day that it doesn't, but I believe in my heart that it will happen again. I no longer have an optimistic view of the world around us.

As with everything else, we need to remember the event, so we can learn from it. We must learn as much as possible about what happened, and how it happened right under our noses, so we can make sure this never happens again.

I also believe that all of the victims need to be remembered somehow. These people never did a single thing to deserve such a horrible and tragic death.

The bravery of the people on Flight 93, especially Todd Beamer, should be remember as well. If they had not had the strength, courage and faith that they did, things likely would have been much worse. Even knowing they would die themselves, they were willing to do so, to prevent countless thousands more from suffering. They are truly heroes.

I hunted all over town for a flag, but could not find one. It just so happened that 3 days after it all happened, I had an appointment to have my nails done. I went in and had American flags airbrush designed onto my fingernails. My feelings about our flag have remained the same. It is a sign of our strength and our unity as a nation. It represents all we fought to become, and will continue to become.