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: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was at my desk when I recieved a call that a plane hit the World Trade Center. The first thought was that a News helicopter or a small plane was the culprit. Then I remember hearing that another plane hit the World Trade Center. For some reason I didn't believe that the information I was getting was accurate. I thought that the information had already started to go through the you tell the story and someone else tells the story until a completely different story begins to emerge. Then it happened my email began to fill up with stories so I called home. My wife confirmed the story and also told me about what she was watching on TV. I couldn't believe the account. It was long after that it got even worse (if that was possible) the plane into the Pentagon and Flight 93 in Pa. It seemed all surreal. At about 11 or 11:30 we were released from work and home I went. I live in New Jersey and I am within 30 miles of NYC. From a high point in my town you can see the lights of the city at night. This day you didn't need the night to see the city. Large plumes of smoke filled the horizon. It was a terrible site. Hard to imagine what was going on. I like millions of others spent the balance of the day into the early morning hours of the next day watching TV yearning for information. The News was bad, all bad. I cried. To this day I still shed a tear. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Life will never be the same in America. The freedoms that we have enjoyed and fought so gallently for throughout our history have been taken from us in one terrible act of terrorism. Things that were taken for granted like, going to work each day, now begin with a search of belongings before you can enter the building. Taking a vacation via airplane has become a nightmare. You must spend several hours additional at airports so that you can submit to personal searches of your belongings and yourself. You need to several forms of ID wherever you go. It is like the old war movies line, "where are your papers"! This is not what America is about, but it is now. These freedoms to travel and go places can no longer be taken for granted. Fear of more attacks are always in the back of my mind. In this way, beyond the destruction, the terrorists have certainly made an impact on the American way of life. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Things to be remembered need to include the bravery of the men and women of NYC's Fire and Police Departments. Their unselfish giving was and still is remarkable. The thousands of volunteers from around the area and from around the country that came to NY & Washington's aid. And almost above all the renewed sense of Partriotism in America and what we stand for. This country has come together like no other time I can remember. I am proud to say that I am an American. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I ashamed and at the same time happy to say that the flag did fly on my home after the events of September 11th. It is unfortunate that it took such an event to remind us of our liberty and what the flag stands for in our everyday life. The flag continues to fly proudly at my home and at the homes of most all my neighbors. 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 nmah970.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. 2002-09-04 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 199.43.48.21