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. After a long recovery and many many months of professional help I am now able to talk about some of the events of this Horrific day that not only change the World but changed my life forever. I was at a meeting with my business partners and eighteen staff and four clients high in the North Tower . Enjoying the clearness of the early morning out over Manhattan. I, along with my assistant Anna left just prior to the plane slamming into our building. There were eight people who were trapped in the Elevator nearest to impact. We knew that it was a bomb or something very serious had just happened that stopped our elevator as we could hear the extremely loud noises and smell smoke and fuel as all our lights went out and our elevators stopped. Some of the men climbed up on to the roof through the manhole to see how we could escape. Five people around us died as huge explosions blow metal like paper and fire raged. Three of us managed to escape through a huge hole that was blown in the elevator wall and via a ladder on inside of the elevator shaft. We climbed down with our injuries and through a small opening into a landing. Eventually we reached the main stairwell. People were injured and very afraid. There were people pushing and trying to get out. No order was present as they panicked and tried to save themselves. I saw things on this day that shall stay in my mind and heart forever. By the Mercy and help of God we escaped only seconds before the building fell. Prior to September 11th I had been a successful business woman and after my life is dramaticall changed. I know God was there on that day for me and others. Miracles did happen . God was there for so many along with the brave firemen, medics, civilians and did save my life and many others. We were graced by a living God who heard our cries and saved us Psalms 18 1-7. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. In every way my life has changed. I value life and the source of where it come so much more. I value what is really valuable "All the things that money can not buy" NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Never forget what happened this day. Never go back to your comfortable arena's. Please do not place a building on ground zero. For me it represents the place where my partners and beloved staff are and no one should place a building over them. Put a memorial wall with beautiful gardens with water running were people can come and feel. Were there can come and say goodbye. Have some peace and closure. ( let me design a monument even though it is not my field) It would be from my heart, and that represents the hearts of the world. But we must unite in every way one nation under God. Hold on to what made this country great. Hold one tight and be faithful and true. 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 am a stronger American than ever. Loyal and faithful. 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 nmah6523.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. 2004-05-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.81.177.46 Notes Notes about this item. From: miraclesof911@yahoo.com Subject: Re: Thank you for contributing Date: May 14, 2004 3:19:59 AM EDT To: info@911digitalarchive.org Yes the people need to have this record and I had ammended what was written pleasecorrect spelling if need be. Thank you Dr K. The September 11 Digital Archive <info@911digitalarchive.org> wrote: Thank you for your contribution to the September 11 Digital Archive. For your records, your contribution is reprinted at the end of this email. If you are willing to make this contribution publicly available, it may be posted to the site. It is important to us to collect and preserve as much of the historical record as possible, so please share this site with family, friends, and associates who may have a story to share. Thank you. The September 11 Digital Archive http://911digitalarchive.org info@911digitalarchive.org (703) 993-4585 Here is a copy of what you gave us: How did you witness history on September 11th? Tell us your story: After a long time of silence and many many months of professional help I am now able to talk about some of the events of this Horrific day that not only change the World but changed my life forever. I had been in Los Angeles and just returned on the 9th to hand over my position to my partner who had also just arrived from Canada to take my place. I had been very ill during the previous year with Leukemia and had taken some time off to have a bone marrow transplant which was scheduled for the 26th September. I was at a meeting with my business partners, eighteen staff and four clients high in the North Tower at the 101 level. We were enjoying the clearness of the early morning views after having had a breakfast at Window on the World. I, along with my assistant Anna left the meeting to attend another meeting just prior to AAFlight 11 slammed into our building. I had seen the plane and commented that it looked like it was heading our way but was reassured that it was not and would divert over the river. There were eight people who were trapped in the Elevator nearest to impact including myself. We knew that it was a bomb or something very serious had just happened. We could hear the extremely loud noises, smell smoke and fuel as all our lights went out and our elevators stopped. Some of the men climbed up on to the roof through the manhole to see what had happened and how we could escape. Five people around us died as huge explosions blow metal like paper and fire raged. Those people who climbed up were blown to pieces or fell down the shaft. Three of us managed to escape death. We climbed out onto a beam through a huge hole that was blown in the elevator wall tp our left and then went down a service ladder on inside of the elevator shaft. We climbed down with our injuries and through a small opening into a landing that eventually took us to the stairwell. Smoke and water covered us but the lights were on. I remember looking back toward the outside and saw a huge hole, smoke and fire everywhere. Eventually we reached the main stairwell. People were injured and very afraid. There were people pushing and trying to get out. No order was present as they panicked and tried to save themselves. I saw things on this day that shall stay in my mind and heart forever. By the Mercy and help of God we escaped only seconds before the building fell. I had not felt the piece of steel sticking out of my head at the lower part behind the ear. I had not felt the cut across my throat and cuts and abasions. Nor the burns down my back. I just knew that Anna was badly burned and the young man who was with us had lost his hand at the wrist. I had managed to stop the flow of blood with his neck tie and belt. I had placed his severed hand into my shoulder bag. How any one of the three of us were able to climb down is A MIRACLE. God held us in his hands. I had been a successful business woman and after 9/11 my life was dramatically changed. I lost everything on that day. I returned after my release to California to recover and could not speak of what happened. I know God was there on that day and after. Huge Miracles did happen . God was there for so many along with the brave firemen, medics, civilians and did save my life and many others. We were graced by a living God who heard our cries and saved us. Psalms 18 1-7. Has your life changed since September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how? In every way my life has changed. I value life and the source of where it came from so much more. I value what is really valuable "All the things that money can not buy" All the things man can not make start or stop. What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Never forget what happened this day. Never go back to your comfortable arena's. America your freedom shall never be as it was again. You have to stand behind our President and fight terrorists. Do not take things so for granted. Please do not place a building on ground zero. For me it represents the place where my partners and beloved staff are and no one should place a building over them. Put a memorial wall with beautiful gardens with water running were people can come and feel what they need too. Were there can come and say goodbye or just remember. To have some peace and closure. (let me design a monument even though it is not my field) It would be from my heart, and that represents the hearts of the world. America we must UNITE in every way "one nation under God". Hold on to what made this country great. Hold one another tight in love and be faithful and true. 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 am a stronger American than ever. Loyal and faithful. Can be posted on either the September 11 Digital Archive or Smithsonian Web site? yes