nmah5495.xml
Title
nmah5495.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2003-04-13
NMAH Story: Story
I am a teacher at IS 68 - Isaac Bildersee Intermediate School (Brooklyn, New York). I first heard, from some of the students, that a plane had crashed into the WTC.
I assumed, that it was an accident with a small, general aviation, aircraft.
I was soon to learn that this was not the case.
From the school's third floor windows, I was able to view the WTC billowing smoke. At the same time, televisions began to be turned on giving an eerie dual view of the great tragic events.
Shortly thereafter, I was summoned to the Principal's office, by page and walkie talkie transmission. I was asked to join the team that was coordinating early release of students whose parents were showing up to take them out of school.
For the next several hours, I was checking parents' identification - - sending for students - - verifying identification - - signing out students - - etc.
The usual 30 - 45 minute drive home, to Staten Island, was transformed into an odyssey of detours, delays and encounters with an odd assortment of emergency vehicles from around the area.
When school resumed, my carpool passed a local firehouse with its parking lot clogged by the vehicles of now dead heroes, New York's Bravest.
I assumed, that it was an accident with a small, general aviation, aircraft.
I was soon to learn that this was not the case.
From the school's third floor windows, I was able to view the WTC billowing smoke. At the same time, televisions began to be turned on giving an eerie dual view of the great tragic events.
Shortly thereafter, I was summoned to the Principal's office, by page and walkie talkie transmission. I was asked to join the team that was coordinating early release of students whose parents were showing up to take them out of school.
For the next several hours, I was checking parents' identification - - sending for students - - verifying identification - - signing out students - - etc.
The usual 30 - 45 minute drive home, to Staten Island, was transformed into an odyssey of detours, delays and encounters with an odd assortment of emergency vehicles from around the area.
When school resumed, my carpool passed a local firehouse with its parking lot clogged by the vehicles of now dead heroes, New York's Bravest.
NMAH Story: Life Changed
My daily commute to work, over the Verazzano Bridge, has become much longer. The continued presence of NYPD, State Troopers, military personnel, etc. is a grim reminder of the state of the world we all live in.
It is hard to view the NYC skyline without thinking of the lives that were lost on 9/11/2001.
It is hard to view the NYC skyline without thinking of the lives that were lost on 9/11/2001.
NMAH Story: Remembered
We should remember that innocent lives were lost, heroes were born (and many died) due to the actions of terrorists.
Freedom does not come cheaply and we must defend it.
Freedom does not come cheaply and we must defend it.
NMAH Story: Flag
I have always flown an American flag at my home. For a full year after 9/11/2001, I also wore a flag pin on my clothing every day.
My father fought in WWII - - possibly because of this, I have always felt that our flag was almost sacred.
When the question of whether desecrating the flag should be a criminal offense was debated, I said that the true question should only be whether or not it was a capital offense.
GOD BLESS THE USA!
My father fought in WWII - - possibly because of this, I have always felt that our flag was almost sacred.
When the question of whether desecrating the flag should be a criminal offense was debated, I said that the true question should only be whether or not it was a capital offense.
GOD BLESS THE USA!
Citation
“nmah5495.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed November 26, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/45457.