nmah3019.xml

nmah3019.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I had begun a new job within the government 2 weeks before September 11, our work location being inside an old limestone mine. When a co-worker first told me of the planes hitting the WTC, I was waiting for the punchline thinking it must be some kind of a joke. I soon realized that it was no joke. Someone had called home and had their daughter put the phone by the television and then put it on speaker phone so we could all hear the tragic news. We formed a knot of people around that phone listening in horror and shock. Here we were in this cave and unable to get any sort of news other than listening to this over the phone. It was unreal and horrible. Then came the news that we were all to leave. How I drove home I still don't know. But once there, I sat as many of us did glued to the TV, sobbing for all the loss. As I realized that all non-essential government agencies had closed I sat in awe. Never had I known our government to shut down. September 11 is a day I will never forget. For those who lost loved ones that day- you are in my thoughts and prayers always. May God Bless us all.