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. Today was a nice day for me having used a newly minted security pass to enter the WTC and meeting successfully with representatives of the Port Authority of NY & NJ on a very exciting environmental project. I have been a government administrator for 30 years and having reached a significant level of management felt proud as I left the building. The meeting was on the 62nd floor. The day was September 10, 2001. The meeting ended at 5 PM. The next day two of us were on an early train to Newark, NJ for a meeting. As we always did we were watching the construction of the new train station near the Newark Airport. My traveling companion, gazing upward into the very beautiful morning sky said, "Hey look at that cloud above the WTC, it looks like its attached". We saw the first smoke. Moments later an announcement on the train that the PATH was closed....most people mumbled because their transportation to work was going to be interrupted. As we entered the Newark train station people were saying that a plane had struck the WTC...no one gave it much thought thinking that it was an errant pipercub or something. As we walked out of the station to our meeting location still there was no panic. As we entered the office building, all hell broke out ...secretarys were crying...office workers were trying to call out or check the internet for information. The situation was unfolding outside our window but we couldn't see it. After the second plane hit and the buildings crumbled... our Newark building was evacuated. Now the train station and the neighboring bus station were closed...there were no cars to rent in the area. We had environmental chain of command responsibilities but could not reach our liaisons due to cell phone failure. Finally the trains started to move in our direction. When we returned to our home office we were met by state police in roit gear and our building was closed due to a bomb threat. We were able to re-establish our contacts and perform our duties but not without many moments of not being in control. The feeling of being a captain without a ship in a vital situation is devastating. The feeling of helplessness, overwhelming. The high alert we prepared for. The sense of helplessness concerning folks we had met with the day before was wrenching. Fortunately all of them survived the devastation and on this anniversary can still enjoy their families. My heart goes out and my prayers are with to all the people I may have seen on the 10th who did not return home on the 11th. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? 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? Yes and we still fly it daily with a spot light on it at night. 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 nmah1424.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. 2002-09-06 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.39.157.226