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 work two blocks away from the White House. I learned from a co-worker that a plane hit the World Trade Center Tower. Our organization has televisions in the lobby, so, I was able to see the news as it was being reported. As a group of us watched the smoke and flames from the first tower, we were shocked. It looked like a movie. But, minutes later, we witnessed the second plane strike the other tower. We couldn't believe it. But, I soon realized that this was more than a terrible accident. I felt we were being attacked. Then came the reports about the other events in Pennsylvania and The Pentagon. We heard so many rumors that we didn't know exactly what to do. As one of the few officers in the office, I broke the news to other staff and tried to keep everyone calm. At the same time, I tried to get some instructions from our Executive Director, who was out of town at the time. We finally received instructions to leave the building (of course, some had already made up their minds to leave). I used our courtesy telephone to call my husband, who was at home with all three of our children. I was the last one to leave the office at 11:10am. All cell phone activity was shut down throughout the area. I remember joining the hundreds of people walking down the sidewalks. The traffic was horrendous. People were looking up in the sky, as if someone else in another plane might attack at any moment. I struck up a conversation with a young woman whom I learned was going in the same direction towards Southeast Washington, DC. Some streets were blocked, which created tremendous detours for us. We were afraid of taking the subway, so we walked almost all the way home. I was wearing 2-1/2 inch heels, and my feet were killing me. All I know is that I walked all but ten blocks to get home to my family, especially my husband. We were to celebrate his 44th birthday. By the time I got home, I could do nothing but thank God for getting me home safely, hug my family, check on other family members, and watch the event continue to unfold on cable news. It was a most devastating time, full of sadness, shock, and uncertainty. I don't know if I'm over this yet. I just go on because I don't know what else to do. Everyone I know still talks about it as if it happened yesterday. I know it has changed my life forever. And, to think it only used to be my husband's birthday... 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? I think that we should remember every life that was taken, every life that was spared, and how the peace-loving world came together. 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? We still fly the American flag to this day. I have always respected our flag and for what it stands. 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 nmah4786.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. 2002-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 12.160.48.71