story3514.xml

story3514.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

The morning of September 11th, 2002 began as a normal everyday routine. I woke up...took my shower and got ready for school. The same morning conversation between my friends and I before the first bell rang. I went into my homeroom classroom and the news was on, just as it was every morning. At first i payed no attention to the news because it was a regular newscast. However, ten minutes into homeroom...breaking news flashed across the screen.
"This just in...the south tower of the world trade center has just been hit by a plane."
I wasnt in too mugh shock because i thought it was just an accident. I mean this could happen...a plane flying too low and accidentally running into one of the tallest buildings in the world. Come on..that sounds pretty thinkable. But not to long after that, i saw yet another plane fly into the other tower which was being broadcasted over the television.
Still the reality hadnt hit me. I didnt know what to think. Was it all just a cruel joke? Or was it real and someone really attacking us? I felt no pain, no anger, no sadness. Just nothing. Then i remembered that my mom lived about a block away from the towers. This is about a quarter mile. Thats about one lap around a regular high school track. Thats when the fear began to rush in. The fear for everyones life that lived in New York. Not only my mom but all of her friends that i met when i visited there. All within a short walking distance to the towers.
Frantically i tried to remember her phone number...but it just wouldnt come. I almost broke into to tears, but i knew i couldnt in front of my friends...it would just make it worse.
The bell rang to dismiss us from class and as i walked out of the room i could see that most of the students didnt even know. After all our teacher was one of the only ones that left the news on during homeroom. They all walked to their groups that they hung out with and it seemed that the news spread like the plague. Within a minute and a half the whole 8th grade body knew. Most didnt even understand the importance of the event.
As the first period bell rang we all walked in...and that was when we all found out that the pentagon had been hit as well. Then we all got really scared. We didnt think that the terrorists would want to go around hitting every little town but we aren't too far from the capital and that didnt make us feel any better about the situation.
As the day went on can remember that no one had that worried look in their eyes...why? Well mostly just because the principles didnt allow the teachers to turn on the tv's...they were trying to hide us from the real and valid truth that america was under attack.
Some kids got picked up from school and by the end of the day only half the school was present.
Once the bell rang at the end of the day everyone was ready to go home. Most wanted to go home so they could find out what all had happened. Me... I wanted to go home to call my mom.
Once i called her she told me that she was fine and i had a major sigh of releif for the moment. Then she told me she watched to towers fall. She saw them collapse. I sat there in disbelief trying to imagine what a site that would have been. Believable? Maybe. Saddening? Ya, that too. Heart Wrenching? Completely.
I didnt know what to think..but before i went to bed i said a prayer for all the people that had died and for all those that were alive but buried under the wreckage. I said a prayer for the police officers and firemen who risked their lifes to save other. Those are the true souls of America. Of that we should be proud.
One day when i grow old and tell my grandchildren about my experience on the history making day...i will be able to tell them they should be proud. Proud of what each individual soul did, and proud of what America as a whole did. Pulled together in the time of need...thats what it means to be an American.