story768.xml
Title
story768.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-06-09
911DA Story: Story
September 11, 2001
America was severely threatened on September 11th. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, a plane was collided into the Pentagon, and yet another plane was bombarded into Somerset County in Pennsylvania. When tragedy struck us, our lives were forever changed.
Osama bin Laden is to blame for his role in destroying these people. He held such a great hate against the United States because of religion that he would do anything to harm us. He thought slaughtering many people?s lives and hearts was the best way to harm us. Then, the introverted coward hid away in one of his demented tunnels like a slobbering baby, with his trained bodyguards at his side to fight for him. He knew that if he did get caught, he would surely be done for.
The World Trade Center was an important symbol for the United States. The individuals in the Middle East greatly respect soaring buildings. To them it shows admiration and credit. Hence, when they were looking for America?s weak spot to strike, they hit on the WTC because to them it seemed so great and they themselves wanted the tallest buildings, not for America to have them. They achieved this ruthless objective by hiring hijackers to capture control of the planes and fly them into the World Trade Center.
The first Twin Tower was hit on the 80th story, followed by the second tower getting hit on the 60th story. Before these giants plummeted to the ground, thirty tons of fuel burned for 40 minutes. The sprinkler systems made no impact on the blazing inferno. Either did the asbestos, which was how fireproofing was done in the 60?s. They did their job, of course, but it wasn?t enough to help the World Trade Center. After the Twin Towers collapsed, everything around them was swallowed by an enormous dust cloud and deluged in ash. People fled into buildings as fast as their feet could carry them.
The result of this terrible event revealed many deceased people. Not only people in the buildings died, but there were also people around them and passengers in the planes. The passengers, scared to death, prayed for dear life and called their loved ones at home for their last goodbyes. The commuters were aboard the planes for over 50 minutes. These people?s family and friends were greatly affected by this catastrophe.
Even though I did not suffer the grief of losing a loved one, or know anyone that even worked in the World Trade Center, I too was touched by this disaster. When I was outside for a fire drill, I had no idea that thousands of people were jumping from 100 story buildings, only to hit cement, or being drowned in stuck elevators. The first time I heard of the horrifying news was when I walked into English class and looked up at the television. My first reaction was that I was shocked. It seemed to me that it came out of nowhere; I was definitely not expected anything like this to occur. I can even remember what I was wearing as I stood there dazed and taken aback. My outfit consisted of black pants and a red shirt. It broke my heart to see the teachers evenly discouraged by this calamity. In most classes, the teachers didn?t even bother trying to lecture us; instead, they turned the television to CNN and watched in horror as the World Trade Center fell down and smoke rose from the Pentagon. Only the day before, the World Trade Center loomed overhead New York City, and within twenty-four hours, they were nothing but a heap of rubble.
Ironically, when disaster hit America, it did have some good effect on us; everyone pulled together. Whether it was comforting someone, raising a flag at his or her home, donating money, giving blood, or working up some major elbow grease at Ground Zero, everyone drew together. America will not always be the same, but without the help of firemen, policemen, President Bush, or your every-day companion, America wouldn?t be close to normal.
I don?t know how the people that brought this catastrophe in to play could live knowing what they did, but I certainly will always remember it. I feel very fortunate that no one I know was embroiled in this event. It will always be a vast memory in my life, but not a fond one.
America was severely threatened on September 11th. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, a plane was collided into the Pentagon, and yet another plane was bombarded into Somerset County in Pennsylvania. When tragedy struck us, our lives were forever changed.
Osama bin Laden is to blame for his role in destroying these people. He held such a great hate against the United States because of religion that he would do anything to harm us. He thought slaughtering many people?s lives and hearts was the best way to harm us. Then, the introverted coward hid away in one of his demented tunnels like a slobbering baby, with his trained bodyguards at his side to fight for him. He knew that if he did get caught, he would surely be done for.
The World Trade Center was an important symbol for the United States. The individuals in the Middle East greatly respect soaring buildings. To them it shows admiration and credit. Hence, when they were looking for America?s weak spot to strike, they hit on the WTC because to them it seemed so great and they themselves wanted the tallest buildings, not for America to have them. They achieved this ruthless objective by hiring hijackers to capture control of the planes and fly them into the World Trade Center.
The first Twin Tower was hit on the 80th story, followed by the second tower getting hit on the 60th story. Before these giants plummeted to the ground, thirty tons of fuel burned for 40 minutes. The sprinkler systems made no impact on the blazing inferno. Either did the asbestos, which was how fireproofing was done in the 60?s. They did their job, of course, but it wasn?t enough to help the World Trade Center. After the Twin Towers collapsed, everything around them was swallowed by an enormous dust cloud and deluged in ash. People fled into buildings as fast as their feet could carry them.
The result of this terrible event revealed many deceased people. Not only people in the buildings died, but there were also people around them and passengers in the planes. The passengers, scared to death, prayed for dear life and called their loved ones at home for their last goodbyes. The commuters were aboard the planes for over 50 minutes. These people?s family and friends were greatly affected by this catastrophe.
Even though I did not suffer the grief of losing a loved one, or know anyone that even worked in the World Trade Center, I too was touched by this disaster. When I was outside for a fire drill, I had no idea that thousands of people were jumping from 100 story buildings, only to hit cement, or being drowned in stuck elevators. The first time I heard of the horrifying news was when I walked into English class and looked up at the television. My first reaction was that I was shocked. It seemed to me that it came out of nowhere; I was definitely not expected anything like this to occur. I can even remember what I was wearing as I stood there dazed and taken aback. My outfit consisted of black pants and a red shirt. It broke my heart to see the teachers evenly discouraged by this calamity. In most classes, the teachers didn?t even bother trying to lecture us; instead, they turned the television to CNN and watched in horror as the World Trade Center fell down and smoke rose from the Pentagon. Only the day before, the World Trade Center loomed overhead New York City, and within twenty-four hours, they were nothing but a heap of rubble.
Ironically, when disaster hit America, it did have some good effect on us; everyone pulled together. Whether it was comforting someone, raising a flag at his or her home, donating money, giving blood, or working up some major elbow grease at Ground Zero, everyone drew together. America will not always be the same, but without the help of firemen, policemen, President Bush, or your every-day companion, America wouldn?t be close to normal.
I don?t know how the people that brought this catastrophe in to play could live knowing what they did, but I certainly will always remember it. I feel very fortunate that no one I know was embroiled in this event. It will always be a vast memory in my life, but not a fond one.
Collection
Citation
“story768.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 11, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/6286.