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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: God it was a beautiful day! I love New York in September. There is this wonderful hill--a rise from water level--that lines the coast of NJ. Driving this route allows the most beautiful view of the entire skyline of the City. It's breathtaking. As I drove from the top of the hill down the bridge to get to River Road, I always scanned the City. Nothing, on this day, was amiss. I joined the ranks of commuters amongst the streets and buildings of Hoboken. I negociated the traffic and as I waited at a stoplight, I heard the radio announcer say, "oh, my God, something's going on at the World Trade Center! The whole top of it is on fire!" Though I was still in a very dense area of Hoboken, I happened to be situated at the only place in a long stretch of road, which allowed a clear view of the Trade Centers. And, there it was. I could see, clearly, the sideways gash in the building and the top of the building had just started to smoke. I got on the cell phone and called my husband who was still at home (but who had planned a trip into the City that noon, via the WTC). I called my parents in Texas and assured them neither of us were in the WTC. None of them knew of the tragedy yet. I pulled the car over (strange that many cars just continued along the road, seemingly unaware of the situation), I got out along with another man who had just pulled up. We stood on the shore watching the billowing smoke and ticking through our friends' names in our mind, who might be there. We talked little. Then, down the shore, and only for a moment, I could see it coming. I thought it was a bird and I thought, for only a split second, how peaceful that bird was not knowing or comprehending the horror that humans were suffering right now. It turned, like a cobra ready to strike and I knew, instantly what the entire thing represented, what it would mean for me and my family, and what it would mean to our country. Then nothing. Only the sound of the waves from the river and the seagulls above were heard. I waited for the shock wave of the impact to hit us. Then I heard it. Not the sound of the impact, but the distant screams--they were my screams. I actually finished the drive to work--though I don't remember how. Once there, I walked to the window, the same window from which I had recently admired the City view. Soon, it was gone. Everything. The horror obscured by a veil of white which was slowly encompassing lower Manhattan. I got home after a 2 1/2 hour drive. Hugged my husband for a long time and then sat in a stupor and watched the TV. We walked, as if on a pilgrimage, to the shore--along with many, many others. We all watched from the shore as tower 7 fell, and again, there was not a sound--only the sparkle of glass as it exploded. There were newly-homeless among us, and many gathered to hear their stories of escape and terror. Some had never been to New Jersey before and didn't know how to get back, or where to go when they got there. People were offering their apartments as a place to stay, or just for a shower and a place to eat. Many had secured the last remaining hotel rooms, choosing to share rooms with total strangers. It was the start of a new New York. 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 story3708.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. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.36.98.221