story11065.xml
Title
story11065.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2004-09-14
911DA Story: Story
Like many people on 9/11, I was on on my way to work. In Detroit, the major talk of the town that morning was the fact that Charlie Batch would no longer be the Lions starting quarterback. As I pulled into the parking lot, I was already thinking of the water cooler conversation and the quips that I was going to toss around about the Lions. While listening to Sportsradio 1130 WDFAN, a Detroit Sports only radio station, I remember the DJ's announcing that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. There was no immediate danger, no immediate panic... this must be an accident. I recall telling myself, "What is the big deal, it must be a small cessna or something... someone flew too close... what is the big deal?" Almost on cue, as if he was answering my questions the DJ stated, "For those of you in your cars who can not see this, you do not understand... a very large plane has struck one of the towers...oh my god...oh my god... there is another plane!"
They always say that seeing is believing, and for me on 9/11, this was the case. Even after hearing the description, this was not that bad until I could see it. I rushed inside to our office to the conference room where everyone was watching the TV. The next I can remember was hearing Greg Gumble say, "oh no...we have word that the Pentagon is on fire." PANIC.
Never in my life did I ever feel that I didn't know what would happen the rest of the day. Never to this day, do I think that I will feel that way again. No one knew what to expect next from the terrorists, and what our government was doing at that moment. But, just when things felt dark, our leaders came to the front. I remember President Bush addressing the nation. Rudy Gulianai so calmly walking through NYC. Then I knew that things were okay, at least for now.
SORROW... Now things were setting in. People died and we were starting to hear about it. People like me, who were on their way to work that morning had died... and they had left their loved ones behind.
ANGER... Tears gave way to vengeance that night. The questions fired through my mind. Who did this? Al Qeada? Great, we know who did it, now lets make them pay.
As the sun set, the television remained on as I waited for with the rest of America about what would happen next. I live close to both local airports in Detroit, Detroit Metro and Willow Run. Everyday the sound of airplanes over head could be heard. They usually could wake you in the night if your window was left open. However, it was eerily quiet as no sounds came through my open windows that night. As I watched the news into the evening, I couldn't help but think at 8:45 that same morning that I would be watching something about Charlie Batch at this moment.
They always say that seeing is believing, and for me on 9/11, this was the case. Even after hearing the description, this was not that bad until I could see it. I rushed inside to our office to the conference room where everyone was watching the TV. The next I can remember was hearing Greg Gumble say, "oh no...we have word that the Pentagon is on fire." PANIC.
Never in my life did I ever feel that I didn't know what would happen the rest of the day. Never to this day, do I think that I will feel that way again. No one knew what to expect next from the terrorists, and what our government was doing at that moment. But, just when things felt dark, our leaders came to the front. I remember President Bush addressing the nation. Rudy Gulianai so calmly walking through NYC. Then I knew that things were okay, at least for now.
SORROW... Now things were setting in. People died and we were starting to hear about it. People like me, who were on their way to work that morning had died... and they had left their loved ones behind.
ANGER... Tears gave way to vengeance that night. The questions fired through my mind. Who did this? Al Qeada? Great, we know who did it, now lets make them pay.
As the sun set, the television remained on as I waited for with the rest of America about what would happen next. I live close to both local airports in Detroit, Detroit Metro and Willow Run. Everyday the sound of airplanes over head could be heard. They usually could wake you in the night if your window was left open. However, it was eerily quiet as no sounds came through my open windows that night. As I watched the news into the evening, I couldn't help but think at 8:45 that same morning that I would be watching something about Charlie Batch at this moment.
Collection
Citation
“story11065.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 13, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/9154.