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American Social History Project

I asked my mother what has changed since 9/11 and this is her response. She said that there are mainly stricter regulations for airlines and businesses have tightened their security. All these precautions, especially for airports, are completely necessary. She believes it’s worth waiting in line to make sure they’re being thorough. Before she only heard of terrorism in the mid east. Now it’s the main concern. Anything that happens, they automatically assume it is terrorism.

My mother claims that all of Hancock County was in an outright panic. Everyone thought that we were a potential target because of the power plant. Parents, including her, were concerned over their children in school. Many parents pulled their children out; however, my mother called my Uncle Danny (who was the superintendent of Hancock County at the time), and he reassured her that the school was the safest place I could be and that I should not be taken out. When the news first hit, she was in Monaca Walmart. She immediately got concerned about my aunt and uncle, who live in New York. Also, some people she graduated high school with lived in NYC. The gravity of the situation didn’t become real to her until she watched the buildings go down. She heard they were struck, but once she saw them collapse she was struck with shock, disbelief, and sadness. Although the years continue to tick by since the tragedy, she believes that this event will never fade into history. She thinks that everyone wants to remember, no matter sad it all is. She says the people who were affected will continue to pass on the memory to make sure no one ever forgets.