#1126 | Thursday, March 28th 2002
How can I forget. For some odd reason, this day, I decided to go to the gym before work, which I haven't done in the past two months. By doing so, I was up at 5:30am. I got home by 7:00am, showered, ate and left for my 30 minute drive to East Rutherford, NJ. I arrived at my 9:00am job today at 8:40am.

Just as I sat down, someone in my office said a plane had crashed into one of the towers. Being on the 6th floor of the Metromedia building, we had a bullseye view of the tower. We all gathered in an office and watched smoke pour from the first tower hit. Within minutes, someone said "Look at that plane flying pretty low. Is that normal?" WHAM!! we saw the plane disappear behind the tower and a huge fireball appear from the other end.

We were all in shock at what we just saw. We weren't sure if it was a news helicopter flying low and accidentlly got to close or what. After hearing on the news what happened we knew what we saw. For the next 3 hours we all were glued to the windows in our office.

Listening to the news and watching what was unfolding right in front of our eyes was incredible. We then heard about the Pentagon. In my 23 years, I don't think I ever felt such a feeling of urgency. I wasn't panicking, but I felt as if the my whole world was about today, as if our whole being was in jeopardy. By 10 o'clock, the first tower can down, then later on, the other.

Being close enough to witness this event, yet far enough away to help, I felt powerless. Since our office is 5 minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel, they decided to evacuate the building, as well as most commercial business in the area.

On my way home on Rt.3 to the Turnpike, I saw Ambulances, Firetrucks, and Police from as far away as Wyckoff, Mahwah, and even further, Pensylvannia! Only thing was I was traveling away as they were travelling to. I wished I could have just hopped onto a firetruck and went in to help.

As I was driving on Turnpike South, western spur, I had an unobstructed view of what remained of the towers, which was now a dust cloud. People were pulled over on the turnpike taking pictures, talking, crying and just watching. I just wanted to get home to make sure all my loved ones were safe.

I knew three people who lost their lives in the towers. The first two were sisters. One sister was head of HR at my last job who interviewed me and hired me, and her sister, who I didn't know to well. The third was a friend of mines brother. All worked at Cantor.

To all of us, I don't think we will ever forget where we were on Sept. 11, just as our parents rememeber where they were when Kennedy was killed.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Michael | 23 | New Jersey

#1073 | Tuesday, March 19th 2002
It was a morning of hope for me. I was at an interview for a job I really wanted. I came out of that interview with a good feeling that I would get the job. I turned on the radio, and heard just a tail end of a report. I thought at first that something had happened in York, a county next to mine. And listened further. When I finally heard what was going on...I began to realize that traffic was moving slow and people were pulled along the road crying. I too had a sinking feeling. I went straight home to my boyfriend and instead of telling him about the interview, I told him he needed to get up and see this. I couldn't believe what I had been hearing. In fact it wasn't real until I turned on the television. We both sat there that day and just watched, sometimes crying other times calling the ones we loved and talking about it with them. And thanking God that we didn't know anyone. But even though we may not have known a victim, we still mourned for the losses of those who did. It's a day I'll never forget. God Bless America! And our hopes and prayers are with all who lost a loved one.
Stephanie | 23 | Pennsylvania

#1035 | Friday, March 15th 2002
I was sleeping peacefully in bed, not long before I was supposed to wake up for class at university. I remember the phone ringing and wondering what on earth anyone would want at 7:45am. I felt my boyfriend answer the phone, get out of bed, and leave the room and I tried to fall asleep. Five minutes later he woke me up and said "we're under attack." I was feeling so confused. Attack? Who? Where? How? And even as the questions raced through my mind I ran upstairs just after the second tower had been hit. I was glued to the TV until just after the first tower fell to the ground. I honestly thought I was going to throw up. I had to leave the suffocating house and the mesmerising TV. So I drove and cried and listened to the National Public Radio station as they said the second tower fell. I can never remember feeling so lost and helpless and so hurt.
Rachel | 23 | Colorado

#1025 | Thursday, March 14th 2002
I haven't seen a perspective from the military yet, so here is mine's. I got up the morning of Sept. 11 like any other day. Woke up, ate breakfast with Mom, got dressed to go work. I usually don't turn watch TV or listen to the radio in the mornings.

I do not know what the mood of my fellow bus passengers were, the ride
is often quiet and uneventful. When I saw the traffic jam at the gate to the military installation I work in, it was unusual but nothing to trouble me. I walked in and noticed the base was on the highest state of alert, and soldiers from another base were brought in to check IDs (except me) and search cars.

When I reached the glass doors of the building where my desk is, they were locked. That WAS really strange, because this was the first time
they were. I knocked, and a co-worker who arrives first everyday let me in.

"Did you hear what happened?" "No."
"Two planes flew into the World Trade Center and brought them down. Both buildings are on the ground."

I was shocked, and turned on my computer. Went to the websites of Fox
News, CNN, and others. Only then did reality dawn on me as I saw the
nightmarish pictures and stories. But I am very glad my NY friend and
her family are safe. Her brother-in-law had a close call, if he wasn't
late he would be dead now.

Gary | 23 | Hawaii

#893 | Monday, March 11th 2002
ON SEPTEMBER 11TH I WAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT NURSING SCHOOL(I AM FROM JERSEY AN STILL LIVE THERE). I WAS IN THE BOOK STORE AND THE LADY WAS LISTENING TO THE RADIO AND I HEARD THE BREAKING NEWS. I PAID FOR MY STUFF AND RAN BACK TO CLASS. I STARTED CRYING AND FREAKING OUT. I WAS HORRIFIED AND HAD TO LEAVE SCHOOL. I COULD NOT KEEP MY EYES OFF THE TV. I COULD NOT REACH ANYONE IN MY FAMILY DUE TO THE PHONE LINES ALL BEING BUSY AND CRAZY. I PICKED MY DAUGHTER UP FROM PRE-SCHOOL. FOR THE NEXT WEEK I WAS GLUED TO THE TV AND THE RADIO. TO THIS DAY I CAN'T WATCH IT ON TV. I CAN'T THINK ABOUT IT OR TALK ABOUT IT. I START CRYING AND CAN'T STOP. I KNEW A FEW PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES THAT DAY. THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT BUT THERE IS A REASON. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOD BLESS ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO LOST LOVED ONES. I PRAY FOR YOU EVERYDAY. I FEEL FOR YOU ALL.
LOVE-NOELLE PELLEGRINO

NOELLE | 23 | New Jersey

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