#540 | Wednesday, December 19th, 2001
September 11, 2001 was my 38th birthday.
I was home when it happen. I was cleaning house and had the TV news on like always. When I saw the first plane hit the first tower, I could not believe what I was seeing, at first I though it was an accident, but I knew something was wrong because planes are not allowed to fly through there, and then when I saw the second plane hit the other tower, I just stood there paralized from head to toe. I live in Brookly NY, you could see the black smoke from my roof top and actually smell the smoke. Days after I found out my next door neighbor lost his son. And my husband's friend who was a fireman whom they played stickball every Sunday lost his life too. It was the worst birthday I have ever had. I don't think i could ever celebrate my birthday again. My husband volunteer for days helping out at ground zero. He described to me how it was. He told me there is no comparison when you see it on TV when you are actually there. My heart goes out to all the people who's life has been scattered. And some many people lost their lives. September 11, 2001 will be a day of saddness for me.

God Bless America
Elizabeth
Elizabeth | 38 | New York

#541 | Wednesday, December 19th, 2001
i was at my doctors office,i had to go to the hospital to be induced.i was 38 weeks pregnant.when my husband and i came out of the doc. office his mother called on our cell phone.it was like 9:00 am.she had told us that an airplane crashed into one of the towers.we were in shock.well we got to the hospital and all over the news was the plans hitting the towers,pentagon and in pennsylvania.i heard from many nurses saying ive got to get my children out of school.i was so scared i wanted my 1 year old son.later in the afternoon i had a baby girl 3:26pm. after seeing her being born i just thought to myself. how can i bring a baby into this world. my heart goes all out to the victims,families,firefighters,policemen,all who have died. christine
christine | 25 | New Jersey

#542 | Wednesday, December 19th, 2001
I was driving to work when the first plane hit.The news came over the radio moments later.It depth of it took my breath away and I had to stop my car and then I started crying.I wanted to just go home and hold my children.But I did keep going and at work, we listened to the news so we could kept current.As more events happened, a great sadness came over all of us.We realized that our country was under attack and I personally felt the same as I did long ago when President Kennedy died-very cold and stunned.I work for the Postal Service, a Carrier.Everyday still there is something to keep it fresh in my mind; a letter, newspaper, magazine, and I thankful for that.The buildings can be rebuilt but the people are gone forever, except in memories.We should NEVER forget what has happened to them.
Nancy | 44 | California

#543 | Wednesday, December 19th, 2001
Where were you the day the world Stopped Turning?
By Jim Alger

November 21, 2001: Christmas is a month away, a time of joy and happiness. September 11th seems so distant. I was asked a question yesterday, "When the buildings fell, how did you feel?" How quickly the pain returns.

Every day that goes by we try to escape the questions, the images, the horror witnessed by millions of people around the world on September 11th. For most of us we watched in utter disbelief as the symbol of a free society, and the icon of the greatest most dynamic city in the world, was reduced to a pile of twisted steel and miles of dust. Most of us watched on TV the rescue workers, Firemen, Police officers and civillians desperately trying to save lives. But this piece isnt about most of us. This piece is about some of us. The some of us who are proud to call ourselves New Yorkers. The some of us who hold the shield of the New York City Fire Department. The some of us who were there.

For anyone who has ever heard the police radio tapes of that day, or was in NY in the weeks following the attacks, it is to surreal. Police officers screaming "Notify the Pentigon central, we're under attack!" "We need air cover central, god damn it we need air cover now!" That marked the beginning of frantic calls on the two way radios of Emergency workers throughout the city. Calls for ambulances, calls for help. Minutes after the second plane struck the tower the calls of "we're getting hit again!" as the sound of even more jets approached. Then the callout "theire ours, their ours central" military air support had arrived and for the first time in our history our military was flying air cover over the United States. But the moments that brought the Citys Emergency Radio system to a complete stop, utter silence, was 2 sentences. "Central, the second tower fell... its gone".

We went to what has been termed "the pile" hoping against all hope that someone, anyone would come out alive. As an EMT we are trained to save lives, that's what we do. Images on TV don't prepare you for the four story high pile of rubble, the distinct smell of death, or how but for one or two decisions you made at some point in your life, that could have been you. Hundreds of ambulances stood by to help any injured that were brought out of the rubble, but not one was used. We are touted as heroes to NY and the world simply because we came to dig. Call it pride, call it survivors guilt, call it respect but none of us feel like heroes. The heroes are who we are here to get. The're flag draped bodies are pulled out almost daily. Husbands, fathers, mothers and wives whos only connection to this conflict is that they answered the call to help and in doing so, made the ultimate sacrifice. Reflection makes us wish we were heroes, that it was us, not them.

When you see the tapes of the towers collapse, can you see the firefighters who are in there trying to save 4,000 workers and tourists? They already evacuated 25,000 others but fate had cards that it didnt want to show as they raced up the stairs, time had run out.

We fly the flag in defiance. On cars, fire escapes, front porches and rooftops accross the country the symbol of our freedom flies while those very freedoms are under attack. We hide under a shroud of security, relinquishing power and our liberties to others in the name of defense. Is that what this country has ever stood for?

So where were you the day the buildings fell? How did it make you feel? Or have you already placed your flag in the closet?
James | 30 | California

#544 | Thursday, December 20th, 2001
September 11 really changed the world man .

I have to comment only this much..
Samhan | 11 | India

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