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#2259 | Wednesday, September 11th, 2002
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I was in the shower the morning of the attacks. My husband came in to tell me that someone had bombed the Pentagon and the Trade Centers. At that time, we did not know that planes had hit both locations. I remember hurrying to finish, so that I could find out what was happening. By the time I got to my living room to watch the event unfold, I had found that airplanes had crashed into the buildings. My children and I watched as one by one the towers that towered over the New York horizon fell to the ground. I will never forget the horror and devastation I felt. Not only those feelings were present, but a massive feeling of helplessness overcame me. I was watching as people were losing their lives and there was nothing I could do to help. I continued to watch as I helped at my children’s school that day with school pictures. I tried over the next few days to help my children, ages 7 & 8 at the time, to understand why someone would do this.
Today a year later, watching the memorials on television and also attending a local memorial at the university where I work, I remembered that feeling of helplessness. Although this time, I noticed as the construction workers on our campus realized there was a service and stopped working, removed their hard hats and stood in remembrance of those we lost, that this nation is united in everything we do. We have to be united to be Americans. So, as my children are again today getting their school pictures taken, I remember how much I love our country and how sorry I am for the families of those who were lost in this terrible tragedy. I will anxiously await the arrival of the school pictures because I can not wait to see all the children in their red, white, and blue, the colors they wore to support their country on the anniversary of this terrible event. All I can say with my thoughts and prayers is GOD BLESS AMERICA and UNITED WE STAND.
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Kimberly | 32 | Oregon
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#2260 | Wednesday, September 11th, 2002
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On the anniversary of 9/11 I found myself standing in the exact same spot
of my bedroom that I was this time last year, still in awe. Dressing for work while watching GMA then and now. Frozen in time and weeping with tears as the revelations and their magnitude begin to sink in. Ironically I had just flown from DC on 9/10/01 from visiting my brother who is now a few months from retiring from the Army (thank you GOD). Where was I on 9/11/01 the same place I am on 9/11/02. Humbled, proud, afraid yet fearless, blessed and thankful. I didn't loose any one personally close to me, but on that morning, standing in front of my television, in my home, in TN, nothing in my life mattered except life, love and liberty.
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Audrey | 35 | Tennessee
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#2261 | Wednesday, September 11th, 2002
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ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 I WAS WORKING AS A RECEPTIONIST IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY AT AN ENGINEERING FIRM.
I REMEMBER GETTING AN E-MAIL SAYING SOMEONE HAD JUST FLOWN A PLANE INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME DRUNK PILOT OR SOME STUPID PERSON FLYING THE PLANE, WHEN THEN THE NEWS CAME THAT THE PENTAGON WAS HIT TOO. AFTER I HEARD THAT I KNEW IT WAS A TERROIST ATTACK. EVERYONE IN OUR BUILDING RUSHED DOWNSTAIRS TO WATCH THE TELEVISION.
ALL DAY PEOPLE WERE DOWNSTAIRS WATCHING THE TELEVISION. I LEFT WORK EARLY AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE WORLD HAD GONE MAD. PEOPLE WERE LINING UP TO FILL UP THEIR CAR TANKS WITH FUEL. THE RADIO AND NEWS WERE GOING CRAZY TALKING ABOUT IT ALL. I NOTICED PEOPLE PUTTING UP AMERICAN FLAGS OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOMES ON THE DRIVE HOME.
IT WAS A CRAZY, UNTHINKABLE DAY. NOW I LIVE IN SEATTLE AND TODAY ON THE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WE ARE HAVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT 2 PM IN OUR TOWN TO REMEMBER THE VICTIMS.
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ERIKA | 25 | Washington
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#2262 | Wednesday, September 11th, 2002
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ON SEPT. 11 ,2001 FOR ME IT WAS A REGULAR DAY OF SCHOOL IN MY 1ST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL. MY MOM JUST HAD SURGERY AND KEEPING HER LEG UP IN THE LAZY BOY. AS I WALKED OUT OF MY ROOM I SAW HER MOUTH WIDE OPEN IN SHOCK. I WALKED AROUND THE CORNER AND SAW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I REALLY COULDNT BELIVE THAT THIS THING COULD OF HAPPENED TO AMERICA . THAT SCHOOL DAY WAS FAR BEYOND REGULAR. I SAW PEOPLE JUMPING OUT OF BUILDINGS AND I REALLY COULD THINK HOW PEOPLE THOUGHT KNOWING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DIE! I JUST PRAY FOR ALL THOSE FAMILY THAT LOST A LOVED ONE
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Farrin | 17 | California
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#2263 | Wednesday, September 11th, 2002
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At the time, I was living in northern NJ, about 25 minutes from Manhattan. As usual, I got to work about ten minutes late that day. I turned on the radio and a few minutes later the news came on that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I told my co-worker Jose. The radio deejay did not have any other details. We thought it was a small plane, just an accident. We could not figure out how a plane could fly into a building by accident. Then it came on that it was a commercial airline. I called my “significant other” in South Carolina to see if he heard the news (he did not). By this time, everyone at my job was huddled around radios. Then the news that the second tower has been hit by another commercial plane. It sinks in that this is a terrorist attack. People at my job started crying and panicking. One of the owners had an old black and white TV that he put on. What we saw was unbelievable. I felt sick to my stomach. I called my boyfriend again to tell him the latest news. We talked about the fact that this happened about the same time he would be getting off the train if he still worked in Manhattan (he stopped working there in April). Then comes the news about a hijacked plane heading for Washington. I call him again, worried because his father works in the Pentagon. He starts to panic. Both of us were unable to get in touch with his Dad. Our boss decided to let us go home to be with our families. We all said goodbye to one another, unsure of whether we would see each other the next day or not. I immediately went to the daycare center to pick up my two youngest children. My older son remained in school. As soon as I got home, I turned on the news. I watched in horror as the towers collapsed. I cried, hugged my children and called my Grandmother. My boyfriend finally received a call from his father’s friend….he was on the other side of the Pentagon when the plane crashed and was okay. My phone rang non-stop that entire day. My best friend and I reminisced about the time she had an interview with the Port Authority a few years back. I went with her and waited for her in the lobby of the World Trade Center. That had been the only time I had ever been there. For the rest of the day and night, I remained glued to my TV. I was scared. I was sad. I could not even begin to imagine what it would be like to be inside of that building or in one of the hijacked planes. I felt helpless; it seemed like all I could do was cry. I never felt so bad.
In late fall, my sister, my father and I went to visit Ground Zero. We were surprised at how close people were able to get to the scene. It was eerie. It smelled horrible. I could not help but to cry at the sight of what was left of the WTC. What I had been seeing on the TV did not prepare me for what I saw in person. We read all the tributes posted around the area and looked at the memorials to those missing. Fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, friends….all missing. It was so sad.
In the past year my life has changed a bit. My children and I moved to SC last December. At first I did not miss the New York area, I was glad to be away from there. I like where I live now, but now I do miss the NJ/NY area. There are great people there. I still talk to my old co-workers frequently. I feel like we share a special bond because of that day.
I offer my deepest sympathy to all the lives that were lost that day. I have the utmost respect for all the men and women who selflessly risked their lives to help others. I am proud to be an American.
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Denise | 29 | South Carolina
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