September 11th.....

[EddieA]

I remember it perfectly. I was still in the Air Force and at work. I heard it on the radio. We pretty much stopped what we were doing and began preparing explosives packages to support the aircraft we would bring over there. We worked through the night, tireless and wondering about what was to come. On the first anniversary of Sept 11th, I was in Uzbekistan keeping AC-130 gunships loaded with ammo for nightly combat missions.

I will NEVER forget.

 

[pwargcm]

i wont ever forget. 7th grade walking down the hall and a history teacher telling us all to come in his room we needed to see something and basically pushing us to his door. we saw the 2nd one hit and it was scary, saddening. there was a lot of shock and emotions running around. and when we knew it was an attack a big emotion was anger.

 

[JustineNYC]

I had just gotten off the subway at Rector street, about 4 blocks from the WTC. Was on my way to work with my friends, we thought someone was filming a movie until we became the movie.

I was on Broadway on Fulton when the 2nd plane hit, a piece of the engine landed about 50 feet away.

That day is a big part of the reason I no longer live in New York. Years of therapy and I still have nightmares about that day.

 

[medusacoils]

I was at work and on my break. One of the guys I worked with, came in the break room and told me the first plane hit. He heard it on the radio, while he was in his truck. No one really thought much of it, except that some pilot got lost and made a grave mistake.

I had just returned to my work area, when on the radio, they announced the second impact. Production stopped completely! Every one stood huddled around a radio trying to make sense of what happened. I don't think any of us, did!

They sent us home, shortly afterward and I watched the remainder of the events, unfold on the TV, with my wife and a friend who was on leave from the Marines.

Wayne

 

[vetusvates]

I will never forget. It was the first time I had ever felt quite so vulnerable and unsafe.
I, too, saw it live. When coverage began just after the first plane hit the first tower.
I was at home, sitting on the bed, watching TV. I worked 11pm to 7am at that time.
They sent my brother-in-law home from the Dallas airport, and luckily my stepdad was not flying that day.
I felt afraid for people I did not even know.

 

[jazzgeek]

I'll just c/p from last year's 9/11 thread....

"It was the second day of my new job, the "big break" I was looking for in my career....

I was hired by an IT consulting firm with the understanding that their primary needs for my skills was NOT in Wisconsin, but rather, in their "Eastern Region"; Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City....and since I was involved in a long-distance relationship with a woman who lived in the Buffalo, NY area, it was a given that I'd relocate to there, and just fly into the city of whatever client to which I was assigned.

But there was a week-long "new hire orientation" at the regional headquarters....in Newark, New Jersey. Across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

And as Forrest Gump would say, 'That's all I have to say about that.' "

Dale

 

[Michael823]

It's little solace, but I will at least steer clear of any political threads on this day.

I was actually really sick on 9/11, so I was on the couch home from school when it happened. Good Morning America was on, and was interrupted by breaking news. It switched to a live shot of the trade towers, and there were flames coming from the side. They had not yet ruled it as a terrorist attack, so they were explaining some of what the onlookers had stated. It was only a theory that planes had hit it when I was watching, and I really didn't believe it. I saw a plane in the background, and said that there was no way a plane could have left such a great deal of damage. Just moments later, the plane I was using to scale the size of the impact crashed, and it totally shook me up to watch it live, knowing that it resulted in many fatalities. It was kind of a delusion for me, and I really couldn't comprehend what I had just seen. I watched every moment from there on out, and witnessed the towers collapse live. It was horrific, and it really took some time to fully understand the reality of what I had just seen. It was a terrible crime, and it really brought into perspective, for me at least, how fragile everyday life can be. It showed the evil of the world at work, and how quickly the life we know can change.

Much love and respect to all of the honorable men and women who fight to protect us each and every day, and may something like this never happen again.

 

[Maize411]

And I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free
and I won't forget the men who died
and gave that right to me
and I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today
cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA...

I will never forget...I was in my sophmore year of high school and in english class..The teacher had nothing on the board and had a radio on. She told us to take our seats and to listen to what was happening. So we did for a good half hour. The next 2 hours seemed to go by in a blur of mixed emotions and fear. Then my cousin who is a cop came to pick me up from school under my mom's request...The whole rest of that day I was scared anytime I saw a plane in the air...

 

[snakewispera snr]

I was sat in Turkey 8 yrs ago today... I had 2 small children with me...
I felt small and vulnerable when I realised I was only one country away from Iraq and two countries away from Afghanistan...

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

I am so glad to see this thread today and see how everyone does remember that day.
I have actually been kind of disappointed that there haven't been more rememberances leading up to today on the news as have been in previous years. Made me wonder if people were starting to forget. I don't think anyone should ever forget what transpired. We should always keep those lost that day close to our hearts and be thankful for our servicemen and women who fight for our freedoms every day around the world.

I was at work that day. For those that don't know - I work in travel. The people in the office next to us had a radio on. Joe called me and told me a plane had crashed into the WTC but at the time the early reports were still that it might have been a small tourist plane of some sort. Then the people next to us came running in and told us to turn on our radio. Our office became chaotic with people we had traveling everywhere around the country frantically trying to find out if they were going to be able to make it home. Flights were grounded quickly. We had a mad rush of people trying to book hotel rooms and rental cars - opting to drive long distances to get home any way they could.

My office was close to MacDill AFB and any time a C130 would go over our office we would all cringe because we could never see them until they were on top of us and we didn't know what it was. Local law enforcement was concerned that MacDill could become a target.

Even 8 yrs later, I tear up reading reports about that day, or seeing footage. I cry now every time I hear the National Anthem played at sporting events or anywhere else. That day made a lasting impact on my life and I will never forget.

 

[Buzzard]

I remember being called in to work at the 911 center.(Pinellas county, FL) I rushed into work and saw the first tower fall on TV. Then the calls came in. This struck people in such a way, I remember talking to an older man(I stayed on the phone until paramedics got to him) He was a WWII vet., He was so upset about the loss, that he started having chest pains. I will never forget the sound of him crying. He was Yelling WHY WHY WHY!

Also I remember when they directed all the flights to stop, and land. Being in the area of the Tampa airport, We got so many calls about seeing planes in the air. I remember telling people that the ones that were already in the air had to wait to land. Is was crazy.....

 

[The_Thunderer]

I am so glad to see this thread today and see how everyone does remember that day.
I have actually been kind of disappointed that there haven't been more rememberances leading up to today on the news as have been in previous years. Made me wonder if people were starting to forget. I don't think anyone should ever forget what transpired. We should always keep those lost that day close to our hearts and be thankful for our servicemen and women who fight for our freedoms every day around the world.

I was at work that day. For those that don't know - I work in travel. The people in the office next to us had a radio on. Joe called me and told me a plane had crashed into the WTC but at the time the early reports were still that it might have been a small tourist plane of some sort. Then the people next to us came running in and told us to turn on our radio. Our office became chaotic with people we had traveling everywhere around the country frantically trying to find out if they were going to be able to make it home. Flights were grounded quickly. We had a mad rush of people trying to book hotel rooms and rental cars - opting to drive long distances to get home any way they could.

My office was close to MacDill AFB and any time a C130 would go over our office we would all cringe because we could never see them until they were on top of us and we didn't know what it was. Local law enforcement was concerned that MacDill could become a target.

Even 8 yrs later, I tear up reading reports about that day, or seeing footage. I cry now every time I hear the National Anthem played at sporting events or anywhere else. That day made a lasting impact on my life and I will never forget.

One of the "benefits" of working where I do is that we get invited by football players to Cardinal's games. EVERY time the National Anthem comes on, I get teary eyed. EVERY time. Even at a NASCAR race (Kyle Busch invited us), the National Anthem came on and I was teary eyed. I too was forever changed by that day.

When I visited my parents in El Paso, TX about a month ago, my parents took us to Ft. Bliss. We ate breakfast at the post Burger King... A few G.I.'s were there. I made sure to shake their hands and thank them for their service. My father saw what I was doing, smiled and when I went to sit down, he put his hand on my shoulder for a second and then started eating. It was a very poignant moment that we shared and my father and I didn't even say a word. I have to remember to thank HIM for his 24 years of service as well!

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

When I visited my parents in El Paso, TX about a month ago, my parents took us to Ft. Bliss. We ate breakfast at the post Burger King... A few G.I.'s were there. I made sure to shake their hands and thank them for their service. My father saw what I was doing, smiled and when I went to sit down, he put his hand on my shoulder for a second and then started eating. It was a very poignant moment that we shared and my father and I didn't even say a word. I have to remember to thank HIM for his 24 years of service as well!

That is really touching Fred. To me, those are some of the best moments that can be shared between two people.

 

[The_Thunderer]

That is really touching Fred. To me, those are some of the best moments that can be shared between two people.

I'm wondering, though, if he was thinking, "I DID do one thing right!". LOL.

 

[tsst]

One of the "benefits" of working where I do is that we get invited by football players to Cardinal's games. EVERY time the National Anthem comes on, I get teary eyed. EVERY time. Even at a NASCAR race (Kyle Busch invited us), the National Anthem came on and I was teary eyed. I too was forever changed by that day.

When I visited my parents in El Paso, TX about a month ago, my parents took us to Ft. Bliss. We ate breakfast at the post Burger King... A few G.I.'s were there. I made sure to shake their hands and thank them for their service. My father saw what I was doing, smiled and when I went to sit down, he put his hand on my shoulder for a second and then started eating. It was a very poignant moment that we shared and my father and I didn't even say a word. I have to remember to thank HIM for his 24 years of service as well!

Very cool story Fred! I always talk highly of our service members. I always tell my kids we have the freedoms we do because someone somewhere gave their life to protect them. As a result my 11 yr old son always wants say thanks when he sees a man or woman in uniform. I love the fact that the first time he asked me to say thanks to a soldier at the DFW airport, he said "dad we should say thanks to him because he might have to give his life for our freedoms"! He was 6 yrs old at the time. That day brought tears to my eyes!

 

[Susan]

I was at work and one of the other techs suddenly came in the main "back room" with the radio from the kennel saying that a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center. We all started to listen, but continued with our work, wondering how and why when it was announced that another plane had hit the second tower. We all couldn't believe it and we continued to listen and talk between patients to try to make some sense of what was going on. It wasn't until I got home and was able to actually see the videos that the full affect of what happened hit home. Those images and all that followed are something I won't forget...ever.

 

[VickyChaiTea]

My mom woke me up a little early and told me to sit down and watch the Tv. She said it was important, and her eyes where watering. I woke up and started watching. At the time, I didn't even know what the twin towers where or what they did. I was in... 6th grade, was it? I think. Anyway, when the second plane hit I just gasped in unison with my mom. It was horrible. All I could think about was all those PEOPLE. SO many people where going to die... when the towers fell I was just in disbelief. The idea that they could fall never occurred to me.

It was like watching a nightmare.

 

[alan]

I'm late on this, it still means the same thing.
First, thanks Eddie.
The first thing I heard about the attacks was from a co-worker. I was walking towards him in the shop and he looked at me with an odd smile and said "They just said on the news that a plane hit one of the twin towers in New York". I gave a thought to the chances of that happening and all of the air-space around it and told him "That couldn't have been an accident". We went back to work, thinking it an isolated incident that we would find out about later. When we got word of the second plane we stayed by the radio. It was already bad but it really hit home a little over a half-hour later when a third plane hit the pentagon, 11 miles away. We didn't know when it would stop, people where I work had family in and near D.C. and you couldn't get through on a phone. Here there was panic for a while, I can't imagine what the people felt in a small area like Manhattan Island.

We sometimes stop at the memorial for the Pentagon victims, let me share some pics?

The Memorial field as you walk towards it:


There's a bench for each victim, 125 you read facing towards the Pentagon (the people killed inside the building), and 59 you read facing the flight path of Flight 77 (the people killed inside the plane):


Each one has the name of one of the 184 victims


All of them are remembered by someone

 

[ratsncorns]

Those are amazing pictures, Alan. Thanks for sharing. Brought a tear to my eye.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

Thank you for sharing those pictures, Alan. They really are stunning.