6 replies to this topic

[Super B]

Today, we remember the horrible tragedy of 9/11. Though most of us were not directly a part of the events themselves, all us have had our lives affected by it in some way. Though the memories are hard to relive, it is necessary to relive them. Honoring those who died innocently is important.

Since that time, this country has changed. In the days immediately following 9/11, everything just stopped. No air traffic, no business was conducted. Football games and other sporting events were cancelled or postponed.

In the days, weeks and months that followed, our country came together. Memorials for those who were lost were held. Stories of heroism were told. Flags and ribbons were everywhere. People who hardly knew each other were counseling each other. Questions about the whys and hows began being answered. Songs were written. Unity was at the heart of it all.

How has the country changed since 9/11?
How has your life changed because of 9/11?

Where were you and what were you doing when these events unfolded?

[Super B]

I woke up that morning after my wife went to work. As usual, I turned on my favorite sports radio station. I didn't hear any sports. It was probably 7:50 AM when I turned on the radio, still in bed. They said they were hearing reports of a plane that crashed into the World Trade Center. Like most people, I thought it was a small plane, like a Cesna. After listening for a few minutes, I decided to get up, go to the living room to watch it on TV. I got much more than I bargained for.

They started speculating that the aircraft that crashed into the North Tower was a jetliner. Seeing it on TV, the smoke billowing, the raging fire, it was clear to me it was not a small aircraft. I had watched, glued to the TV for about ten minutes. Then I saw from the corner of the screen, before the news anchors said anything, another huge aircraft heading for the South Tower. Before it hit the tower, I knew. I knew right away what this meant. America was under attack. I thought to myself, 'Oh no!'. The the aircraft struck the South Tower. A huge fireball escaped the other side. I knew right at that moment, hundreds of people had just lost their lives.

My wife called seconds later, asking me if the aircraft was American Airlines (that was my employer). I responded, "Which one?". She had heard about the first one, was walking in to go to work when the second hit when she called. I informed her about the second. She was in awe, like me.

My daughter was a year old. She doesn't remember a thing about 9/11, though she was at home with me all day as I watched the events unfold. I worked at night, and did not start my shift until, I don't even remember what time now, maybe 3P. My best friend and brother came over. We all just sat there watching everything. When I went to work, we were all like zombies. It was not a very productive day.

That's my story. Whats yours?

[WestlakeTech]

My story is very different, as I'm undoubtedly much younger than you.

--------------------------------------------

My day started off pretty normally, just like most people's. I was 10 years old (couple months shy of 11).

I was sitting in my 5th grade class that morning when the principal came onto the PA system.

"Attention teachers. There will be an emergency staff meeting immediately after school today."

I'd been going to that school for a couple years and I'd never heard them talk about an emergency staff meeting before. But I soon forgot about it and just went on with my day. Went on with it for hours, actually... Just stuck with the normal routine. Rode the bus home, sat down and "did my homework" while watching Boy Meets World on Disney Channel. My sister got home about 30-45 minutes later, as she was in middle school. First thing she said...

"Did you hear about the World Trade Center?!"

I asked, "What's the World Trade Center?" as, being 10 years old, I had no clue.

She didn't say a word. She just grabbed the remote and turned the tv to one of the news stations... my question was answered.

But along with that question came many more, some of them answered by the news broadcasts.

Was this an accident?... no, it can't be. They just showed footage of a second plane going into the other tower.. oh wow.

The towers collapsed?! Oh man... could anyone survive that?

Who would do this? Why?

What's "The Pentagon"?

You've never in your life seen a 10-year-old so glued to a television screen during the news as I was that evening.
The events I was seeing were devastating, but somehow I couldn't look away

The following morning, my sister and I rushed to the newspaper machine at our apartment complex's mailroom.
My sister kept the articles and put them into a specially decorated shoe box. She still has it to this day.
Not sure if she's opened it since.
-------------------------------------------

Of course, the next day at school, it was all anyone could talk about.

"Did you notice the date?"
"What about it?"
"It was 9/11... 9-1-1."

"Texas is on the Hit List!"

We'd all, as mere children, been introduced to a new word. A new word with a new meaning.
We found out what "terrorism" was. And we can never forget.

-------------------------------------

Got to class on the morning of the twelfth and looked at my teacher...

"So I guess this is what that Emergency Staff Meeting was about...?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Jones.

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That's my story.

And I think that America became incredibly patriotic in the year or two following that tragic day.
But I'm sad to say that I think most of that patriotism has fizzled out over the past 10 years.
We were all bonded together, and we were proud to be Americans.
Now all I ever hear Americans talk about is all the things they don't like about this country.
Of course, we can't all be American History buffs like yours truly.

But still... I wish some of that pride and unity would come back.
Just hope it doesn't take another tragedy to accomplish that.

[Super B]

My story is very different, as I'm undoubtedly much younger than you.

--------------------------------------------

My day started off pretty normally, just like most people's. I was 10 years old (couple months shy of 11).

I was sitting in my 5th grade class that morning when the principal came onto the PA system.

"Attention teachers. There will be an emergency staff meeting immediately after school today."

I'd been going to that school for a couple years and I'd never heard them talk about an emergency staff meeting before. But I soon forgot about it and just went on with my day. Went on with it for hours, actually... Just stuck with the normal routine. Rode the bus home, sat down and "did my homework" while watching Boy Meets World on Disney Channel. My sister got home about 30-45 minutes later, as she was in middle school. First thing she said...

"Did you hear about the World Trade Center?!"

I asked, "What's the World Trade Center?" as, being 10 years old, I had no clue.

She didn't say a word. She just grabbed the remote and turned the tv to one of the news stations... my question was answered.

But along with that question came many more, some of them answered by the news broadcasts.

Was this an accident?... no, it can't be. They just showed footage of a second plane going into the other tower.. oh wow.

The towers collapsed?! Oh man... could anyone survive that?

Who would do this? Why?

What's "The Pentagon"?

You've never in your life seen a 10-year-old so glued to a television screen during the news as I was that evening.
The events I was seeing were devastating, but somehow I couldn't look away

The following morning, my sister and I rushed to the newspaper machine at our apartment complex's mailroom.
My sister kept the articles and put them into a specially decorated shoe box. She still has it to this day.
Not sure if she's opened it since.
-------------------------------------------

Of course, the next day at school, it was all anyone could talk about.

"Did you notice the date?"
"What about it?"
"It was 9/11... 9-1-1."

"Texas is on the Hit List!"

We'd all, as mere children, been introduced to a new word. A new word with a new meaning.
We found out what "terrorism" was. And we can never forget.

-------------------------------------

Got to class on the morning of the twelfth and looked at my teacher...

"So I guess this is what that Emergency Staff Meeting was about...?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Jones.

------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------

That's my story.

And I think that America became incredibly patriotic in the year or two following that tragic day.
But I'm sad to say that I think most of that patriotism has fizzled out over the past 10 years.
We were all bonded together, and we were proud to be Americans.
Now all I ever hear Americans talk about is all the things they don't like about this country.
Of course, we can't all be American History buffs like yours truly.

But still... I wish some of that pride and unity would come back.
Just hope it doesn't take another tragedy to accomplish that.

Thanks for sharing. Age can definitely be a perspective changer. Even as adults, we thought this was something that could never happen here. It seems Americans lived in a vacuum. Insulated from the world. Did the David Koresh incident teach us nothing? Did the first WTC bombing teach us nothing? Did the OKC bombing teach us nothing? In those years since 9/11, I fear we have returned to the vacuum. America the invincible?

Sorry for the rant.

[WestlakeTech]

At that age, it was just something I'd never imagined. I'd barely heard of Columbine.

The fact that anyone would want to do something so terrible... it just never crossed my mind. The worst thing in the world was your crush finding out that you liked her or some mean kids playing keep-away with your lunchbox.

I doubt if anyone in my class was familiar with the notion of terrorism before 9/11. Nobody'd fly a plane into a skyscraper. Nobody'd single-handedly kill thousands of people... at the very least, not on purpose.

Unfortunately, I know better now...

[Super B]

Sorry, I meant "America the invincible?", not invisible.

[Super B]

At that age, it was just something I'd never imagined. I'd barely heard of Columbine.

The fact that anyone would want to do something so terrible... it just never crossed my mind. The worst thing in the world was your crush finding out that you liked her or some mean kids playing keep-away with your lunchbox.

I doubt if anyone in my class was familiar with the notion of terrorism before 9/11. Nobody'd fly a plane into a skyscraper. Nobody'd single-handedly kill thousands of people... at the very least, not on purpose.

Unfortunately, I know better now...

Yes, this world is a cruel place. Satan's playground.

I went to Columbine HS in 2002 and played Tennis with a friend of mine. That was the closest court to his house. A little eerie.