104 20 2325 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I'm a teacher in Baltimore, and I had no idea what was going on that morning. I sent my kids to PE at 9:00, and went about getting things ready for the day. No one told me anything was happening. I proceeded with writing and reading classes, unaware. The intercom kept buzzing for my students to come to the office, prepared to go home. How strange, I thought. This was only the sixth day of school, a regular Tuesday, what was going on? I peeked out the door, and in the hallway, there were dozens of students in the hallway at their lockers (this is an elementary school). WHAT WAS GOING ON? I had this strange feeling. I flagged down another teacher, and asked what was all the commotion. This was around 11:30 AM, EST. She looked at me as if I were insane, and said,"YOU DON'T KNOW?" I thought, no, I've been teaching all morning, how would I know? She said," Terrorists hijacked planes and flew them into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center in NYC. The World Trade Center was destroyed." Blankly, I stared at her. Firstly, I had always called them the "Twin Towers", so hearing the WTC was odd. The Pentagon? In Virginia? WHAT? I asked her to repeat what she had just said, because it made absolutely no sense to me. I had the kids work independently on vocabulary while I turned on my computer. I am grateful I hadn't turned on the TV. I was so shocked; it seemed unreal. And it happened hours ago, so I just felt ill. We got the remaining students to lunch, and they were sent home an hour early. We had gathered them in the gym to tell them what happened. What a thing to have to explain to those innocent little faces. They looked to me for anwers, and I had none. Just hugs. I drove home around 3:30 PM. I was alone on an empty road. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I view evil in this world differently. I always knew that others did not share our pluralistic view of the world. They do not want progress. They do not seek land or understanding, and we must find the courage to face those who would destroy our way of life. I appreciate the sacrifices of the heroes of that day, and every day. Little things, moments, make me smile. I am eternally grateful to live in this country. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? In the midst of chaos, we survived. People got out of those buildings. People ran in to save others. The passeners on Flight 93 probably saved DC from catastrophic damage. The Mayor said it best: We met the worst of humanity with the best of humanity. Remember the heroes. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I have always flown the American flag. It's at my house and on my car. This country and all its freedoms are sacred to me. I am honored to say the Pledge everyday with my students. If anything, my feelings for this nation and its citizens have been strenghtened since that day. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6532.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-05-31 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.152.207.98 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was getting ready for school on that tuesday. My mom woke me up and told me terrorists had flew plans into the world trade centers in new york. I immediantly thought of my relatives that live in New Jersey and my Uncle who works in New York. I was very scared, but I had no idea this how many people would loose their lives and how such a big deal this was. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I am more apprecitive of my family, friends, and to be living a great life. I am so thankful not to know anyone who died. Freedom is much more important to me now. I realize how wonderful our country is. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I will remember how America was brought together and the great trageity. I feel great sorrow for all of the families who lost someone close. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4332.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.81.17.31 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I woke up around 6:30 in the morning and gotready for school and then when I got into the car to go to school i turned on the radio. I cant really remember what radio station it was but it was talking about the first plane that hit and i had no idea what they were talking about. It seemed so weird because Ive never heard anything about that or the U.S.A being attacked. I was basically in shock and disbelief. then when i got into my first period class my teacher was talking about it. Then i just went home after school and saw it on the news and watched it all day. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. To be honest my life hasnt changed a whole lot from September 11, 2001 besides the fact that my country changed. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the people that died should be remembered from September 11, 2001 and also the terrorists because they should feel the pain that those people and their families had felt that day. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? No my feelings have not felt any different. I feel that we should always have pride for our country just not in time of need or tragedy to remember someone. We should always fly the American flag and always have pride for our country. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah2463.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.72.221 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On September 11, 2001, everyone witnessed history. During the attacks, I was sitting in my seventh grade classroom, unaware of what had happened. The school did not inform the students because they didnt want to scare us, but all the kids could tell that something was wrong from the way that the teachers were acting. They kept telling us to go straight home from school and not to worry our parents that day. After school, I had soccer practice, and my coach informed us of what had happened. She told us that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. I did not realize how serious it was, until I got to my friends house and watched the news. On TV, we saw footage of what had happened earlier that day. It was scary and upsetting to see the Twin Towers being hit, and then collapsing. It also made me mad to think how someone could do that to so many innocent people. I was extremely confused as to why it had happened. I never really thought this could happen to our country. September 11th made me realize how much Americans take their security in this country for granted. These people just got on a plane, or went to work, not expecting anything out of the ordinary to happen. But unfortunately, something out of the ordinary did happen. Hopefully, out country wont ever have to witness history like that again. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I think every Americans life has somehow changed because of September 11th, even if they dont realize it. I know my life has changed a lot. 9-11 made me a little more scared, like I really had no control over what would happen to me. It also changed my life by making me want to be more aware of whats going on with our country, and other news around the world. September 11th also made me realize what a strong country we live in. After such a big loss, we came together and got through it. And all the volunteers who wanted to help out and make a difference really showed this countrys unity. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Looking back, I have a lot of memories about September 11th. But I think that one thing is most important. The loss of lives that our country had was unbelievable and upsetting. But even more importantly, we should remember how our country came together and coped with what had happened to us. We should remember how everyone tried to help out, by volunteering to help clean up rubble, giving blood, etc. Everyone came together, like a great big family. I think that is something to remember. Even through our extreme loss, we came together and got through it as a united nation. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Every time I walk into a store and pass all the clothes with American flags, I am reminded of September 11th. I have a couple of shirts with American flags to show my patriotism. I feel that we as a nation have grown together to make the U.S. truly a United States of America. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5236.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-10-17 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.60.58.139 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. For a Western Illinois high school student, September 11 2001, was just another ordinary day. The sun was shining..perfect weather. I reported to my first hour computer class. Just another usual typing assignment..the sun glaring in on my computer screen. Just as we began, my teacher walked out of the room. It was nothing unusual. But when she came back, the world around me changed, for now at least, if not forever. My class was told that "something" had happened to the Pentagon and World Trade Centers and that we where allowed to report to the library to see the events unfold. As I walked into the library, a large group of teachers and students had formed. I could tell by the silent atmosphere..the looks in my teacher's faces, my friend's faces...horrified, shocked, speechless...something had gone terribly wrong. On the television, NBC's Today Show cameras where focused on the World Trade Center. When I first saw the scene, I felt for the first time that my country was no longer protected, like I was vulnerable, right there in a town of 2400 people. We sat and watched as reports came in of what where found to be false alarms. Then the towers fell. I didnt believe it. How could they just fall? How many people where inside? What about the rescuers? My mind was racing, simply trying to comprehend it all. Then the Pentagon was shown, just a distant view of the billowing smoke. From that view, one could hear the military jets flying above the United States Capitol. I could feel the chaos, from so many miles away. For an hour and a half, the whole library sat silent, in shock. I knew we where in for a very different future. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I think everyone's lives have changed since September 11. From the security at the airport, to going to a large sports arena, to simply being in a large crowd. The changes because of September 11 are everywhere. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6199.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 216.138.35.16 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in class in Claxton Georgia at the time. I realy didnt no what to think at the time i was worried and mad i felt that they should pay for what they did. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. yes it has it has opened my eyes to what is going on in the world and i have also became more patriotic of my country NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? how many inacent lives that where taken for no reason. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes i do like i said in the other question i have become way more patriotic about the U.S.A. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5387.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-01-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 168.11.56.10 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. It was just another day at Waltham High School and I was sitting in my C block class, History, when I got the devestating news form my teacher. Mr.Vandergrift looked pale as if he was sick or something and he stood infront of the class choking the words to us that the world trade center had been hit by a plane. We all had so many questions like why, how and when. It was 9:45 when I was sitting there dazzed and confused in class by the window. I just looked outside and wondered how something like this could happen to us. He turned on the tv in the corner of the room and we all crowded around it. My class was horrified at what was happening. We were all discussing and arguing on what happened and what we should do when all the sudden we see the second tower being hit. The room went silent no one had anything or could say anything. We all were in fear of what was going to happen next. Who would be the next victum, the next target and what building would be next to collapse. For the next hour of school I just sat the quiet in my seat, watching in amazment as our towers crumbled to the ground and as hundreds of people ran through the streets to escape the smoke and debris. For the rest of the day I was just in my own little world. My day consisted of going to all my classes as usual but there was no lectures, no work there was just the discusions of the days events. My soccer practice was cancelled for that day. When I got home my parents werent at work they were on my couch watching the news. I didnt watch my usual t.v show, Friends, at dinner instead I watched the news. The day of September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten in my lifetime. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes my life has changed in a way that I have become more patriotic and I have more respect for people. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the lives that were lost and the lives of the ones who survived should be remembered. Our two twin towers crumbled to peices before our countries eyes. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? THere is a flag sticker on my parents cars and on my fridge. My feelings toward the flag is that it gives me a sense of pride and hope. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4883.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 206.208.184.51 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. La historia de _EL 11 DE SEPTIENBRE_ fue muy doloroso para mi. Yo se lo sufrieron los estadosunidences y tambien el precidente. Yo todos lo dias me pongo a pensar quien es el que hara esto, sera el terroista de afagaistan o quie sera.Porque nosotros estamos matando ala jente que ni sabemos quie fue.eso es lo que yo pienso sobre EL 11 DE SEPTIENBRE. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3761.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 216.102.76.216 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. At first I did not know what had happened. I walked into my English class second period and the TV was on. The news broadcast was shocking. They showed replays of the planes hitting the buildings. You could see people jumping out of the buildings because there was no other way to escape. Most of my teachers left their TVs on for the next several days. I will never forget the fellings of shock, sadness, and anger that I felt. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Fortunately, no one I knew was in New York at the time this happened, but September 11 has changed my life. I appreciate fire fighters, police men, and any one who has gone to war for the United States a lot more. I have more respect for the flag,the Pledge, and most of all I'm closer to God. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think everything about September 11th should be remembered. It was a tragic day that no one should ever forget. I know it will be in my heart forever. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, my family and I flew a flag after the tragic events of September 11th. Yes, my feelings toward the American flag have changed tremendously. My dance studio did a number with an American theme. My dance teacher always says to dance with emotions. This was easy because I feel so many emotions about September 11th. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah570.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-29 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.191.87.61 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. A Day of Infamy By Nick Rohr On the day a lot of people died, the day of September 11, 2001. I was just getting ready to go to school. News briefs on the CNN, showed one of the world trade towers were on fire and smoke was billowing out. Then it was announced a plain had crashed into the world trade centers. After I saw that the reporter was saying that the trade center had been hit, possibly by accident, but there was a lot of speculation. When I arrived to school we did not do any work what so ever. We sat and watched every detail of the attacks. By the time I had arrived the second tower had been hit and it was announced that it was a terrorist attack. I had gone to school and it was just up the block from my house. When I arrived people were talking about it. People who didnt know about it were soon to come in to the light. Teachers were horrified, and the ones who had family, and relatives on planes started calling them and were soon relived of their worries. Students were worried about their parents who were traveling, and had to wait to call after school. My mom was in the military and I thought that she might have to be deployed to afganistan. When we were in our 3rd hour class the first tower had already collapsed. In my school there was 6 periods at 45 minutes long. When lunch came along no body wanted to go but the teachers kicked us out of our classes. We ate lunch fast or we jumped the fence and went to taco bell and got us some tacos. We hurried back and then we saw that the second tower had collapsed. That night the culprit Osama bin Laden was sending tapes to the U.S. and the media had some how gotten a hold of it and was showing his plans and his plot for destruction in the U.S. Everybody really hated Osama bin Laden and was all prepped and ready for war. The horrific acts of 9/11 will always stay in my heart as a stupid act of terror. It happened because of greed to kill, and revenge on the American peoples ancestors. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. it has turned in a 180 degree turn. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? the planes and the towers. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5193.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-30 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.204.242.22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I witnessed september 11th in school. I was walking through the hall and saw the scenes from CNN on the t.vs in our lunch room. The rest of that day we were left wondering what happened; why to us; who was hurt. The rest of the day we just watched the scenes on t.v. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I believe September 11th has changed how I see people. I am more nervous going places; it seems that people are out to get us somehow. But it has changed my outlook on the military since the day I have realized that the place for me is in the Air Force. I plan to serve our country and try to make a difference. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think America and our allies should remember how brave our firefighters and our police officers were. They went in the buildings not knowing what was going to result from the planes. I also think we should remember what kind of impact it made on our nation. Everyone was more patriotic then I had ever seen; I don't think we should just be patriotic on 9-11, I think we should keep these thoughts in mind and go with it for our lifetime; not just one day. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I didn't fly a flag at my house, but I did put a sticker on my car to remember the day. My feelings towards the flag have changed. Before 9-11 I thought it was cool that we had one and we were able to honor it. But now I realize alot more of what it symbolizes. Today: 9-12-02 on the way to school I realized just how much it reminds me of: I was driving in from the country and when I saw the first half staff flag it made me cry, I was angry at what they had done to us. I believe the flag shows how strong we are. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3430.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.8.162.66 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I wittnessed September 11th when was in 6th period and al of a sudden we were told to turn on the news and it said that the World Trade Centers had just been attacked by suicidal hijackers. it just so happened to be my friend's birthday so everybody was giving her a hard time. It wasn't that big a deal to me at first but when I realized how many lives had been taken and how many hearts were broken I felt really bad and I wanted to cry. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes. I feel uncomfortable around all this security. It makes me feel like we can't even trust our own people and if we can't rust our own people then who can we trust? Do we really have allies in this war on terrorism? And if we do then maybe we should be more trusting to our great citizens who trust us with their lives. And another thing, why didn't we try to stop terrorism before? Why is it just now becoming a big issue? It should have been stopped even before it happened to us because now it is out of control and we don't know who is doing it. It is always easy to accuse people, but it is not right. We need to know for sure before we go around shouting,"KILL OSAMA!" or "KICK OSAMA'S BUTT!" We need all the facts before we endanger an innocent man's life. It is America's way to give everybody the right to be innocent until proven guilty and we have evidence but no strong, sound evidence stating that he did it. We ruled out eerybody else just because they say they didn't but he also said he didn't. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that all the volunteers should be remembered because they are putting their life on hold just so they can help save lives and I think that that deserves some sort of huge recognition. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? No, I didn't fly a flag but my feelings have changed about the American flag. I think it is stronger and prouder than ever because this tradgedy has brought our country together and everybody is lending a helping hand and uniting to help save lives. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah763.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-03 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 67.114.47.197 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I slammed off the alarm. Six oclock was way too early to be waking up. I pushed myself out of bed, and got dressed; I ate breakfast in the kitchen, brushed my teeth, and got into the Mazda Mom was substitute teaching that Tuesday. We were listening to the radio, a rock station, like any other day in which we were privileged enough to get a ride. Had my sister and I been on the bus, we would have been listening to country music. We got a little frustrated when the announcers started speaking again, so we changed the station, figuring it was just morning show nonsense. However, each station had only announcers something really big had happened. I have never witnessed anything like this before two planes have just crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center…. Of course, being prepared for radio talk, I wasnt really paying attention. But Mom kept it on that station, and I began to realize that this was big. When we got to school, my sister and I sat at one of the outside tables, as usual. She settled down with some homework, probably for intermediate algebra, and I sat and prayed for the people in the towers and in the planes I had yet to realize this was a terrorist action, and thought that the planes were just flying low and had crashed by accident. My sister and I went about our day as usual when the bell rang, we went to 1st period biology. The news was on in there; I learned more about what happened, but still didnt really know. Then, shortly after class had started, we got a note that our mother had come to pick us up; Mom never came to pick us up unless something depressing or terrible had happened. We went to the office, paranoid at what may come, but preparing for the worst. When we reached Mom, I asked first, Whats going on? She promised us it was okay; the principal at her school had said that our district was releasing students because of what happened. When our brother arrived, we left; the car trek home was filled with questions about what had actually occurred. I was driven by confusion, but even my mother could not give the answers I craved. At about 8:30, we had reached our destination. Mom came into the living room and turned on the television; I was still shaky, not only from what I had learned, but also from having upset myself when Mom came to retrieve us. On the television, the reporters explained everything how terrorists had driven planes into the two towers, how two more planes had crashed: one in the Pentagon, one in Pennsylvania. Now the tops of the towers were falling off, leaving much debris; I prayed that there were no people for the wreckage to fall on. Many had died; the number of casualties was not yet determined, but it was definitely in the thousands, maybe even the ten thousands. Later, we discovered that all of the planes had been headed to California, providing more fuel to feed the explosion. One thought kept racing through my mind: what kind of hatred would one possess to commit this kind of deed? I found myself perplexed; men had basically committed suicide out of sheer hatred for the United States of America. Soon, Mom found out that school was not being closed; she returned to her elementary school, and we stayed home, as we had already missed two periods. The only thing we could see was a clip of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers; it was showed repeatedly on most channels. We finally put in a movie to end it. All we could do was pray and hope; we were three minors, sitting at home, worrying about our father, our mother, our older sister, the people who had been in those buildings, and the people who were trying to rescue others. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah1030.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-04 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.32.213.97 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On the mourning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 I was sitting quitely in Social Studies class when my teacher read aloud something off of the internet. He tried to explain to us that there was a rumor about a plane hitting a building in New York City. He wasn't sure if the rumor was true or not. We discussed the topic a little and then the bell rang. It was time to go to our next class. I was walking down the hallway when I heard a television on. I entered my next class and the television was on. I knew it had to be something about the rumor of the plane in New York City. Like I predicted, it was. This so called rumor was actually turning out to be the real thing. Then out of the corner of the screen I saw another object zooming through the screen. It was another airplane. I was frozen in my shoes. I couldn't believe what was just happening. My teacher was crying along with a few other classmates. Then my terror turned into anger. I was furious! NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has not changed dramatically since September 11, 2001. I flew on an airplane for the first time in June of 2002. I didn't know what to expect. I was sure that there wasn't going to be anything wrong, though. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I believe that the heroic firefighters not only in New York but in Washington and in Pennsylvania should definetly be remembered. How many people would risk there lives to save people in such a hazard as the firefighters on September 11 did? Could you imagine running up a flight of stairs while thousands of people were rushing down them screaming and yelling about how horrible it was up there? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Not only did my family fly an American flag after September 11, we flew one before then also. My feelings on the American flag are simple. I believe it stands for the American past, present and future. The American flag could stand for our dignity as a country or our passion for our country. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah2312.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.144.8.173 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. In Boston, we went through our own suffering toward the 911 attacks. While there was mourning for many of the individuals who were on the airplanes, there was also an uncanny, unsettling feeling from the knowledge that this horrible chain of events began here. These people had lived among us, so it seemed that there was no way to know if something dramatic wouldnt happen here in the days and weeks following 911. I live and work in downtown Boston. I will never forget September 11 2002. Not because I lost someone I love, but because Ive never known such fear for the unknown. But because, it seemed the world turned over that day. Businesses closed at 10am. There was no traffic or people outside…on such a beautiful day. Ive never felt so alone, so vulnerable, so unsure of my home, my life, my world. The weekend after the attacks, in an effort to return to our normal routine, my husband and I took our two dogs to the Bostons Public Garden. It was much like other Sundays… we sipped coffee as we read the paper, watched people walking by and children climbing on the bronze ducklings. The sun was bright and there was a light breeze…it was a truly beautiful day. On cue, the church at Arlington Street played its Carillion, except instead of classical or gospel music, the bells chimed God Bless America, and America the Beautiful and I was reminded again that despite the normalcy of our routine, our lives would never be the same againno matter how we strived for the mundane. It feels like this point has been over-dramatized but as a person who has never known real war, the reality of our countrys situation was quite unsettling. As I have never really felt unsafe in my world, I foolishly thought that I would live out my lifela-dee-dahwith my plans neatly laid out and my goals un-interrupted. There would be a career ladder to climb, a house by the ocean and maybe even a kid someday if we felt we were ready. But now these simple American dreams have been challenged by this devastating act of violence and the proof that evil truly exists in our world. It's strange to feel that you can press on with business as usual when it is very possible that our civilization as a whole could be at risk. It is so scary to think of the damage we all could do to each other- worse than everand that man, as a species, has the capability, willingness, and perhaps arrogance to destroy himself. So things are not as they were- as much as we would like them to be so. I have noticed the little changes all around me. As I gazed at the swans in the lagoon, I noticed that even they seem to be swimming in a silent coalition- and I wondered how anyoneanywherewith any religion at all could see the pure beauty that surrounds them and want to destroy it. While I live in Boston, I am fortunate in the fact that my life has not been affected by this tragedy. I did not know any of the victims personally. I am lucky to be able to say that, I know. I listen to story after story of families decimated by this act and while I dont know them, my heart aches for their losses. I dont even know them, but somehow it feels like it happened to me. All of these beautiful, innocent lives gone from our world, hopefully onward to a better one. I just wonder, if that somewhere in their terror, they knew that their deaths would not be in vain. That so many Americans would mourn for them as if they were family, that the sacrifice of their precious life shook our country by the shoulders until we awoke from the fog of negativity and apathy we had drifted in for so long. So, while I mourn with the rest, worry about my future and fear the potential outcomes, and while my heart palpitates each time I hear of another scare on an airplane, or a case of anthrax exposed- I am at least grateful for the unity it has brought our country and the meaning it has added to my life. I thank God, that through the sacrifice of these lives I am given the gift to re-evaluate my own. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I no longer think that I may live my whole life without experiencing real war. I no longer feel that the US is an island to the horrors that occur outside this country. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the true horror of that day should be remembered. The shock, the disbelief...I think it's the only way Americans will actually strengthen their resolve to remain vigilant against the real threats to our society. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I think it's very touching to see the flag displayed so prominently in so many places. I think it's a moving tribute of our country's pride of its freedom and its honor to the dead. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah406.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-23 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 38.151.199.4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I am a Nassau County New York police officer who on that horrible day was at home, and browsing the enternet.My wife who had been watching the news, informed me that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. I went over to the TV and saw a gaping and smoking hole in the side of one of the towers. At the time, I could not believe that this was an accident. I then turned from the TV to look out of my window. A moment later my wife'screams confirmed my suspicions as yet another plane slammed into the sister tower. I knew then that we were at war. I called my command and was eventually mobilized. Unfortunately for me, I spent time on regular police duties rather than responding into the city. I remember handling mundane calls and being disgusted by people's petty complaints as their fellow citizens lay dead,wounded or trapped in the rubble of those majistic towers. Rumors of more attacks began to circulate. I had a hard time falling asleep that night. The next day while off duty and using my police credentials I and a friend drove down to what was eventually called Ground Zero. I was amazed at the mountain of rubble that greeted us. The air was scented with both the smell of death, and that of pulvarized concrete. Looking up at the rubble I saw that someone had placed an American flag on a protruding steel girder. The scene it created had an uncanny resemblance to the flag raising at MT Surabachi. That sight became an inspiration. So too was the sight of my fellow Americans. Americans of all races, colors and religions working side by side and risking their lives to save lives. I took my place on what became known as the bucket brigade passing dug up debris from one hand to the next. While doing so I met a young volunteer fire fighter named Travis who drove all the way up from Kentucky to help. We were so different from each other. He an Anglo with a thick Southern accent, and I a Yankee New Yorker of Puerto Rican heritage. It made me feel good to see him there, and at the same time it affirmed my identity as an American. Working the sight became somewhat perilous as a nearby building released ready to fall debris. Rumors spread that it would collapse at any moment and from time to time we stopped the work and prepared to flee the area. This became nerve wracking, but no one quit their post. We went on hoping to find survivors. Unfortunately, there were no longer any survivors to be found. We were lucky to just to find the dead. On one occasion a nearby group let up a yell. I went over to investigate and saw the body of a man wedged in the debris. The body although more or less intact was none the less horrible to look at. On the way home that night, we were greeted by people holding up candles, American flags and other visible signs of support. Although we suffered a catastrophic tragedy, some how it felt good to be an American.The next day I once again responded to Ground Zero. By this time heavy machinary was bought in, and we did very little. I then decided that a would be doing a better service by responding to the funerals of my fellow civil servants. Some of whom I knew on a personal level. This is what I did, going from one to the other. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes my life has changed. Although always a patriot, I am now more so than ever before. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Those heroes that we lost. The cops, firefighters, other civil servants, and the average working heros who lost their lives simply by going to work. We should remember as well, the wonderful unity displayed by our fellow citizens and the sympathy expressed by the world. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I always flew an American flag. Even before Sept 11th. I did however purchase a flag for my car. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6836.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-09-22 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.191.16.229 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. In San Francisco: I woke up to the sound of my phone, hearing the answering machine turn on. "Jeff, turn on your TV." (It was my stepfather, calling from Oklahoma.) "Someone's flown some planes into the World Trade Center Buildings in New York." I got up, picked up the portable phone and started dialing as I turned on the television. The picture appeared on the set just as my stepfather answered the phone, and I saw an image of the first tower with a large horizonal black gash about 2/3's the way up. "This is an act of war," I thought, long before the media said that phrase. We talked, and I turned the computer on to see the New York Times web site's coverage of this. A story was already on their site, with sketchy information -- honestly, that they were already putting the electronic copy up there was quite a task, in itself. By then, a friend had arrived at my place to do some work on my windows, and was watching the coverage in my living room. I heard him yelp, and then shout, "come in here, Jeff!" and went to see one of the towers collapse, leaving only 1 WTC. (I have the ability to pause/replay my TV feed, so we watched it a few times.) I went back to see the NY Times site, and after a few minutes, hit `reload' to see any further news they had. On one `reload', it stopped half-way through and returned an error. The second tower had fallen, and my IP link to the NY Times had been interrupted at that moment. And, through the miracles of modern technology, I was an involuntary eyewitness to a mass murder. I replayed it on my television a few times, cried a lot, and after Thursday, turned off the television news and haven't seen video footage of that day, since. I've seen a lot of "The Simpsons" reruns of late. It helps. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. In the face of the September 11 tragedy, I've had to ask what's worth spending my time on. I don't have an answer, but am going to start teaching Math to middle school students next week. The pay's awful, but it's one way I can help make life a little brighter for the next generation. They are the generation that will have to build a world out of what we're leaving for them. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The way that the meanest, hardest, nastiest folks in this country - New Yorkers - behaved like mature, giving, terrific folks in the face of unspeakable horror. The way that a group of passengers on the last plane forced it down, ending their own lives, because they knew that the plane was to be used as a missile against their own country. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I didn't, because I'd just moved and too much was in disarray. I will, however, fly one as appropriate. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah149.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-18 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 63.81.125.163 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in school at the time of the attacks. A teacher came into our history class and told us to turn on the TV, that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. At the time we did not know it was a terrorist attack. Then we saw the other plane circle around and hit the building. It was unreal, like something out of a movie. Fear struck everyone in the room, including our teacher. A few minutes later a report came from the Pentagon saying there was a loud explosion. At first we all thought it was a bomb. Later we learned it was another plane. I knew something terrible was happening because the reporters and the people at the building had a sense of fear in their voice and in their eyes. It sent a shiver down my spine to hear the people at ABC yell "Oh my God." The pentagon attack also hit home for me because A friend of mine has a sister who works there. We didn't find out untill later in the day that she had off that day. I was walking to my next class when the towers fell. It did not seem real. It almost seemed like a movie or a dream. I knew the world would never be the same. Even months later, when i went to Ground Zero, it still made you somber. The giant whole was once a great building and now its gone forever. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4521.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 206.82.16.35 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was getting ready for work and listening/watching "The Today Show" as I walked around the house getting ready for the another day. When the regular programming was interrupted of the World Trade Center being hit by a plane. It was hard to keep myself away from the T.V. but I realized I had to get to work due to the urgency and the possibility of other attacks to the U.S. At the time I worked for one of the security firms that provides security for one of our major National Laboratories. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Once I got to work it was amazing how everybody in security was working together. Other people were hugging and consoling each other. Roads where closed to the public, more man power (security personnel) were brought in. This was something I had never seen in the 18+ years I have been working here. Life has become more real for me since the attacks. Living in the part of the states where we are lucky enough not to see to much violence on a daily basis. I saw how we united as one and I hope this UNITY will last forever and not be just a phase we go thru. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? THE HEROS The Victims and their Families NYPD FDNY The Volunteers N.Y.Citizens N.Y. Mayor The UNITY OF OUR NATION NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, I did fly the American Flag. I have always showed great pride of the American Flag but only now I can't take it down, only to replace the old one with a new one. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah837.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-03 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 128.165.156.80 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. Pages From My Life: Days of Infamy, by Sid Kessler. It used to be a joke I played on my history classes. Pointing to an unsuspecting student, I would ask in a low baritone reminiscent of the famous journalist Edward R. Murrow: Where were you on December 7, 1941? None were alive that day. Laughter was a change of pace from the discussion of the surprise attack. by the Japanese. I would mention that I had lived long enough to become a primary source for historic events and relate my personal memories of Pearl Harbor Day and its aftermath. Early one morning, a decade after I retired from Glassboro State College, those thoughts were long ago and far away. I walked to the pristine Smith Mountain Lake in Southwest Virginia brushing past golden flowers. The air was as new as a freshly opened bottle of champagne. The sun danced lightly on the water. The Blue Ridge Mountains looked down like royalty at the verdant hills with grazing horses and strutting wild turkeys below. It was almost as if I heard the grass singing. It was a time and place of perfect peace. I was a student in an Elderhostel program, enjoying studies I had denied myself while writing and teaching history. Because of my ancient habit, I could not be late for any class. I retreated indoors reluctantly. David Newton, a retired public health official who was a dark humorist and irrepressible punster, was teaching Diseases and Epidemics in Human History. He was interesting and amusing in a strange way. Dennis Crowley, our coordinator, who was usually calm, surged suddenly to the front of the room. Stop now! he ordered in his Army Reserve Majors voice. I am in the middle of anthrax David smiled, and I have only two more diseases to go. No! Stop right now! Dennis shouted. Then Dennis turned to the stunned seniors. I have an announcement to make. The United States is under attack! The World Trade Center is down! An airplane has crashed into the Pentagon! These words might have been rolled up and shot out of a rifle. Shock, horror, anxiety and worry followed, but not panic. Someone asked me: Sid, who is Osama Bin Laden? I told them. It was September 11, 2001. It was a Day of Infamy. My memory clock turned backward. I was 15 years old, standing straight in a high school gym on a cold grey day. Each of the words of President Roosevelt burned into my brains: Yesterday, December 7, 1941--a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked… At the end of the address asking the Congress for a Declaration of War against Japan, there was silence. We were at war! A few boys applauded. Classes were cancelled. Unidentified airplanes were seen over New York City and we were sent home. School was not safe any more, and no one knew what to do. Radio was the only source of late news. I went from school to Mr. Seltzers candy store. It was more than a refuge where I could meet friends. It had a radio. Kids were discussing the events when I arrived. An announcer located Pearl Harbor on the island of Wahoo instead of Oahu. Hawaii was an exotic planet. The music of the islands was popular, and everyone had images of girls in hula skirts dancing under cocoanut trees. Ideas of the US Navy came from movies such as Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The Germans had been our old anti-Semitic enemies but why was Japan sore at us? For years, our teachers collected coins to help the Japanese children left homeless by the Tokyo earthquake of 1923 when the only structure left standing was the Imperial Hotel built by the American Frank Lloyd Wright. The Japanese were looked upon with condescension. Their toys were junk, their houses were paper, and they all wore glasses. Revenge would be swift we thought. It was not to be.so. On December 11, 1941, Hitler declared war on the United States and now we had to fight on two sides of the world. I was born in March 1926, between world wars. I was weaned on newspapers with black headlines. In 1933 it was the month of FDRs inauguration. Each year in March Hitler swallowed Austria, Czechoslovakia, and the Low Countries. Our Lend-Lease Act to save Great Britain was enacted in March 1941 and an undeclared naval war with Germany followed. By March 1942, Japan dominated Asia and the Pacific and the Nazis had swallowed France and parts of Russia. March was my birthday month of a grim spring. My world changed rapidly. There was a spirit of were all in this together. Radio broadcasts began and ended with the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. In movie theaters, people stood and sang our national anthem. The Selective Service of 1917 was dusted off and the draft was lowered from 21 to 18 years old. To be rejected as 4-F was a terrible disgrace. In a great reversal of prewar attitudes, military uniforms were popular with the girls Service flags, of the old Great War appeared in windows, square emblems bordered in red with a white field and a blue star. A gold star meant death in combat. Patriotic songs from the war to end all wars like Over There were revived. Block parties were fun and encouraged the purchase of war bonds. Garbage-strewn spaces were magically transformed into community victory gardens. I was a Junior Air Raid Warden. I wore a white armband, carried a flashlight during blackouts, and looked up at the new night sky and wondered what the stars knew about the future. Seward Park High School joined the fight. We marched around the gym. My math teacher used geometry to help us compute the angle of a dead snipers fall from a tree. Mr. Chankin who had been a gendarme in Paris retreated to the cultural glory of Louis Quatorze and would not come out. Heroic efforts were made by Mr. Kohn, my Latin teacher, to make Caesars war Commentaries contemporary, although the author was murdered in March, 44 B.C.E. When the football team was disbanded I blew my trombone indoors with patriotic fervor for Stars and Stripes Forever and other Sousa marches. Most exciting was Mr. Leichtlings History class where we discussed and debated the origins of the war from the First World War on. Mama Schrank my English teacher kept beautiful poetry and Shakespeare alive. It was common for boys to work after school. Some even quit to support their family. As the war ground on, and the draft was certain, some students left school and enlisted. My friend Jerry joined the Coast Guard He was treated like a hero and enjoyed a farewell party and gifts. Another friend, Izzy, was declared 4-F. He could not bear the shame. I had been a busboy, wire cutter, and shipping clerk I had vague dreams of working, going to college, and then teaching history like Mr. Leichtling after the war. I passed the entrance exam to Brooklyn College to assure admission when I returned from the war enclosing on me. Suddenly, everything changed. I could have college and the army too! There was a new program for high school seniors, the Enlisted Reserve Corps. Once accepted, I could enter college and remain there until age 18. Then I would complete the semester and go on active duty. After basic training I would return to college in the Army Specialized Training Program. I passed all the tests and I enlisted. A problem appeared. I was assigned to Rutgers University at once, but I would have to forgo completing high school. It was a real dilemma: should I skip my senior year to gain college credits, or should I receive my high school diploma first? I asked my mentor, Mr. Leichtling. His advice was: Sid, you can never rush education. You may be of more use with a diploma. You never know what will happen to you and you owe your parents a graduation. I took his advice. Later, I got orders to report for a college I never heard of. I complained to Mama Schrank. She laughed. Amherst College! It is one of the most aristocratic colleges in the country! I was lucky. I was going to college. Active duty was delayed while the war raged on. At graduation I played in the band and won the History and English Medals. Then I reported to the Officer of the Day. My swearing-in ceremony was very solemn. As I swore to uphold the Constitution against all enemies and entered the United States Army I was changed in a way I could not understand. Soon I was on a train, leaving home for the first time, given a sandwich with meat strange to me. It was ham. Even though I was only a seventeen year old reservist, I faced the unknown with the confidence of a grown man. I have seen two Days of Infamy. As I did long ago, when I was a Junior Air Raid Warden, I look up at the night sky and wonder: What do the stars know about the future? My wife Claire and our children: will they ever see days of peace? NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah7708.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2006-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 69.142.38.75