19 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. The morning of Speptember 11, 2001 was like any other day. I woke up and got ready for school as usual. Met my friends at school and talked about sports or what we watched on tv last night. Not too much was really happening, but all of that changed during second hour. What I remember most is that I was in my civics class and someone came and pulled our teacher out side the classroom to talk. During that time the other students and I started to get suspious. We could tell right away that something was wrong. My teacher came back into the classroom turned on the tv and that's when we say the second plane crash into the Twin Towers. Nobody really said anything. I think the whole class had mixed feelings. I felt confused, because I really didn't know what was going on, but yet sad because of what my eyes were seeing. Once I found out more about what had happened I felt angry, because I couldn't understand why someone would be so selfish. I call the high-jackers selfish, because they not only killed many people that day, they also took them away from there loved ones. The people they killed never called them a dirty name or pushed them in the mud. I mean they had families and lives, but that all ended that day. When a selfish act ruined many, many lives. The rest of the day is pretty blurred. I do remember that every class I went to we watched the news. I almost think that we were looking for some kind of hope. We were just waiting for someone to tell us we were dreaming or that it was just a joke, but unfortunatly it is all very real. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, my life has changed because of Septemer 11. I look at life differently now. I try to live 1 day at a time, because you never know when it's going to be over. you never know when your not going to get that second chance to tell the people that you love how much they mean to you! NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the most important thing to remember about September 11th is that we are all family. Everyone came together to help each other. It brought the people of the United States together. I don't remember hearing about any murders on the news in the time period or about any stores being broken into. Instead I heard about people reconizing the many, many heros of that day. Now I see people displaying the flag with pride and joy. To me they are saying that they are proud to be about of what we are today. If we as a big United States family didn't take care of each other who would? 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? After the September 11th event I have actually put up two American flags. One was at my cabin where we put up a flag pole and proudly display the American flag today. The other is in my room. I have a small flage in the corner of my mirror. I choose to put it on my mirror, because that way I can see it everyday. My feelings about the American flag have changed a lot. Before I never really made it a point to display one, but now I want it to be known that I am a proud American! 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 nmah1483.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. 2002-09-07 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.81.17.168 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 my bed trying to sleep off my post summer drowsiness when my mom knocked on my door for a milisecond before bursting in and instructing me to turn on the TV. When I did I saw the gut wrenching view that millions across the world saw with me. I turned on just after the second plane hit the building. It was almost surreal to me. The news was saying "it is not confirmed to be a terrorist attack" but all the while i was screaming at myself, "You idiots, two passenger jets just slammed into the shining icon of New York City and you say its NOT CONFIRMED!". I just sat in this bewilidered, irrated stupor, staring at the image on the screen. That is, until that first tower disintegrated in a feral storm of dust and debris. The news people were saying all along with their stupid human masks on their face, "It is believed that the top of the first tower has now collapsed". I knew, however, that it wasn't just the top. Something that size doesn't just fracture to collapses and instantly I thought of all the people who must have been on that building this busy work day. Soon after the second tower fell it was time for me to go to school and reluctantly I agreed. What I found at school horrified me nearly as much as the acts themselves. Nearly all of my highschool peers were laughing and playing and having a gay'ole time while there were thousands of people and bodies stuck under tons and tons of steel and concrete. I just wanted to scream "WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM!", but in the end I decided it was probably best just to keep my mouth shut. THe school day was filled with meetings and group talks and emotion probing but I just floated through the day, thinking nothing that was going on right now was nearly as important as what was going on at that site of so much distruction 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? I think all the bravery of the people who risked their lives to help others to get out of the fateful towers and t heir fallen carcasses should be commerated because those people are the only true heroes, those who save life rather than take it. 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 nmah4126.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. 216.250.72.226 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. Sept. 11th, 2001 I was 8 months pregnant. My 4 year old slept in that day, and I was thankful I had a chance to also. Around 8:45 am my husband called, waking me up. He kept repeating..'You need to turn on the T.V..Any Station..Just find the news'. It didn't make sense..but I did. As I sat in my living room watching images of two planes crash into buildings, I simply didn't get it. I said to my husband, 'I can sort of see one airplane having an accident like that..but two? That doesn't make sense!' My husbands voice got kind of wierd in a quiet way as he replied,'Honey..it's a terrorist attack. Terrorist hijacked the planes and crashed them.' I can't explain the shock. The shock I know everyone felt that day. In an instant that statement disoriented me. Terrorists? In America? My America? This just doesn't happen here!!!! I have never felt so alone as I sat so many states away and watched the different news reports. Flipping aimlessly through channels. My husband called nearly every 20 minutes for more information. I had family, also unable to leave work, calling to hear what was happening until radios could be brought in their work. I remember sitting there and watching the first tower falling. I just sat in total numbness and disbelief as I told my husband,'It disappered. I don't know what happen..but It looked like an explosion of glitter and now it's gone.'. I felt so helpless and confused and scared. I was hurting for people I'd never met and never seen. I was crying for children I would never know and wives who I'd never lay eyes on. Simply because we were all Americans, and the tragedy touched us all. The next 24-48 hours I lived on the news stations. Peter Jennings became my source of comfort and sort of an old friend. I prayed, I cried, I asked why, and I was mad. I have never been so angry..at no one and at everyone. Why us? Why so many innocent lives? 15 Days after Sept. 11th occured I gave birth to a wonderful baby girl. We named her Mckenzie Liberty. The Liberty was in honor of Sept. 11th and our belief that America will always be free, and no one, not even terrorists, will destroy our Great Nation. And we wanted her to always remember that America is Free and what happened the day someone tried to hurt our liberty. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The way September 11th changed my life was mostly my attitude. It gave me a renewed sense of pride in our country and it's people. I still can't see a picture of the towers without tearing up. And I still feel a sense of anguish for those I now have lost loved ones. As it did not affect my life in a physical way, it has had a huge effect on me emotionally. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the most important thing that happened on Sept. 11th and after was our Pulling together as Americans. The pride we had for our nation and each other. I find it sad that two years later we have all returned to our own busy lives and not caring for one another. Strangers no longer look at each other with smiles of compassion, courage, and silent boosts of strength for one another. I believe we all need to remember that feeling of becoming one nation and helping each other and pulling together for a greater good. People stood for hours in line to donate blood, volunteers brought food and supplies to exhausted workers and those affected by the tragedy. Caring, Compassion, and honor are the things that should be remembered. 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? We did fly one after..but we had been flying one before. My husband is ex-navy. Pride in his country and in his flag were a way of life for us before the tragedy.I think my feelings did change in a way. I felt more pride. Pride in the flag, my country, and the people of my 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 nmah5616.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. 2003-08-29 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.252.65 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 a convention center in Atlanta, and while checking out computer networking exhibits I saw this fantastic C.G. display on a large, flat screen Hi-Def television and my friend and I stood just admiring the quality of what appeared to be asmoke billowing out of the World Trade Center. Other people were standing around the display, too--more than I would expect a TV display to attract, anyway. Then we saw this fantastic image of an airplane slamming into the other tower, and we watched people hold their hands to their mouths. Only then, did we realize that this was not computer generated. We stared for a while, and I immediately thought that this can't be happening...but if it is, I bet the police department I work at in Chattanooga is going crazy right about now, and I need to get to work NOW. We then heard about the Pentagon, and a 4th flight still in the air, and it occurred to me tht I was in a major city and at a major convention, and that I might just be in danger. We exited slowly, but steadily, and began a long silent drive back home. We were transfixed by the news broadcasts on the radio; I had no idea that my obsession with news broadcasts wouldn't end for weeks after that. Every spare moment was spent tuned in to CNN and Fox News. First thing I woke up to, last thing I saw before bed. I called my mother and my ex-wife and son on the way back; we talked as we felt--like zombies, or as if we had recently been frozen, and were just beginning to thaw. I had literally buried a co-worker the day before who was killed in the line of duty earlier that week, so I still felt numb as it was. But then, I kept thinking about the elevator scene from "The Untouchables", too--when the word "TOUCHABLE" was written in blood. For that is exactly how I felt. Our Department naturally locked down its headquarters and activated its Emergency Operations Center, and as a Department spokesman I didn't go home for roughly 20 hours, but that was my day--and I'm glad I remember it, actually, because I can't remember most of the days after that. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I make a concerted effort to not let the numbness fade into apathy as we are want to do as a nation, but rather to focus it towards preparedness. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We are 'Touchable', but not 'Breakable'. That, and that heroism doesn't require bravery so much as duty. And duty shall carry us all through. 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? The American flag became a security blanket as well as a symbol. I ama police officer, and the son of a decorated vetran. I have Always flown the U.S. flag. 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 nmah657.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. 2002-08-30 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 199.3.198.129 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 miles away in Dallas, Tx. I was about to leave the house to take my daughter to work when I heard my husband say. "Come look some crazy person flew their plane into the WTC." We thought some daredevil had made a horrible mistake. So we watched for a few minutes and then I left. I was pulling into my daughters school parking lot when I heard that the other tower had been hit. I knew then it was not an accident. I dropped her off and then by the time I got to an intersection by my work the Pentagon had been hit. I then heard the F-16's fly over my head towards Dallas and someone was screaming into the radio "Take cover America is under attack". I heard from my husband and they had evacuated his building since he was near one of the tallest sky scrapers in Dallas. By the time I got to work I was in a full blown panic and I was both scared and angry! I wanted to leave and go get my daughter but my boss insisted we were all safe. I am within two minutes of DFW Airport and we started seeing planes coming down from everywhere and then ....total silence. It was the strangest thing. I am used to hearing planes all day and all night...........and nothing. Of course, the media was reporting there were bombs and attacks everywhere. We had our TV on and didn't get much work done that day. We stared at the horrific images that were being burned into our brain forever. It wasn't until I saw the jumpers that I felt I was going to break down. Never has there been an event in my life time that I felt so vulnerable and angry. Over the next several days I watched the horrible images. I prayed for the lives of those lost and their families. A year later I was still to upset to watch and re live what happened. Two years later I watched and finally cried again and felt the anger once more. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes. I don't think anyone can say it hasn't. I believe America is more aware now that we are vulnerable to attacks. We watch things more carefully. I am also aware that I still have my family when many others from that day do not. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The lives lost. Our freedom and how we all united as a country. How it affected not only those in New York but America as an entire 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? Yes I have always been proud to be American and even more so now! 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 nmah6294.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. 2003-09-18 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.8.253.11 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 a routine class day and my third graders were hard at work on their assignments. I checked my email from my principal and read her message that the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon had been attacked. I had to read the message 3 or 4 times and still didn't sink in that such an event could be happening. I did not tell the children that day choosing to let their families break this news to them and wanting to protect them at least for a few more hours from this tragedy in our nation. It was difficult to teach the rest of the day. I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach all day. I just couldn't believe this had happened. The next day the students and I talked about what had happened. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I am keenly aware of how fragile the thread of life is. I cherish my family, my students, and others in ways I never have before. I am realizing that out of the rubble of pain and tragedy had come a renewed sense of life. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The loss of innocent lives, the workers who responded in so many ways to help, and the response of the world who shared our pain. 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, it has made me revisit this flag that I have grown up with but have taken for granted. When I stand with my students each morning, I look at it carefully. I recall September 11th and other major events in our nation's history that have brought us all to where we are now. I am mindful when I look at it that there are others who are not so fortunate and I am mindful that this nation has a responsibility to help them and to hear their cries. 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 nmah3094.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. 216.109.3.68 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 flying from YYZ-SFO when the captain called me into the cockpit. He received a fax stating that 2 planes flew into the WTC. We assumed that the planes were Cessnas since the fax did not state that the planes were airliners. The fax kept printing out information. Next, the next fax stated that a United plane was missing. My heart sunk. A few minutes after leaving the cockpit, I received a call from the captain explaining that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon. We would be landing the plane immediately as the nation was under a state of alert. I informed my crew while the captain announced that although our plane was fine, the company had wanted us to land. He gave no reason, other than that. Upon landing, the captain told everyone that they could turn on their cell phones while we were on the tarmac. People were telling other passengers what had occurred. I will never forget a man in First Class who turned pale. He said, "my son works in the WTC." I first called my mom, my dad, my brother, then my boyfriend. I told them that I was okay and had landed in Omaha, Nebraska. I quick turned off my phone and opened the door as I was the Purser that day. The agent told the people to leave the plane as quickly as possible. "Leave your luggage and get out!" she said. She explained that there had been a bomb threat to the airport. After the commands, everyone had left the plane; we gathered our things and went to the ramp break room to receive further instructions. Other pilots and F/A's had their eyes glued to the screen crying. It was as if we were watching a movie. I couldn't believe what I had seen. It didn't seem real. It was just T.V., right? Black smoke and planes crashing into the Twin Towers. It was horrifying. Did I know anyone on board? My heart sunk. I rushed to the computers, and tried to pull up flights #93 and #175. "Records Secured" appeared on the screen. I typed in friends names as fast as I could. I typed in Welsh, D and once again "Records Secured" appeared. I was sure there were problems with the system. A controller told everyone to get to an ATM machine and get out as much money as possible. "If we are at a time of war, the banks will be closed" he said. As we walked into the concourse, mayhem ensued. People were running in every direction. The lines at the car rental counters stretched outside. Flight Attendants were quitting on the spot. I overheard one group of Flight Attendants rent a minivan. They planned to drive home, first to Denver to drop half off then the others would proceed to Seattle. Despite this, my crew stayed together. Believe it or not, we wondered "how will the people fly home once this is all over?" We were the minimum crew, after all. As we walked outside, hotel vans were picking up anyone, just to get them out of the airport. Vans were overflowing with people. We stood outside for an hour until we hailed a cab to take us to the hotel, which was 45 minutes away. After check-in, we were glued to our TV. No names were listed at this point. I received calls left and right on my cell phone. My first call was from my friend in El Salvador. He said he was trying like crazy to call for hours, but the phone lines were down. A few hours later I got a hold of my friend in Washington D.C. The crew met for dinner, but didn't feel like drinking or partying. I didn't sleep that night. I had to keep the lights on that night and for many months afterward. A pilot friend called me to give me the names of the crews. I felt better that I did not know any listed. Unfortunately, they were incorrect. A few days later, I received a call at 5 AM. The captain wanted us to be downstairs in 30 minutes. We were finally cleared to leave!! Our plane did not take off until 9 hours later. So much red tape, so many procedures, documents, etc. It was then that I overheard a phone call. My flying partner recited the names of the crew. Debbie! My friend Debbie! The tall blonde who always wears her hat?! I ran to a payphone and called her sister, who is my neighbor. She sounded very tired and explained that she had tried to contact me. "Tell me it isn't true!" I said. It was. Debbie Welsh was the purser on Flight# 93. I yelled "NO!!!!!!!!" I really didn't want to get onto an airplane at that point. I was personally affected now. I was numb. My legs were numb. I had such a headache. I had no choice. We had to fly. There were no other flight attendants who could take my place. When we finally touched down at the SFO airport, a passenger told me to look out the window. As we pulled into the gate, there were HUNDREDS of mechanics and ramp workers waving American flags, holding signs, and clapping. The signs read "God Bless America," and "Welcome Home." As I opened the forward boarding door, there were people in business suits with roses, flags and bottles of water. They hugged us and welcomed us home. As we stepped into the terminal there were HUNDREDS more agents and airline workers with American flags and signs. They were clapping and crying. It seems that our plane was the first flight to successfully land in SFO after September 11th. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed since September 11th. Not only have I lost friends and coworkers, but I do not trust any passenger that boards my plane. Several suspicious things have occurred since then, all attributed to terrorism. Now, I am afraid to come to work. I am stressed out, and anxious. I take my job more seriously and wish passengers would do the same. My job isn't fun anymore. I am not afraid to fly, but I am afraid of the people. I profile Middle Eastern looking people. I never did before September 11th. I do not understand how Muslims could do such a thing. They were educated men. I have so many questions. Will things ever get back to normal? Will the terrorism ever stop? I still don't understand WHY? On a more positive note, I do appreciate life more. I thank God for giving me each day. I pray more. I try to experience all that I can. It is true, Life is short. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Herosim. All people who died were heroes. Patriotism. Rescue workers, police, fireman, volunteers, and ordinary people pulled together to help in a time of need. 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 placed an American flag on my car. Every time I look at an American flag, my heart sinks. I feel anxious and sad. I know many people lost their lives for that flag. I also think of war. I wonder if our lives will ever be the same...again. 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 nmah1277.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. 2002-09-06 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.209.43 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 when I seen the plane go thru the fist tower. I didnt really know what was going on until I got to school. I felt really sad for the people on the planes and in the buildings. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. no NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? About all of the people that died. 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 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 nmah2470.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. 209.79.73.104 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 an 8th grade Language Arts & Social Studies teacher in New Hampshire, and our teaching team had recently decided that current events would be a worthwhile focus for our Social Studies classes. My free period was at 9:15 that morning, and when the phone rang, I wasn't alarmed until I heard the tone of my husband's voice telling me what had happened. My first thought was, wow, this is some current event! I called our school librarian to get a TV for class, and I started notifying others. Schools are not unlike a cocoon, and daily news events usually don't penetrate our walls, so most people did not yet know what was happening. When we learned that at least one of the planes involved had come from Boston, we feared that some of our students might have family or friends ON that aircraft, so we decided we'd better not tell the kids. Word got out anyway, though, and when a bevy of 14-year-olds get passionate about watching the news, it's hard to resist, so we did let them watch. I don't remember which network we joined, but the situation was still getting bigger as we heard about the Pentagon, the crash in Pennsylvania, and the towers collapsing. One at a time, students started to fall apart with worry and fear, and all of us teachers became so busy, letting kids call parents for reassurance, and doing what we could to comfort them. We turned off the TV, and I remember bringing my Social Studies class back upstairs to my classroom. I let them sit together in small groups, and I put some music on the CD player. The random song I had unconsciously selected was "This Land is Your Land," and the kids all noticed its significance. In the days and weeks that followed, I felt very close to those students -- we had gone through something important together -- and we talked about it a lot , processing the information and its meaning in our lives. I will always associate the events of September 11, 2001 with those students. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The routines of my daily life have not changed, but the way I AM in the world is different. I think about safety and danger more now. I'm more aware of what's going on around me. A bigger difference is in my teaching. I have been teaching a major unit on the Vietnam era, and it used to be that my 8th graders could not really grasp how crazy the world was in the 1960's (when I was their age). Now they really get it. They are experiencing the world much the same way I did those thirty-five years ago. They understand the meaning of the song, "Eve of Destruction." NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? It's difficult to say how history will receive these events. Much like Pearl Harbor, I suppose. While the tragedy of the day is central to everything else, I think it's also important to remember how our country rallied together, supported those in need, and worked to make good come from the evil. 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? We flew the American flag in our yard even before September 11th. Since then we have placed additional flag decals on our vehicles. I loved it that several days after September 11, there were no flags available to buy anywhere in stores -- they were al sold out! My 8th grade students told me that they became much more appreciative of the flag and what it represents. In New Hampshire, a law was passed to require all students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day, and no one has complained about that! 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 nmah5462.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. 2003-03-07 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.61.226.184 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 only eleven years old in sixth grade when I was taking a science test in third period. An announcement came on telling for us to pray for he people who died in the plane crashes. I didn't know what he was talking about, until they closed the school at around 1pm. We had a TV in the classroom, so we turned it on, since my parents hadn't picked me up yet. It said that 3 planes crashed in New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania. At the time, I just went on with it. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It hasn't really changed at all, I just go on with my life. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the lives lost should be remembered. 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? Our school flew a flag at half-mast, and the next day we rang a bell for the lives lost. 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 nmah6477.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. 2004-03-25 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.33.132.158 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. Like an itinerant gypsy in a foreign village, I spent much of the last two weeks without sleep, wandering the streets of my hometown, New York City. This I did on the heels of unprecedented catastrophe and in the shadow of indescribable misery. Steel and glass and cement mixed effortlessly with the slight sting of the acrid, smoky air that smelled of burning rubber with a trace of ammonia as it hovered stubbornly over Manhattan. But this was perhaps the least significant residue of the tragedy. As a native New Yorker, I always believed, since childhood, that I knew the city about as intimately as anyone possibly could. Certainly, I have always loved it. But it has never been as beautiful or noble a place as it has emerged in recent days, its citizenry rising, with uncommon bravery, to an unwelcome occasion born of the most inconceivable horror. On September 11 I was in Boston, where I had been for a month recording the dramatic and often soulful music of Rachmaninoff, Medtner and Scriabin. En route to New York that morning, I turned round when I head the news. For the first time in memory New York City had closed its borders, not only to foreigners, but also to American citizens. With neither entry nor egress allowed, I was stranded until the next day, when Amtrak resumed business. The World Trade Center, especially for New Yorkers, had long been a part of a skyline whose ubiquitous presence was as reliable and predictable as an old friend. Many years ago, and just out of college, I worked for a year as a waiter at Windows on the World, on the 106th floor of Tower 1. It was brand new back then, and the most glamorous restaurant in the world. Its clients were mostly rich and famous, the atmosphere plush, and the panoramic views formed a spectacular tribute, all by themselves, to the ever-so-American idea of new horizons. The food was sumptuous, too; my fellow waiters and I took every opportunity to consume as much of it as possible between shifts, particularly the delicately seasoned poultry dishes and the fabulous chocolate soufflés. Later on, when I opened my real estate business in Soho, I closed innumerable deals in the WTC. The elegantly appointed offices of my attorneys, Hill, Betts and Nash were still open for business in the Towers on the morning of September 11, but have since bled into the indistinguishable rubble, presumably along with its staff. Etched painfully on the often blank, expressionless faces of every New Yorker these days is the strain of an unbearable collective sadness. Even those who attempt to hide it cannot; it has something to do with the erosion of attitude and confidence, which New Yorkers have always projected so effortlessly. The brazen joy and once easy exuberance that have always defined them have vanished, at least temporarily I recall in particular the face of one young man at a candlelight vigil in Washington Square Park that bespoke utter desolation. Listlessly slumped in the consoling embrace of his girlfriend, a single tear streamed slowly and uneasily towards his chin. He conveyed the unmistakable impression of one who was either a close friend or relative of a victim. His eyes were indescribably lonely and hauntingly distant. He radiated the poignant look of one unfulfilled, as if he were grasping at a thousand good-byes that he never had the chance to say. His look, so intense and solemn, penetrated me to the core, though he had no idea I was even observing him. He looked south towards the smoky remains of the World Trade Center, over and beyond the thousands of candles softly illuminating the no less tortured stares of those commemorating the tragedy. At that moment, it seemed to me as if he were looking for the one person in this world he may have loved but who had become, in the space of a few moments, only a memory. Just as heartbreaking is the view of the resultant void, the ruins of which resemble Dresden after the war. The void, as Nietzsche once said, has an uncomfortable way of staring back. That the Twin Towers have turned into dust is not the only source of pain. What really comes into view are the thousands of young people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, who had so much to look forward to, who had dreams and aspirations, families and good friends, good health and a love of life. That was plain to see on their faces, which today adorn the many "Walls of Remembrance" that have sprung up spontaneously all over the city. These impromptu shrines invariably refer to the dead as missing, thereby providing a modicum of hope. A few nights ago I was reading several of them on the south wall of Ray's Pizza in Greenwich Village when a young woman excused herself, knelt in front of a photo of the smiling baby face of a 22 year old broker, and wrote simply, with a magic marker, "Body found 9/17/01". She hugged a companion, and disappeared in silent agony into an anonymous but sympathetic crowd. That moment bore down with such overwhelming gravity as to devastate and even immobilize me, as it would any empathetic witness. The intermittent waves of sadness moved through me with the suffocating weight of a tsunami. As the grim reality moved in, it became impossible to supress the tears and the gripping swells in my chest. And yet, in spite of such overt, if natural selfishness, I cannot help reflecting that so much of life, which has been so good to me, was denied with such callous indifference and appalling cruelty to thousands of extraordinary people. It is an oppressive thought that weighs heavy , but that also renews the spirit as it compelled me to re-evaluate just about everything. In the midst of all this, I felt compelled to take action. To do so was not only to serve and be useful, but also emotionally therapeutic. Along the West Side Highway in Greenwich Village near Pier 40, a few stalwart residents, along with several out-of-towners, set up a tiny distribution center. At first they offered peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bottled water to the legions of exhausted police, firemen, sanitation crews and rescuer workers en route to Ground Zero. While other centers, such as those at the Jacob Javits Center or Stuyvesant High School, remained under the strict control of the City of New York or the military, this remained an independent, grass roots effort, expertly organized and run by a few committed individuals who vigorously refused to call themselves its leaders, preferring instead to share both credit and responsibility. Within 48 hours, this open-air stronghold, which dubbed itself Tent City, had grown to some 7000 square feet, housing massive donations of food, snacks, medical supplies, new and used clothes, bottled water and juice, shovels, coffee, cigarettes, flashlights, hardhats and respirators. I joined a hundred or more concerned volunteers, who had come together from dozens of countries, including France, Switzerland, Belgium, Egypt, Italy, Australia, Argentina, Spain, and Russia. Each of us was assigned enough work to last the entire day and through the night. Trucks needed to be loaded and unloaded, sandwiches had to be made, clothing sorted, and supplies handed out. We formed human chains to carry and load with greater efficiency hundreds of boxes of supplies into police trucks. We also filled thumbnail sized glass containers with vapo-rub to counteract the effects of the stench of the dead, which was strong enough to penetrate the rescuers' masks. This extraordinary effort was spearheaded by a group of young men and women, among them Michael Howard, a strategically savvy, brilliantly organized fund-raiser from Union City, New Jersey, who plans to document Tent City's contribution in a book; Darren Strickner, a fundraiser for the Michigan Republican party who drove to New York the moment he heard about the disaster; Bari Pearlman, a neighborhood resident; and by Herman Sanchez, a systems engineer at IBM in Albany and his wife Stephanie. Others, such as Peter Kouletsis, a software engineer with Salomon Smith Barney, were eyewitnesses to the explosion itself and threw themselves into the work with gusto. Rarely have I had the privilege to meet such phenomenally motivated, inspired, impressive, caring and humane people. Make no mistake: Like its sister organizations, Tent City, which was dismantled by the military on Thursday evening to make room for transport trucking routes, emerged as a breeding ground for tomorrow's leaders. At a memorial service at St. Patrick Cathedral, an orchestra and chorus performed Gabriel Faure's exquisite Requiem. At the conclusion of the service, it was an easy thing to look south over the heads of the vast crowds that had assembled along Fifth Avenue, towards Ground Zero in the distance. The gray clouds of acrid smoke continued to rise from the site, mingling eloquently with the reassuring, avuncular baritone of Cardinal Egan; with the Requiem's ethereal Agnus Dei; and not least, with the exemplary courage and shining nobility of New York's finest: its magnificent citizens. Copyright 2001 John Bell Young 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? The dead. The living. 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 nmah5331.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. 2002-12-15 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.164.4.199 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 my office (library acquisitions for a community college) When I heard someone say that a plane had flown into the WTC. My niece lives in New York City and I went to the front office because there was a tv set there. I watched with unbelieving horror the second plane flying into the second tower. I am a (or was)a fan of action movies. Die Hard, Lethal Weapons, etc. It felt like I was watching a movie. It didn't seem real. When the towers collapsed it was as if it were part of a movie. I kept trying to get in touch with my neice (I helped raise her) because even though I knew she didn't work at the WTC., she might have been sent there on an errand. It took over three hours before I got an e-mail message through to her. Then I couldn't reach my sister (her mother) in Largo, Florida, because our phones were blocked or full. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I can't forget about the people who died in the WTC., both American and foreign. I have purposely tried to keep in my mind that it wasn't only an American loss of lies, but people died from many other countries also. I kept trying to see the pictures of the people listed as missing, because I didn't want to forget them. It is too easy to think of it as this horrible disaster, like when you hear of the thousands killed in earthquakes and you can't relate to it. I didn't want to think of it like that, I wanted to keep remembering these were people were people with families and loved ones. I couldn't work, couldn't concentrate. I kept thinking when the mayor said thousands of people had been killed that he had to be mistaken. That they got out of the building, but just hadn't been located. My life has changed in that I know this isn't something that happens only in other countries. I know that it isn't over and I worry about my niece and others in heavily populated areas because I am sure that the people who could plan this kind of atrocity will not hesitate to do it again. I was raised in a military family so I have always been patriotic. However, the closeness and the humanity shown by people all over the world as reminded me that it is very important that we try to understand other cultures and countries. Too long the American people have not paid attention to how others view our actions in other parts of the world. We HAVE to start understanding how our government is affecting others and how we are perceived by others. I remember visiting Europe during the Vietnam years and finding hard to understand why non-Americans didn't see we were trying to protect Vietnam from communism. They looked at us as bullies and people interfering in something they should be concerned with. I think we have a very bad image with other citizens from other countries and it is something that we have to be concerned with. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should remember the generosity, heroism and the caring that came out of this horrible tragedy. The true American spirit came out during this time. I also think we should remember the intolerance and cruelty shown by a few. We perpetuate the intolerance and ignorance shown by the people who committed this act when we attack the innocent because of their beliefs and looks. I would like to remember how America came together and stood strong. I would like to remember that we didn't bow under the threat and that we became a unit prepared to defend out country and our way of life. I had always heard that under threat, Americans changed from self-centered citizens to a strong unified group. (I had been told this about World War II). I have seen it in action during this time. Anyone who perceives us as weak and spoiled and unable to fight back is mistaken. It isn't the amount of military might that is important, it is the strength of the people and we have shown that we are strong. 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 had flag emblems that I put places, but my feelings about the flag haven't changed. I have always been patriotic as my father and brother and other relatives served in the military. My father and uncles were career military. 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 nmah2486.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. 198.76.188.4 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. Written by /********\ ROMAN CHERNOBELSKIY / <0> <0> \ A student at Rincon High School ( ^ ) Tucson, Arizona \ \___/ / \________/ It was just a regular school day. I got up,brushed my teeth, and ate my breakfast. While I was eating breakfast I saw my mom watching TV, some news channel. When I looked at the TV I saw something crash ,a lot of smoke, and firemen. And since my mom doesn't understand english that well and I was "half asleep" I wasn't sure what was going on, but I thought it was some kind of moovie or something. So I finished my breakfast, got everything together, and rode my bike to school like usually. I was a freshman at Rincon High School. Before my fourth period (english as a second language,ESL) class everything went normal, except I heard people talking about some Twin Towers, (at that time I didn't know what that was). Alot of people didn't come to school for "no reason". On my fourth period our principal made an announcement through the intercom, she told us that the twin towers in New York have been collapsed by two big passenger airplanes with the terrorist pilots in them. Her voice sounded really sad. Then we did the pledge of alligence and then had a silent moment. After the announcement was done, our teacher talked to us about it. It was one of those two-hour periods. After she was done talking about the event she told us that we could go to the next door room, which had a TV in it, and watch news. At that time they were showing the video tape of the towers collapsing. Some people thought it was cool to watch a real airplane hit those buildings and how they crushed with a lot of dust flying in the air and filling up the town. What they didn't realize is that the real airplanes had real people in them and there were a lot of people in the building that didn't have a clue of an aircraft hitting them. And then we heared about the pentagon.... Now I was starting to understand why half of the students "ditched" school. Their parents probably thought it would be dangerous for them to go to school because in Arizona we have an aircraft base and the plane could hit us or the base. But nothing happened to us. When the school ended I rode my bike home thinking about what happened today, and all the people that lost their lives. It was really sad but I could do almost nothing about it. I'm writing this a year later after the event and everyone still remembers it as "THE SEPTEMBER 11" but less and less people remember what has ACTUALLY happened. 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 nmah4380.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. 68.0.142.5 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 on vacation in Williamsburg, VA with my mother. While my mother was doing the once over on the room before we checked out,I was flipping through the TV and saw that the first tower was on fire. Not more than 15 seconds later the second plane hit and we immediatley new that this was no accident. We were in pure shock...we watched...I called my friends from home to see what was really going on...and then we left. We wanted to be home! I live in North Jersey and knew that many of my friends worked in the city. I was worried but thankful that I was with my Mom. We immediately left for home. It was the most frightening feeling that I have ever had. Once we got to Washington, DC it was extremely frightening. Helicopters overhead...all military personell report for duty...major traffic jams...smoke over the city. It was unbelievable. 9 hours later we were home. I called everyone I knew to make sure that they were ok. For two days I did nothing but watch every news channel that I could. I knew some people though my job that were lost on 9/11 and wish I could have changed somethings I may have said to them. You always think about how you could have been different. My parents always rememered where they were when Kennedy was shot...I will always remember where I was and how I felt the day the towers fell. I will never fully recover...I will never forget and I will always be thankful for my family and my friends. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. There has not been a day that has gone by that I haven't thought about the events on September 11th. I had such a hard time moving on and I often wish I could have done more to help those who were directly affected. But what I can do now is try very hard to be more patient and compassionate. I hope that I can make changes everyday. I am still heart broken, but hope that one day this too shall pass. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Never forget the kindness of others. Never forget what brought us to this point. Never forget that diversity is what allows us be apart of this great country. God Bless America! 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 hang an American flag. I don't think my feelings changed about the flag, but changed about how proud to be a part of a nation where my opinion counts. 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 nmah698.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. 2002-08-30 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.96.167 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 first made aware of the events when I arrived at school, and I immediately heard the anxiety and fear in my classmates' voices as they quickly told thier stories to one another. Curious, I asked what was going on, and I was horrified at their reply: "Two planes have crashed into the Twin Towers!" I hurried into my Social Studies class, and my teacher, Mr. Bevier, wasted no time in explaining the full extent of the attacks, and he also talked about the suspicions about who might be responsible. Some of his words (not exact) wer, "This is history, right now. You will be in the history books 10 years from now, and you'll tell your kids and grandkids what you remember. You are part of history." NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Actually, besides the initial reactions caused by Sept. 11, my life has not been altered in any significant, tangible way. While I have taken plenty of time to think about the victims and heroes whose lives were lost or greatly changed by the attack, my family and I have only felt the smaller aftereffects of the tragedy, such as longer security lines in airports. I personally believe this is a good thing, because it shows that America is moving on, hurt but not crippled by the attacks. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I believe September 11 should be remembered as aday when adversity and grief bound us together by an invisisble thread. As a day when we were unified by those who died as victims and as heroes. As a day of sadness, of confusion and despair, but also as a day when we learned to cherish our freedom and all that we have when others do not. 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? Somewhat surprisingly, my family did not fly a flag after the events of 9-11. This is most likely because my mother made a decision not to let my 8-year-old sister and I get too deeply involved in watching the fall of the WTC towers unfold. We still remember the events in full detail, of course, and I sometimes take the time to silently say, "Thank you. Thank you for unintentionally sacrificing your life so I didn't have to do the same with mine. And, I'm sorry. I hope your spirit ends up somewhere happy." 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 nmah4349.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. 209.210.231.43 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 live in Phoenix, Arizona. The first plane hit at 5:46 AM AZ time, just minutes before my alarm went off. My husband and I rarely turn on the TV as we get dressed for work but on that particular morning we did, for whatever reason. As we turn on the TV, we see what looks to be total chaos in New York City. Still half asleep, we weren't sure what was happening. We then see one of the WTC towers on fire. Then we hear Katie Couric explaining that a plane had hit one of the WTC towers just minutes before. We can't believe, we are literally dumbfounded. We then begin to see replay video that had been captured with a plane actually colliding into the building. It looked so incredibly surreal. We could not believe what we were seeing. We were glued to the TV, sitting in bed, groggy and in disbelief. We thought that a terrible accident had just happened. As we are watching, we then actually see, live, the second plane hit the other tower. I initially thought that this was a replay of the first plane but then suddenly, the TV hosts begin to report that a second plane had hit. We were horrified. We had actually seen the plane hit on National TV. We then realized that this had to be some sort of evil, intentional act. As we are dressing for work with the TV on, we begin to see the first tower begin to crumble to the ground. We could not believe what was happening; that we were actually witnessing this on TV. I asked my husband if he thought there had been enough time to have everyone evacuate. I knew there hadn't been but I was hoping he'd had a rational response as to why there had been time. I just could not bear to think about all the people I had just watched, be murdered. I stayed close to the TV while my husband showered. Then, the second tower begins to lean, I rush into the bathroom yelling, "Oh my God Adam, the second one is leaning!" I rush back and withing minutes, the second tower begins to crumble. We were in complete and utter shock. We felt totally numb. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I was pregnant at the time of the tragedy. I believe 9/11/01 made me a much more suspicious person. I am now much more observant of the people around me in public places. I do not feel as safe in my own country anymore. At the same time, I feel much more American. I encourage others to vote and I follow poltics more closely. I feel like I owe it to those that were killed to be a proud, giving and generous American. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I believe we need to remember the heroes and victims that were murdered that day. They died for our country. We as a country need to make sure they did not die in vain. 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? We did fly the American flag. In fact we've had the flag hanging the entire year. We plan on taking it down this evening, on the one year anniversary. As a result of September 11th, My husband and I feel much more patriotic and proud to be Americans. We know how lucky we are to live in this country. Innocent people died simply because they were Americans and we will never forget. 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 nmah4230.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. 63.225.206.193 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 saw it on television and thought it to be such a travisty. It was horrifying. I lived amongst Muslims as a child growing up Christian and had experienced some bigotry because of my religion, but I was apalled at what I saw! It was evil. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It affected my so deeply & left such an indelible mark that as a result, I began a Ministry titled (www.IJNHOPE.org) to momorialize the victims, their pain and how I fit into the picture of this nation. You see I'm from Pakistan and a Christian because an American missionary from Ohio (Samuel Martin) went to Pakistan in 1867 and evanglized the people living in the village from my familial village. It is named after him (Martinpur). THe Hope he brought to my family & his contribution along with that of others who influenced the creation of Pakistan as a democracy because of the influence of the Christian schools etc, resulted in Pakistan becoming a democracy in a largely totalitarian part of the world where most governments are still that way. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? There were heroes, out of the ashes of 9/11, we grew stronger as "One Nation Under God." Oh how I wish I could A 9/11 Memorial by: © Shabnam Chowdry The day started like any other day We said our good-byes on that September day Never in my wildest dreams could I see That the love of my life be taken from me But oh how I wish I could, reach up to the heavens and touch the stars I know in my heart that's where you are I'd tell you all the things I didn't get to say, hold you tight and say I love you This to God I beg, I pray, This to God I beg, I pray Still can't believe that you are gone Sad to say that life goes on So many dreams they were shattered for me Can't believe such a monster could do this to me I reached into the closet and grabbed what you wore The scent of your skin still haunts me more I cried so much and almost lost my way Not a day goes by that I can't say I'm at the gravesite with an empty heart and an empty soul My arms are aching cause it's you I want to hold A day won't go by, that I'll see your face All those memories, I just can't erase They tell me you're in heaven now, safe from harm and safe from pain It's good to hear till I see you again In my heart I'll never forget you The Love we had still remains But oh how I wish I could, reach up to the heavens and touch the stars I know in my heart that's where you are I'd tell you all the things I didn't get to say, hold you tight and say I love you This to God I beg, I pray, This to God I beg, I pray © 2001 Shabnam Chowdry. All rights reserved. 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 the flag represents many things which I researched in terms of the colors and what they represent historically. I incorporated these into the Poem called the "The Hope Pin" . I would love to send one (The Pin & card to the Smithsonian if someone would contact me. (ijnschope@sbcglobal.net or (317-897-5950) On 9/11/2001 the United States, "One nation under God" was attacked. The Twin Towers to the ground toppled, our spirits dashed But the glory of our Flag stands proud, in our hearts and across our land Red for Valor of heroes who sacrificed their lives And Hardiness of the families who lost loved ones that tragic day White for the Purity of American hearts And Innocence of children lost that sad day Blue for Vigilance, Perseverance, and Justice we seek As we move forward from such a terrible, dark day Black for the many deaths we witnessed In such sorrow, helplessness, and despair Yellow for Hope in our God, forever just and always fair In His (Jesus) the nations will put their hope. Matt. 12:21 This spells it out so well. 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 nmah6713.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. 2004-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.154.0.21 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 first heard of the attack on the radio as I was driving my daughter to day care. I had planned to attend a meeting earlier, but had to wait until the daycare opened. At first, I wasn't sure exactly what had happened. After dropping my daughter off, I went on to work where others were gathered around a television in the conference room. I remember we all watched in stunned silence for a long time. By this time both buildings had been hit, but we watched as they collapsed. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I appreciate life more than before, and spend more time with my family. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the most important thing for us to remember is the way we responded as a nation by binding together as a nationwide community to respond and help rebuild the sites and the lives of those affected. Certainly, we should remember the horror and disgust that we all felt as we watched so that we will remain vigilant in the future. Our greatest moments, however, were witnessed in the aftermath as we pulled together to defeat terror with love and compassion for our fellow man. 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, I think I, like many others have experienced a renewed sense of pride and patriotism as symbolized in our flag. 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 nmah4355.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. 199.182.232.200 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 live in Minnesota and was at school. During first hour or so, a teacher turned on the television. It started right at a scene of the first plane crashing into one of the buildings. Everybody was kinda stunned, and nobody talked for awhile. We watched the scenes of carnage and debris all of first hour, second hour, and part of third hour. Everybody was talking about it most of the day, and a few people went home. I got home, and later, my mother came home and said she had heard what had happened on the television at there work. Some people at her job had gone home as well during the day. Not much else happened after that, other than many reports that flittered across the television most days. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Nothing much changed in my life. Maybe a slight increase in security at certain places, but other than that, the damage didn't quite spread to us. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the lives of those people that were lost that fateful day should be honored and remembered. Though some may not say they were hero's, I still believe they should be remembered, as their lives were tragically cut short, and many peoples lives thrown into pain because of this sad event. 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 never flew an American flag that day. Many people around us did, though. My feelings about the American flag have never changed. I believe that maybe now, when people look at the american flag, it's meaning will make people realise that many have fought for our country, or lost lives for being here, for making our country peaceful and happy. 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 nmah1003.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. 68.112.120.42 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. We saw it in our school all the tv's in the school turned on when it happened. most people didn't understand what was happening or why they would put it on in the middle of class but they did. all we could do is watch it.then we had someone come over the PA system tellin us what was happening. we were still confused as to why we would have to find out this way. why they would just turn on the tv's like that. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. No its has not NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? How the whole country came together to help each other in there time of need. we should remeber the people who helped and the people whos lives were lost cause of it. 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 a flag in to remembered what had happend. no 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 nmah3061.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. 209.204.95.2