31 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. It was after 3rd bell, my freshmen year. I was leaving gym class and someone said, "The Arabs are attacking the Pentagon." So I was like yeah right and dismissed the idea. So I continued walking across campus to my biology class and on the way I saw a fight, so naturally I stayed and watched. When I got to class I hadn't heard anything and I still had no clue, It had to be close to 10:00 in the morning. So sat down and started talking to a few of my friends and still no one knew. So, then the bell rang and the teacher still wasn't there. When he did come in he didn't say anything, he just turned on the TV and flipped to like CNN or something like that. I think that we turned it on after the first tower fell and the other one where the plane hit at the top was still standing. The first tower had just fallen because they kept showing the replay, and the replay of the seond plane hitting. Then, all of the sudden, the other tower fell. I was stunned. It didn't seem real, it was almost like it was out of a movie or something. At first I couldn't believe it, nor could I grasp the amount of destruction that it had caused. The rest of the day we just watched TV and talked about what had happend. Everything that involved school was shut down, nothing afterschool at all. The freshmen football team was talking about meeting at a coach's house but the principal got on the loud speaker and said that if anybody showed up for a practice like that they would be done with school sports for the rest of High School. It was then that I realized how serious things were. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, but not a whole lot. It is more of my attitde towards things like that. At first I was so mad I wanted to go to Afghanistan and fight in the war and stuff like that. Now I just wish that things would end. I also feel that we should take security more seriously, which we have done, maybe more than necessary, but that's still good. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that Flight 93 should be remembered because those people were willing to sacrifice themselves so that other people did not have to die. I think that the fire fighters should be remembered because they went into those buildings knowing that there was a chance they might not come out, and a lot of them didn't, so that is another reason. I also think that it should be remembered how everybody stood together. America is like 2 brothers. They fight and sometimes hate eachother, but when someone picks on my brother, we put our differences aside and stand by eachother. 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 hung a flag in my room before 9-11. But after everything happened, my mom went out and bought one and we have flown it outside ever since. 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 nmah2574.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.144.8.173 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I am a soldier stationed abroad in Germany. I had been flying in a force on force training exercise. I landed at the airfield and one of my NCOs approached me and said that an aircraft had been flown into the World Trade Center. I looked at him and scolded him for making jokes that where not at all funny. He said no honest, it is on the news right now come and see. We walked into our briefing room to view the T.V. as the second aircraft stuck the second tower. As I have a trained eye and new the weight and fuel capacity of an aircraft that size, I knew the towers would fall, prayed that they would not. When the towers fell we all stopped and said a silent prayer for those whom fell with the towers. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. No. As a member of the Armed Forces for 22 years this merely illuminated to the public what the military has always been aware of and that is that people whom hate freedom hate the United States. The threat that is presented now has a clearly defined scope to those whom before the event held the misconception that human life holds the same value to everyone. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We need work very hard to take the fight to them, wherever it may lead. The past forgotten is repeated. 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 Flag of the United States represents the efforts of the few, that stand before the many so that freedom lives. Always has, always will. I am honored to know that when I die I will be wrapped in the flagged of the country in which I lived a free man. 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 nmah5398.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-01-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 217.229.165.190 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On a wonderfully clear and sunny fall like day, I was preparing myself to leave the house and take my mother to her doctor appointment. Upon arriving at her house, I walked in and she sat in front of the t.v. with a pure look of shock on her face. I asked what happened or if she was ok, and she was in such a state of shock, she hadn't even heard me come in the door, nor did she hear me ask if she was ok. I turned to the t.v., and noticed a burning building. I asked again, "mom, are you ok? What's wrong?" She turned then and remarked how she didn't even hear me then she said words that I will never forget as long as I live..."Oh God have mercy... someone crashed planes into the World Trade Center... those poor people." I sat heavily down on her sofa and watched in terror as people stood watching the horror unfold before them. I watched in terror as people began running small children out of the burning building. I watched in utter terror as the first tower started to fall. I remember saying to my mom "Oh dear God mom that building is falling." And in that moment, we grasped hands, and I felt pure fear... not just for myself and the shock I felt, but for all of those innocent people that were just doing their job that were now... right in front of my eyes losing their lives. Since my mom is a heart patient, I remarked how we needed to get to the doctors office before we missed her appointment. We tuned into the radio station in our area that does news non-stop, and listened as we drove. Upon arriving at the doctors office, we met with more disbelief. Moms' doctor was sincerely in a complete state of shock... she kept mumbling.. "How do we explain this to our children?" At the mention of children, I started to completely get terrified. I mean yes, we live in Kentucky, but after what we just watched on t.v., the mind started to play tricks on those of us here... at least it did me. I was worried that my kids weren't safe. I ran to the phone in the lobby of the doctors' office, and called my childrens school. "Are the kids ok?" I asked. The reply I got was staggering to me... but it made sense in some small offhand way. "We haven't told the children what has happened yet, we thought it better to let the parents discuss this when they get home." I asked if they were going to dismiss school early, and was told, no, but if you want to come and get the kids early, you are more than welcome to. I decided to let them stay, figuring that if every parent ran to pull the kids out of school another mass of hysteria would unleash... and we had enough of that going on as it was. During this phone call, the news on our local station reported that another plane had hit the Pentagon... again shocked, I wondered if any of us were safe that day. I walked back into the room where Mom was with her doctor and reported to them both that another plane had crashed, this one hitting the Pentagon. Mom gasped and the doctor just sat there staring at me with a blank expression. "I cant believe this is happening." Said the doctor. Matter of factly, the doctor really didn't examine mom as she usually did, we understood why... none of us wanted to be there that day. We all wanted to be in front of our t.v.'s. Mom and I went back to her apartment and watched more, at this time learning that one plane that was to be heading for the White House had crashed in Pennsylvania. Unbelievable. I remember crying, I remember saying at one point, "Please God... don't let anyone of those people know what was happening... take them within the circle of your arms and take them home." What else could be said? Here in America, we are supposed to be safe... sure we have crime and people that commit crimes.. but nothing like this... nothing like just taking life and reducing it to non-worth... nothing like what we were seeing on our television. I left my mothers house after I knew she would be ok to come home to get my children... at that point, I just wanted to hug them and tell them that I loved them. They got home, I told them what had happened, we all sat on the sofa and watched more coverage on what was happening, and my daughter in one swift statement said... "Mommy, why would someone kill all those poor people?" I got teary eyed and simply said... "I dont know baby. I dont know." I prayed for those unknown to me people, I prayed for their families, I prayed for their friends, I prayed for their children. I watched as people cried, I watched as brave men ran into buildings that were uncertain... never stopping to think they could die in those buildings... they were just trying to save someone that might need saving, and in return, they to were lost. When the dust settled I remember seeing people holding clothes to their mouths, crying, searching, waiting... and that was the hardest part... waiting. I felt such anguish because I couldn't help. I felt unable to function normally. I felt pure fear again for the hundredth time that horrible day... What would we do now? Not only did these savage people take thousands of lives, but they did it on American soil... how would any of us cope with this disaster? Our world as we knew it before this disaster would never be the same. As a nation we came together to try and glue back together some pieces of regularity, but in all actuality, our most needed pieces were lost. Our puzzle is still incomplete. I felt somewhat guilty... it was hard dealing with the guilt... there were people frantically searching for their loved ones.. and here I was hugging mine. I felt guilt at that because I was so happy that my family was safe, and I'm quite sure so did most of us that were safe... we counted ourselves lucky because we knew where our family was, and they were ok. I watched more of the television as the searching started, hoping that maybe someone was found.. someone alive and that their family would be there to hold them and count their blessings for being able to hold them once again. I remember saying to my husband, "lets not ever again take something for granted... lets embrace our lives together with our children and live for each other." NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life changed dramitically because of what happened on September 11th. I dont take one minute of my day for granted anymore. I hug my children, I make sure I tell them that I love them everyday before they leave for school and before they shut their eyes to go to sleep. I hold my family nearer to me than I ever did before, simply because I didnt realize how much you really do take for granted. Before I thought... they will always be here.. nothing can take them but something natural that happens with age. I was wrong in assuming that. What September 11th reminded me of is that someone I love can be taken from me at any given moment.. and I cant imagine how it felt not to be able to say to a loved one before that moment that I love you. I embrace each day as a gift. I still mourn for those unknown to me people, everyday as a matter of fact. I think of them and still hope that they didn't know what was happening to them, and I still hope that God heard my prayer and many others prayers to take them within his arms and take them home. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I sincerely think what should be remembered are those that fought hard to get to those buildings to save those inside that were in need of saving. I feel that heros were in abundance that day. I feel that every single person that lost their life on that day should be celebrated. Many gave their lives to try and help someone else live, their families, their children, many that we dont even know of gave something that day whether they wanted to or not... they gave up their lives so that we may go on. 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? My step-dad fought to save the American way of life in World War II. The flag has always held a very special place in my heart... even before September 11th. I looked at the Flag, and my heart would swell, remembering all those that gave life so that I may live mine freely. Those men and women that give life to protect life are heroes in my eyes. The flag represents all of us, no matter what financial bracket you are in, no matter what color you are, no matter what religion you practice, no matter if you agree with whats going on or not. The flag represents life given for life lived, freedom for all, one nation, under God, Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all. 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 nmah1290.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. 66.161.169.212 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. Some of the worst events in American history occurred on September 11th, 2001. The World Trade Center buildings were destroyed when high-jackers deliberately flew two air planes into them. Both towers were engulfed in flames and eventually collapsed due to the extensive damage. Then, high-jackers crashed into the Pentagon destroying much of it. Another plane crashed in Pennsylvania before reaching its destination. It is believed that the person behind these senseless acts of terrorism is Osama Bin Laden. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My day-to-day life has not been greatly affected, but my attitude has definitely changed. For one thing, I am more cautious than I was before. I also have a new appreciation for my family, friends, and life. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Many tragic incidents happened, but everyone needs to remember how much it brought the United States together. We also should remember the rescuers and the people who died fighting to save others. Many people risked their lives for others and for the United States. My family and I went to Ground Zero and viewed the memorial site which was located at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City. 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 did not fly an American flag after the events of Septembar 11th, but my feelings about the flag have greatly changed. I appreciate the flag so much more and I am proud to be an American. I also believe the flag has become more valuable to me. It represents not only the country, but the spirit of the rescuers, people who lost their lives, and the people who went to fight the Taliban. 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 nmah1262.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. 2002-09-05 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 63.186.41.220 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On Sept 11th I rollerbladed down to the WTC from the Upper East Side with my medical kit and arrived just as the first tower had fallen. I bladed into the smoke to look for someone and found a worker who needed CPR. There were a few walking wounded and badly burned people. Most of the people I saw were dead. Suddenly the 2nd tower above me began to mushroom so I ran for my life and dove under a car. I lived in the streets for the next 5 days and set up a triage center at Firehouse 10 across the road from the WTC (with Michael Voudoris an EMS worker.) In the days that followed we filled the body bags, when we ran out of bags we used our hands and buckets. One day someone found a heart lying on a piece of metal. Somebody's heart... all by itself. On day 5 I climbed the 53 flights up to the top of the Marriot hotel and looked down into the gates of hell. I was so tired, it was time to leave...I found my rollerblades, still lying in the place I had left them days ago and I went home and slept for 3 days. After that I went back to GZ and worked for the American Red Cross as a volunteer for the next 9 months. I saw many things that storm my nightmares on a regular basis but the main thing I want to share is that there is hope for humanity as I witnessed help and love pouring in from across the world. On Sept 12th, I met an 84 year old lady wheeling a coffee cart around in the dark. She had driven from Chicago as soon as she had heard. She was doing the only thing she knew how to do. I met Japanese firefighters who had flown in from Japan and spoke no English. I bedded next to rescue dogs with burnt paws and met a distinguised lawyer who toiled by hand to fix the sewage so we could have somewhere to go to the toliet. He was knee deep in sewage and never slept. There was a young Spanish boy who slaved sweat bringing us tanks of water and would quietly ask us if we had found his sister yet? ...and then there were the healing children's cards that read "If you have a broken heart you can have mine" and "I wish I could come there and cook for you but my mum won't let me drive!" this kid was 8 years old and he lived in Colorado. These cards helped heal me. These children made a difference in all of our lives. I lost 23 of my friends and my best friend. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I still believe in hope and love and faith... just a lot more now. The world feels smaller. God feels more real. I still feel the pain of that day, every day... but I smile a lot more because life can be short and I want to live the rest of mine... every day as it comes. I have had a full good life and sometimes which that I could have changed places with someone in the towers who hadn't had their chance yet. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I hope people remember the people whose lives were stolen. Also the hope for humanity that came follwing those days, the feeling of comradship we all felt for each other in the days and months that followed, no matter what color and religion we were. It felt so warm and loving. The way the world should be. 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 flew the flag and I still do. It made me appreciate the symbolism behind the flag and the freedom in which we live that we take for granted. 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 nmah6845.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. 2004-09-28 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.65.65.4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in second period when I was called down to the deans office. When I got down there my cousins were there to then I saw my aunt and thought the worst. Then she told me that an airplai had just hit the twin towers and that she was taking us home because world war three was starting. I just started laughing and sayed thaat all this is a nice joke but I have a test next period. She said no i'm serious then i began to worry. when we got inthe car I heard it over the radio and this weird kind of panic came over me the first thing I did when I got home was call my friends that live in Chicago. When I heard they hit the pentegon I thought the sears tower is next and I kind of when in to a show of fear panic. those were the worst monets when we saw the plains hit the towers and we couldn't do anything. the daies after were worse with all those people stuck under the collapsed towers, and watching all those people talk about their dead family members or friends. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I think this has affected all of us more as a country than individuals. We united and helped those in need.But yes 9/11 has changed my life for a long time after i was scared to open my mail. ever since 9/11 I haave not been to the Sears tower. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We should remember all the men and women that died trying to save the people that were traped. Also we should remember how we came together as a country and all the unity we accomplished in such a short time. 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 fly the flag because it's a sign that I feel my countries pain and suffer with it. Now i look at the flag with so much more patriotism than I did before. 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 nmah4346.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.96.39 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 second period class, history; my teacher was giving a lecture and was interrupted by a knock on our classroom door. My teacher walked into the hallway, when he returned my teacher turned on the television. He changed the channel to CNN. That is a moment we will never forget. I thought I was looking at a smoke stack, but I soon realized it was a building. The World Trade Center building had been hit. The class was abruptly silenced; it was something we never thought we'd ever see. The bell rang and we numbly moved to third period. There was mass confusion in the hallways. People were crying and everyone looked worried. Our principal made an announcement over the loud speaker and told our school what had happened. We were watching the TV when the 2nd plane hit the other tower. I realized this couldn't be an accident. Two planes crashing into both towers? This had to be terrorism. As I walked through the halls I kept thinking, "They can't collapse, it just won't happen". Two periods later we saw the Towers fall to the ground. I don't think anyone spoke in the whole school when that happened; there were just frightened looks and eyes flooded with tears. I went home that day to find my mom crying. My dad called me and said that he saw the Towers collapse and it resembled a mushroom cloud. We spent the night watching television as rescue squads and fire trucks surrounded the area where the towers fell. 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 that all the people who died due to September 11 should be remembered. I also think that people should remember how this triadic event brought everyone together. 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? My family did fly an American flag after September 11. It really didn't change my view on the 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 nmah1679.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. 2002-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 207.99.16.132 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. When I saw the attacks happen on September 11th I can distinctly remember where I was. I was in 11th grade at ELCO High School in Pennsylvania. It was period B, television productions class, my favorite class of the day. As usual I was out and about my school taping footage for a project. When I returned to the class, my teacher had put the news on. It was right after the first plane hit in New York City. The reporter was saying how this might have been just an accident. Then I saw the second plane hit. My teacher, gasped in horror as he cover his mouth and said Oh my God. I didnt know what was going on. I couldnt believe what I was seeing. The bell rang I knew that I had to go to my next period class however I just wanted to sit in front of the television and watch what was happening in the news. One of my next classes that day was EMT Class. This was a very troubling class to sit through. My teacher, a registered EMT, wanted to leave and go up to New York to help. I learned a great lesson that day in class. We were learning how to survey a scene. If the scene is not safe one should not proceed into the area. Sometimes rules like this are broken. I believe if I were in New York I would have wanted to go in the World Trade Center to help evacuate people. I think everyone in my class felt the same way. 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 nmah4532.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 206.82.16.35 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I live in Cincinnati, OH with my daughter and youngest son with Down Syndrome. My son was 13-years-old and was either watching videos or playing Nintendo on the television that morning. From a window to the left of the t.v. was a view of the American flag flying at half staff in the apartment complex next door. My daughter awoke and noticed this asking, "Why is the flag hanging half staff?" I thought a congressman or someone had died and said so. She wanted to turn on the news but because my son had his turn with the t.v. and was behaving himself, I said "no." I stepped outside the apartment complex that morning to behold the beautiful blue morning sky. It was stunning! I remembered a prayer of Saint Elizabeth Seton and said to myself: "Look up to the blue sky and love him." I ran errands at the IGA across the street without knowing what had happened. I went to United Dairy Farmers and the clerk mentioned two planes had flown into the WTC and Pentagon. He asked me what I thought the world was coming to? I was stunned, went home, and told my daughter we did need to put on the t.v. I learned later that a Catholic priest, the Reverend Francis E. Grogan, CSC, whom my family had known years ago in Spain, was a passenger on Flight 175 which left Boston and slammed into the South Tower that fateful morning. He was flying to California to visit his sister and two nephews; he never made it. In the 1960's Father Frank came to Spain with Reverend Patrick Peyton to spread the message of Fatima, saying the Rosary, and praying to Our Lady of Fatima. Fr. Frank was from Stonehill College in Massachusetts, where my paternal relatives had also graduated. Fr. Frank and Fr. Peyton were like family members visiting our family. When September 11, 2001 happened, I scanned the list of passengers and was shocked to see Fr. Frank's name. I felt there was a deep connection between the message of Fatima then and the events of September 11, 2001. I felt a deep sense of sorrow and called my family in Virginia to confirm the priest mentioned was one and the same Fr. Frank from Spain. Fr. Frank, I feel, had a deep spiritual life steeped in courage to get on the plane at the particular time, not knowing he was flying to his death. In addition, I had tried to relocate to Northern Virginia from September 2000 to July 2001 and obtain employment at the D.I.A., located at the Pentagon. My personal debts kept me from getting the necessary security clearance to work there, so I had to relocate back to Ohio. When the Pentagon was struck, I wondered if had I been employed there, would I have been killed? I shall never know. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I see more deeply the relationship between the Blessed Mother and God's presence before 9/11, during 9/11 and afterward. I see Scripture passages more illumined. I see more connections in my life as road markers and guideposts in my important personal decisions. I wrote a poem to express my feelings that morning that I reflect upon: UNTITLED Satan's word in souls purulent with hate sends arrows darkened, guided toward the city's towers to castrate God's word against a brillant hue has come to set the earth on fire; would that it was ablaze Glass, concrete, and twisted steel descend as souls lifted heavenward from an open urn flow America, America in God alone can we be saved 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? I rode on the Greyhound bus from Cincinnati, OH to Northern Virginia to attend my mother's funeral January 18, 2002. The bus rode past the Pentagon at night but the damaged wall was shrouded in darkness for security reasons. At Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Lake Ridge, VA. during the funeral liturgy, I looked to the wall to the right of the main altar opposite me to see light reflected upon a small crucifix hanging on the wall. To the left of the crucifix was the shadow of the American flag and an eagle reflected upon the wall. My thoughts were of my country, the American flag, and the American eagle were "standing in the shadow of the Crucified Christ Jesus." I think the words, "In God We Trust" became more significant and take precedence over the American flag. I have a small rectangular American flag taped to my apartment door in Cincinnati. I look out the apartment window and see the American flag flying 24/7, think of the victims of September 11, 2001, the survivors, and their families and say a prayer for all of America each day. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4233.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. 216.68.66.106 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I witnessed this event at Thompson Middle School around about 9:00 and 9:30a.m. I was in 2nd period in history class. It kinda strange i was in History class duiring a part of history. Our teacher Ms. Gaydon was shocked when she found out that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. She turned on her T.V. and we watched the live action of the buildings on fire. Everyone was really scared. I saw the buildings crumble to the ground which shocked me even more. I also saw he people running away from the falling building because a big cloud of dust and ash from the buildings was smothering the whole city. After my teacher turned off the T.V. all i could think about is how much i hate the people who did this to our country. I will never forget the day of September 11, 2001. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed a little bit. I'm still scared because i'm worried about another attack, but i know our armed forces will protect us from any more attacks and we will find Osama bin Laden. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the rescue effort after the attacks should be remembered the most about September 11th. Many people died when the plane crashed into the building and when the builing collapsed but still willing to save lives the FDNY came and pulled the crumbled peices up and manged to save many lives. They spent days and days looking for anyone they could . Without them many people would had died under the collapsed building. Even just people around the ity came to help save others and that shows a lot of heroism toward our country. Americans will never give up. 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 didnt carry a flag but my feelings toward the flag have changed tremendously. Every time i say the Pledge os Alligence, I remember the day of 9/11/01 and just think of the people who died in the World Trade Centers and the rescue effort to save lives. I also feel hatred toward Osamas bin Laden because he is a coward and he wont come out from hiding. So the flag has ment a lot to me ever since the terriorist attacks. 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 nmah3557.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 had just woken up on the morning of 9/11. It was around 6:30 in the morning and I went to say hello to my mom who had the day off from work. I looked at the tv and I saw the one of the tallest buildings in the world on fire with a huge whole in it. I thought to myself this cannot be true. I was feeling very sad. Then just a few minutes later I was forced to watcdh the horrible devistation of the second plane hitting the other tower. I hate thinking of this event because each time I do it makes me so sad inside. and I hate the horrible people who did this to us. I couldn't believe it when the towers finally came down then later seeing people from other countries celebrating. It was such a horrible day. If it were up to me, I would rebuild them to show them that they cannot stop us. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It has not changed my life at all but I do find myself feeling very bad each and every time I think of it. I think this will encourage me to go to college, get a PHD in engineering and be the person to rebuild these wonderful buildings bigger and stronger. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? All of the brave firemen who lost there lives trying to save the ppl lives and all the ppl who were forcved to jump out of the building and everyone else inside of them. Last but not lease the wonderful buildings themselves and there great structure 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 am sorry I didn't but we did get a free poster at OSH and posted it to the front window on the front of our house were everyone who walks and drives by can see it. 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 nmah6608.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. 2004-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.69.225 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 13 and live in Bucks County.17 or more people from my community were killed in the attacks on the World Trade center. When the attacks took place I was in my seventh grade science classroom. The principle came over the loud speaker after news had spread of some sort of attack. He told us what had happened. The guidance office was filled all day- I know because i had to call my mom. My uncle lives in NY right around the WTC and went there to visit a few times. Some of my friends were also worried about their parents, we suppoted each other and helped one another through the day even though we had our own worries. I'll never forget my friends who were with me that day. After school i went home with friends until my mom got home. The news reports were horrifying. At church during the Our Father i made sure to hold the hand of a stranger. One year later I wrote a poem to commerate September 11. Here it is : Two-thousand one, nine-eleven More then a hundred just arrived in Heaven Welcomed by God and angel songs, They havent yet realized their familys loss While our heroes in Heaven try to figure this out, We here on earth search through the rubble looking for Beloved brothers and sisters,moms and dads,cousins,aunts, And uncles and close friends. Now like a family we stand firm and stong Because united we can do anything And with faith we'll let love replace all evil And work hard to make this worl a better place For you For me For everyone NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Now i live life to the fullest. I say hi to strangers take more risks in case something happens to me. I tell my parents i love them, i spend more time with friends when i can and i make sure to thank police officers, fire fighters and military men for what they do. I work to improve my community. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think not only the heroes we lost should be remembered, but also all of the miracle stories of people who survived and walked out with minor injuries,and the heroes who search through all the rubble knowing the may or may not find the bodies of comrades butr stayed strong anyway and continued hours without food or rest. 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? Me and my family did flow a flag after the 11th and we continue flying it today like many in my community. After the 11th my feelings for the flag just got stronger. I'm SO proud of Ol' Glory. She can make it through anything and September 11th proved that. I LOVE OUR FLAG! RED,WHITE AND BLUE: THESE COLORS DON'T RUN! 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 nmah5518.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. 2003-05-08 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.208.44 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 working in Manhattan about 25 blocks away but could see what was happening by looking directly down the avenue. I will never forget the sight of these terrified and desperate people who appeared to be jumping from the upper floors as they must have been literally burning up and felt that this would be a less painful way to die. My knees buckled and I began to cry. I worked in the Trade Center for 2 years, and I walked back and forth through the structure almost daily when I was employed by a Money Center Bank for almost 2 years. I will never forget what I witnessed - it is the saddest day of my life. Nothing will ever bring closure to me as this was an act of brutality that can never be justified or explained. People compare these terrorists to animals. Unfortunately that analogy is unfair, as animals kill to survive, not for distorted rationale. In times like these I fantasize about ancient justice systems where living things, and I will call them things, not humans, would be punished to fit their crime. Not executed as per 21st century rules of justice, where humans are compassionate, but as would ancient law. Not swift, but slow and torturous, making them suffer for as long as possible, and having their fasmily and friends, their country and countrymen watch through the media, and recognize that these are not men, not animals, not anything worthy or respect or civil law. These things, with no feelings, should be brutalized and tortured in the presence of the world - to send a message that they will not be martyred, not go to a better life, not be looked upon as heros, but as the lowest form of pond scum, as cowards, and as psychotic beasts who rationalize their brutality with distortions. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. As you can tell, I have developed tremendous pent up hostility to living things of this nature. I have also found that I am depressed whenever I am in lower Manhatten, or even see pictures or films of the Trade Center. I knew no one personally who perished in this horror, but as I have when visiting museums in Washington and Isreal, a holocaust can only bring tears to my eyes. Innocent people murdered through the justification of madmen. It is in my thoughts as often as daily. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that each individual will remember this day in their own way. There is no need to try to standardize what should be remembered. Each of us was touched in a different but emotionally stressful way. It is not something that anyone in this lifetime will ever forget. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, my home has a flag displayed. I love this country, and I am proud to be an American. I think that given the opportunity, more people would opt to be an American than any other nationality. Those who speak against us would be your neigbor if they could. They are jealous of the fact that this great nation can function at such a high level, with more prosperity shared among more individuals than in any other place in the world. It is also the only country that is truly a world wide culture, of all religions, races, and a of the most diverse ethnic backgrounds, who can live together without internal war. I think that our flag is a symbol, and that this symbol represents wealth and power to many folks in the the rest of the world. In reality it represents the strength and breadth of the diversity of the people who have worked together to make this country the best place in the world to live and raise a family. 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 nmah713.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. 2002-09-01 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.184.29.103 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. September 11th seemed to be another typical day in 2001. I was doing my daily routine like i always did. I was sitting in 2nd hour, Civics class, and we were having work time when suddenly the principle came in and called Mr. Lavelle out of the room. He was gone for a few minutes, and when he came back in he explained the situation to us and turned on the T.V. so we could watch the news and hear the full story. I really didn't understand what had happened or even how seriouse the situation was, so to tell you the truth I really wasn't shocked at all. It was just really wierd. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed a lot because I value my life much more, and it made me realize how easily it could be lost. Life is also different because a lot of my friends lost people they knew or even people that were really close to them. I was lucky enough that none of my close friends and family suffered fatalities from that fateful day. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the thing that should be remembered about september 11th is not a building or the number of people that lost their lives or even a family or friend if you lost one; it is the simple lesson that we must go on with our way of life or those terrorists really did win. We have to beat them the only way possible which is to prove to them that their efforts were useles and that we will always be stronger than they are. 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? Unfortunately, I didn't fly the american flag on september 11th because I didn't have one but I would have if I could have. My feelings about the american flag have changed a lot since that day for a couple of reasons. For one, the American flag really means something to me now, and I really understand the meaning of it. I understand what the makers of that flag felt, and I understand why they made it. I also realize why it important to honor the flag and why we should always fly it with pride. 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 nmah1532.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. 2002-09-08 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.38.91.11 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. I lived in New York City on that famous date of September 11, 2001 (9/11). It was a beautiful, clear, and comfortable morning. For several days, before that date I had nightmare on something bad happening. But I couldnt pinpoint what really it was. I headed to work, I lived and worked in Brooklyn. My place is in the area of Downtown Brooklyn, from the building roof you can see the beautiful skylines of lower eastside. I got to work about 7:45am that morning. I was in normal routine of eating breakfast. I open the office for the clients to come in. It was odd. Its been awhile since we had no one waiting on the clients waiting area. I get a chilling phone call from my friend who works across the street from the World Trade Center. That a plane had just hit one of the Trade building. I told him you sure. Then my other co-worker got a phone call from her daughter that a plane hit Tower. My wife called me and confirmed the same thing. Now, I began to get nervous. I hung the phone and head to the roof of the building. As I got there I can see from the distance the black smoked. As Im there in disbelieved, I see far in the distance another plane. I said… Maybe they are re-routing air traffic. Because we know over the island of Manhattan, there is no commercial airline traffic, some little small planes, and helicopter flies only flies over. But as I saw the plane come down, in the direction of the second building, and saw the impact (fire and smoke). I ran back down to the office, and told everyone what just happen. It felt like a movie. It was the most scariest thing I have ever been a witness to. My wife called me again she saw it on Television on the second plane. I told her: This is terrorism… She told me, they havent said anything, I told her trust me. I told people in my office is time to go home. Im not part of the managerial staff, they all look at me like I was crazy. Then a few minutes later… we saw the Pentagon on television fire and they had said a plane had crashed… I told my manager, Im leaving. I took my personal belonging and headed outside… Downtown Brooklyn, looked like a war scene, people running away from the enemy, but we couldnt see the enemy. People were looking up at the sky. People were crying. Even, grown big men were crying like children. I saw mass of people mentally lost, like a wondering lost puppy. New York City Transit stopped all subway services. So the only way I could get home was by bus. Which is the way I always go home. I felt my place of employment at exactly 10:15am. It took 1.5 hours to get home. On a normal day, it takes me 30 minutes to get to and from work. When I got home, I hugged, and kissed my wife. We both started to cry together. Because we knew horrible scene we both saw. Many men and women wouldnt have this moment ever again. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It definitely has changed my life. I know look-up at the sky when I see planes. I have numerous of nightmare. It got so bad, I would go night with having a good eight (8) hours of sleep. Some day I would only sleep 1 (one) hour. It affected to the point that on February of 2002 I got a mild heart-attack. I eventually resigned from my job. And on August 31, 2002 moved out of New York City to the state of Pennsylvania. Looking for a less stress atmosphere. I got tired of every time there was a threat, I was always jumpy and nervous. My sympathy go out to surviving families members of that tragedy. I feel their pain, their sorrow, and missing piece of there life. I did loose several friends. And I missed them too. I hope this little side of my event of September 11, 2001 (9/11) may help other to see. They are not the only one. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I don't think it should be remembered, because, we don't always remember December 7, 1941. That was another tragedy in American's history. The more you remember, the longer the healing process would take. 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? Nope! 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 nmah5407.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-01-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.54.173.20 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. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I feel compelled to write more. Do you know what? I forwarded this site on to everyone on my list, and I got a caustic response from Bruce Springsteen's webmaster, begging me to "Please, PLEASE" move his address from my email list. I put it on there, even though long letters I wrote Bruce, post-9/11, regarding his recording, "The Rising," and other issues, were deleted when fans harassed me, not believing what I wrote of how hard my life has been and so on. Even stuff about Mumia Abu-Jamal--and it was all true, too! So you never know about people. I have since donated the two copies of the album to charity, as I don't listen to them anymore--I got one to replace the other, when my letters were deleted on-line--all of them, as if I never existed! I wanted to write more, but I don't feel "so motivated," now. Things like how I don't feel like the "child" Amma says we all are--her "children," that is--even old people, much older than her, at 50, are. Well, sometimes I do, but not always. I wanted to write of Max Swanger, a Zen priest student at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, near where I live. I met him the spring before the attacks, "by chance," and over time, we developed a type of relationship I thought was beginning to blossom into something else, though at the time, he was 26 and I was turning 40. We went to his parents' house a few days before Christmas in Santa Cruz, with a friend, Flor, who has since "left" me, too--she and I were just going to go down to sight-see, but Max needed a ride to his parents for Christmas, and he asked if he could go along--this was after I let on that I think he "likes" me, which was true, if instinct served me right. Then, later that winter, he admonished me, one day, in the fields, where he worked, though he was training to be a priest, to choose a more devotional life--either to be there with him and study to be a priest, too, or become more of an "Amma student," but to choose. I thought this was rather bizarre, since it wasn't an option for me to study for the priesthood at Green Gulch, nor was I really willing to. I'd just been rejected that past fall from the practice period, because of PTSD, which I think is a weird reason, since meditation calms the mind. I did end up becoming more of an Amma devotee, actually, over time--every weekend that January, for instance, I spent the night on the puja room floor after Saturday satsang, and stayed for the Sunday meditation program, trying out "new" positions and so on. Max ended up "storming" out on me, one day, when I asked him why his lovely mother doesn't come more often, as she'd just visited with his father at Green Gulch, and I mistook her for his student's mother! We never really "made up," as I found out that day from our lunch companion, Alex White, that as a priest, he is to be celibate his first five years. He hadn't even been ordained, yet, nor do I think he is, still, actually. We did "make up," conditionally, but later in the year, say in fall, I asked him on-line why he didn't tell me he's supposed to be celibate his first five years of priesthood, and he was furious. He stormed off and said not to come near him if I like this community. That was about the last time he ever spoke to me for more than 2 seconds, so I hope he wasn't ordained, as his behavior is bizarre. I "gave up" on us ever reconciling only recently, though I stopped going to Green Gulch not to long ago, as his teacher, Reb Anderson, was obnoxious. The 5-year celibacy rule was his doing, too, not Suzuki Roshi's, who was the founder of the Zen Center and his mentor, I believe. Max was "cute," too, dressing in drag as a cheerleader, with others for the Buddha's Birthday pagaent that spring and so on. I laughed for week afterward, thinking of that. I still do. Last summer, I went to LA with Amma, and Leonardo DiCaprio stood up us all--including his mother, who was on the board and brought his grandmother from Germany--for his fundraiser with Gale Anne Hurd for Reef Check. There, I had a "revealing dream," that Max was like Leonardo, in that they are about the same age to the month, and they even look a bit alike in form, and act similarly toward their mothers--and me. They "shut us out." My "joke" is that if a film was made of my life during this time, they could play each other, as Max wouldn't show up for that fundraiser, either, to the best of my knowledge. :) I have since "discovered" other things about Leo I'd rather keep secret. So that's that story in a nutshell, too. Any questions? You have my address. :) Love, Vivian Taube 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 nmah6413.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. 2004-01-21 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.81.220.100 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. My husband, daughter, and I were in court that morning. We were trying to establish my husband's innocence as to a yellow line violation. The officer who stopped us accused him of drinking and driving. We do not drink, whether we drive or not. The lawyer believed him, but the officer still insisted on getting my husband on something. He has a 45 year, perfect driving record and is usually a happy-go-lucky guy. Everybody loves him. But for some reason, he had an attitude with the officer. The officer was quite a hot-head. Anyway, we thought our world and his perfect record was crushed! At the time, this was the worst thing that could have happened to us. We won our case; but upon returning home, turned on the television to find our world was truly more crushed than we could ever, ever imagine! We saw the second plane go into the second tower. The three of us just stood there, eyes wide open, hearts pounding, tears streaming down our cheeks. We were in shock. Our troubles suddenly became very small compared to all the lost lives. We love America! How dare anyone try to take our America away! We stayed glued to the television that day. We fly our American flag to show we don't run from these terrorists. All the terrorists succeeded in doing was to strengthen our families, our patriosm, and our beliefs. God bless America! United we stand! NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It has strengthened our lives in every way. We try not to sweat the small stuff. We have to show that each and every human being is important. Life is shor and very precious. I am shy, but when I now see anyone in a corner alone, or having a hard time with something, I make it a point to try to help in any small way that I can.A NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? America is great. People who stand together can put this country back again even stronger than ever before. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I always loved the American flag and loved to fly it; but now I try to get everyone else to do so. I try to get any friends and family one if needed. 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 nmah4152.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.96.236 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On the mornig of september eleveth I was at school.I Could see the horor on my teachers face when I walked in the door that morning. To follow that it was his birthday. I could see the news paper their on the wall big and bold the twin towers on the front page burnig. Why woudl somebody do this to use? Are they jealous of use or what ? It is so sad that they would attacke us because of our freedom. If they want freedom they should move to our country. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. some what i am more thankful for my freedom nd what I have I try to understand the pain that peopel are going through. So I pray for al of them . 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? Yes , I did fly an american flag after this even. I think half of the world did. yes i blive more in america and what we stand for in this nation. 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 nmah3760.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 216.102.76.199 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. My husband and I were in Paris on vacation. The waitor asked us if we were americans and told us a plane had crashed and we felt terrible. We went on with our site seeing and when we came back to our flat a neighbor told us that their had been a tragedy in the United States. His girlfriend spoke english and we were shocked and scared. Our first reaction was we wanted to come home. But of coarse we couldn't leave. It was a horrible experience being out of the country and not being with family and friends. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, we are both more alert. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the people that lost their lives should be remembered and a memorial should be build where they 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? Yes Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3634.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. 63.109.82.194 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On September 11th 2001, the day that the world stopped turning, I witnessed the terrorist attacks while I was a freshman at Uniontown High School. It was Tuesday morning and I was sitting in homeroom talking to friends when an announcement was made stating something about the World Trade Centers. I wasn't really paying attention to the announcement when it was made. The televisions came on and showed a picture of one of the World Trade Centers burning. I didn't think anything of it. I thought it was just a really bad fire, since I couldn't hear the television. While walking to second period, my friends told me what was really happening. They told me that terrorists took over a plane and flew it into the Trade Center. My heart skipped a beat. When i entered my second period class, the television was was showing us live pictures of the attacks. That's when I knew I was living through history. After the day ended, I made my way into my house and watched the broadcasts with my sister. We flipped through the channels and on every station there was something on about the attacks. I spent the day that changed America in Uniontown High School. Even if I was somewhere else on September 11th, I would have the same thoughts and emotions about America, the citizens on America, and what the people of this country were going through. 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 nmah5115.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. 2002-09-18 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 146.186.105.150