32 20 2325 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was just waking up when I heard my mom shouts from her room " oh my gosh! we've been hit!" I didnt know what she meant by "hit" but i knew it couldnt have been good. I hurry to her room and right as I walk in the door I see a plane go straight into a building. I was confused so I asked my mom what was going on. She began to tell me that we've just been attack by terroist. I didnt know what to say, I was in utter shock. I remember when I went to school that day everyone was panicing saying that their next target was going to be schools. Some people were even crying and left school early. But for some reason i wasnt even scared, untill i heard that a plane had hit somewhere in Pennsilvania. My Aunt Sheri lived only miles from where it had hit. Later that day I went to a church service specifically for what had just happened earlier that day. It was very had to sit there and listen to what the people had to say. Some of them lost loved one and others were just in disbelief. I couldnt help but cry. After the service, some friends and i stood out on a street corner at Brookhurts and Elis carring flag and lighting candles kind of as a tribute to those who lost there lives and to those who lost loved ones. Some local photographers from newspapers and news programs came to make a story. That is one day i will definatly not forget. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life hasnt changed drastically. Little things i hear about (maybe an accident or something) makes me wonder if it was terroist related. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The most important things to be remembered is the lives that were lost and all of those heros who tried to rescue the people stuck in the towers. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We flew an american flag for a long while after 9/11. And on that date we continued to stand on the street corner in tribute of our heros and lost loved ones carring flags and lighting candles. 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 nmah6751.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. 2004-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 4.27.247.150 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 watching TV, waiting for the Regis and Kelly show to come on. All of a sudden Matt Lauer made an announcement about the Trade Center and on the TV was this horrific picture of the North Tower burning. I made a phone call to try to reach my brother and while I was talking to his secretary I watched a plane flew into the other tower. I immediately said "another plane hit! its no accident! That's got to be on purpose!". I hung up the phone and left to go over my Mom's apartment, because she had cable. Later that morning, after the Pentagon was attacked, I was sure there was going to be World War III, and I went up to the store and bought lots of bottled water. That's all. That's all I could think to buy. I couldn't think of what was needed for the end of the world. I was so nervous and there were other people there, too, and lots of the water was gone. No one seemed panicky, however. After I loaded up the basket with water I went back to my Mom's. After I parked, I heard a jet fly over, and I ducked. It looked like a military plane and I was relieved. For days I sat in front of the television, mesmerized, anxious for news. And for weeks every time I heard a jet I instinctively ducked. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I had bad nightmares for about three months. I would wake up crying every morning. Usually I would dream about the people I saw jumping out of the buildings. I would dream of trying to catch them. In my dreams I'd be running around with my arms outstretched, reaching out, and their bodies would fall right through my open arms, like shadows falling across the yard. That's when I would wake up. I'm a very emotional person, and I cry whenever I read about 9/11. And I'm a very curious person, too, and I have read a lot about the people who died, and their stories, and the experiences of those who lived. And that means I have cried a whole lot. I wish I could do something besides cry. I feel so helpless. And I feel angry that people could be so cruel and evil to do something like this. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We need to remember that we have enemies that wish to destroy us, and those enemies have no conscience, and are willing to do anything to us. We need to fight back, and destroy them before they destroy us. It is a kill or be killed situation. I never thought I'd see the day when I'd feel that way about war. I had thought that war was something to be avoided, now I know that we have to defend ourselves. 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 taped a small paper flag on my door, as a symbol of solidarity with the victims and with America. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah238.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. 2002-08-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 172.133.151.175 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 third period when I saw it on the news. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. yes,I was thankful I was not in the Twin Tower. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Twin Towers NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes,my feelings have changed about the American 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 nmah494.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-29 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.191.87.61 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. When I got to school I wasn't aware of the tragedy that had occured. It was a shock to my mind, body, and soul, and I was just speechless. I couldn't consentrate in school very well, because I had this stuck in my head. It hurt me that someone would do such a thing as this to us, when we didn't do anything to deserve it. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes it has, in many ways. I pray a lot more for the U.S. and I'm proud to be an American. It changed my way of thinking and viewing things. It also turned my attention to other places in the world. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We should remember how the NYPD and the FDNY helped rescue people and all that they've done in the times of September 11th. How we stood strong against the terrorist organizations. 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, and I think about the flag and what it stands for a lot more often. It reminds me that "United we stand." 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 nmah1066.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. 198.237.72.252 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 laid off in July and was getting married on October 27th of 2001. I was at home, in Jeffersonville, PA, when my wife (fiance then) called from work to tell me about the news. I turned on the TV and witnessed the second plane hitting the other tower. It was at that point I told my wfie, "this has to be a terrorist attack, it's the only thing that makes sense!" We talked awhile and then we hung up and I continued to watch the news reports coming in from all local and national channels. I then began to write, because its what I do when I need to work through something that stresses me out. In doing so I have written the following poem "America Taken By Surprise": by Tony DeRose I sit and I wonder why, I sit and watch America cry. I am stunned as I listen, How could something like this happen. America and the world are stunned, At the God awful act that has been done. Although many, too many people have died, America stands tested and true to its pride. It's time for people, all the world through, To see America staying tride and true. This was not an act of just one, But the ongoing problem of terrorism. All people from ALL walks of life, Now shining through in America's strife. America has stood tall for so many years, America will NOT give into these terroristic fears. America stands for Truth, Pursuit of Happiness and Land of the Free, This is what it means to ALL Americans, especially me! We fought in the Persian Gulf War, And all the way back to the revolution before. So I urge every American to keep pushing on, For perhaps one day, We can finally say: "Terrorism is gone!" Ó2001 NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, as a divorced (re-married) father of two, I am much more aware of how precious our time on earth is. I have learned to appreciate life and my family more than ever. I have learned to LOVE my children even more than I ever had before! NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? First and foremost ALL the people who lost their lives, the rescuers who attempted to save them, and the soldiers who fought in the Middle East. We must also recognize the strength and resilliance this GREAT nation had during this horrific time. Mayor Juliani should be remembered for his great leadership. 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? As I stated earlier, I was in the process of getting married in October of 2001. We were flying to Aruba for our honeymoon, and I proudly wore my US-Olympic jacket and hat I got from the 1996 games in Atlanta. I was not going to be afraid to show I was an American. We also flew a flag at our apartment. I have always had respect for the American Flag. I was also a WEBLOS (cub scout) leader and taught my boys about our flag, what it stands for, and how to have respect for 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 nmah5572.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. 2003-07-17 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.200.124.217 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 Special Agent for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. I was driving to my office at the Sacramento, CA Post of Duty and listening to National Public Radio when the first account of the first plane to hit was aired. It was 6:45AM PDT. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I was stuck in morning traffic on Highway 99 when I heard that a second plane had struck the other tower. At that point, I knew things were not right and I proceeded to turn on my lights and siren to get out of the traffic and to the Federal Building as fast as I could. By the time I arrived, security was evacuating the building of all non-essential personnel. I was able to get into the office and quickly initiated contact with my fellow agents and our Headquarters in Arlington, VA. Our agency Director instructed all DCIS offices to evacuate and to assist local law enforcement if requested. By noon, the U.S. Attoney's Office had contacted our office and requested that the Joint Terrorism Task Force be assembled at the request of the California Governor to assist in protecting key facilities in the State's Capital. I spent the next 14 hours assisting local police and the California Highway Patrol in setting up a protective perimeter around the State Capital. Little did I know how Sep 11th would change my life from that point on. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Very much so. In addition to being a federal law enforcement officer, I am a reserve officer of the US Army. While I worked around the clock with my agency to conduct terrorism investigations for the first 30 days after 9-11, the Army was gearing up for the greatest use of reservist since Korea. On Oct 12, 2001, I was activated to active duty and left my family for six months in support of Operation Noble Eagle. I missed my son's 6th birthday, my wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving and the holdays. However, I knew there were some families that would never have their loved ones home again, so it was an honor to serve. In April 2002, my agency transferred me to our Headquarters in Arlington, VA. This transfer came at a time that I was just re-establishing with my son and wife after serving 6 months of military duty. We moved from California to Northern Virginia with hope that we would be able to get our lives somewhat back to normal, but knowing we were embarking on a journey that was nowhere from over. Six months later after moving, I was recalled to military service. As I write this submission, I am serving in support of military operations to safeguard the future of my family, our Nation and our way of life. I think back on Sep 10, 2001 and realize that my life, my son's life and my wife's has changed drastically because of the attack. We had just had our home built in California and thought that it would be our home well into retirement. As the saying goes, life can change in a New York minute and without a doubt, 45 minutes that happened in New York, changed everyones. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The most important thing everyone should remember is that the attack was committed on innocent women, men and children by those who hate us simply because we are free. Our Nation was founded upon invididual rights and liberty and while we have struggled to ensure that dream is available to everyone, an evil exist that hates us for attempting. No one is immune from the hatred this evil sector has for us. Our very being as a Nation is in jeopardy and our continued existence as we know it must be defended. Do not let those who would rather "get on with our lives" passify you into discounting the horror we faced on that day. It is real, it is ongoing and it must be dealt with. Freedom is not free. 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. The flag has always been important to me. It symbolizes the freedom we enjoy, the blood that has been shed for that freedom and price some of us are willing to bear to ensure it for our children. 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 nmah5420.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. 2003-01-27 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 155.75.6.254 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in school the day it had happened. When i was walking to my 2nd hour class of the day i heard some kids yelling to eachother in the hall, "this big building was hit by a plane! were watching it on CNN in my class!" I was just kind of confused. So when i got into my class i saw that one of the World Trade Center towers was hit. I was thinking that it might have been an accident by a plane. But then the news said that the second tower was hit, and that they were thinking it was a terroist act. I got kind of scared when i found out that the Pentagon also got hit and that there was another plane that was hijacked and crashed in another area. I was thinking "are they gunna come here next?" I felt really sad about all the people that were dying and all the familes left without a member. I knew somehow this world wasn't going to be the same. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I have always been kind of less secure since the events happened. It's hard not to be when something this big has happened. I noticed that our country has been more carefull of what they say now also. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I definitely think the heros should be rememberd. All of the firefighters and rescue workers that ran into that collapsing building to save people are the bravest people i've ever heard of. Some of them probably knew they were going to die, but they went in there to try to save the people anyway. That has to be remember forever. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I noticed that things like fourth of July were so much more bigger than they used to be. People everywhere seemed more united. 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 nmah1521.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. 68.112.134.5 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 woke up on September 11th and walked into the living room where the tv was on and blaring the news. At first I didn't know what was going on and I sat down confused, then what happened hit me full force and shock began to set in. We listened to NPR on the way to school and we talked about it in some of my classes; but for the most part the day passed almost in a blur until the afternoon when the shock finally wore off and the anxiety became too much and i cried. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life hasn't changed very much since September 11th. However i do think about the events of that day and how they have changed the lives of people all over the world, no matter how subtle that change may have been. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Just like with the Holocaust, we should always remember September 11th so that it can never happen again. Remembering can mean anything from talking about the events to participateing in a comemorative ceremony, but it should be something. 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 11th. However, I don't think my feelings about the flag have really changed. The flag, for me at least, has always been a symbol of freedom, and of our patriotic pride for our county. The only thing different now is that we've added enduring to the freedom part and steadfast to the patriotic 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 nmah2090.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. 66.1.167.100 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. I'm very grateful that I did not witness the attacks live, but in televised playbacks. As I watched the tape of the horror that had just unfolded in NYC only minutes earlier, it became apparent that planes from American & United Airlines had been used. My 7 year old son's father was working for United in Boston, & I immediately attempted to call him for details. But all the phone lines were down, so all we could do was watch the television & get any information from there. Like millions of others, I was glued to my television set, shocked at what I was viewing, but anxious for any updates, or explanations. Then, after having watched this horror unfold again & again through replays, my telephone rang. It was United Airlines! As my son's father & I were seperated, I wasn't aware of the trip he'd planned with friends on that September day - but the United representative filled me in: my son's father was a passenger on United Airlines flight #175, the 2nd plane to hit, the one that flew into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. He was gone! After that, it was extremely difficult to watch any of the news telecasts. No longer was it just a horrible event happening in another city; it was personal. To watch the footage of the United plane hitting the South Tower would be to watch the exact moment my son's father died - & knowing this moment of death was being viewed by millions of people through televised newscasts. To watch this happen to someone you've cared about, & not be able to stop it, but - like so many others - just stare at your television in total shock & disbelief, feeling completely helpless! NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed in so many ways. I remember the first way I felt changed was that everything I enjoyed or cared about suddenly had no meaning anymore. Favorite television shows; favorite foods; personal interests; even friends. I had to force myself to get out of bed everyday, only because I still had a small child who'd just lost his father, & now depended solely on the surviving parent - me! I also work for the airlines in Boston, so I was seeing this tragedy from both sides: as a family member, & as an airline employee faced with public outcries & drastic security changes. As an airline employee, I wanted to know how this had been allowed to happen. And as a 9/11 family member, my only thoughts were of how this wonderful man was gone, & how was I going to help my 7 year old child get through this? How to help him deal with the loss of his favorite person in the world....his daddy? Now, it's 11 months later, & we're basically ok! After weekly therapy & love & support from close friends, my son is less anxious; less angry; less sad. I'll never look at a tall glass building the same way anymore. Or at a United plane; or a fireman. Flying now makes me anxious & alert. I find myself scanning faces. I close my eyes at every takeoff, & thank God & my pilot when we land! My son & I both still have nightmares, but one day this will stop. (Right?) How have our lives changed since September 11th? Think of having a huge hole in your stomach, & nothing can ever fill it in! It's a part of you that is forever gone - & can never be replaced! You go on, you work, you play, you get back to your daily lives...but the hole is always there. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think it's important to remember those who have died, but also to remember what happened after the attacks: the patriotism around the country. The country coming together in unified solidarity. The outpouring of humanity, goodwill & support from both the business world, & the general public. We need to remember the flags everywhere; the candlight vigils; the solidarity shown by other countries; the 63 babies born after their daddies died; the 343 firemen who told each other goodbye BEFORE they went into the buildings; the beam in the shape of a cross; the 3 firemen raising the flag at Ground Zero; & Rudy Guiliani! And though this view is not supported by everyone, I think we also need to remember the song by Toby Keith, titled: "Courtesy Of The Red, White, & Blue". God Bless America....& God help those who have messed with 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? No, I did not! In the beginning, listening to all the patriotism & flag waving, it was hard to latch onto that, as we were still in the early stages of our mourning. But as our initial tears dried, & we began to see all the flags - everywhere - they took on a new meaning. It wasn't just "USA", it was more like, "USA together all the way" ! We saw how this horrible tragedy brought people together & inspired the poets & artists. We heard the beautiful tribute songs, watched the heart tugging memorials, & stood & cried together - as a Nation! It reminded me of the last scene from Sally Field's movie, "Not Without My Daughter", in which she & her daughter escaped from Iran. As they walk down the quiet street towards the American Embassy, all you hear is a "flap, flap". Then you see where this is coming from: the American flag inside the Embassy gates! And in that one moment, you feel what they were feeling - a surge of pride & relief! That American flag represented freedom at last; comfort & safety guaranteed; & of finally "coming home". The American flag will forever mean "home" to me. My son, Marc Antoni, was born on the 4th of July, so he looks at every flag as a celebration. As it should be!!! 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 nmah596.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. 67.242.223.218 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 employeed for a bank in Jacksonville, FL. My teamates and I were in a team meeting the morning of the 11th. When we came out of the meeting a woman in another department who has a small tv on her desk had it on and there was a crowd gathered around her. We asked what was going on, and someone said that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center building, it wasn't until about 30 minutes later that we learned another plane had hit the 2nd building and then we also found out that the plane had been hijacked from Boston. Our manager brought out a larger tv and everyone from our floor gathered around watching the news coverage, I just could not believe what I was watching. The destruction and chaos was unbelievable. Then the report came in about the Pentagon being hit by yet a third plane that was hijacked. We then learned that terrorist had hijacked the planes and because we work in a tall building we began to wonder about our safety. Management was assembled and agreed to let everyone in the department go home to be with our families. I remember that all I could think of was getting to my 2 year old daughter's daycare and making sure that she was okay. We then went to my 15 year old son's school to pick him up. There were many students that were scared and wanted to go home and were trying to call their parents. At some point between picking up my daughter and arriving at my son's school, I remember praying "Lord, please touch the lives of those that have committed these acts and guide any more that might be waiting to committ more and show them the realization of what has been done to innocent lives" NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I have always considered myself to be very patriotic. But after the events of Sept 11th, 2001 I feel like I am even more patriotic. I look the military, police and fire department personnel with even more respect now for what they do daily. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The heroics of the day. There were so many people that stopped to help strangers with their grief and for safe passage. We should remember these people as well as the police and fire department NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I have flown the American flag outside my home, on my car and have worn a flag pin every day since September 11, 2001 I have always flown the flag on holidays but now I look at the flag with a new respect for all that I have by living in the United States. 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 nmah3677.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. 161.231.1.22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I saw it on the TV in my German class. 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? The innocent lives that were shamelessly lost. 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 don't have an American 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 nmah3783.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 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 11, 2001 began as a spectacular day. The weather was beautiful. I drive a school bus for the Vocational Technology District in Delaware. I arrived at work in the wee hours of the morning, ready to begin another day. My ride was uneventful. Even the traffic was light. After my morning run, I arrived back at the main yard, and began chatting with fellow co-workers, as I had done everyday before. At 9:12am, I remember because someone had just asked me what time it was. As I uttered the time, a co-worker ran into the room and uttered out, Did you hear, a plane just hit the World Trade Center? We sat there for a few moments absorbing the news. We then went into the next office to turn on the television. It was as though time stood still. We watched the television with shocked looks on our faces. After that I went into some type of trance. I was numb, for better lack of a good word. I thought to myself, This is America, they cant do this to us. Thats just it they had done this! I wondered aimlessly, trying to deal with the news. Each time we checked the television, there was more horrible news. When the towers dropped, our phones started ringing. They were canceling school. Our company services three different districts. For the few moments that we had to organize all of the drivers to return to the school, my mind was diverted. Sadly it felt good to have something else to think about. I then called my grandmother, who had just had her ninety-second birthday earlier that year; she said as she always had, What do you know? I held back my tears, and sniffled. I asked her, Did you hear? Her reply still brings tears to my eyes, Yes honey, we are at war. Just a simple statement from a woman who has lived through all the wars in history, and the few she has read about. I told her I loved her and hung up the phone. The tears then started rushing down my cheeks. I then called my mother, but there was no answer. All of the cellular phone use had tied up the lines. At this time, I picked up the children, holding back the facts that I became a little girl and wanted my mother to hold me. After work I got into my car and went to my mothers home. She held me as she did when I was a child, and told me Everything will be okay. I smiled because they were comforting words, but would we be I wondered to myself? As she walked me to my car over twelve hours after the first plane had stuck the towers, we both stopped in our tracks. We turned towards each other, and as if we were inside each others heads, we both asked, Do you smell that? We both went silent. I softly uttered the words, It smells like burning flesh. I kissed my mother good-bye, and told her I would call her tomorrow. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. How has the even changed my life? Well, I still get up everyday and brush my teeth. I still go to work and live my life the same way I had done before the attacks on September 11,2001. It has however changed my way of thinking. When things arent going my way or when life seems really hard at that moment. I say a prayer, and thank God to be alive and that I must be here for some greater purpose. I no longer let the little things in life bother me. I am lucky to have all of my family around me. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? My fiancé and I have discussed this issue. We think that everything should be remembered. Not so much the fine details, but the fact that it happened, why it happened, and what we as Americans can do to fight the war on terrorism. Also we think they should build some sort of labyrinth of concrete walls with all of the names of the victims from all of the crashes on it. I have to agree to that to some degree. The only thing I would add to that is if they must charge a fee to view the wall, then at least put the money to good use and help the victims families, especially the children who lost their parents in this tragedy. Create a college scholarship program or something like that. 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 hung a flag, but it did not take this event to be proud I was and American. It only reaffirmed it! My feelings about the American flag have not changed. I am proud to be American. Here everyone is free, I cant imagine living in another country and having those strict rules. To me everyone all over the world should be free, God did not create man to do the devils work! 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 nmah228.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. 2002-08-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 67.208.176.145 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 University Place, Washington, on the West Coast so by the time I left home to go to work the towers had already collapsed. When I got in my car to head for work I heard about the attacks on the radio. I got about a mile and turned around and went home. I turned on the T.V. and spent the entire morning watching the coverage. I emailed work and said I was staying home because I was trying to track down my older sister who was to be in the Sears tower that day (speculation on the T.V. was that the tower was an additional target). However I couldn't bear to continue watching alone and I ended up going in to work just to be around other people. One of my co-workers called and requested that I bring in a set top antenna so we could watch coverage on the T.V. in the conference room that we normally use to watch video presentations on. The entire day people would cycle through to see continuing developments. The universal feeling common to everyone was the utter feeling of helplesness at being so far removed from the event. Everyone wanted to do something for the affect victoms but we couldn't. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I've let go of a lot of things that in retrospect are very minor compared to the events of 9/11. I am much more aware of my fellow man and especially immediatelly afterward would make eye contact with people at the store I ordinarily would not. I now say hello to people I ordinarily might not have acknowledged before. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The way that people came together after the attacks. How in spite of the terrible things that happenned, Americans and even most of the world cooperated in ways that have not been seen in this generation. 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? On the day of the attack I stopped by 3 different stores looking for a flag. They had already been sold out. I ended up taking the flag presented to my family at my fathers funeral (retired military) and displaying that flag. It was, I felt, one of the few things I could do to publically show my support. 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 nmah339.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. 2002-08-20 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 192.103.152.4 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. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Ever since September 11th, I guess I'm a bit more nervous about things. For instance, I'm now a bit morenervous about traveling on an airplane. I also take things a bit more seriously. For instance, if I see a building exploding I don't really find it amusing anymore. Also, everytime I see a fire or a building collapse, in my mind I can picture the events that took place on 9/11. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Personally, I believe that he people who gave their lives to save others should always be remembered. If it weren't for them, a bunch of people would have died. They rescued people, put out fires, and practically did everything in their power to help others. It's a big shame that some did not return to their families and because of that, they should really be appreciated and 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? 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 nmah5075.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. 2002-09-17 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.158.177.178 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 my way home from work. I am an EMT that works for the FDNY at Battallion 39 in East New York Brooklyn. My pager went off recalling me back to the station. At the same time my partner was calling me on my cell phone. He sait " The World Trade Center Was hit by a plane" Well I told him I would meet him back at the station and would wait for him so we could roll out together. I looked up and saw smoke wafting over Brooklyn and smelt fire. I said in my Heart and mind this can't be happening! After arriving back at the station we all were watching on TV as the second plane hit the towers. I knew then that we had moved into a real serious event now. We were listening to the Job go down on the division radio, and a unit from my station was already downtown at the treatment area, when we saw the first tower go down. My heart stopped. And tears came to my eyes, because I knew that many people, in that instant had lost their lives. Included in that number were many of my friends and co-workers. The World Trade Center Towers was a very special place to me and my family, My wife and I have been married for some 20 years now. That was our favorite place to go and to take family and friends. Many pictures and good times have been spent on the observation deck. Many a stolen Kiss was taken at the top of the world. The towers were some of my favorite photographic subjects. I took a picture of them standing tall on September 4, 2001 when I came back from North Carolina comming into LaGuadia Airport. You couldn't help it, they were so beautiful! Little did I know that seven days later they would be gone. I miss them and my many lost friends... no one will ever know how much. 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 Massive loss of life, The loss of relative peace and security in the United States and how the planet as a whole changed on that day. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? 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 nmah1412.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. 24.184.60.255 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 gotten to second hour in my freshman year. The teacher had the television switched onto the news like she usually has it. I sat at me seat and started watching it. They kept replaying the dreadful scene of the airplane hitting into the Twin Towers. The fact of what happened didn't actually sink in until I heard my friends talking about it during the next passing time. I went to third hour. I was completely stunned about what had happened. The rest of the day just seemed to pass by in a single glance. Right when i got home I called my Mom, she lives only 45 minutes away from the airplanes that were hi-jacked flew out. The next couple weeks, more like months, all you heard about was stuff like "What will the President do now?","Did Oama Bin-Laden really do it?", and "Is the U.S. as safe as most people belive?". It was really wierd hearing all these things. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It has changed my life, but no a lot or atleast that is really noticeable. I fly out to see my Mom at least 2 times a year. Since September 11th it takes twice as long to get to the gate. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that the people that died on that day should be remembered. Also all the people that set up the many charities for the September 11th victims. 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? To be honest I didn't fly an American flag. My feelings about the flag haven't really changed much, but my feelings about America has. I used to think that America was as safe and unvalnerable as can be; like we were in a plastic bubble. I relize now that bad things can happen here just as likely as any other 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 nmah1482.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. 68.112.132.188 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 home that morning working on my computer. I was going to go out to lunch with my mother because 9/11 is my birthday. I was watching the "Today Show" when the switched over to the Twin Towers when the first tower was already hit. While watching the first tower, the second plane was hit the south tower. I told my mother to switched to the news to watch it because we were expecting my step father in from Germany that day. We were worried because we didn't hear from him until that night. He got as far as Greenland before the plane was turned around back to Germany. My mother and I watched the news for the rest of the day for complete coverage of the various events unfolding. That day I was getting messages from friends from other states because they heard that a plane went down in Pennsylvania. They weren't sure how close the plane was to me but it was on the opposite side of the state. It was nerve racking being in Philadelphia because of the location of New York City and Washington DC. It was like being in a terror triangle. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It made me more patriotic and apreciated my freedom more then I did before hand. It showed how jealous people can be when they don't understand the privaliges we have in this country. It's sometimes sad how people were on a band wagon then and now they totally forgot that day NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should remember all those fire fighters and police who gave thier lives in trying to save those people in the towers. Also, the people who died in the towers and hope they never 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? At my house we flew a flag before 9/11 and still do. I bought a flag pin and have worn it everyday since on my collar. I love the flag even more then I did before hand 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 nmah6516.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-05-08 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.85.106.222 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 New Castle, Delaware, so I watched the events unfold from a distance, although the television coverage and camera angles made the devastation seem much closer. September 11 on the eastern seaboard was one of the most beautiful days of the late summer. The sky was clear blue, hardly a cloud, warm but not hot or humid. I remember playing with my 23 month old son in our den, watching Nickolodeon, when my husband called from work. "Turn on CNN," he said. "The news websites have all locked up; but we've heard that an airplane hit one of the World Trade Center towers." Depite my son's protests, I changed the channel. It was about 8:50am. What I saw was shocking -- it was being reported as an airplane that could be commercial, could be private, slamming into one of the towers. As I described the scene to my husband, lamenting the poor people in the aircraft and in the tower building, we wondered how any pilot, on such a clear, beautiful day, could make such an error and hit the building. "What is that plane doing there?" I asked. The camera angle showed the first tower burning, and another airplane curving around and slamming into the second tower. "Oh My God!" I shouted. "Another one! It's exploded!" I don't think my husband really believed me at first. Such craziness isn't easy to accept, or understand. But that's when it started to be clear that this was no mere accident, that these planes were flown intentionally into those towers. I watched in stricken horror as the TV played the devastation. Saw the people jumping from the upper floors of the buildings, speeding their death instead of waiting for the inevitable. In my mind's eye I pictured panicked people trying to exit, and the ones above the crash sites having little hope of getting beyond the flames. Then my thoughts turned. My brother and my brother-in-law both travelled frequently for business, and my brother-in-law was actually from NY area. Could they have been on one of the flights? Details of the flights that had crashed were still sketchy, presumably to give the airlines time to speak to families calling about concerned relatives. I called my mom -- she hadn't been watching tv; her & my dad turned on the tv at my call and began watching. She called my sister-in-law; my brother wasn't travelling. We couldn't get calls through to my sister, because calling anywhere in NY state yielded a "Circuits Busy". It was several hours before we were sure he was, thankfully, safe. The day from that point was a nightmare image of television reports. The Pentagon had been hit. Reports of another missing flight, possibly over Pennsylvania. Although physically not close to the danger, I worried over my daughter in kindergarten. By the time I had to pick her up - 11:20 -- both towers had fallen, the plane missing over Pennsylvania had crashed, and the pictures of carnage at the Pentagon were showing up. Every where I went, people were white lipped, pale, quiet. Who would do such a thing? Who could be so cruel, so maniacal, so bloodthirsty and so lacking in humanity, to attack innocent people that way? Friends called, and we talked about what was going on. We had an overwhelming need to try and make sense of what was going on, try to assign blame. We all felt very powerless -I wanted to help those who had lost so badly, but had no immediate way of helping. It was a trapped, lonely feeling. By 2:30, I couldn't watch any longer. My husband's company shut down early - I think I remember Delaware declaring a state of emergency so that businesses could close and people could go home to their families and start sorting through the news. At one point I was beyond tears - it felt like the aftermath of a close family member died, although we'd personally lost no one. My then 5 year old daughter asked for explanations, and I didn't have any to give to her. That night, we went to Mass. I don't even know how we knew there was a Mass at our church - did someone call? I just know that we went, and that the church barely had standing room available it was so crowded. I remember the pastor in tears during most of the service, trying to sort through the horror of what had happened, and what was still happening as people searched for survivors in the wreckage, searched for loved ones, called cell phones and tried to make contact. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I think our lives have definitely changed. We're more cautious, now, and less likely to shrug something odd off as a fluke -- if I were to see someone acting suspiciously, instead of thinking my imagination was playing tricks, I'd tell someone. I'm not stopping my regular activities because of the day - I'm not a big traveler, but I certainly am not going to let the threat of terrorism keep me hiding in my home, fearing the worst. Most people, I think, found where their altruism lies -- not everyone is more considerate, but more & more people seem willing to be helpful, to lend a hand. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should always remember the lives that were lost -- both the innocent victims of the terrorists, and the brave men & women who lost their lives trying to help those victims to safety. I think we should remember all of those who worked at the various sites, because they've seen horrors that most of us can only imagine. We should also remember all those who have gone on to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq - living and deceased. Never forget the lessons learned that day, never forget the people the have worked to bring justice and closure to the day. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, we fly the American flag. While I was raised with respect for the flag, I now have reverence for the principles it stands for. I feel a much deeper commitment to the flag as our national symbol. 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 nmah6560.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. 2004-07-21 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.82.62.42 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. I left for work on Tuesday morning and the thing that struck me most was what an absolutely beautiful day it was. I love New York in the fall. I work at St Vincent's hospital in downtown Manhattan. One of the surgeons called the recovery room from home to tell us that a plane had hit the WTC. He was watching it out his window. We immediately turned on every radio and television that we could find. We couldn't believe our eyes. How did this happen? It's a perfectly clear day outside. This, was not an accident. But, who? Who would do such a thing? I ran to the other side of the building which has a clear view of the trade center. There was the trade center with a huge, gaping hole in the side of it. Our patients were asking us to turn their stretchers around so that they could look out the window (They later would be sorry as they had a clear view of the second plane's impact). It was devastating. Then, over the loud speaker, we heard-Code 3-the external disaster code. No surprise, we had been waiting for the official announcement. As I was walking from one side of the building to the other, the second plane hit. This cannot be happening. We hurried to prepare for the casualties. Set up IVs. Get emergency meds. Sterile sheets, saline, gauze, fluids for the burn patients. Ready the ORs for the traumas. Teams of nurses and physicians braced for the onslaught. I went to look out the window and as I did, I saw Tower 2 disappear. Thousands of lives extinguished before my eyes. I sank to a chair and cried. Quite suddenly, I realized just how many people I knew who would be effected by this and how many may be gone forever. Where is my brother? He's a NYC firefighter. Where is my sister-in-law? She is a NYC police officer, working downtown, at 1 Police Plaza. Oh my God, what about Ed? and Tim? and.....I didn't have time to think anymore. We were getting patients and I had to get to work. It was busy. We didn't eat. It was hard to see all these people. Not only were you handling physical injuries, but also psychological and emotional ones. By the time night rolled around, we were tired but none of us wanted to sleep. We had hoped for so many more patients. The fact that no more patients are arriving is deeply saddening. We kept thinking that someone must be alive down there. Where are all the survivors? By now, I knew that my brother and sister-in-law were okay. They would be working at Ground Zero for months to come. Everyone I was worried about is accounted for. I felt incredibly blessed. I went out for some air on 7th Avenue. Unreal. Cameras lined 7th avenue, military covered the streets. F14s, 16s, Apache helicopters had been flying overhead all day. I feel like I am living in another country. Again, this cannot be happening. I cry somemore. I don't think Ive ever really stopped. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes. I am more appreciative of the life I have, the friends I have, and my good fortune. I procrastinate much less than I ever did. I am prouder than ever to be a New Yorker. I always knew what was truly important in life, but now it is clearer than ever. Love, laughter, friends, family, compassion, generosity, understanding, respect, joy. If you have even some of these things, you are richer than most. Finally, I will remember to never take for granted the freedom that I enjoy and the people who help protect it. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The people of New York City. Their compassion, spirit, and strength following September 11th. The rescuers who lost their lives trying to save others. The outpouring of love from around the world that we experienced. The innocent victims-we should celebrate their lives rather than mourn their passing. The way that we stood as a country, united in our sorrow but also in our resolve. 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 a flag. No, my feelings have not changed. I have always been proud, and felt lucky, to have been born in this country. I have always respected this country, and our flag, even when I might not have agreed with some of it's policies. I grew up listening to my Dad sing God Bless America, with his friends, at every large gathering. I knew the words to that song before I could feed myself. I love this country and that will never change. 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 nmah435.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. 2002-08-26 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 4.20.84.200 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 witnessed 9-11-01, I was in High Point Regional High School my freshman year and i was on my way to third period. As I entered my class the television was on an d there was the world trade center on fire. As I looked at my teacher`s face he had a blank stare and everyone in the class room felt uncomfortable. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It has effected my life in certain ways, when i go to Yankees or GIants games. At the Yankees games you cant bring anyhitng in like cameras and things of that matter. When i go to GIants games, they search you. The television for monthes talked about it. 9-11-01 hasn`t devistatd my life but it sure will in the future. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The after thought of all the americans, and how we all connected. And the thought of our patriotism and things of that such. 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 nmah2921.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. 65.173.80.56