50 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. In English class it started out as just a plane hitting the one tower... They covered it live and then a plane came out of the corner of the screen and hit the next tower. After that happend everyone knew it wasn't an accident. Around the same time the hole thing with the Pentagon was coming on the news. After that everyone was thinking they'd just put out the fire. A little later on the news, they said one of the towers collapsed. When that happend, that made it real for everyone. So not only did they strike the tower, they brought the entire thing down. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It made terrorism real for everyone. Now, none of us are out of reach of terrorism. The hole anthrax scare made it even worse. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? A small group of people could do a lot of damage. It doesn't take a huge country with a lot of power to do a lot of damage. We should realise how vulnerable we are, and learn from it. We need to remember that 3,000+ people died that day, 3,000 everyday ordinary citizens. It wasn't 3,000 soldiers, it was 3,000 moms,dads,brothers,sisters,wives,&husbands. I think about it as a bunch of people going to work and then dying because of something they had nothing to do with. They had to die because of one persons fanatical ideas relating to t he US. They however did not die in vain, they lost their lives and in turn they have brought to light how vulnerable every American citizen is, because of their sacrafice, we now live safer today from terrorism. 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 have any feelings change about the American flag, its always stood for something for me. 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 nmah3669.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. On the morning of September 11th, I woke up at six in the morning and was flipping channels on the t.v. I happen to come across the channel 9 news and saw the first plane hit the first tower. I was shocked. I thought that I was just imagining it all. I thought that I was still dreaming and didn't wake up when it happened. My mom came out of the shower and I told her what had happened. She gasped, put her hand over her mouth, her knees buckled and she fell to the couch. I was shocked. I finally realized that this wasn't a dream and I took in what had happened. I was beside myself. I couldn't believe that something of this magnitude could possibly happen. My dad woke up and he saw the news. All he could say was something that I can't write. You see my dad is a soldier in the Army and he feels that he needs to be with the other soldiers and do what needs to be done. But instead he's stuck here in Tucson recruiting people to join. I could remember the look still on my dad's face, even today. It was a combination of hatred and concern. My heart seemed to sink when the second tower was hit. I couldn't even support myself, even though I was sitting down. My world seemed to crumble. I know a lot of soldiers in the Army and I was afraid for them. I was even more afraid for the people in the towers. I couldn't even begin to imagine what they were going through. My mind's imagination couldn't justify the the horror or nightmarish scene that was taking place for them. I could only wish that they were in the hands of hope and God. I sent all my strength, love, support and hope with all those that were there. That day the base (Davis Monthan Air Force Base)was on big time alert. Traffic incoming and outgoing was awol. My mom, being the overprotective mother that she is, said that we were to stay at home that day. I could understand where she was coming from. I just wanted to be held by my family and to feel safe. I needed the reassurance that I was okay. We stayed home and the whole time I was still in a state of shock. I couldn't comprehend that this was reality. I sat there on the couch for about ten minutes just pinching myself, hoping that it was a dream. My sister came up to me and asked what I was doing and I looked at her and tears fell down my face. And yet I continued to pinch myself. She tried to stop me but I couldn't I had to prove that it was all a bad dream that I needed to wake up from. She finally succeeded and I broke into that harsh reality like a broken mirror and I could even here the shards falling to the ground. All I could do was cry. And then I said....Why? NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I believe that my life has changed. I am more conscience about what happens in the middle east and the military activity that happens. I am afraid that what this 'shadow war' that we have created on both sides, will one day progress into something that neither of us want. When the base goes on alert I get scared and I think that something has happened that we need to know about. I finally realize what it means to be the proud daughter of the American life. And what it mean to be the citizen of the nation that I live in. For all those that died, I hold my head up high and remember that they are with us always. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that the unity and the coming together of all the people: big, small, fat, skinny, young and old alike, white, black, brown and tan is what should be remembered about September 11th. That day brought together a nation and helped us all remember what it means to be human. That human ignorance and stupidity of prejudice was forgotten and all came together to show the true meaning of what it means to be a human being. All of our life we strive to figure out what the meaning of life is or what it means to be a human. But in that moment of tragedy, I saw what it meant to be a human and what the meaning of life truly was. I can't seem to find the words, even now as I write this, but I can say that the awesome power of love and unity that I felt was so overpowering that I was left speechless. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes I did fly the American flag after the events of September 11th. I feel that that flag has a lot more meaning now that it ever has. I always had a respect for the flag and always cherished it. But now I feel even more love, honor and loyalty to it. It is because of that flag that I am free and able to choose what I want to do with my life. However it is also because of that flag that we were attacked in the first place. And yet I feel no ill will towards it. Instead I am happy that that flags still flies. I am moved to say my favorite three verses from a song that I hold to my heart: Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight Over rampart we marched Was so gallantly streaming And the rockets red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night That the flag was still there Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave For the land of the FREE And the home of the BRAVE. 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 nmah867.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-03 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.0.180.39 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 school when this happenend i didn't know this happenend intill it coamed on the tv in second period i felt shocked when i heard about it. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. yes,because i never even know about the twin towers or the pentagon intill i seen it on television but,know that i seen it it infects my life and i'll probably never forget about this event. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? the people that died,the twin towers,the pentagon,and the fire resucers. 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,because now that tragic event happened i believe in the flag now. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah481.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-29 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.191.87.61 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. A kid told me in biology then i watched it on t.v. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Nope NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? nothing 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 well yea my mom did i didn't. 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 nmah3183.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. 64.83.143.13 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 living in Sacramento, California attending California State University, Sacramento on September 11, 2001. The night before, I did something unusual: I turned the ringer off on my phone. When I woke up for class the next morning, I continued to do things out of the ordinary; I did not turn on the tv or my computer to catch the morning news like I did normally. I just grabbed my stuff and headed for the bus stop. During the half hour ride to school, I did not hear any other passenger talking about what happened, so I was still clueless. When the bus arrived at campus, I saw what seemed like the whole student body, gathered at the front of the campus. I saw police directing the traffic jam. I was wondering what was going on. I started walking pass the crowd towards the middle of the campus. I decided to stop someone to ask. When I asked a girl what was going on, she replied that classes were cancelled due to what happened in New York and Washington D.C. and walked away. I thanked the girl silently for leaving me just as clueless as I was before I stopped her. I walked back to the front of the school, to the bus stop, to go back home and while standing there, that is when a more informative student advised me of what happened. She told me that the Twin Towers fell. "What do you mean they fell," I thought to myself. "What do you mean planes crashed into the buildings?" I sat on the bus in shock, trying to understand. When I got home, I turned on my tv and saw for myself. I sat there in total disbelief. I picked up the phone to call my mother, when I heard the beep on my phone that lets me know I have a message. It was my mother, calling just a few minutes after the first plane crashed into the tower. Her voice was filled with fear as she screamed into my phone that the world was ending, that we were being attacked. I wish that I never turned the ringer off. For the rest of the day, I sat glued in front of my tv set like many Americans. I sat there, watching, trying to understand, wanting answers. I don't remember if I went to class the next day. 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 nmah6266.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-15 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 12.219.242.198 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. At the time of the attacks I had finished college and was still bartending in a restaurant. I had the luxury of sleeping in on a regular basis and enoyed it quite alot. The tranquility of this sleep and that way of life was shattered that morning when my roommate called me from down the hall to tell me to turn my TV on. I sat there numb and dumbfounded watching the events unfold. I guess you could say that I had tuned in just in time because right after I did the second plane crashed into the Trade Center and shortly after that the buildings collapsed. That night at work was the slowest and longest shift I ever worked. We closed early and sat watching the coverage trying to put it into a perspective that we could understand. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes. Life has forever been changed. I'm shamed to admit it but I no longer look at people the same. If there is any one thing that I could point to it is this undercurrent of fear that seems to be coursing through the country right now (August 2004). We seem to be hung up and unable to continue with our lives as they once were. I don't think this is in and of itself a bad thing. The reevaluation of our country and our values that this event has sparked and led to some very positive changes, and, unfortunately some very negative consequences. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? As different and diverse as we are in this world, we were able to come together for one brief moment as one. The caring and concern that we felt for each other was true and unforced. It was a vision of the strength of our characters and what it is to be a part of the brotherhood of man. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We flew a flag at our house following the events of 9/11 and then kept it up. It's still there. If there was any one thing that bothered me in the year following was that suddenly everone became super-patiotic to the point of discriminating against people who weren't. So, no, my feelings toward the flag did not change. As a history student and subsequently as a teacher I already had a sense of what the flag has meant to our country thoughout our history. The events of 9/11 served to link my knowledge of history with real emotion. I will forever be able to say where I was and what I was doing on this particular day just like my parents' generation can say where they were when JFK was shot. 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 nmah6580.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. 2004-08-29 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.27.152.23 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. Robert Litvinchuk On September 11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m. (New York time), I still lied on my bed sleeping while the first air plane crash into the world trade center. About an hour later 9:03 a.m., I was awake watching the live coverage of the world trade center attacks when the second plane crashed into the second tower. This destructive image didnt affect me at all. As soon as I turned on the TV, and saw the replayed video of the first plane crash, I knew that this was a terrorist attack, and the start of a whole new fear; Terrorism. I got to school at 7:30 a.m. (California time). Everyone in class was talking about the start of a war against the enemy they didnt know. I corrected them by telling asking them how are you going to have a war if you dont know the enemy? They looked at me funny and rolled their eyes into another conversation. At my age at the time, I was pretty mature about world conflicts and struggles because I was into revolutionary music. My sorrows went out to the families of the diseased, but not to the economy. The world trade center is organized to globalize the world. Globalization is stealing peoples farm land to make a city and force the farmers to work unrest less jobs. In other words, it makes the rich, richer, and the poor, poorer. 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 deaths of the divide americans. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? no Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6820.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. 2004-09-15 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.81.26.75 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 as usual on that morning to wake my girls up for school. This particular Tuesday morning they had a 2 hour late start because of a teachers meeting. I turned the TV on to watch CNN which is what I usually do if I have a few minutes in the morning. I saw the first building already hit, thought it was a accident. Called my girls, 9 and 11 in to watch. Then they along with myself witnessed the second building get hit. Glued to the TV all morning, we watched with fear. Phone ringing, emails going out and coming in. My youngest crying in fear. My oldest watching with curiosity. My youngest did not want to go to school. We took both to school, knowing life had to go on. Feeling maybe a little safer than most living in Iowa. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My youngest couldn't sleep for months without fear of death, the devil, evil. She is still filled with fear about things she never worried about before. I feel her life was changed in a way I am not sure it affected many 9 year olds, miles away with no family being involved. I feel like I have never felt before that the end of the world is going to come due to human hatred! I am sad that my children are living in a world like this. As a child I felt so secure. I fear my children don't feel that way. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The way the world responded to the innocent lives lost. The way we united against the evil of the world! NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We immediatley flew our flag for about 8 months. As a family we put it up. It was our childrens idea. I feel emotional when I hear patriotic songs. 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 nmah299.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. 12.219.216.211 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 history happening on the day of September 11, 2001. I came to school thinking it was a day like any other day, but by third period, I knew I was very wrong. The tv was on in my english class, which rarely ever happened. There was live coverage throughout the day and I saw the second plane crash into tower 2. The only thing on tv was the attacks and the search for who had done it. It was like watching a movie, it seemed unreal. Yet, it was happening in New York City, only about an hour away from the area where I live. I witnessed everything unfold by watching the news. How many people can say they saw history in the making; something that our generation's kids will be reading about in text books. This event is right up there with Pearl Harbor and our country will never forget it. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Since the attacks on September 11, 2001 my life has only changed in small ways. Picatinny Arsenal had high security and was being on srtict watch incase of attack. Going to the airport isn't as fun as it used to be either. There are some many security procedures and on the planes no one really feels safe anymore. One time I even saw a U.S. army convoy going down the highway. People never really talk about seeing army vehicals and troops going down the road, but this time I wasn't very surprised, since we are sort of at war. Things definately aren't what they used to be. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the firefighters and the volunteers who risked and lost their lives to save the victoms trapped in the buildings should always be remembered. I also think that the terrorists tried to tear us apart by inflicting us with fear. But they brought us closer together than before. We should never forget that we are all Americans and if we have to, we will fight to keep it that way. We must always remember those who were lost in the attacks and never give up on the good will of mankinnd. (meghan rath) 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 nmah1926.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. On September 11th, 2001, my day started like any other day. Graduating from High school in June, i was still adjusting to my new work schedule and espcially getting up at 6 a.m. to be on time. I was employed at The Community Medical Center,a Level 2 Trauma Center in Northeast Pennsyalvania about two hours away from New York City. When i arrived at work that morning it was depressing to have to work inside and not be outiside enjoying the last bit of summer. I was the only Orderly on shift that morning and surpisingly i was having a wonderful day with only two or three tasks for me to completer until about 8:30 when the first transport for the Catherization lab came in. I Made my way to the Cath Lab on the Seconjd floor of the facility and was greated by my co-workers preparing for the first procedures of the day. As i was preparing a cot in the corner of the room, my day dreaming was interupted by the gasp of one of the Nurses stating she couldn't believe what was happeneing. Being a inquisitve 18 yr old i had to see for myself. I walked over to the small Tv that people had been watching and was automaticlly speechless. The view of thick black smoke billowing from the Trade Towers was UN-EXPLAINABLE! NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Since i was 16 years old i have been a Volunteer Fireman and have always looked up to the Fireman and Paramedics of the FDNY. To the firefighting world in NEPA, FDNY was a the best fire department hands down in the United States. TRhe bravery that had been shown prior to 9/11 was already a major part of FDNY History and once again on 9/11 FDNY proved why they are the best. From that point on everytime I found myself responding to a fire call I thought of my 343 Brothers who never came back from the WTC Incident. There scarifice makes me feel privleged to be even called a fireman by my peers and makes my fight harder for the cuase we as fireman and other emergency workers(EMS and PD) strive for everyday. 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 nmah5676.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-09 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 woke up late without a care in the world...except for my laundry. I started to wash my clothes when my mom callled and said "isn't this crazy?". I replied with "what are you talking about?", she went on to tell me that the WTC was hit by airplanes. That was all anyone knew. I then proceeded to run to the living room and Dan Rather's voice had become a constatnt sound for two weeks. I watched and recorded everything as it happened. My daugher was in Ohio at the time and all I wanted to do is hear her sweet voice. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed in the effect of caution. I was never afraid of war on our land. I always thought " we are very safe". The events that occured on Sept. 11th completely dissipated any feeling of security I had. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Unity. I think that we should remember the unity that the United States had for their compatriots. I think we should practice it more often. 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 the attacks. However we have been flying our flag for quite sometime before hand. But when I flew it on and after the attacks it was much more than just a 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 nmah74.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. 2002-07-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.40.163.255 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 was in athletics that day and my coach told was all to sit down. I was scared that something had someone in the school are something, but when she said the twin towers had been hit, I was terrified. I would never had thought that nothing would happen like that in the U.S. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes! It changed the way i think about life ahead of me and right now as a 13 year old kid! NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the firefights,the helpers,and the workers in side the building sould be remembered the most. Also the families of all the people that died on is 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! There are many flags in this world but to me the one and only flag in this worl is the American in my heart! 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 nmah552.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. I was in my second hour class when I heard. I would have known in first hour but I left as soon as he said you can go and I wasn't watching the TV. When I walked into my second hour class I saw my teacher standing in front of the TV and went to see what she was looking at. I saw. I was astonished. The rest of my class came in and we spent the hour watching the TV and praying. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life wasn't really impacted because I don't fly and I don't invest in the stock market. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The way the Amerian people bonded together in such a way that I've never seen. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes. my family flew the flag that day. Now the flag means a little more to me. 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 nmah1957.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. 206.176.192.102 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 what happen on september 11 i was scared.Seeing the two planes hit the twin towers like that was unbeliveable.I felt bad for all those people who lost there love ones.Seeing that man jump out of that window right when the crash happened i thought that was the worst thing of all. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes,Because i knew people were meen but not that meen.I don't know why anyone would do it because America is such a great country.It's a place were everyone can be free. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? September 11 should be remembered because of how many people lost there life and even when they did this to us we still stood strong. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes i did fly an American flag.My sisters and i all held the flag and put it up on our house.My feelings tord the American flag has changed alot.I now look at the flag as a sign of faith and hope. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah554.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. I awoke that morning and turned tv on. I was confused, when I watched the first plane hit the tower. Than the reports of the other planes. I was horrified. I stayed in front of my tv that morning in sheer panic. Praying this was all some horrible nightmare. I was in a state of shock, like so many other americans. How could this be happening here? My mind jumped around, thinking of my children, praying for all the families of the victims on the planes. Chills went thru my body as I watched the towers collapse. All I could do is sit and and watch on tv as the tears fell down my face. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I have always been proud to be an american, and have displayed my patriotism by flying a flag outide my home and wearing a pin proudly on my chest. I take it much more personally now, comments other make towards this country. Love us or Leave us!!!! NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? the hero's who lost there lives 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 will continue to fly the american flag outside my home til there is not more breath in my body. Hopefully my children will carry that tradition on. 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 nmah3455.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. 216.135.17.214 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 sitting at my computer doing routine early-in-the-day work as a weather forecaster for WOON, a small AM radio station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. In the background I was listening to a regular 8-9 a.m. local panel show broadcast by our station. Just as the show was coming to its finish the panel moderator said that a troublesome news flash had just come over the wires to the effect that a plane of some sort had hit the World Trade Center in New York. I interrupted my computer work and went out and turned on the news on cable TV. For the rest of the morning I sat kind of hypnotized as each event unfolded on the TV screen. First the second plane hitting the second WTC tower. Then word from Washington that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon. Then reports of a plane having crashed in Pennsylvania. Then each WTC tower falling to the ground. In my heart, for reasons I cannot explain, I has an intense feeling that this was Saddam Hussein seeking revenge for his Kuwait defeat in 1991. I have never abandoned that feeling. I phoned my wife who was at work at the Providence Journal and told her to get to a TV, but she said people in the Journal office were already watching events unfolding. I started to cry on the phone and I said to her, "This is Saddam Hussein. I know it is Saddam Hussein". Many will say I was wrong, that Osama Bin Laden alone was the villain. I cannot shake my initial feeling that morning. I will always believe it was Saddam Hussein and that he planned, collaborated with Al Quaida or whoever he could muster, to carry out what happened that day. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. On the morning of 9/11 feelings were mixed going from rage to being unable to help people in peril to intense pride at the stories of heroism that began to be told. I remember taking a drive throughout my neighboring towns to see people everywhere showing support with lighted candles, flags, flowers and symbols of religious faith. It brought back memories of when I was in grade school and people worked in solidarity during the days of World War II. It made me realize that 9/11 had unified us and started a long journey which could not end until terrorists are brought to their just end, no matter how long that takes. My life, my attitude toward everyone and everything has been changed by 9/11. I once had some sympathy for certain groups in the Middle East but once I saw them celebrating what had happened on 9/11 I changed forever. I do not care what their political agendas are. They have no right to commit acts of terror for whatever the reason. I am a sworn enemy of any terrorist. I wish I were not 70 years old and could go back 40 years and take an active part in the fight. Since I can't go back I will just have to watch out and be vigilant and God help the terrorist who crosses my path. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The great lesson to be learned is that this is a cowardly enemy who fights for no particular government but only for an attempt to stop progress. The terrorists are themselves terrified by the unstoppable flow of information brought about by modern technology. They know that there devilish and outmoded ways are being swept away by the march of time itself. While in such terror, they will seek to inflict more death and destruction upon those who do not conform to their beliefs. Since they are many it will take a long time to being about their demise. Therefore great patience is the first lesson to be learned in continuing the fight against these enemies. Very often I think of the folks who died on 9/11, ordinary folks who were just starting what they thought would be an ordinary day. Very often I think of ordinary folks who that day were called upon to do inestimable acts of heroism and did such acts without a moment of hesitation. Very often I think of TOdd Beamer and his fellow passengers who somehow overpowered the devils on that plane and thus prevented it from crashing into another place where great death and destruction would have occurred. Very often I think of what level of courage it must have taken for all those folks that morning. I am ashamed to think how my own level of courage might pale in comparison to theirs. And so I do only what I can and that is to very often say a quick and silent prayer for all those folks and to try to reach up to heaven and tell them how thankful I am that they did what they did and so renewed our faith in what good people can do and in the way they made me proud to be American. God bless them, God bless you, dear reader, and God bless America. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I have flown the flag on my vehicle since 9/11. I always cherished the flag from childhood. Even at the age of 70 I still will reach down to pick up any flag, no matter how small it is. So 9/11 only intensified my feelings of reverence toward Old Glory. I recall being in the Air Force many years ago and how I felt pride when retreat was sounded each afternoon. If you were outside on the base at the time you were required to face the base flag and render a salute. It was always a special moment for me. It has never changed. The events of 9/11 make the flag even more vital to me. May all those who serve under the flag in the lengthy war on terrorism be protected from Above. 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 nmah6730.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. 2004-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.1.189.21 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I am a high school/middle school music teacher in KY. September 11th began like any other day. I was worried about my high school band being ready for our first competition on the coming Saturday and I was glad that it was such a pretty day, because we would be able to practice outside. I remember walking out of my classroom at the end of second period to monitor the halls during the class change. A group of 6th grade boys came rushing down the stairs, talking excitedly. I heard the words "bombed the World Trade Center and the Pentagon" and wondered what on earth they were talking about. There was a strange, nervous energy in the hall. The teacher across the hallway motioned for me to come to her room quickly. She had the television on. "Look," she said. "Can you believe this?" I stared in disbelief at the sight of the twin towers with flames shooting out of them. In the lower corner of the screen was a picture of the smoking Pentagon. "Oh my God," I said. "What happened?" "We aren't sure," she said. I stood there, frozen in front of the TV, listening to the announcer explain that no one was certain what had happened, just that planes had crashed into all three buildings and that no terrorist group had claimed responsibility yet, but that the planes were American. As I stood there watching, my shock turned to horror as we realized that what we thought were just debris falling from the buildings were also human beings. Suddenly, the first tower began to crumble and then was gone in a huge cloud of dust and smoke. The news anchorman seemed to be in shock as he narrated the events we were watching. About this time, the school superintendent appeared in the doorway and asked us to turn off the television. He said that since we didn't know what would happen next, he didn't want the children to become anymore frightened than they already were. The rest of the day was surreal. When I got home after school, every channel on television was showing the news, even MTV. At band practice that evening many students were missing, some because their parents feared a gas shortage and didn't want to waste gas bringing them to school. During practice, a lone plane flew across the sky and my band kids all screamed and ducked for cover under the bleachers, since they had heard that all planes were grounded. It took several minutes of reassurance from me to convince them that they were safe and we could go on with practice. Parents were worried about our scheduled competition on Saturday, because it was in Richmond, KY, where the Army has a weapons depot that contains nerve gas, among other things. Everything seemed totally up in the air and out of our control. I went to bed feeling that life would never be the same. I fell asleep praying for the families who had lost loved ones and for the rescuers who were searching for survivors. When my alarm clock went off on September 12, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to go, but with the vague memory of a bad dream in the back of my mind. As my brain processed the voice of the radio announcer, I realized that it was not a dream, and that life, in fact, would never be the same. 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 changed dramatically because of September 11th. I lost no family or friends in the tragedy and my livlihood was not affected. However, I watched the lives of many of my students change. The National Guard unit in our small town was the second one in KY to be put on active duty. Less than a month after September 11th, they were transported to Fort Bragg, NC to participate in Operation Noble Eagle. I watched students play their last football game without their dads to watch, I saw little girls cry at school when their dads stopped by to say goodbye, and I saw seniors graduate from high school without a father in the proud audience. I learned that we should never take life for granted, because even on the most spectacularly beautiful days, things can happen to turn our lives upside down. I now try to give thanks for each day, no matter how humdrum and boring. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The things that I will remember the most about September 11th are the fear and feeling of helplessness that I felt as I watched the towers crumble, followed by the feeling of determination that our country would pull together and overcome this disaster. I hope people will remember the outpourings of love, strength, and generosity that came from all over our country and parts of other countries, as well, as Americans united to help each other recover from the horror of this tragedy. 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 was up past midnight of September 11th, watching the news, trying to realize that this wasn't some Tom Clancy novel made into a movie. As I flipped from CNN to CBS, Dan Rather was summarizing events and editorializing his feelings. He said all Americans should fly the US flag with pride to let the terrorists know that we will not be kept down. I always hang a huge flag on my porch on July 4th, along with about 6 smaller flags that I put in my geranium pots on my steps. I immediately took Dan Rather's advice and went to the closet. Although it was dark outside, I went out and hung my flags. They are still out there today, waving cheerfully in the light breeze. I purchased these several years ago, to use on the 4th, and I don't know what company made them, but they have held up extremely well, and are not tattered at all. I plan to leave them outside until they are worn. Then I will replace them with new flags. The American flag will always be a part of my landscape now, to remind everyone who sees it that our country cannot take its way of life 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 nmah704.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. 2002-08-31 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.96.203 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 oldest son Brian is a United States Marine. At that time Brian was assigned with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. We live in Northern California and he was just ending his ten-day leave to head back to Camp Lejeune, NC to begin a six-month float to the mediterranean. We left our home at 5:45 a.m. to head to Sacramento to catch his flight back. We had stopped by a drive-thru coffee shop for a mocha and hot chocolate for the long ride to the airport. At 6:00 a.m. I overhear one of the young ladies tell the other young lady about an airplane that hit the World Trade Center. I thought to myself, "Wow, what an unfortunate tragic accident". I thought it might have been a small aircraft that possibly flew too low or maybe lost direction, etc. I had no idea. (I never could have imagined in my wildest dreams the magnitude of what had just happened, even after seeing it on TV later that day). The thought was quickly dismissed as we got out onto the highway heading to the airport. I visited with my precious son as we traveled along, listening to CD's, just enjoying the last of his visit, talking about how the next six months were going to be for him at sea and in new countries. It was a very overcast and near drizzly day. We were approximately 40 minutes to the airport when my husband calls on my cell phone and tells me there has been a horrible accident in New York. He asked me if I had been listening to the radio and the news. No, we had not. He proceeds to tell me the airport would be closed and we needed to return home. New to this whole military thing, I felt I needed to get my son to the airport so he could "check in" with someone as proof he at least tried to return. No such thing....the airport was indeed closed, only open for those to pick up loved ones. We turned on the radio and the horror began unfolding. We listened to Dan Rather over and over and over telling the account of the horrific tragedy that changed our world forever. When we finally arrived home, we turned on the TV. I had been hearing the verbal accounts on the radio all morning, but I was not prepared for what I visually saw on the TV. I cried and cried. My heart went out to all those people who lost their lives and those who were there to actually witness this disaster. I felt such pride in my son and the path he had chosen. Yes, our lives have certainly changed, never to be the same again. My faith in God has deepened even more. I felt blessed that I had Brian with me another three days and that he was not just out there in the United States somewhere after the President ordered all planes grounded. It was so strange to not hear the sound of a plane overhead for several days. Brian was able to get back to NC four days later. Once back in NC, he worked around the clock to finish readying for his deployment to the Med. Ultimately, he ended up in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) on the hunt for al-quaida. He was deployed for seven months, during which time we had very little contact with him. I am so proud of him! My faith in God sustained me through this ordeal. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I feel a deeper spiritual awakening, I no longer take many things for granted. I appreciate even the little things in life and let the insignificant 'problems" in life slide. Even though I have always been a Christian believer, my faith has grown even more. Thank you, Jesus! NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? All those special people who lost their lives and those who cared for the injured. The courage, the bravery and the patriotism of our great country. May God continue to bless America! NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We have always been a patriotic family and have flown the flag. Now I have added the Marine Corps 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 nmah5405.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. 2003-01-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 63.150.12.41 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 South Carolina, but will never forget that day as long as i live. I was at the University of SC at the time and was in my dorm taking my usual break in between my classes. I turned on the tv, which is something i never do at that time of morning, just in time to see the second plane crash into the towers. My roommate and I just stood there in horror as we watched it unfold before us and i remember thinking this has to be a bad dream and i will wake up at any second. We stayed glued to the tv until it was time for class again, where we watched some more because quite a few of my classmates were from NYC. One even had a family member who worked in the school that was not far from the towers. I remember them trying every cell phone that they could get their hands on and not being able to get through. Just the terrified looks on their faces made you feel so helpless. Classes were not cancelled that day though you could miss if need be, but it seemed like everyone was trying to get away from the endless news coverage. The state house is not far from the college and i remember everyone was very nervous about walking to classes. They still even held football practice that day, but everytime a plane flew over, everyone would look up at it, then look at each other as if they didn't know what to say. I will never, ever forget sept. 11th, the horrors we witnessed, the anguish we felt, and the utter sense of hopeless we had to face being thousands of miles away. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed since sept. 11. For a while there, I was afraid to go into elevators or tall buildings, my mind flashing back to the falling towers, or the planes crashing into them. People were alot more cautious around school, work, even the grocery store as if we expected the United States to fall apart at any moment. I think we came together more as a country and i feel a certain amount of pride everytime i see a firefighter or policeman, or see the red, white, and blue fluttering in the breeze. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that the heroes of that fateful day should be the ones to be remembered as well as the innocent victims that lives were cut short. We should not focus so much on the fact that this was a terroist attack, but reflect on the people's lives that were changed by this tragedy and the ones that were able to survive thanks to brave men and women who risked their lives doing the very thing that they loved. It takes alot of courage to go into a building that you know could possibly be that last one with the intent to save someone's life, even if it means that you have to give up yours. 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 personally did not fly one after sept. 11th. I watched everyone else pull out the flag, or go run out and buy one, but to me, the flag has always flown in my heart. I still watch it proudly whenever i see one, fluttering in the breeze, and think of the one that was hoisted high above ground zero. It is a symbol of freedom, of people willing to sacrifice their lives to help a total stranger. It is a symbol of hope for all americans. 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 nmah5699.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.211.77.78 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. 9-11 was a day that i will never forget, its something that no one will ever forget. How did i witness it well thats a question that i have been asked alot latelly and im sure i will be asked years from now. I was in my second hour class at my high school Monticello High. Algebra to be exact, we were all just doing our work when a man came in and started talking to my teacher Mrs.Hadfeild, he talked in a very low serious voice and it seemed to make the class room uncomfrtable. We knew something was up but we never thought that it would be that serious. As he left the class room our teacher returned to the front of the class room and started to explain to us in tears what had happend... the Twin towers had been bombed. We all just kind of got quiet as she turned on the t.v. we listen and watched and them to our horror we watched live as the second plane crashed into the other tower, at first we thought that we were just seeing a replay but then someone mentioned from the silence that the bottom of the screen said "live" the poeple on the news station became quiet and then we all relized that what we saw was real and did really just happen, for the first time i acaully saw freshman boys be quiet and acually act mature. As we left our class rooms every one was in awe, every one had so many unanswered questions and confusions some worrys, and some thoughts of loss. As the day ligered on we watched the T.v in every class, we watched as our president spoke to the nation, with hopes of finding the person behind this and making them pay. In some classes we even wrote papers on this day so we would have them to remeber that day and what we really felt like. This is one thing that i will never ever forgt but the biggest thing was watching our nation comeing together as one and all the flags and things. My dad who travels alot was in Kansas City on the 11th, he was driving on his way home and he drove across this little brige, there was a little old man sitting on the bridge holding and American flag, he said that it brang tears to his eyes. It also brang tears to mine when he told me about it. It was things like that, that made me relize what a great country the United States is to live in and how wonderfully we came together. I will never forget this day and what people went through. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, my life has changed greatly since the 9-11 attacks. every time i hear the national athem, or any song that has to do with the Untied States and the 9-11 attacks it remindes me of all the people who risked their lives to save people in those burning towers and also for the inocent people who had no idea that, they were going to die that day in what happened to be one of the worst i think terroist and most devistating. i belive that now we have come together and have the power to go get them back in hopes or protecting the United States. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that all the people who died in the 9-11 bombing and all the brave people who tried to save as many as they could, even the people on the planes im sure there are more heros than we will ever know. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes my family and I did go out and buy and a american flad and hung it on our front proch. Let me tell you after 9-11 a american flag was hard to find! I think that the american flag represents the people who died in the bombings and the people who died tring to save them. Also for the United states of America the strongest counrty in the world. GOD BLESS 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 nmah1467.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. 32.103.141.236