55 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 sick that day so I watched it on TV all day by myself. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It really hasn't. Maybe the first week but it is all back to normal for me. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should remember how much we were brought together after it happened. 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 feeling of the flag is the same. I felt the same way for it before the attacks. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah2093.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.144.8.173 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. My name is Matt Owens and i was in Mrs. Penhale's classroom last year when the first plane hit. we had heard of something about the twin towers so we got online to look and see. when we turned on the t.v. i saw the second plane hit the world trade center. chill bumps ran down my spine and everyone gasped we didnt know what was going to happen next. the news corresseponder that was on the television set said there was one more plane in the air somewhere over pennslyvania. i was tottaly horrified. i didnt know what was going to happen. then over the intercom i heard my name being called to check out. i went to the office where i saw my mom in tears she said the pentagon had been hit too, and as we went home we listened to the president over the radio about all the chaos going on in the united states that day. i actually thought we were going into world war 3 i was scared to death. i thought i was going to die. and i defintly thought the end of the world was near... NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has defintly changed since sept. 11. i cant say the u.s. was so together and joined like they are now i am actually proud of the u.s. and the way weve handled this tragedy. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? all the lives taken in vain. all the babies growing up now with out fathers or mothers. 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 my flag proudly. yes of course theyve changed i havent relized till than how much all this means till 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 nmah3743.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 216.109.3.68 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On the morning of September 11th 2001, I was in school at the Monticello High School. I was in Math class, 2nd hour. The principal of our school came and talked to our teacher in the hallway for a brief moment. When Mrs. Hadfield came back into the classroom, she finished up reviewing the lesson for about 5 minutes. I don't know how she kept silent about it for those 5 minutes. Then she broke the news by saying "Something is happening right now that will change history. It will change your future, the world, and it will go into the history books of the United States of America." She turned on the t.v. The first tower had been hit. We thought it was an accident. The frightened news woman told us that it was terrorists. Then, with the nation's eyes on the flaming tower, a plane flew into the second one. I was in Minnesota, yet saw it live with my very eyes. I will never forget those terrible moments, which live vividly in my mind, and i will remember it forever. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed in the way that I don't trust arab countries, and still, though I try, some Arab people. I realize how lucky I am to have family alive, and i realize who the real heroes in this day and age are. Amen to the firefighters, people of New York city, and the men of Flight 93. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The people who died innocently, who gave their life on their own will, and how it pulled our nation together. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We did before, and still after. I love the flag more, i realize what it stands for because I experienced it's true glory, not did i just read about it in a history book. I absolutely love the American flag and our great country. It's the best in the world! 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 nmah1011.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-04 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.38.88.191 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 remember when I was on the St. Charles River in Boston, observing the Boston Pops for Independence Day fireworks, I was thinking that 225 years was a ripe time for a empire to get challenged. Why, I don't know. To think that I flew of the same airport that the two planes that destroyed the World Trade Center, only two months earlier, is a little errie. On September 11, 2001, I awoke on the West Coast to a Breaking Newscast. The first thought that came to mind was, what plane crashed now? The prior breaking newscasts I remembered featured a plane crash, and I was paranoid to fly because of them. So, I come to TV and see the WTC on fire. Now, I must be the only American that did not know what the WTC was! I had heard of the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, but I had no clue that they were tallest buildings in America. I turned off the TV to go to work. 2 planes were still unaccounted for; one of them was destined for the airport near where I work. I briefly turned the TV back on for an update and saw that the South tower had fallen. I went to work that morning wondering about those 2 planes. I drive by SFO Airport everyday, but this particular day SFO was closed. First time I had ever seen it like that. I went to work and my manager had a briefing with our staff to discuss what had happened. Within an hour at work, we learned that the other two planes were now accounted for, one hitting the Pentagon and the other crashing in Pennsylvania. By this time, the second tower had collapsed. Later that night, I went down to the bay front, where planes usually come into SFO like fireflies to a campfire. The sky was dark. For the first time in so many years, the local beachfront actually got a night of sleep. Well, perhaps they were like me, glued to the TV in awe of what had just happened that day. I jumped online later and checked the fatalities to see if I knew anyone. Fortunately, when all four planes were headed to my home state (California) and I knew native New Yorkers, I discovered that I knew none of the dead. I did a check on my last name, and found a firefighter, a year older than me, who died with the first name of my friend from New York and my name as the rest of his name. Thanks to Internet, I was able to research him and discover what fine hero he really was. I couldn't do that with Pearl Harbor. To see an event that I had feared for 17 years actually happen, as New York was often the folklore target of Nostradamus prophecy, is beyond words. In late August, I had already been in grief for the late R&B singer, Aaliyah, and I didn't even meet her. My sympathies and best wishes go out to the all the families that lost loved ones at the WTC. I raise two fingers in a victory sign and say, Fight On and God Bless! NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I was paranoid long before 9/11 about the possiblity of 9/11. But, now, thanks to our dear media, I worry about the subway, biological and chemical attacks. I am uneasy in large public places, but what scares me more is that we have a smart enemy and our media plays right into their hands. I feel as though the enemy is using the media's desire to inform people against us by knowing that we will distribute it to a large audience and further analyze how it should work. Scary times, but life goes on. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I have always admired that one true thing about life is the positive always partners with the negative. Before 9/11, our country was divided. We were protesting our President and screaming voter fraud. We were gambling our life savings on internet fantasy companies and watching them crumble in the internet fallout. When this huge negative happened, a tremendous positive rose from the ashes. Our country united like never before. Our fellow Americans raised record donations to help out the victims. A city that was known throughout the world as a business comes first attitude, became a city of comraderies and the discovery of a true leader, in the mayor, Rudy Guliani. I think people should remember 9/11 as the day when in our darkest moment, our country rose to occasion and demonstated to the world the testament of the American people. It was a sad day, but it was also an event that united our country. The threat to our security had alwasy been there; only now we have a reason to believe the threat. But, every negative has it's positive and that's what I intend to reflect upon in the coming years. 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? Absolutely. I say the Pledge of Allegiance with more authority now, and I admire the sacrifice our military is making to defend our country. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3044.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. 12.236.82.208 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 the September attacks by the news,my parents, and teachers from school. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life hasn't really changed but hearing the storys of people that were in the building at the time of the attacks makes you wonder or worry, incase it happens again, that maybe it could happen to you or your family. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think mainly the people should be remembered because they didn't deserve it and they were just doing there jobs. We should also remember the people that did not die but got hurt. 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? Well my family and I now have flags on our vehicles, and hanging from our window in the front of our house. In a way they have but not to the point to where I spend all of my time reminencing on 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 nmah2108.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.144.8.173 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in 8th grade the year that september 11th occured. When I woke up that day for school walked down stairs and I saw my mom watching TV in the living room (which often doesnt happen so early in the morning). I walked into the room and I saw on that one of the twin towers was on fire in result of a head on collision with a plane. I immediately became glued to the TV as i watched as crowds began form in front of the buildings. Then suddenly a seconded plane crashed into the second tower thus indicateing that the first crash was not an accident. Suddenly fear rushed through my body, being only 13 at the time i was devistated to think that we were being invaded. Though my residence was so far from NYC (I lived in Orange County, CA), I i felt somewhat discomfort and the thought that the superior country of United States of America was some how eing ambushed. Although I may have been over reacting, probably as a result of being a young naive adolescent, I went to school that day not knowing was would happen next. A few girls at my school were crying because of the horrible event, i but refused to shed any tears. I am just thankful that none of my family of friends were there at the Twin Towers or Pentagon. My heart goes out to those vistoms families. 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 nmah6703.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.71.138 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 it happend. The time was about a quarter after nine thirty when I first heard that two planes had hit the twin towers. I was in shock because I have never been around or seen something this devestating. Then we heard that another plane had hit a side of the Pentagon. After we heard about that we heard that another plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. I thought what the heck was going on. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed a little now. I am afraid to fly in planes. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that all the people who died should be remembered. And that the twin towers, the Pentafon, and the field in Pennsylvania should realy be remembered. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We had an American flag on our house after what happend on 9/ll/o1. 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 nmah4889.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.108.204.40 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. One of the residents of the Health Care Center where I work had the tv on in the lobby. I was watching the reports of the first plane collision when I saw the second collision and realized this was no accident. For the remainder of my work day I kept the radio on by my desk, wondering how many targets would be hit. That evening I watched tv at home and saw which area churches were having prayer meetings. I picked one and went to pray with a standing-room-only crowd. I had a deep desire to memorialize this loss of lives. Over the next few weeks this poem developed in my being: Holy Smoke Twin towers-- funeral pyers. Common cremation of ninety nations. Communion of ash: Sacred mass of the massacred. Bread unleavened of nine-eleven to the world served. Kathryn McKee Hendrix funeral pyers=unwilling incineration of the living. ninety nations represented among those lost. communion of ash-we all breathe the air they became. bread unleavened=the rapid departure of a large number of people as in Exodus 12:34 &39. 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 nmah6440.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. 2004-02-15 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.191.243.131 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 woken up as if it was just another day, late as usual. I rushed through my daily routine with music blaring from my stereo, suddenly I hear, Oh my god…(moment of silence)…Ladies & gentlemen, we just received reports of an airline jet crashing into the World Trade Center… from the DJ of the station I was listening to. So after hearing that, I ran to the television in the living room and changed from news channel to new channel watching as history was tragically being made. The thought of a terrorist attack or who was responsible for all this never crossed my mind. I instantly thought of the numerous lives lost in the planes and those who where trapped inside of the buildings. Shocked, I just stopped getting ready for school and planted myself on the couch, watching the replays and reports as the came flowing in. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed drastically after/during the September 11th attacks. My sense of nationalism & gratefulness for my personal freedom and rights has increased significantly. To see nations with hardly any rights attack the U.S. so harshly just because they despised our ways made me open my naïve eyes to see how grateful I should be to have such freedoms & rights. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The most memorable thing of September 11th should be the lives lost during the attack. Not only the lives of the victims abroad the planes and those that worked in the World Trade Center, but those that put their lives on the line by answering the call of duty. They sacrificed their lives in order to save and protect others at the cost of their own. They saw it as their job and did it without hesitating. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? The American flag has always been a symbol of nationalism, freedom, and liberty, but since the 9-11 tragedy, the meaning is still the same and it shouldnt have changed at all. We were America before, arent we still America now? Yes we are. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6821.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. 68.125.211.232 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I lived in Chicago and was only 11 years old at the time but what happened will stay with me forever. I was in my first period class when the principal came on the intercom and asked that the teachers turn on the classroom TVs to a news channel. I thought nothing of it, but I remember the fear in the principals voice on the intercom. We turned on the televisions and saw the plane hit the tower and the people running and screaming. When my teacher explained to us what the World Trade Center buildings actually were and that it was a terrorist attack my mouth dropped. We had to go to our second period but I couldnt concentrate, I kept thinking of what a tragic thing had happened. As I stepped into my third period classroom I saw the second plane hit the other tower on the TV. It was terrifying and I was so worried about my mom who was working in downtown Chicago, because it was the only other big city I knew of that might be a target. I didnt sleep that night and was thinking about the kids my age that lost parents and family that day. The next day I got a e-mail from my cousin who was on business in New York and was only a mile away from the buildings when it was happening. What if she had been sight seeing and visiting the towers and not in the office building? I could have lost her forever. My school came up with the idea for every person to bring a teddy bear to school, then we wrote notes to the families who lost family members and we tied the notes around the bears necks. We sent boxes and boxes full of teddy bears to New York and I felt a little better. Every year on this day I remember, cry, and think of the day I could never forget. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The events that took place on Sept. 11 did not and I don't think will change the basics in my life. I know for sure though that it will change forever my perspective on different things like our country, terrorism, education, and the freedom to make choices. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Everything, the people who died, the fire fighters, police officers, the people of New York. The day should always be remembered as a day to grow stroger as a country, and to stick up for America. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, infront of my house, at school, and I even put a flag in my bedroom. Yes, I belive that as long as we keep the flag soaring high we will be ok and will stick together as a country, all 50 of our 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 nmah6196.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 67.162.52.19 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. nine eleven traveling © 2002, Dave Doran I'm traveling alone throughout Mexico, having just crossed the Sea of Cortez on a (very cool) 18-hour ferry ride from La Paz to the state of Sinaloa. On the morning of 9/11, I walk into the Internet café I'd gone to the night before, and the same young clerk- not more than a kid, really- is there. He has the TV on. I see an image that I will always remember: the first Tower burning, the second Tower not yet damaged. He asks me if I know what's going on. I don't have a clue; I'm thinking that maybe it's a building in Mexico City. Even though I grew up in New York, I don't want to recognize the Twin Towers. He tells me in Spanish. I understand the words, but I don't want to hear the truth. And then the news announcer says it in a different way, with different words, as if to get it through my head. To hear such an incomprehensible thing in a different language gives me an easy out: I just figure I translated it all wrong. I quickly get on the Internet, and go to US news websites. I read bold, screaming print. I sit in stunned silence. The kid-clerk is transfixed on the television, but asks me to translate website content for him. We are alone. I stay for about two hours at the place, me and the young kid in shock, watching both Towers crumble. An Australian woman comes in, and asks me in English if I know any more about the attacks. She can tell by my NY accent that I'm from the States. She tells me that a friend of hers in London has just e-mailed her with the news that a dozen airplanes flying in US airspace are still unaccounted for. I start to get frightened that there will now be even more attacks. When she asks if I'm okay, it all hits me- hard. I start crying. Bawling. I have almost never cried in public before- definitely not under the threat of Mexican machismo- but now I don't care. Both the Australian and the Mexican come over to me, yet not as Mexican or Australian. They come with no agenda, no pretense. They rub my shoulder and hug me and say kind, reassuring things in both Spanish and English. Now we're all starting to cry, and I in turn help to comfort them. I then realize this is not a national tragedy, it is a human obscenity. The kid has become a young man by virtue of experience. It is a strong, hugely comforting moment, and I am a little less afraid, and at once startled by their compassion. I feel safe with total strangers because we are human during an inhuman event. I leave, and wander into a pharmacy. I see an elderly couple who could be from the US. They're actually from Mexico City. They've heard about it, and I stammer. It's really very overwhelming by now- it's starting to sink in- particularly since I'm alone, out of the country. The gentleman comes over to me and clasps his hand firmly yet tenderly on my shoulder. "Toda de la gente mexicana esta con Ustedes" he says. I feel his warmth. He's in my life for four minutes, and yet I can trust this man. I go sit on the beach. I've traveled alone to foreign countries before, but I've never felt scared or lonely. Until now. A thick wave of fear covers me, and I feel a hot surge in my stomach as if Im about to vomit. I'm not afraid of being in Mexico. I'm afraid of the evil. In the marketplace, a very old Mexican man slowly approaches me, looks me straight in the eye, and in his best English says "I'm sorry". He leaves before I can barely utter "Muchisimas gracias." The hotel clerk sends a basket of fruit and some chocolate to my room, for my "painful heart". The waiter at dinner buys me a brandy. A young Mexican couple seated next to me secretly arrange to have my bill paid, and invite me for a drink and dessert at their table. A fruitseller tells me Mexican President Vicente Fox will postpone all upcoming Mexican Independence Day celebrations, out of respect for the US. The heavily armed soldier who is inspecting the bus back to Tijuana asks for my papers, and then offers heartfelt, impassioned condolences for my country. I impulsively salute him because I want him to know how much I appreciate his care. I salute him because he deserves the respect. I salute him because he is protecting his country. On 9/12 I'm talking, in Spanish, with a cigarette vendor in the hot, dusty marketplace. His small TV keeps repeating video footage of the Towers' collapse. Three young guys with giveaway San Diego accents come near, and ask what's going on. They've been traveling on a "chicken bus", and just got into town. I feel a strange sense of responsibility to break it to them gently, yet clearly. The vendor, who speaks no English, can tell they do not yet know. He listens and watches as I tell them. I start with the Twin Towers. I add the Pentagon. The youngest one with the thick, shiny brown hair then opens his eyes and mouth in fear, as I end it with the rural PA crash. I feel sick again. They curse in disbelief, and watch the footage. The tall blond guy asks many questions. The Asian guy keeps repeating the F word. The vendor says nothing and watches us. The youngest kid cannot look at the TV, and turns away to wipe tears with his sleeve. Any more words are useless, so I quietly leave. I come home early because I miss the USA. I am so homesick, like never before. I have a tattoo in Arabic on my forearm, crafted by my Palestinian friend in San Francisco. I'm afraid for him, and I've twice had the same nightmare that he is attacked by a mob at his workplace. I decide to not wear a longsleeve shirt in 95-degree heat in the three-hour pedestrian line at the Tijuana border. I have nothing to hide, but I expect an interrogation. I get a sigh of relief out of the INS worker, who tells me that he's always happy to see a US passport like mine- since it makes "checkout" so much easier, instead of the usual onyx-seeking daytrippers who only hand him a CA driver license as their identity card. Surprisingly, I am not detained, and I step into San Ysidro, into the USA. I feel so happy and appreciative to be back home. I feel so touched by the Mexican people, by their love and authenticity and care for a total stranger. But above all else I remain so very sad. 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 nmah5621.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-08-30 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 63.164.145.198 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. My cousin Megan and I were sitting in math class doing our homework when our principal came in and talked with our math teacher. I remember looking at them and wondering what was going on. We had noticed teachers running around all morning, and we weren't quite sure about what was going on. My teacher then turned on the tv, and we all watched in horror as a replay of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center flashed across the screen. At first I didn't think it was real. I couldn't see how some one could do such a horrible thing. We all stopped with our homework and our eyes were glued to the screen. I remember watching as thousands of terrified people ran down the roads to get away from the smoke and falling debris. I was so shocked that this happened. We all almost felt like crying. I also live in the same town as a nuclear power plant, and many were stating that there was a chance that they would go after those. That thought scared me to death, since my mom also works in that building. I went home that night and immediately turned on the tv. I couldn't concentrate on anything. I wanted to watch the tv the whole time for updates. I was filled with so much anger and that I wasn't able to think about school. I can't believe people could have so much hate that they would kill that many innocent people. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life, as well as the lives of many others in the United States has definitely been changed. We have been raised to a high level of security now, especially near the nuclear power plants and in the airports. It seemed as though at first, no one had trust in eachother. People were not only scared, but some also became mean to muslims that live in our country, which I think is terribly wrong. They may be of the same religion as the terrorists, but that doesn't mean they agree with what happened. While many were angry, I think most of the United States came together. It seemed as though for a bit, everyone was so kind to one another, and eveyrone was always willing to help. I still wish it was that way, but eventually, everything went back to normal, which isn't totally bad. People have became more relaxed once again, but we seem to have lost the unity we once had many months ago. I still look at the American flag and I am proud to be in this country, and I am especially proud of how much strength our country has shown. We stuck together and didn't let something as awful as this break us down. We are going to fight this out and show the rest of the world that we are truely the one of the greatest countries in the world. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that we should remember all of the lives that were taken that day. So many innocent lives were taken, and we should remember that. We should also remember all of the heros on that day. There were many firemen who went in to save lives, but had their lives taken away from them. Also the passengers on the flight that crashed. I believe that they were fighting with the terrorists to stop them from crashign into another building and I also feel that they should be remembered. We shoudl all remember about how lucky we are to be living here, and how great of a country we have. 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 put up a flag after September 11th. Now when I look at the flag, I really stop and think about what it really means. We are all free in this country to make our own decisions, which is something many other countries dont like. We are extremely lucky to be living in the United States, and I'm proud to say I live here. 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 nmah1541.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. 205.188.209.43 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I witnessed the events from my classroom TV at William E Waters Middle School in Portsmouth, Virginia with my 27 sixth grade students. Mrs Link came down and said to turn on the TV, that a plane hit the World Trade Center. I turned it on and then realized that I was sharing this with the students and I felt extremely out of control. I really did not know what to say and I thought that it was some kind of accident until the second plane hit. I then had a really bad feeling that it was planned. I tried very hard to not cry or show any extreme behavior to the students. When the we found out about the Pentagon bombing I went out into the hall to talk with Mrs. Boggs to see if her husband was in Washington today. He wasn't in Washington. He was safe. I also feared for my wife's grandmother who was to fly to Virginia that day. She was safe on the ground in North Carolina. I watched with my students for the rest of the day. The seemed to be about wanting safety for everyone. I wanted to know that everyone in my life was safe. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I feel that I need to watch the government even more. Though it is not the government's fault for September 11th, they helped create an environment of hate by allowing our oil greed to get in the way of democracy. Since all politics is local I am involved in my neighborhood civic league. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I feel that the building should be rebuilt. I think that we need to stand above this barbaric act and build the building again to show that we can not be overcome. I think that we should remember the people who have lost their live trying to save people. The firefighters, police, and other emergency people gave their lives like soldiers on the front lines. 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, after we found one to buy. All of them were sold out, except for foreign made ones. I just wanted an American Flag made with American hands. I have even deeper feelings for the flag, and I enjoy saying the pledge with my students every day. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah1539.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. 67.200.170.106 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. When I first heard about what happend I was in English class Mrs. Ross said a plane had crased into The World Trade center. We went to lunch, I didn't think much of it because I didn't know what the world trade center was, and how important it was. Are teacher never told us it was a terrorest attack, I never found that out intill I got home. When I got home I just did what I always do went into my room to play video games and talk on the phone. It never clicked intill my mom wanted to go with her to get gas and she told me about the effects of what happened. The next morning I found out that the gas prices wernt going up and everything was fine. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I would have to say that 9/11 has just altered my life a little since i'm in Ohio and they never did that her. The only thing that changed my life was the fact that flying is has changed for me. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? All the people that dieed and there family's. 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 an American Flag at half mast for about a month. My feelings about the American Flag have not changed. 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 nmah2258.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.144.8.173 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in relgion and my teacher said that the world trade center was hit by a airplane and that the airploanes were hijacked by the terorist. I didn't really know what was going on untill I went home and and turned on the T.V. and saw it. I was very scared. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, I never really thought this world was a scary and harmful place untill September 11. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that they said explain agian what happened and the people who died so that they can also be remembered. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, our family went to K-mart and bought a flag. not really I 'ev thought of it as a patriotit sysbol. 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 nmah2736.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. 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. I live in Fountain Valley, California so I only experience 9/11 through television. But it's still affect many people at my schoool. At the time, I went to Masuda. On that day, I was just about ready to go to school when my uncle told me to watch the news. I walked downstairs and on the television screen, I saw smoke that filled up one of the twin towers while another twin tower was being hit by another airplane. At first, I was in a state of mind where I started not to believe it, but once the news crew played those scenes over and over again, it started to sink in. I was frighten and I was angry at whoever done this to us. When I arrived at school, the students that arrived early than I did were talking about the attacke. Some were worried and I even saw a student crying because her dad was in New York and might have been hurt. The thing that angered me the most was when I saw a couple of kides joke around about it. We saw a plane in the sky above our heads and they were laughing that it was going to hit us so we should go run away. I thought it was very immature to joke around like that. Other kids thought it was immature also and told them to stop being disrespectful. Afterwards, we went to class and my teacher made an announcement. He said that we shouldn't make up rumors about the whole attacke and we should try to move on through our day because there are people out there that are trying to figure out this tragedy. The whole day was not like any other day before. People were not themselves and it was too bizarre for me. School ended and people were still in a weird state. Personally, I was simply out of it. I couldn't laugh or smile like I used to. I didn't like to talk about the subject with anyone. I just wanted to think about the situation. I went home and did my homework and watched those awful scenes play over and over again. Seeing those people jump out of those buildings were just terrifying. I had goosebumps the entire week just thinking about it. And now that I think of it, everytime it would replay in my mind, I would still get those goosebumps. 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 nmah6762.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. 2004-09-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.74.191.193 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was sent to the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross to help in answering the overwhelming number of calls to the hot line. Half way through the training someone came in and named 20 people, to go to the Pentagon and 20 to go to New York City (NYC), the World Trade Center (WTC), I was on the Pentagon's list. At lunch several people were going over the new plan and I over heard an older gentlemen saying that he could not go to NYC it would be too hard, and he did not want to let his chapter down by not being able to handle that trip. I said I would trade trips and go to the NYC WTC. I had no idea what I was in for or how it would forever change my life. So that is how I ended up in NYC right after that awful day. I was assigned to a special unit there of only 8 caseworkers. We were sent to Staten Island to a Retreat location. Our assignment was explained as follows: you will only see the emergency workers families and survivors (but we did see a few other people though.) The reason for this location is so the news media would not seek out and find family members standing in the lines to get help and expose their personal suffering on the news papers or TV, this problem grew and that is why this location was picked, on private property. Our team of ARC caseworkers worked side by side with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) counseling unit and the New York Police Department (NYPD) Staten Island Special Units Department. The eight of us had a wonderful working relationship with both departments. Between the two departments they had made arrangements to pick us up in the mornings from our hotels and takes us to work and then take us back to the hotels. The reasoning was they did not want the media to follow us or find out where the families was getting assistance. The counseling unit would call the fireman's family or the fireman and have them come to our location to sign up for assistance. This was a awesome way to work. One day six out of the eight of us had been asked "have you been down to the WTC site?" It was shocking, to say the least. I was setting with a Battalion. Chief's wife and the appointment was going as well under the circumstances. ( as a case worker I was trying to be as understanding as possible without coming across lame.) This very brave woman looked me straight into the eyes and said have you been to the site? And what did you think? How did you feel? Well I am sure my eyes said "oh my gosh" I said no ma'am I have not been down there we are not aloud to go there, she said to me then how can you, any of you sit here and act as if you know what is going on or even qualify you as assuming you know how I or any of us feel! I looked at her and said nothing. I knew in MY heart how bad I was hurting and I CAN NOT even begin to image her pain. I took my eyes off of the photo of her husband and the father of their children, I wanted to cry but I was the one there to be supportive. After that meeting I went to my supervisor and told her what took place. She told me five other caseworkers expressed the same story. The FDNY counseling unit and the NYPD Staten Island Special Unit Dept., made arrangements for the eight of us to go down to ground zero inside the perimeters because they also agreed that those of us working so closely to the FDNY and the NYPD families should have an understanding or at least have a feeling of what the atmosphere is like. So four different trips had been set up so we could walk the grounds, I will never forget the feelings that took place inside of me, my knees became weak as I stood at the platform that was built for the families to come and view the recovery efforts. The Lieutenant motioned for us to follow and we began to walk the grounds as they pointed out the what buildings once stood there. The workers at the site were so nice as we passed by and some would just nod and say thank you. Others would be kneeling on the ground or sitting in chairs receiving drinks or having their eyes washed out or just taking a moment to reflect. The blank stares at the site told that persons emotional state at that moment. The sounds of heavy machinery as they worked non stop, even the sounds of water as firemen hosed down hot spots. The flags flew over this trailer office, on top an American flag the United Mohawk Steelworkers Association flag and the United States Marines flag, flew over head. I stood there in a silent shock the sun was very bright the rays produced a rainbow from the water, cranes and the flags floating in the wind gave off a vision that I will not ever forget. The eight of us caseworkers had also been given special permission to take photos if we wanted. I was in the last group that went to the site and I had asked the others if they took photos and they said yes, they were really encourage to take the shots so we could take those memories back to our communities and let people be reminded so they will never forget what took place that awful day. I did take photos as the group I was with was escorted through the site. Some of the photos I have taken takes my breathe away and I get a knot inside. That next day when I had an appointment and the family member asked if I had been down inside the site I answered yes and this seemed to be a comfort to those family members, because I was connected to the reality of this event. It did change my life, not so much outwardly but internally. The stories I was told in detail by family members and by survivors I will never forget, it is now apart of my life. Witnessing first hand the fear, the sadness, the state of shock and the feelings of being lost. I lived those moments in time with all the people I sat with and listened to them and did what I could to assist them, which in the grand scheme of things did not seem like much. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I have been reminded of how great our nation is. I feel closer to family and friends. When I go out on disaster assignments with the American Red Cross I really get to know people that I work with, and I try to enjoy my life and the surroundings no matter what the situation. When I see a flag my heart races, and hearing bag pipes brings tears to my eyes. (A year before Sept.11 I was at a large event and before it started the National Anthem was played and VERY few people stood, listened, stopped talked or walking, it was if most all the people could have cared less. This bothered me so much and I kept commenting about it to family and friends and it upset them to. Now the pride people take in the USA is great, it is just to bad this happened to bring people back to the respect of our great nation). NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The courage and valor. People seem to think to much is put on the firefighters, but poeple also forget that they made a choice to go in and many had a feeling because the called and left messages with loved ones. Yes it was thier jobs but they could have choice NOT to go into those buildings ... COURAGE and VALOR 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, Yes so many people disagree on many things but now all Americans stand united behind 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 nmah1033.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. 206.148.92.123 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 the inccident on 9-11-02 in my third period History class. At around 9:00 AM, we were told that The World Trade Centers have been hot by a plane. We turned on the TV and saw what had happened. At the time the news crew said it was an accident until the second plane hit. Then they announced it was a terrorist threat. As we were watching, there was an anouncement over the intercalm. We had to turn off all the TVs because it was too violent and to be sencitive to the people who had a family member there. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. No, my life hasn't changed. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that we should have a memorial for the people who died and the firemen who helped. We should have a day of morning to remember who we 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? 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 nmah1822.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. I was on vacation in Toronto, Canada visiting my then girlfriend (now fiancee). I had just got up and had CNN on TV as I prepared breakfast. The news came through about a plane hitting the WTC and, like millions of others I watched in disbelief for that few minutes when it was thought it was a tragic accident before, live on screen the second plane hit the other tower. I sat for the next few hours dumbstruck at what I had witnessed unfold right there on the TV screen, and from the window of my apartment hotel took occasional glances at Canada's tallest building, the CN Tower, fearing that something might happen to it as well ........ NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes it has .... Sep 11 was the date my girlfriend and I had chosen for her to meet my mother, who was also vacationing in Canada. We all met later that afternoon in an eerily quiet and empty downtown Toronto, and went for a meal, but no-one was interested in the food, just the TV screens that were divulging more and more information. Because of the events of that day, I decided to ask my girlfriend to marry me (I didnt ask her on Sep 11th as that would have been too painful a memory in future years, but I made the decision to ask her at a future date on that particular day), as the events proved that life is too short and full of unknowns to not try and make the very best of each and every day. We are to be married in Toronto on June 28th 2003. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? There are many things that should be remembered ... -- The heroism of the emergency services -- The heroism of the ordinary people on the planes -- The bravery of those who knew they would perish -- The bravery of loved ones left behind -- The evil of Terrorism, and that it makes us stronger when we rebuff it -- The way NY worked together to rebuild with Giuliani at the helm 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, as I was on vacation, but I did wear a pin, and also made sure to wear my favourite soccer team shirt for the rest of my holiday (It is Red/White/Blue) 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 nmah456.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. 2002-08-27 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 217.35.31.235 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I'm a Detective in the NYPD and on September 11th I was assigned to the police academy on 20th street for my second day of a 3 week intensive Criminal Investigation Course. A supervisor came into the middle of a lecture and explained a "small plane had hit the WTC", at least that was the first report. We left the classroom and climbed the stairs to the roof which offered an unobstructed view of the towers, and I remember all of these gruff Detectives saying the same "holy shit", as they first saw the destruction. I still don't like to admit it, but I called my mom. We spoke briefly and I told her I'd be going down there and not to worry, half thinking it was more a call for her to say I'd be OK like only a mom can. As we hung up, I could hear a collective scream from balconies and rooftops across the area as I caught the image of the second plane wobbling in and finally striking the 2nd tower, blowing a fireball Northbound towards where we were standing. Over the Dept radio, I heard an emergency Service cop tell central to notify the Pentagon that we were under attack. I turned to the guy next to me and we simultaneously said, "let's go". I spent 3 days digging at ground zero and the next 9 months doing recoveries at the landfill. I had been assigned to undercover narcotics work at the time and as a result couldn't be in the media glare at ground zero. So my Partner Vic and I made the trek from Harlem to Staten Island, too many times to count. It's hard to describe what we found and what we saw. I felt like Vic and I were kind of being tough guys for eachother as we'd work together to lift someone's remains from the rubble. We were, and still are honored to have been involved in the recoveries. It made us sad at times because Ground Zero had crowds of people hugging and cheering the cops that were assigned there. We on "The Hill" had to rely on eachother for support. We'd grumble about how the city wouldn't issue us plaques to go through the $7.00 in tolls everyday, and how the freezing winter nights were more brutal because our boots and jackets were torn on the jagged edges that were everywhere and there were no replacements. We'd spend 2 hours in rush hour traffic each way to get to the 10-12 hour workday that was waiting for us. Still, we didn't need the accolades and the gourmet dinners. We had the southern volunteers sharing stories about peat moss and pecans during the meals they served in the tent. And we had banners and posters made by kids around the country that we read again and again. We had the warming huts. They were the wood structures used to catch a breather and avoid catching a cold as the contractors would remove the debris we had gone through, just to lay down the next load. These huts became Hollywood as corny jokes and silly talents took center stage. We would forget about things for a while as we waited for the front end loader to blow his horn, telling us it was time. Looking back now, I'm proud of what I did on that day and the months afterwards. I checked a board in the supply tent each day to see that we had found remains that had identified people's lost ones. They would have a picture of the person on these boards as well and it really gave us a boost. I just hope the families know that we served them with honor and dignity, and that we felt the prayers the world had said for us. 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? I have always flown the flag. A proud Patriot and Grandson of Dominic Bruno, WWII Veteran. It's great to see the flags still flying. 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 nmah6573.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. 2004-08-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.116.20