59 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 first heard of the attacks on a portable radio that our art teacher had. He told us it in third period. later at my house I watched it on tv. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes because you know people hate you just because you are different NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? That people died serving their country. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes. It means more because it shows how much people care about there country lllllllllll 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 nmah3588.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. 208.182.75.3 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 our principal come on the announcements at the end of second hour, I figured he would tell someone to come down to his office. But he didn't say that, instead he tells us there was an apparent terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. My heart instantly sank from fear that the United States was being attacked by an unseen enemy, and I wondered "How bad is this going to get?" Previous to this announcement, my friends and I were doing what we always do at the end of the hour: joke around, get ready for the next class, etc. As we traveled back to our lockers, televisions were being turned on in every class, and some of my friends witnessed the second plane blast through the south tower. For the next few hours, we watched the events unfold, we realized that this would be our generation's "Kennedy assassination", knowing the exact time and place you were when you first heard. When the towers fell, that is when I realized that people were falling with it. Then the Pentagon was hit. The heart of the strongest military in the world, being attacked. How could things get worse. Then I went home and like everyone else, I fill my gas tank up even with the forty cent increase. I went to my Grandfather's after that. Being a World War II veteran, it was good that I could talk to someone who had firsthand experience with warfare. I thought to myself "My eighteenth birthday is in two days, there is going to be a war with a possible draft, I don't want to go off to a foreign land when my life is just starting off." My Grandpa could understand where I was coming from, he was in the same situation sixty years ago. If there was a draft, I wouldn't want to go, but I would defend my country if it came down to it- I mean, these people killed ordinary people who were going to work, I don't want to live with that fear of militants bringing their violence overseas. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. September 11, 2001 and October 17, 2001 haunt me to this day. Everyday I remember everything that happened on these two days. On October 17, I stood on the site that was once the World Trade Center, now dubbed Ground Zero. About two weeks after the attacks, my school was asked to go to the New York area and assist in the recovery effort. I signed up as a way to sacrifice my blood and sweat in the largest recovery effort to date. The first day there, some of my classmates and other schools went to a warehouse across the Hudson river to organize the endless donations that came from across the country. I thought to myself, "These items will go directly to the rescue workers at Ground Zero," thinking that I won't be able to go to the site, but I'm still here assisting as best I can. Then came the next day. I took the opportunity to volunteer to actually go to the site and help first hand. Through some miscommunication we missed our first shift, and we couldn't take another shift, but through some loopholes we were able to take the graveyard shift from midnight to eight in the morning. I was tired by that time, but I was up for anything at that point. On the bus ride there, everyone was quietly chatting, then came the spotlights and our first view of the collapsed north tower. A gasp then dead silence, I finally realized I'm looking at the site where 3000 people are buried, it's not a good realization. I walk off the bus at the Marriot Financial Hotel a block away from the site, and the first thing I notice is the smell, a smell that is engraved in my memory for the rest of my life, a smell that's like no other, and it is totally indescribable, only to think what two burning buildings and the burning of a way of life can smell like. So I started my shift cleaning pots and pans, then to actually feeding the officers, firefighters, federal agents, and volunteer rescue workers. They brought in the smell with them, I tried to hold back my gagging, but it was unbearable, I thought to myself, "These guys are doing this on a twelve hour shift everyday, how do they function?" During the night I took a few breaks, I would walk outside, each time I would ask an officer permission to walk to the "Pit". Each time I did I would stand motionless for fifteen minutes, and all my senses would form one indescribable emotion. One which has the ability to paralyze you where you stand, which is exactly what happened to me. Which is why every day since that day, I remember what happened that night, even little things that most people forget ten seconds after it happens. I told most of that night to my friends and relatives, I even made a ten minute speech at school and I almost had people in tears at what I had to say. And then there are a few stories about that night that I keep for myself, stories I can look back on and relate them to life in general, and why people do what they do. I can truly say this experience was a life-defining moment for me. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Obviously, September 11, 2001 should be remembered as the darkest day in American history. One as bad as December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked, or that day in 1963, when President Kennedy was assassinated. This attack was an attack on citizens, not the military or law-makers, but people who woke up everyday and had their coffee, got upset at frequent traffic jams, and then took an elevator to work in an office tower from nine to five. We should also look at this day as one where the finest public servants in the country banded together to start the largest recovery effort in the history of the world in one of it's darkest hours when we could have just ran away like the terrorists wanted us to do. We had nearly the whole world backing us up on that day, so not only did we unite our country, but we united 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? I put up a small American flag in my room a few months after September 11, 2001. I know what it took to get where we are today, thirteen colonies united 220 years ago to create a country where you have guaranteed freedoms to exist as a person. I put the flag up as a reminder of that. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah722.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. 2002-09-02 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 141.219.76.181 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. Awakened by the sound of my phone ringing beside my bed, I answered my sister on the other end of the line. It was about 11pm. She was panicked. She told me to turn on the television. I asked her what channel as I stumbled out of bed and to the television. She said any channel. As the images appeared my sister was telling me that we are at war and that planes are crashing all over america and they are even shooting their own planes down. I was shocked to witness these events. Living in Australia does not separate us from these incidents. It hurt me as much as it did if I were an American. I stayed awake for hours that night. Watching, horrified. I was devestated to learn that so many were killed. I felt for the rescuers, both uniformed and non-uniformed. For days afterward I watched an listened to the reports, I learned as much as I could about these events. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Working as a paramedic and a firefighter, I feel closer to those that I work with. The events seem to have made me more aware of risks that we all take in our job. I think now of how fast life can be taken away from us. It has made me a little prouder of my profession. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Nothing will be lost in memory. Those that were murdered, those that gave their lives so that others may live....this cannot be forgotten. There will be so many stories from 9-11 that they should all be marked down in history. 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? Being Australian, I do not have an American flag. I do, however, wear an American flag pin on the anniversary. 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 nmah5345.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-12-23 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 144.139.169.73 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 seventh grade Language Arts teacher and was teaching when the terrorist attacks happened. I found out about it when one of my students came in to tell me that a plane had flown into The World Trade Center. I couldn't believe it; I thought he was joking. In moments I found out it was no joke. My job for the rest of that day was to be a rock for my students. They had questions, concerns, and fears. I allowed time for sharing and support, but I tried to keep our schedule as normal as possible. Meanwhile, it was hard for me to keep my thoughts afloat, as I am from New York, and had worked several years in NYC, not far from the Twin Towers, so I knew the path these innocent workers had taken. I was also terrified that someone I knew had not been able to escape the attack. 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 I relate to others. I am more thankful and appreciative of others. I also look at my problems in a bigger perspective. I realize that no matter what I am going through it is nothing compared to those who were on those three planes that day or in the twin towers or pentagon. Life really is a precious gift. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we need to always remember the bravery of the passengers on all three flights. I think we need to remember the WTC, as it was. Finally, I think we need to remember the bravery of all the firefighters, police officers, healthcare workers, and volunteers who saved lives and consoled others while all this went on. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I don't have a flag to fly, but I do have little flags that I hang in my car for support. I am now actually saying the pledge everyday in school, rather than just reciting 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 nmah4963.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. 2002-09-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 12.91.227.165 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 professor of biology at Queensborough Community College of the City University of NY. From the west facing picture window on the fourth floor of the medical arts building you can see the entire profile of the city with the WTC twin towers anchoring the southern vista. Before classes on the 11th of September our chief technician came into the office to announce that a plane had struck the WTC. I immediately ran to the window and saw the now familiar smoking tower. As we were watching the other tower began to erupt as if it was a volcano erupting. My wife called to tell me that one of my daughters who was working for American Express witnessed the horror from her window and was evacuating the world financial center immediately. I was then informed that another plane hit the Pentagon where another daughter was working. I immediately left the college and went to my wife's office at North Shore University Hospital where we were in a state of disbelief. We were trying to contact our two daughters with no success. The phone lines, cell and land were not operating and with the collapse of the towers were were not sure of the whereabouts of the daughter at the WTC. For a few hours we were extremely distraught. Finally we were called by my daughter from D.C. that she was OK but two of her coworkers were lost. Shortly after that we received a call from the daughter in the city that she was OK. No shoes, purse etc, but alive. We began to cry with relief and could grieve for the ones who were not so fortunate. The window on the fourth floor now has the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building as monuments but there exists the void to the south. Eugene Leff, PhD Commack, NY NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes. I appreciate my children even more and appreciate the strength of NY. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The heroism of the firefighters, police, and volunteers who gave of themselves for others 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. We proudly display the flag still and do not feel it is a symbol of jingoism any longer 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 nmah5408.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-01-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.188.166.200 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. Because I live in Tucson, Arizona, and we are three hours behind New York City the first plane had hit the first tower when I woke up for work and turned on the TV to the Today show at about 6:00 am. At that time our local morning show is usually on so I immediately knew something had happened because Katie Couric and Matt Lauer were on the screen. What first came to my mind was Oklahoma City and the Federal Building because I awoke to see that tragedy on TV also. I just remember Couric and Lauer talking about a terrible accident at the WTC and there seemed to be confusion as to what had happened, and then suddenly they told us that another plane had hit. The incident I remember the most is the collapse of the first tower - they were burning in the background of the news coverage when suddenly, I think it was Lauer, said something like "folks, something is happening - we believe the tower is collapsing." I sat on the end of my bed with my two dogs and I cried and hugged them for comfort. I felt frightened. I remember doing a very odd thing, I got up and walked to my living room and closed all my curtains. It was a sunny day, and I live out in a rural area north of Tucson. But, I suddenly realized that the reason I had done this is that I felt violated, and frightened and wanted to close myself off from whatever was out there. How many others did similar things? I've often wondered this. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I have been much more focused since then. The world is out of control and I have focused much more on my life and those things in my control. At the time I was on a Weight Watcher diet and a fitness training program to powerwalk a half marathon in December. Both programs became much easier as I put all my energy into those activities. I think this helped me handle 9/11 because I had something under control to focus on. In June this year I took an eleven day rafting trip through the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - this had been a 15 year dream. I decided to do it after 9/11. Fulfilling it became much more significant. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The goodness of people - the families, the survivors, the rescuers, the little unknown people who baked cookies, served meals, offered to help in small ways. The love that has been exhibited. I have enormous respect for the firemen, the police, the paramedics, but what most impressed me were the ordinary citizens in the WTC who helped others and gave their lives to be with a friend. I also think that this tragedy is a reminder of how dangerous people are when they fight for a cause and feel that they have no power and they feel that they have no voice that is heard - they then follow despicable leaders like Osama bin Laden. The German people followed Hitler because they had been humiliated, lost all respect for themselves, and needed a common enemy - not that different from the current Arab terrorism. The little people must be heard - we cannot kill them all, we cannot wipe out terrorists and terrorism, someone is there to replace each one who dies. We must learn something from this senseless, brutal, horrible act. 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 immediately flew my flag, and I'm not a big flag waver. But then after a few weeks I took it down. I didn't like what I was beginning to see - it started to feel like the 60's where if you didn't have a flag on your car, or if you voiced any criticism of the country or President you were almost seen as traitorous. I got a little frightened of our own zealots. I hate that about this country. It's inopposite to the liberties of our founding fathers and our whole notion of democracy and freedom of speech. I will not flag wave over that. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah463.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. 2002-08-28 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.188.163 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. That morning, I was at my desk at my job at the Library of Congress in Washington when a colleague came by and told me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I imagined it to be a small private plane similar to the one that had hit the Empire State Building decades ago, and so I went online to see if I could find some news about the crash. The CNN site was too busy to access so I went to washingtonpost.com and there was already a photo up on the home page. Not having an inkling of what had really happened, when I saw what looked to be the windows of two or three stories of the building replaced by charred remains I said to myself, "Well, that's going to take a while to clean up." Soon more information about the crash came in and word spread of another plane hitting the other World Trade Center tower. And then the plane hitting the Pentagon. I ran upstairs to our cafeteria which is situated on the building's top floor and has a wall of windows which face south, in the direction of the Pentagon. On the way I ran into two colleagues who usually have breakfast in the cafeteria and asked them if you could see the smoke from the crash at the Pentagon. One replied, "Can you see the smoke?! I'll say you can!" I then went to see for myself and yes, you could see the Pentagon and the black, billowing smoke rising from the far side of the building. (The actual impact site was on the other side of the Pentagon.) I ran downstairs and out onto Pennsylvania Ave. SE to a nearby camera store where I bought a disposable camera. I ran back into our building to see other staff leaving in groups. Thankfully the police did not hinder my re-entry into the building. I raced upstairs to the cafeteria, went out onto the balcony and took several photos of the Pentagon. Then I remembered that our director has a TV in her office so I went there to see what I could find out. At that point there were rumors that bombs had gone off at the State Department and at other locations in Washington. Her office faces north and no smoke was visible from that direction. Nor was there any news on TV regarding other bombings. Her phone rang and I heard her tell someone that she was authorizing staff in our directorate to go home if they wanted. I returned to my desk figuring that I would just go back to work. There was nothing more I could do or see. I was at my desk no more than 10 minutes when the police came through to evacuate the building. I live on Capitol Hill so I just walked home. When I passed the Supreme Court I could see a police officer standing on the roof and thought that was pretty ominous. When I got home I went up to our roof to take a few more photos of the Pentagon. Then I, like most others, sat down in front of the television to watch history unfold. I saw as one tower fell. Then the other. After I while I had to get out and just went for a walk. I passed one restaurant which was still open. People were eating outside on that beautiful fall day and I thought to myself, "How can people just go on as if nothing has happened? Why is this restaurant open?" A few minutes later I passed another business which was closed and I thought to myself, "Why are they closed? Life goes on. We can't let this interfere with our daily lives." An obvious contradiction, i know, but one which perhaps others experienced on that day. I decided to walk to Union Station because a colleague of mine takes the train to and from work every day from West Virginia and I wondered if perhaps he'd been stranded and needed a place to stay for the night. I got to the station to find it all closed up with yellow police tape all around it. I wondered where all the passengers had gone and took a photo. On my walk home I passed an intersection that, for a reason not obvious to me, had been marked off with yellow police tape. Again I took a photo but this time a police officer saw me. He motioned to me to come over to him and demanded to know why I was taking such a photo. I mumbled something about the unusual circumstances of the day and that I was just out to take photos. He asked for my driver's license and, upon reading it, said, "You live in DC and you're taking pictures here? Mighty strange." I said that this was my neighborhood and asked why it should be strange that I was taking photos here. I thought then and there that I was not going to let him confiscate my camera with my photos of the day. He'd have to arrest me if he wanted the camera. An older officer came up and pulled aside the one who'd been talking to me (he looked pretty young and inexperienced). After a brief chat they both returned to me, asked for my social security number and then handed me back my driver's license. I think at that time no one knew what to do, not even the police, or how dangerous someone might be. I returned home and turned the TV on again to see what else had transpired. That's all I watched for the rest of the day--news of the attacks. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed only because of the increased security at the Library of Congress, the Capitol complex buildings, buildings elsewhere in DC and in airports. Prior to Sept. 11, Library staff did not have to walk through metal detectors nor did we have our bags screened before entering our buildings. Now we do. There is also increased and more visible security throughout central DC. So I have been affected only by inconvenience. I didn't know anyone who died in the September 11 attacks, nor do I know anyone who did. At least that I know of. I'm certain that if the Capitol itself had been hit my life might have been turned upside down, personally, professionally and emotionally. I live only six blocks from the Capitol so my entire neighborhood would have been impacted by a direct hit. I really don't know how much my personal and professional lives might have been affected by a direct hit on the Capitol but they sure would have been. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? First and foremost we should remember the people who died. Next we should remember those who suffered, those wounded in the attacks and those who lost loved ones. We also need to remember who perpetrated these acts of supreme violence and why they did it. We must remember this--and learn from it--if we are to prevent another attack from occurring. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? No, I did not fly a flag after the attacks though there were certainly many in my neighborhood who did. I am mistrustful of overt, knee-jerk signs of patriotism and I have long resented how right-wing political factions in our country have appropriated patriotism, the flag and God to advance their political agenda. I love my country as much as the next person but I don't believe in "my country right or wrong" and I do think it could be so much better. Unfortunately, I think the flag is often used as a divisive, rather than a unifying, symbol. My feelings about the flag have not changed since September 11. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6535.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. 2004-06-07 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 140.147.156.65 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was reporting for duty at the Division Headquarters of the 82d Airborne Division. I attended a promotion ceremony for a soldier at 0900 on 11 SEP 01, and a Sergeant Major asked me, "Sir, do you know what happened at the World Trade Center?". I had no idea til I got in my office. Every television was on and there was a great deal of activity to secure the entire base of Fort Bragg, NC. The Commanding General, MG John R. Vines, convened a staff briefing and explained that we were standing by for orders, and that the world has changed. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I am in the process of training my soliders for war. That's not unusual for a soldier, but now there's more intensity. It's tough waiting for a mission that you know is coming, but you just don't know when. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Who did it and why....and what we did about it. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I've always flown the flag....I am sworn to protect the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic....... 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 nmah1481.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. 63.50.51.1 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 about to go to sleep when they broke in with news of the 1st tower hit. From that point on, I watched coverage of these unfortunate incidents on TV for hours upon hours. I never did get to sleep that day. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has not Changed. No Terrorist has the power to make me change my life. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The brave people who took down the terrorists on the 4th plane. Plus all the heroes that lost their lives trying to help others at the towers as well as the Pentagon. Just as importantly, we must remember the security lapses that made it easy for the terrorists to attack America and work on correcting them.. 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 did not fly a flag, and my feelings have not changed. I have always loved my country and felt much pride for living in the U.S.A. before the attacks, as well as after. I feel it is sad for a tragic event to have to take place in order for our country to show its patriotism. 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 nmah71.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. 2002-07-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.72.96.37 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 WICHITA, KANSAS.........SO I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MY HUSBAND TO TURN ON THE TV. WHEN I DID I WAS IN ABSOLUTE SHOCK. IT SEEMED UNREAL. MY CHILDREN WERE AT HOME WITH ME AT THAT TIME AND THEY WERE THERE TO WITNESS THE PLANES CRASHING INTO THE BUILDINGS. ALONG WITH THE COLAPSING OF THE BUILDINGS. BOTH BEING UNDER THE AGE OF 3 THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A MOVIE AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. IT WAS VERY HEART BREAKING. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. WELL MAINLY MY LIFE HAS CHANGED IN THE WAY OF FEAR. I FEAL LIKE I NEED TO BE LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER TO MAKE SURE NOTHING LOOKS WEIRD. I ALSO CHERISH THE TIME I HAVE WITH MY FAMILY......YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE THE LAST. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I THINK THINK EVERY DETAIL SHOULD BE REMEMBERD. BUT, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER THAT WE DID COME TOGETHER AS A NATION. 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 NOT FLOWN MYSELF, BUT MY HUSBAND HAS. I WAS AFRAID TO FLY BEFORE 9-11 SO I WILL ONLY FLY IF I HAVE TO. 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 nmah127.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. 2002-08-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 192.206.56.1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I had just got to work in Rhome Texas, when my oldest son called. He was at home getting ready for school, listening to the radio when the first plane hit the tower. Upon the announcement he turned the TV on and called me and told me that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center in New York. My first thought was what kind of idiot could not see a tower in a small plane. While I was on the phone with him he went to yelling "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD", I said "What". That is when he told me another plane had just hit the second tower. My immediate reaction was that is terrorist not an accident. I hung up went downstairs to our basement and got our TV and set it up. The employees that were there and some construction contractor all gathered around and watched the events of that tragic day unfold. I witnessed both tower crumble in total disbelief that something of this magnatued could happen here. My heart went out then as well as now 2 years later to all the families immediately effected. May God Bless the survivors and all the families. P Shockey Rhome Texas NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, I am more alert about odd things that happen. I worry more when my children have to fly. My oldest son has done some traveling abroad since 09-01-01. The first time was in June 2002 to Germany. I am not a predjuce person in any form or fashion. I see a person not color or nationality. But letting my son get on the plane in June 2002 to go to Germany was one of the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. There was several middle easterns boarding the plane with him. I also worried about the whole month he was in Germany. The day he stepped on the plane back home was my birthday. I have to say that was the best birthday present I could ever get the rest of my life. He has since gone back to Germany and England I stilled worried but it was easier this time. I also tell both my children that I Love Them a lot more than I did before. I also tell other members of my family that I Love Them that I used to just take for granted that they knew. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? That how slack America had gotten. We had gotten to comfortable with our way of life and never dreamed or thought any thing like what we here about could happen here. We need to remember this day for ever and not let all the lives of the ones that were lost be in fain. We should also remember that every day is a gift from God and we are not guaranteed another so we should live it to the fullest. Tell your family that you Love Them, don't assume they 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? We flew our flag after the events. But my youngest son has flown our flag for years before that tragic day. He is proud of being American. Not really because we have displayed it for a long time in respect for the people that has served our country in years past. Both my father and father-n-law are veterans. So we fly our flag that say Thank You to all the veterans of all the wars ever fought. 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 nmah5849.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. 65.197.45.39 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 working (as a therapist), and while in session, was interrupted at 9:15 am , with a report their was an accident at the wtc.The interuption was a phone call from another therapist I worked with,who said she wasn't coming in to work, because of what just happened at the wtc. Since we worked inthe Grand Central area of NYC, her story made no sense to me.Then an announcement came over the p.a. system,to leave the building.Both mysel and the patient,exited the buiding. There was mayhem inthe streets,thousands of people talking,looking for an available pay phone,waiting on long lines.walking to madisson avenue,one could see the smoke from the attacks.trains,buses were either cancelled or re-routed.there was a mass evacuation occuring with no idea of the full magnitude if what had just occured 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 nmah185.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. 204.193.71.20 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I found out about when i woke up getting ready for school. I was watching T.V. when the T.V. changed and said we parded this interrupshin for this emergency update. It had said that the one of the twin towers and had a plane crashed into it. I didn't even know what the twin towers where, i woke up my mom and told here about it, she was so scared. She new that is was not an accedent because she new that planes where not abble to fly over even near the twin towers. that day at school was very sad. It really was at least for me. Nothing has really changed for me, except that the air ports where at less crouded. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. No not really. just that its alot harder to fly, only if ur flying in a group like as in more then 1 person. when i fly alone its fine just a lil scary. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? u cant really make it a holiday. but u can make it a remmemrence. like laber day and stuff like that. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? No.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 nmah2861.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.72.204 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 wife and I were in Washington DC, I for a meeting and she to see the Capitol for the first time. We were touring the Capitol Building and had just found the statue of Mother Joseph in the Hall of Statues who represents Washington State. I heard one of the guards say to another that a "helicoptor had just crashed into the Pentagon". I remember thinking that while that was bad, it was not too unusual and the concept of helicopter and Pentagon were congruent. We turned down the hall towards the north end of the building when suddenly the doors opened and everyone was running out of the building. We didn't have a clue what was happening but thought it wise to follow. We wandered around the lawn in front of the Capitol bulding and learned of the attacks. As we have come to learn, the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania was very possible heading to the Capitol building. The courageous passengers of that flight saved our lives that day. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Like most Americans, Septemebr 11 has renewed my love for our country and for the freedoms we cherish. I take our freedoms much less for granted and appreciate our soldiers, firemen and poolice much more. I appreciate my wife much more as I realize how easily it could have happened that I'd lost her. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The heroes of this day are the firemen and police at the WTC and the passengers of the plane in Pennsylvania that put themselves in harms way. Those who worked at the WTC and the Pentagon were victims and should be remembered like all victims of any senseless act, be it street violence, terror, etc. The heroes, however, should be celebrated for the selfless and brave individuals they were. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We flew the flag both before and after 9-11. I'm proud to display my country's emblem. 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 nmah4131.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. 4.23.83.43 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. It was tuesday September 11, 2001 and I was on my way to morning practice for water polo. It was like any other morning until I heard the news. My coach told us what had happened. It really scared me and I didn't know what to think. Through out the day it just got worse an the news and then I heard about the Pentagon. My dad was in D.C. I was scared. Iwanted to know if he was alright and I anything else would happen to that area. We didn't hear from him until the next day and he was fine. That whole day I felt like I was in a daze. I remember coming home from school and crying with my mom. We watched the news the whole day and I began to feel more and more unsafe. I realized nothing would be the same again, our whole nation was changing and it scared me. After that day I found a new love for my country and I now know what it really means to love your country. 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 nmah5201.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. 2002-10-02 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.81.166 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 class at the university I attend. I was sitting in a computer lab when my friend returned to class stating that a plane had gone into the World Trade Center. I tried relentlessly to get onto a webpage such as CNN or MSNBC. After about 10 minutes, I was successful. As I looked at the image of the first tower that was hit, I thought it was an accident...until, the second plane hit. By the time class let out, the towers had collapsed. Crowds of people stood horrified by the images on televisions set up on campus. Classes were cancelled...I drove home numb as police sirens echoed for what seemed like forever...they were making a clear path for the national guard, who were in route to Somerset, PA, where another place had gone down. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I'm convinced that the worst is yet to come. I believe that September 11, 2001 was the beginning of the end. I don't want to believe that, but it's hard to believe otherwise. I don't dwell on it and I continue to live my life...but I try to make a conscience effort to be kind to others because judgement day could be anytime soon. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The fragilty of life NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes...my feelings are mixed about the flag. I am proud to be an American but I also think that we are a nation with an abundance of power and with that power we should focus more on doing good will for others. I always thought we were an egotistical country in some ways and still believe that today. But I do love my country! Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah1492.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. 65.238.37.215 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. i was working that day. a maintenance person for a community college in metro st. louis. im not sure what time it was.. seems like it was around 8:40 am central time when a friend and co-worker drove up next to me as i was walking and said.."have you heard this sh*t?" i remember then that it was a beautiful day out.. not a cloud in the sky as i leaned on his van facing east.. the sun shining brightly on me. he told me that "they" had flown planes into the world trade center. i couldnt understand what was being said on the radio in his van. it was rather chaotic though. about 10 of the 15 of us, who all were good friends and all of us americans to the core decided to forego waiting the 20 minutes til break and went to the main cafeteria where about 20 people had gathered already. i was in utter disbelief? watching both towers billowing with smoke was ... well i want to say horrifying but more than that a stab in the heart. then they announced on the tv that the pentagon had been rammed by a plane. a woman in front of me was crying saying her daughter works somewhere the d.c. area and all the cell phone lines are busy and she cant get in touch with her. i assured her she was alright since this lady said her daughter worked in a government building far north of the pentagon. i realized that this that was unfolding in front of my eyes was the "new pearl harbor". being there only 10 minutes the first building collapsed. there are no words to explain seeing such a sight. none. then the other tower collapsed. with a head full of mindless information as i just love to look up, study, and read about facts... i thought dear Lord; just like pearl harbor but ill bet there are gonna be 10 times the number of people killed. i stood there long after my co-workers had gone back to work. i was numb. so numb. no way to feel what i had witnessed. numb to the point of nausea. i returned home about 4pm that day.i quickly tossed in a video tape and began watching the news. they were replaying the whole catastrophe over and over and showing what was still going on as well as possible death tolls. still so numb i was unable to be filled with rage at this abomination. that came later. a thousand miles away.. i was a thousand miles away. i could have been, any american could have been lifetimes away and still feel like those towers collapsed in their neighborhood. it was later that night i guess, maybe the next night.. when emergency vehicle after emergency vehicle was heading into NYC. throngs of americans line the roads with signs of good will or sadness. america pulled together in those dark days of the likes which has not been seen since probably VJ day during world war 2. the world pulled together as well. i got emails from friends in several countries expressing their sorrow. two nights afterward, i remember talking with a friend behind his house. all planes had been grounded. there was nothing in the sky but stars. i mentioned how odd it was. how peculiar it felt. to this day, when they replay the towers collapsing i turn my head away from the television. i cant bear to watch it. i still remember that night with no sky filled with blinking lights of airplanes. God those towers stood for a long time considering the impacts they received. we all shuddered and shook as they fell. but we are americans, we live in the greatest country in the world. we proved our souls and hearts are made of more than concrete and steel like the towers, for we were brougth together that day...and we still stand mighty. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. yes it has changed. how could any american say it hasnt. unfortunately there is suspicion and paranoia from time to time. the darkeness of that day has led to many things in life being referenced to either before or after september 11th. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? i think everything should be remembered. the lack of security. the murder of innocence. those that died. those that lived. the rescuers that perished. the ground that has now become hallowed. those people that became heroes. remember the pain and the darkness so our vigilance never lacks to let the light to out again. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes, i flew the flag after those events. and i have tried to light a candle to put in the window each september 11th since just as i do for veterans day, the anniverary of D-Day, Pearl Harbor, and Memorial day. my feelings of the american flag has not changed after the events. before, during and after september 11th, to see Old Glory flying has and will always be an emotional and powerful sight. 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 nmah6868.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. 2004-11-05 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 65.113.254.228 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. IT WAS MY DAY OFF AND I WAS CHANNEL SURFING. I SPOTTED A NEWS FLASH ABOUT A PLANE CRASHING INTO ONE OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTERS. LIKE MOST PEOPLE I THOUGHT IT WAS A SMALL PLANE. I SWITCHED TO CNN AND THEY SHOWED FOOTAGE OF A JET CRASHING INTO THE SECOND TOWER. I RECOGNIZED THE SIZE OF THE AIRCRAFT AS ONE I HAD FLOWN ON. THEN A NEWS BREAK CAME ACROSS THE SCREEN REPORTING THAT A BOMB,ARE A POSSIBLE CRASH OF A HELICOPTER ON THE PENTAGON GROUNDS HAD TAKEN PLACE. THEN ANOTHER REPORT OF A DOWNED AIRCRAFT IN PENNSYVANIA, AT THAT VERY MOMENT MY HEART SANK BECAUSE I KNEW WE WERE UNDER ATTACK. I REMEMBER MY WIFE HAD A SEAMSTRESS SHOWING HER SAMPLES OF DRAPERIES WHEN I TOLD THEM OF THE NEWS, THEY SEEMED TO BE DISINTERESTED, THEY DID NOT GRASP THE REALITY OF WHAT I TOLD THEM UNTIL LATER ON IN THE DAY. I HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN THAT DAY TO HELP A FRIEND PICK UP SOME FURNITURE. WE STAYED GLUED TO THE RADIO THAT DAY. IT WAS LIKE A DREAM. WE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I FEEL VERY MUCH SADNESS FOR THE FAMILIES WHO WERE AFFECTED BY WHAT HAPPENED. I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE IT REALLY HAPPENED. I STILL FEEL VERY MUCH ANGER AGAINST THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. HOW CAN PEOPLE HATE SO MUCH? I KNOW THESE PEOPLE THINK WE (US CITIZENS) DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM BUT YOU BLOCK OUT WHAT YOU SEE ON TV BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SOLVE ALL THE WORLDS INJUSTICES! I AM SAD THAT AS HUMAN BEINGS WE CAN'T LIVE IN PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? HOW AS A NATION WE ALL CAME TOGETHER. ALSO HOW OUR ALLIES RESPONDED WITH SUCH PASSION,SUPPORT AND DISBELIEF AS WE DID. 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 DIDN'T FLY A FLAG WHICH I SOMETIMES AM ASHAMED OF. IDID WHERE ONE ON MY CLOTHES AND PUT ONE ON MY CAR WHICH I INTEND TO KEEP AS A TRADITION. 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 nmah1455.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. 66.56.114.222 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. We were stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii at Pearl Harbor on September 11, 2002. Our telephone rang at 5:20AM and my friend said to turn on the television because the WTC had been hit by an airplane. We fumbled around trying to get a light turned on and turn on the t.v.. While we were watching the early coverage the second plane hit and the speculations started about it being terrorists, then the Pentagon and the reports from Pennsylvania f a plane down there. Our kids woke up shortly afterwards from the noise of the t.v. and we sat, the four of us watching, talking, crying and trying to understand, in our bed...too dumbfounded tomove. We just hugged and held each other tightly ALL day that day...I had always been proud of my husband for the job he does in the US Navy but I was never prouder that day as I was when he came out dressed in his uniform heading off to the base facing such uncertainity. Our children stayed home that day from school and I from work because we knew we needed to be together. We called our families and cried on the phone with them and made absolute sure they knew we loved them and we were so thankful that we could still tell them that when so many other peoples lives were changed that day forever and they would never again share those sentiments with their loved ones. That evening we went to church at our church, First United Methodist Church of Honolulu...we prayed for understanding, comfort and most of all for the families who had lost loved ones. We held hands with strangers and embraced them...we needed each other that night. We went to bed that night but couldnot sleep...we held each other thankful we had each other and cried....we didn't sleep much that night....we did a lot of praying. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed....I try more than ever to be more understanding of other peoples cultures and beliefs. I have always been a friendly person but now I am more likely to say hello to someone and ask how they are and now I REALLY listen to them and what they have to say. I am more likely to offer help now too than I was before...life is all too short to "pretend" we don't see things especially when we see someone needing help. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Mainly, I think we need to remember the tragedy of the day ad all the innocent lives lost. We should always remember the babies born after that day to fathers that will never see them and the children who will never know their fathers. We should always remmember the families that lost loved ones that day. We should always remember to be so thankful for every day we wake up and have our life. 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? Being brought up learning proper flag etiquette I have always had a tremendous respect for our flag. Yes, we very proudly put our flag out that morning and have always done so. My feelings have changed because I feel more love for the flag and what it stands for....I bust with pride whenever I see the flag...it makes me more proud to be an American. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah1761.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. 205.188.208.134 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 at work that day in Manhattan at 32nd street and 7th Avenue. Most of the day was spent in shock. I never felt scared even though I work near the Empire State Building and across from Penn Station. Of course, for some time, it was not possible to leave Mahattan. I lived far enough away that walking was not an option. I finally left when they announced that the trains were running. By then, it was like a ghost town and everyone who was leaving at that time had shocked and sad looks on their faces. For several days, I would wake up in the morning and think it was a dream. When I realized it wasn't, I often started crying. I did not know anyone directly who lost their life that day, but the stories of friends who were in the area and what they went through, were amazing. I have often thought that the deaths of so many strangers that day hit me as hard emotionally as the deaths of people that I had loved and been close to in my life. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. For a long time, every time I heard a lot of sirens, it made me uneasy. I finally got past that but it came back shortly before the anniversary and I am still feeling that uneasiness now. The business at our company dropped significantly and we took pay cuts for a period of time. We also saw one of our competitors who had been in the area of the World Trade Center go out of business. I still am not fearful that something will happen to me. I did find the time leading up to the 1st anniversay rather stressful. After talking about those days events for months, we went a long time without bringing it up everyday. In August,I was at a cultural resort, Chautuaqua, NY, and they had planned several events during the week I was there about 9/11. There was a play and art exhibit as well as a number of discussions. While I did attend most of the events, I found it very sad to begin talking about all of this again. I felt that way through the anniversay this year and found it difficult to watch many of the specials on TV. The firehouse by my office building had events on all day and we all went from my office throughout the day. While I am not a religious person, I did feel the need to go to a church. I think the main way that my life has changed is in worrying about people I know that were down there that day or during the rescue period and the long term affects it will have on them. It is understandbly hard for many people to talk about that day. I think it will be a memory that will haunt most of them the rest of their lives. Like many people, I feel a much greater pride for my country and even more for the indivduals who make up this country. I am proud of all the people who stayed down there and gave up so much of their daily lives. There were so many heroes that day. Some of them worked jobs where part of their training was to help people. But, so many others did not. They died heroes, all of them, and we will never forget that. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Of course a monument of some kind in the area. I think particularly at the World Trade Center, there should me a non-denomonational place for either prayer of meditaion. I think we should remember the incredible strenght of the people that day. Someone recently told me that they think in 50 years that we will not have such strong memories of this. Afterall, when Pearl Harbor happened it was also a terrible tragedy and we don't do anything as a nation to remember that day. With projects like this, I hope we are able to remember it all, the good and the bad. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? At first I had a flag in the back window of my car. I also wore a lapel flag pin for several weeks. I later felt that the patriotism had become less genuine. Flag items were popping up everywhere. I even noticed a flyer on my car one day that was a flag on one side and an add on the other. I think the true patriotism we all have comes from inside and not from the red,white and blue hat, shirt and socks that so many of us were suddenly wearing. I do think the flag itself, is still a very powerful symbol of our country and I am glad some many people and businesses have contiunued to fly 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 nmah5043.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. 2002-09-16 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 216.236.131.154