73 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 at home, taking care of my 1 1/2 month old son and 4 year old daughter. My neighbor was over and we were probably trading some parenting tips. All of the sudden my secretary came bursting out of the at home office, saying "the World Trade Center has been hit by a plane, turn on the TV!" At first, I thought it was a hoax. Then as we watched the second plane hit the second tower, the enormity of what was happening began to hit me. I still had a surreal sense about it, until a couple of days later when I was talking to a complete stranger who shared that her favorite grandson had been killed on one of the planes. We cried over that and everything else together. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I am not as quick to fly as I used to be. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The really important things in life. The things you can't take with you. The way you show people you love them, the way you show people you care. The "oneness" of us all. We are all in this together, we have to look for the similarities that bring us all together. Not focus on the differences that isolate us apart. 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 one. I did put one in my window. I am glad to see so many flags around. It seemed patriotism was pretty low before 9/11 and now its everywhere. One of the ironies that strike me is how the flag and patriotism have now become the new marketing tool. 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 nmah720.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-01 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 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. Sept 11, 2002--My Story--this is the e-mail I sent to all my friends in California on the morning of 9/11/01, and some of the replies I received. I had lived in San Francisco for 18 years and have been in Washington DC now for 3. Subject: Lockdown Well, here I am isolated in my apt and freaking out, the TV on in the background. I guess I feel lonely and therefore reaching out across the country. In CA the damage had already been done when most of you woke up today. It's panic and crises here in Washington DC, as well as NYC--and no one really knows what's going on yet in regard to the terrorist attacks of this morning--what is particularly chilling is that there were more planes hijacked this morning and who knows where they might be. It was even one of our own planes from Dulles also hijacked. I am in shock. Here in the Capital, for me it was a normal day getting to work on time, and as we gathered for the morning meeting, found out the World Trade Center had been crashed in to by a hijacked plane--and a second followed as we turned on the TV. As we watched in fear and horror the Pentagon was also hit and all of DC began emergency evacuations--including us, closed down by our principal watching it all on TV from home. Imagine, my office only a block from the White House, peril did seem quite possible. By now all of DC has been evacuated and locked down--everything closed and people racing through the streets in panic, sirens going everywhere. Phone lines are also clogged and I was watching the TV when the Trade Towers collapsed--it's a nauseating chill gone down my spine. Apparently one of the hijacked planes was on a Newark-San Francisco itinerary, my very own route. I was planning to go to the top of the World Trade Center on my NYC trip next month. I feel incredibly sad...also feeling very much like SF when the '89 Loma Prieta earthquake hit, only this is something else entirely. No planes anywhere for anyone, they say. Is war eminent? What retaliations? Here in DC they are on top alert and all the important dignitaries hidden in their secret bunkers. I am sure everyone is glued to the news waves, but I am just here wondering and watching. feeling very alone. God speed xoxo nora Responses (all from California): Sounds silly, but I sure am glad to hear from you. It's that sort of thing, folks worry and call everyone they know in CA when there's an earthquake in Hollister. I've thought of you, Pattie and Meryl all morning. What total wierdness. I'm not sure what to think. Steve had planned a trip into SF this morning, but cancelled. It just didn't seem right. Then we heard on the news that SF is a mess. Schools closed, federal buildings closed, city hall closed, BART and the bridges on high alert. The news said that it's a traffic nightmare. Keep me posted.--Wes You just take good care of yourself, kid. SFO is closed and Cal State Bldgs like mine are closed, too. Be careful out there.--Love, Wally Hey Stranger, I thought about you as soon as I heard about the Pentagon this morning. I imagine things will be pretty crazy out there for quite a while now. Everybody here at work is huddled around the TV this morning trying to absorb the whole thing, doesn't seem like it can be real somehow. I'd thought we were all too jaded to be bothered by terrorist stuff anymore, but this is so big it hit everybody like a punch in the gut. The first I heard about it was on the train coming out to work this morning. I usually have a car pretty much to myself but it was packed this morning with people going home after they closed half the office buildings in the city this morning and the ones pouring out of Oakland airport. The whole trip was spooky. People would be all jabbering at each other and then the whole car would get quiet for a couple miles while everybody tried to take it in, it was like being on a funeral train. I hate to think what it would be like being trapped in Manhattan today. Well, I gotta go to work (four hours since I got here, I should get something done today). Just wanted you to know I was thinking about you. Glad you're OK. Hang in there.--Doug My thoughts went out to you in DC this morning. First time I checked email is now. Am in state of shock will write more later. THIS IS JUST ABOUT AS BAD AS IT GETS, I guess.--Lynda Beth I am so glad that you are safe. I spoke with Gail today and she had to walk across the bridge to Rosslyn to get a metro back home. All are safe. Was about to dial your Mom, but wanted to check email first. What a tragedy and worse could come if we retaliate and they retaliate, etc....when will it end? --Love, Carol Nora: Good Morning! I just got back from vacation. I was worried about you while I was away. Tuesday was a scary day for me as well, wondering if I'll have a home to come back to and what not. I should write Mr. Bush and let him know that I stand behind any decision that he makes in retaliation to the attack. Anyway, I hope that this letter finds you well, and keep the news flowing!--David NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. yes. I was laid off from my job in the spring, and am now at a loss for higher purpose and function. I am filled with uncertainties, not only about life and our future but what is the right way to live. Corporate America is no longer a goal--having material wealth seems meaningless. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? That we are as vulnerable as all other people on this earth. That humanity and kindness are in our hearts. That peace among all men must be the goal. 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 have a very small studio apartment 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 nmah4534.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 165.247.82.192 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. i witnessed history because a crazy man hade people run a plane into two building that where a symbol of new york. in doing so he killed thousands of people NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. it has because i dont judge people before i meet them and i give them a chanse to and i am frindly to more people NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? the shocking moment we relized that this is no accident and how we thought we where so big and no one would hurt america but were not and it could happen any time NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? we could not find a flage in stores for months but when we finaly got one we flew it and i feel proud to beable to do what i want and say what i want and be free 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 nmah4248.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.96.203 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On September 11th i was in school, third period. Our principal came over the loud speaker and announced what had happened. Our class was too noisy and i could only hear sections of what he was saying. A few second later my tacher who was helping a student nearby me asked what he had said. I responded with " something about terrorist and the trade centers." He laughed it off thinking I heard wrong or was just joking around. I didn't really know what the trade centers were and really thought nothing of it. The next period everyone was quite and the T.V was on. This was abnormal because we never watched television in school. My english teacher went into details and explained it to us. Every teacher on did the same. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has not changed since september 11th. I have flown across the country on a plane with my family and we don't think twice about going to large buildings. There was really nothing that could change because we live in such a small town. where we go are the only places we have to be with our friends or spend time with our families. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think it is very important to be reminded about this tragic day because many clueless people were killed injured or knew someone who was. Even those who hadn't had felt like they had. As the saying goes " those who do not know the history are doomed to repeat 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? My family did not fly a flag. We did however have a sticker on our car. My feelings about the American flag have not changed, but my feeling about the people of the country have. To me the flag is just a colorful cloth, our people are what changed the country. They are the ones who had to go through this expeience and had to pull together. I relize the flag is a symbol of all this but in this situation i think the symbol is not as strong as hearing and seeing then actual experiences 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 nmah3073.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.204.95.2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I work the night shift at a local hospital. I came home that Sept morning and crawled into bed for a couple hours sleep before I had to take my oldest daughter for an ultrasound appt. The radio woke me and on the radio I heard a plane had just struck the World Trade Center. I heard what the announcer was saying on the radio but It wasn't sinking in. I never imagined it was something happening right at that second. I thought it was perhaps the anniversary of a past terroist attack. Thats when the second plane struck and the World Trade Center collapsed. I rushing out the door late for my appt. As I drove down the road listening to the horrors unraveling on the radio, I heard the emergency broadcast wailing and as I drove past a neighborhood base I could hear sirens screaming and the fighter jets were taking off one after another. I heard someone on the radio scream, "one is headed this way"! I thought for sure we were under attack. Especially with all of the military bases here I thought we were at war. I was frightened, shocked and saddened like all of America. Like most people I watched and help my breath for the next week waiting and worrying over what would happen next. Things will never be the same. When I hear a jet fly overhead my heart still pound. 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 nmah4375.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. 216.54.32.99 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 sleeping soundly in my bed in Dallas, Texas when my phone rang. It was my 81 year old mother, Jolene Caldwell MacLean, calling from North Carolina. I'd forgotten to turn my message machine down so I fussed at myself as my mother's voice, in the distance, was yelling for me to turn my TV on. I ignored Mom, as I'm a deep sleeper. It was her THIRD telephone call when she said, "Kat, we're at War! We're under attack!", that got my attention. I popped up out of bed, turned the TV to CNN, went for the phone and arrived back at the bed just in time to see the second plane hit the World Trade Center. It was like a Dali painting. It was unreal. Just then,the news starts talking about planes that have been hijacked and there are more. I sat on the phone with my Mother as we watched together, a half country apart from each other, another plane hit the Pentagon. THE PENTAGON for heaven's sake!!! Our *fortress* of the Armed Forces is HIT!!! Next we hear of the 4th plane. Another one! Suddenly, we hear the 4th plane has crashed in the countryside of Pennsylvania. Mother and I both said, at the same time, "The passengers found out! They knew! They crashed the plane." We knew there were many hero's being made that day. We knew God's angels were busy. I told Mother not to worry. Dad had built a bomb shelter years ago under our home that we used as a basement. I told her that I'd wait a bit to see what else was going to happen. If anything else were to happen then, I was on my way from Dallas to North Carolina. Before hanging up the phone, Mother said,"This is it. This is the beginning of the end. We've just witnessed the beginning of the next World War." I hung the phone up, thinking, "Dear Lord, please let her be wrong.", knowing in my heart, she was so right. It's a year later. We're still fighting and there is no end in sight. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life HAS changed in that I watch people more. I, shamefully admit, watch people who look Middle Eastern. I seem to notice people of Middle Eastern descent more. When I fly, I watch to see who is on my flight. I'm leary of crowds and do not go to public gatherings. I spend MOST of my time at home, alone. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should never forget what happened in our country. I think that we should never, EVER let our guard down again!!!!! Anyone who wants to kill a lot of Americans can. If someone wants to kill themselves and they plan things out properly, they can fulfill that plan. There isn't a whole lot we can do to stop them. I think we should always remember to be vigilant. 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 lit candles after 9/11/01. I didn't fly a flag until months later. Seeing the pride in being an American was wonderful and I believe brought people together. My feelings about the flag haven't changed. I do believe that some folks took it to an extreme. 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 nmah4692.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.96.236 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in my 9th grade Algebra class and my teacher got called out of the room, and when she came back in she turned on the TV and explained what was happening and we saw the 2nd building fall.Everyone left 2nd Hour shaken up and we were all talking about it in the hallway. When we got home from school I watched the news all night with my family. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, I think everyone's has. I think it made everyone realize that things we have shouldn't be taken for granted and that we aren't the best people in the world. I think everyone kind of sobered up afterwards and realized that life is short and little arguments are pointless. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? All of the innocent people that died, because it didn't have to happen. Because we were such a greedy country and thought we ruled the world,our people died. Also I think we should always remember that it shouldn't take something like that to make people become close to eachother. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes and I think that it symbolizes so much more now because before if I looked at it I always thought that is was just 'the flag for our country' and now when I look at it I think that those people are displaying it in memory 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 nmah1445.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-06 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.12.96.203 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. i was sick and went home early and my mom told me what hadden i was relly mad and then i heard it on the radio i was 12 two months away from 13 now i'm almost 14 NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. no NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? becuse it was 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? yes Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah2680.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. 204.232.39.210 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 home with my little 2 year old son, we were making cookies and we had the news on like we always do......and then all the sudden they go live to New York and it was the most horrible thing i'd ever seen or experienced. I felt horrible for all those little children and parents who were just going about their daily routines and lives. It reminded me of the Oklahoma City bombing, that really touched home to us because that is where we're from. I'll never forget the terrible sites or horrible images from that day. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, i don't think our country can ever be the same. I mean I guess you don't really think evil like that can really exist, because i always want to think the best of people, and think when it comes right down to it people will always do the right thing. But thats just the kind of world we live in today. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should remember the "real" heros. And those are the people who died. All those people who were in the planes that day who knew what the terrist were planning, crashing planes into our own buildings. The firefighters, the police officers, and innocent civilians who were just trying to live their everyday normal lives in our nation. They are our "True Angels".. 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 haven't changed, if anything they have become stronger. We live in a country where we should be proud of who we are and where we come from. 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 nmah364.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. 2002-08-21 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.204.68 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 September 11, 2001 I was busy working on a Romeo and Juliet project for my english teacher, Ms. Lamar. It had been quite a few minutes into second period when Ms. McNish called her out into the hall, all of a sudden she ran back in the class picked up her cell phone (trying to get ahold of her husband who had flew out that morning headed to New York City) and at the same time in a panic attempted to connect the tv to the cable cord and turn to channel 3. Everyone in our class wondered what was going on, a guy in the back of the class yelled out to her," Ms. Lamar, ... what are you doing?" she said in a frantic voice "THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HAS BEEN BOMBED" no one in my class really knew what she meant because this is not something near us and we had never been taught what it was, or did (saying that we live in Alabama). As soon as she got the tv on we were whatching in fear this building exploding, and all of a sudden like this couldnt be bad enough another plane came out of no where and slamed into the second tower, wow i will never in my life forget what that looked like.... then as the day progressed we got into 5th period and were informed that the Pentagon had also been hit. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. All I can say is that I have learned what freedom is and not abused it! NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? All the kids, moms, dads, grandparents.... that were taken in this horrible terrorism act. I want anyone to know that has lost somone because of this, i know your biggest fear is of us forgeting well trust me we will never forget..... NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes me and my family fly our flag out front almost everyday, and yes my attitude,and feelings have changed since 9/11/01 it seems all of my peers at THOMPSON HIGH SCHOOL their attitude has changed to . I say this because now when we say the pledge everyone stans, and everyone says the pledge. 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 nmah4232.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. 216.143.62.164 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I saw the two planes crash into the World Trade Center on tv and heard about it on the radio. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I have a lot more respect for the American Flag now. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Every one who died doing what they do,the twin towers,just about everything. 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 has always flew a flag in our front yard, but after 9/11/01 my family and I have a lot more respect for the flag.AD 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 nmah1934.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. 208.191.87.61 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. James & Kathleen(a 9/11 story) The atmosphere was the clearest I could recollect in my personal history. No small or distant detail could go unnoticed that day. I arrived at Hoboken train terminal and without hesitation chose the ferry instead of the PATH train to cross the Hudson River. While crossing the river my eyes drew towards the early morning sun reflecting off the immigration center on Ellis Island. I thought of my grandparents arriving there 100 years earlier from Lithuania. This early morning thought was broken as my ferry entered the looming shadow of the North tower of the World Trade Center. Once the ferry docked at the World Financial Center, I walked briskly with the other commuters towards the Winter Garden. No other labor force could have walked with such early morning vigor and determination as a Wall Street commuter. It was this hurried pace that was a warm-up for the tempo of just another workday in lower Manhattan. I went inside the Winter Garden. I walked past the tall elegant palm trees. These trees channeled me to the concentric marble staircase leading upward to the pedestrian bridge. This bridge would carry me over West Street to the World Trade Center. Having crossed the bridge, I went outside again. I was now on the World Trade Center property. I passed within a few feet of the North side of the North tower and entered Austin Tobin Plaza. On my left was the raised black marble fountain with Koenig's sphere as it's centerpiece and to my right was the outdoor elevated metallic stage where music concerts were held during the summer. I noticed the how precise the alignment was of all the white folding chairs in front of the stage. They appeared ready for the next audience. I entered the South tower. I was at work early that day. I started my computer and began attacking the pile of paperwork on my desk. At about 3/4 of an hour into the workday, I heard a muffled explosion. I stood up and peered over the top of my cubicle partition, saw nothing, sat down and went back to work. About one minute later I heard the hysterical cries of a secretary. This time when I looked outside, I saw white paper, almost identical to what was in my own hand at that time, encircling the outside of my building at the 67th floor level. All I knew was that an office above me opened up to the outside. I hit Ctrl+Alt+Del on my computer to lock it. I put on my jacket, grabbed my briefcase and went to the nearest stairwell. The stairwell had many people descending from the upper floors. However it was not choked nor was there panic. It was a steady stream of many people walking down in pairs. When I reached the 44th floor sky lobby, I noticed many people milling around and wondering. The wall-mounted flat screen television above the entrance to the cafeteria was displaying a business news station. I could see the electronic ticker tape moving from right to left on the bottom of the TV monitor. A rumor in the lobby was circulating that a single engine plane or a helicopter had hit the North tower. Events were downplayed frequently that day. An announcement came across the public address system. "An airplane had hit One World Trade but the integrity of Two World Trade was okay". This message was repeated once more. I heard two young men say they were going return to work as they headed towards their elevator. As I took a few steps towards someone I recognized, some great force struck my building. It felt like the floor was being violently pushed under my feet. While falling to the floor, the steady repeating rhythm of time suddenly stopped. I instantly developed tunnel vision and my depth perception did not extend beyond twenty feet. My eyes focused on a nearby out-of-service elevator. The impact had created a shock wave through the entire building that forced dust at a high velocity from all four sides of the elevator doors to the inside of the lobby. I was now prone on the floor. Pandemonium erupted and filled the sky lobby. I picked myself up. I noticed that my monthly rail pass popped out of my briefcase and was lying on the floor. Even though it was only a few feet away, I would have to go against the grain of the moving crowd, as they were all heading toward the exit. But I needed the rail pass to get home. I never understood why anyone did not collide or brush into me. I retrieved it uneventfully. I turned around and began to proceed down the stairwell again. Kathleen worked directly across the World Trade Center in Jersey City. Her building was located behind the Colgate clock. A co-worker told Kathleen that one of the twin towers was on fire. All went outside to the parking garage to observe. As she looked across the Hudson River she saw a commercial Jetliner enter her panorama from her right. It seemed to come from just in front of the Statue of Liberty. She could not understand why this airplane was maneuvering so low at such a high rate of speed. She did not associate this plane and the World Trade Center fire as being connected. At the moment the plane struck the South tower James's name was embedded in her primal scream. She had hoped he escaped unharmed but if he did not she hoped he died instantly. Kathleen was assisted back to her desk, where for two and a half hours she waited with her left hand clamped to the telephone receiver waiting for his call. I descended a story or two from the sky lobby then all downward movement halted. Stopping and waiting were never in any prior drills and for that reason tension began to build. People whom worked on the lower floors beneath the sky lobby now began the evacuation process and entered the stairwell all at once. One young man a few rows behind me started to push the woman in front of him. I and a few others turned around and gave him an unfavorable glance. That was all that was needed. Within a minute or two, which seemed a lot longer, the procession down renewed. There were two more delays encountered. After the second delay it got increasingly warm. The amount of people, combined with no air conditioning in the stairwells made this happen. Once I descended to around the twentieth floor, the pace began to pick up and the procession seemed to spread out but never disappear. The lower floors now appeared vacant. I could now descend at a quicker pace. Finally the last exit door opened and I had reached the mezzanine level. The mezzanine was one floor above the lobby level but was at the same level as the outside Plaza. I was being directed by a security guard to descend to the lobby level via the escalator. The escalator power was turned off. There was a delay here because of the amount of people at this level were from multiple stairwells. While I was waiting for my turn, I looked outside in the Plaza. This was the same area I had walked through moments earlier on my way to work. I could not recognize anything. Everything was charred, smoldering or on fire. Debris was everywhere. At that exact moment I saw an outside support beam about 20 to 30 feet long, hit the ground. Each end of the polished steel beam alternately hit the ground until it stopped. Both ends of that steel support were on fire. My rational mind had a very difficult time understanding what I was seeing and what made this happen. God had spared me from identifying the details of the charred items in the Plaza. Later I learned that I was looking at human remains. As I descended the escalator to the lobby area, I saw a team of about six firemen. A port authority maintenance worker was trying unsuccessfully to fully open a revolving door to aid them in entering the South tower. The firemen were carrying equipment and apparatus to combat the fire. The tallest of the firemen and the leader yelled loudly and intensely. He could not tolerate this delay. He had to get himself and his men inside. The revolving door then opened and all six men went in. I exited though one of the other doors. I was out of the South tower and in the concourse. The first thing I noticed was all the retail stores were closed. I have never seen that on a weekday. Then a female port authority police officer shouted and directed me to move towards her quickly and to exit at Five World Trade. When I looked to my left I saw all one dozen descending escalators to the PATH with their power off and vacant. I went past J. Crew, by Ecce Panis bakery and finally I was waiting in line next to Tourneau jewelers at the base of the ascending escalator in Five World Trade Center. At the exact moment I exited Five World Trade Center, plainclothes policemen were just outside the door shouting instructions. "Keep walking quickly, do not turn around and do not look up", was repeatedly barked. Proceeding east, on my left were a few EMT people tending to prone victims. To my right I saw what looked like a professional photographer capturing images above. I crossed Church Street and proceeded on the sidewalk up Fulton Street along with others. Still looking forward I could see crowds of people on Broadway looking high up over my head with horrified and anguished expressions on their faces. As I got closer to them, I could now hear their gasps and cries. I decided it was time for me to look. I stopped, sidestepped left, turned around and braced myself with my right hand grasped around the ancient iron fence surrounding Saint Paul's church. I inhaled deeply. Both towers were on fire. The tower I worked in had more flames. I saw huge holes in both buildings about 3/4 of the way up. I had recently read a book on the construction of The World Trade Center and I knew the outside walls structurally supported it. I did not feel comfortable where I was. My thoughts now turned to Kathleen. I had to find a telephone. I started walking north up Broadway. People were in the street, on the sidewalk, everywhere. All eyes focused high above and in the opposite direction I was walking. The first public phones near City Hall Park had lengthy human lines. The people on the phones were not brief. They wanted to tell as many people as possible that they were safe. Some callers started making second and even third phone calls. Those waiting in line objected loudly. I continued walking north. Coffee shops, restaurants and fast food establishments all were closed or in the process of closing. When I got near Canal Street I heard a loud noise that was a combination of a roar and rumble. That noise was instantly overrode with the cries and screams of people in the street near me. The South Tower had come down. I did not turn around. I had not felt this kind of deliberate devastation since I was in South Vietnam 34 years earlier. I wondered who lived. I wondered who died. I knew that Kathleen did not know I was still alive. My paced picked up. My strategy was that I should still head north but not on Broadway. My chances of finding a public phone should improve. My destination was the Port Authority Bus Station. I had just approached Union Square Park when I heard the same cries as before. The North Tower was gone. I turned around to look at the giant cloud of dust and saw the void where two tall modern structures to human civilization, peace and trade once stood. I was on Fifth Avenue. I was still looking for a public phone but the lines of people were even longer. I reached 34th Street. Suddenly a chill went through my body. I recognized the base of the building I was standing next to. I looked up. I was at the bottom of the Empire State Building. How careless I was to place myself next to the now tallest building in New York City and a possible target. I picked up my pace even more. Adrenaline was at record levels in my body. Finally I reached the bus station and found it closed. I thought of the familiar banks and banks of telephones inside going unused. In what seemed like my continued effort not to stay in one place, I decided to head west on 42nd Street to the Hudson River. I passed a parked police car that just arrived from lower Manhattan. It was covered in ash and dust. All of the windows in the car were gone. Just a few blocks from the river I saw somebody step out of a restaurant. I was shocked that a restaurant was still open. I went inside and found a public phone on the wall and nobody using it. I thought it must be broken. I picked up the receiver and heard a dial tone. I felt so relieved to have that power and potential of communicating with the outside world. Kathleen's work phone number was normally located in the easy recall section of my brain. But the events of that morning altered my normal thought process. I could not consciously remember her phone number. After a few frustrating seconds, I just went ahead and dialed. I hoped somehow my finger knew her number. The telephone barely started to ring when Kathleen picked up the receiver. It was the most emotional exchange ever in our combined lives. We both started to speak over each other's words. She was emotionally thrilled to hear my voice. I said "it's me, I'm ok, and I love you". The words really had no meaning, but the life emitting them did. The phone call did not last more than a minute or two. The time was 11:20 AM. I told her I would get home but did not know how or when. Once I hung up the receiver, I took a deep unencumbered breath. I was not far from the midtown ferry docks. Once I got to the docking area, I found huge lines. It was difficult to determine where the lines began, where they ended and or even how wide they were. There was little supervision with the exception of a few NY Waterway employees trying to maintain some order. Considering the size of the crowds, which looked like it was in the tens of thousands, it was amazing the calmness that existed. There was an African- American uniformed employee whom had a beaming smile on her face. I could not remember the exact reassuring words she chose but it did not matter. Whatever those specific words were, it made everyone within the sound of her voice feel a whole lot better. It was the first ordinary, overt, positive gesture made by one human being to another since the tragedy began. West Street had no traffic on it with the exception of an occasional emergency vehicle. When a vehicle did drive by there were no sirens or horns. There was no one else on the road. They all headed south to the giant smoke and dust cloud in lower Manhattan. Then I noticed something really unusual. A young couple was roller-blading south on West Street. They seemed to either ignore or did not see the Dunkirk size lines less than ten feet from them. They also did not notice the smoke rising from ground zero. They just continued to skate like nothing was out of place. I could not discern whether they were very athletically disciplined or just the most oblivious idiots on earth that day. While there was some chatter in line, it was for such a huge crowd quiet. Because no one definitely knew what had happened, no one felt compelled to talk. America was stunned. I turned on my radio that was is in my briefcase to a local AM station. I heard of a plane hitting the Pentagon and another going down in Western Pennsylvania. The word terrorists was used a lot. Someone in line whom knew something about piloting aircraft said it must have been teams of multiple hijackers and not individuals acting alone. After a few minutes I realized that the radio newscasters were doing nothing more than speculating and rehashing. I turned off my radio and no one in line objected. I realized how empty and quiet the sky was. There were no sounds of propellers, jet engines or helicopters. If thoughts contained any sound at all, that day they could be heard. Additional ferries were being pressed into service and the line instead of getting longer began to shorten and move in a serpentine fashion towards the docks. I was not concerned about the particular destination of the ferry. As long as it crossed the Hudson River and put me a step closer to home. After about thirty minutes I finally boarded a ferry that would bring me back to Hoboken Station. The ferry pushed across the calm Hudson. I welcomed the noise of the ferry's engines. I looked at lower Manhattan and saw the smoke drifting upward. Perhaps the smoke would carry the unfortunate souls of those lost that day to a better world. My thoughts then concentrated on a specific group of people. How helpless, angry and silent all people serving in uniform must have felt. Their job was designed to protect ordinary citizens but instead found themselves as nothing more than remote television viewers observing this horrific attack. When the ferry finally docked I noticed a significant number of official personnel waiting. As I stepped off the ferry they repeatedly asked if anyone worked in the World Trade Center. I was directed to my right just outside the terminal. I thought perhaps they wanted an eyewitness accounting of the tragedy, but instead I found myself waiting in a line to be decontaminated. In front of me was a man in a pure white decontamination suit, respirator and holding a fire hose over his shoulder. I made a mild attempt of protest indicating I had no dust or any contaminants on me. Many people evacuating the World Trade Center had prescience of mind to leave the downtown area. After all, once out of the building, we knew we would not return to work that day. But I was wise enough to know that protesting made little difference. I was going to get hosed. I lifted my arms up from my side until they were parallel to the ground. My briefcase was in my left hand. As the hose dispensed a fine spray I slowly turned in a 360 degree arc. It took no more than a few seconds. They handed me a white towel and directed me to a triage area where medical personnel examined me. They asked me several times if I was okay. Finally they released me and I left with the white towel around my neck as a souvenir. I walked into the train station looking for the boarding schedule. The station was packed with people wanting to get home. I saw that in about 45 minutes a train would depart to my home destination. I boarded the train, found a seat and waited. In about ten minutes both the conductor and engineer came into my passenger car. They began to argue about whether the train should leave on schedule or to wait and fill the train with passengers and then leave. Based on their conflicting viewpoints it appeared that nothing was going to happen. In a few minutes I heard what either was a bullhorn or a faint public address announcement. I could not hear exactly what was broadcast. Within a few seconds and while looking out the train window, I saw about 40 to 60 commuters streaming out of the terminal in a dead run. I never saw so many people in such a condensed formation, sprinting at such a remarkably fast pace. They had left the terminal because of a rumor that someone had discovered a bomb. People in my passenger car began to exit the train and terminal. I was unsure of what was happening. Considering all I had already experienced, I made a decision to remain composed. Just outside the terminal the sprinting commuters finally stopped and assembled. This group seemingly could not or would not separate. It was a peculiar site. The same New Jersey Transit official with the bullhorn that started the stampede, tried to tell this frightened group that it was a false alarm. They did not believe him. They did not move, separate or re-enter the terminal for some time. Trying to rid myself from this transportation nightmare, I now looked for a different train to get home. On the schedule board I saw a train due to leave in fifteen minutes that would take me to the town adjacent to my hometown. I boarded it and the train left the station. As my train traversed the meadowlands the feathery plumes of tall reeds moved past my window. Any other day going home and this procession of nature could invoke a light thought or two. That day they just moved endlessly past my window. The first train stop was mine. I got off the train, found a phone and called Kathleen whom was now home. I needed to make a deliberate gesture to put my life back on the same emotional track as I started the day with. There was a pastry shop next to the train station. I was seated on an outdoor bench eating a lemon ice when Kathleen's car arrived. We greeted one another affectionately, calmly and went home together. THE END 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 nmah6262.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. 2003-09-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.160.118.150 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On the morning of September 11, 2001, I remember getting ready for school. I was in the 8th grade at Fulton Middle School. As I was almost ready I heard my mom shreek while on the phone with my dad. I ran into her room as I stood there, in shock to witness the first plane hit the WTC. There was a huge explosion and so much fire and dust. The news cast kept filming the tragedy as people jumped from the buidling to get away from all of it. I couldn't believe that this was actually happening. I was apart of this generation that witnessed the terrorist attack. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed emensily. That day means so much more and brings the whole nation together as one on Sept. 11. I respect things so much more and I live life to the fullest becuase if that can happen out of the blue, it can happen any time now. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The braveness of all the people that helped and survived the tragedy. And also the importance of our country's freedom. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes. My family put up the american flag in front of my house. 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 nmah6604.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.69.225 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I witnessed history on September 11th via the media, phone calls to a family member in the District of Columbia that day, and communication with friends from various places around the country. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed greatly since September 11, 2001. I no longer take my freedoms for granted, and make sure that others do not as well. I take greater pride in every thing our country stands for, the good, and consequentally, the bad. I find no shame in wearing a red, white, & blue pin on various attire daily, or pausing in reflection everytime I hear a patriotic song played. And more than anything else, since September 11th, I've found myself with a resolve to serve my nation when I come of age, whether it be in the government workforce, the local rescue squad, or as I hope to be, a United States Servicewoman. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that each individual involved on that day should be remembered for who they were in life, most importantly, and who they are in retrospect. I think it's important to remember the coming together of a nation, and of a world, as it will make our international quests for peace seem like a worthy endeavour, no matter the obstacle, for many centuries and generations to come. 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 fly an American flag after the events of September 11th, and continue to do so today. I find renewed spirit within that flag, and feel now more than ever, that it is a part of me. The flag stands for many things, above all our freedom and the unity and hope that binds us together as a people. 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 nmah4398.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.65.37.66 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 waking up and going downstairs where i found my mom watching TV she told what had happened and i barely understood i didnt really =know what the Trade toweres were used for or where they were. I then realized more of what they were and learned that it was a terrorist attack. i was astounded I couldnt belive our country had been hit. It seemed unreal but all of it didnt hit untill the next day when i was sittng in my History class when my teacher vrought out and article for the news paper and began reading it. It was so honest pure and incredible that by the end of the article my teacher and most of the class was in tears we couldnt belive it had happend to us the stuff we read about that happens in other countries or decades before. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. i think it had changed every american life whether we want to admit it or if we dont even know the suttle chnges it is making on us. I know feel more vulnerable and that our country isnt untouchable so to speak. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the people who were murdered, the poepl who lost someone and the firefighters who risked their lives and became somones hero, I also think that in a way it was what america needed it has brought us closer and more united in a way undescribable it has showed us how much stregth we never knew we had too. 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 have flown one in my locker and I now have more respect for it and understand my the people made it and what they were feeling at the time. i also now know more how much importance a symbol can hold for people 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 nmah4860.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. 63.187.209.221 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. September 11, 2001, my first week of high school. It was the second day of classes at my new high school. It was about 945 when we first heard of a plane crash, and I was in Mr. John Walsh's Biology class, and we tried to get the TV on, but, as usual, nothiung worked. Then we went to Mr. Brennan's English class, and he described what was going on and drew what happened on the board to better explain what was going on, after that, the whole day was a blur, all afternoon activities were cancelled, and I was tentative about taking the subway home because of possible attacks in Boston. That day will always be in my mind and i will always remember what happened exactly on my second day as a freshman at BC high. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed because I no longer think that the US is seperate from the rest of the world, that we can actually be killed and we arent in a bubble seperate from the world NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The victims and the relatives of the victims. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes and no, because being a boy scout the flag has always meant a lot to me and it is still a symbol of the United States Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6228.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. 2003-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 144.223.80.150 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I live in Long Beach,Ca and commute on the freeway to work, 45 min, to get to my office in Irvine,Ca. I had left home at 7 AM PST,that morning, and was listening to a sports talk show I always tune into. The 2 hosts have a comical show format. They were talking about some sporting event/person and laughing, as I was, when one of the hosts said that word was coming come in, that a plane or something had crashed into the WTC. I remember thinking to myself, "That's not funny! I wonder why they said that?" Then they switched to the network coverage and the rest of the 45 minutes I listened in horror to what was being described. I couldn't believe what I was hearing!!! When I reached the office, all my coworkers were very sad and somber and we all agreed to close up shop and go home to be with our families. My wife, my mom and I were planning to fly out of LAX on Fri Sept 14th to go on an Alaskan Cruise/ long story short, we were the first flight cleared to leave LAX, ALASKAN airlines, after the FAA lifted the ban. I remember Vancouver hotels and extra cruise ships were full with passengers from international flights that were not allowed to get to their destinations in the US. What a mess this was!!! It was interesting,during the cruise, the people we met, sat and dinner with, etc, all knew what had happened & did not really talk about the event per say. The subject manner of the conversations delt with how everyone made it to the ship in Vancouver from all over. Since all international flights to the US and domestic flights were grouded for that week, rental cars, Uhaul vehicles, etc were in high demand and in just a few days, thier inventories were depleted. A couple from Nova Scotia took 2 trains, rented cars just to get to the boat and not miss the sail/ A couple from Texas decided to drive their car all the way to Vancouver. There was a stong feeling amoung the passengers on this Alsakan cruise, the week of 9/11- "Damn those terriorists. "We aren't going to change our lives and live in fear." It was a wonderful, peaceful cruise on the inside passage in ALASKA!! After we got home, thank GOD we had a great WORLD SERIES w/the Yankees and Diamondbacks!!. Only baseball, as a sport, could carry the US through the tearful months that follwed 9/11. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I'M VERY AWARE THAT WE ARE AT WAR AND WILL BE FOR A WHILE. ONE OF THE MAIN FINDINGS OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION WAS A FAILURE BY VARIOUS GOVT AGENCIES OF "IMAGINATION" WE NOW KNOW THE TERRIORISTS ARE OUT TO KILL ALL NON BELIEVERS OF THEIR CAUSE, ESPECIALLY AMERICANS. I'M STILL ANGRY. I VISITED THE WTC AND WAS UP ON THE OBSERVATION DECK OF THE SOUTH TOWER. I'M A VETERN NAVY "SEABEE" AND I'M NOT ONE TO NEGOTIATE. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I THINK THAT THE EVENT ITSELF, NEEDS TO BE REMEMBERED. LIKE THE ALAMO, LIKE PEARL HARBOR. NOT A HOLIDAY THOUGH. 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 AMERICAN FLAG/ THIS ATTACK, I FEEL, SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE FLAG WAIVING MORE OR LESS POPULAR. IF YOU'RE NOT PROUD TO WAIVE THE FALG AND BE AN AMERICAN, THEN LEAVE THE 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 nmah6812.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. 216.52.105.38 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 Darlene Haynes and at the time, I was 25 years old. I work at a grocery store called Tops Markets and was one of the few employees that came in at 4am everyday in order to make fresh products to be ready for sale that day. I was scheduled to leave work at 9am that morning, just a little 4 hour shift. I remember the first thing that I heard was that a plane had "accidentally" flown into one of the World Trade Center Towers. That was at about 8:55am. I punched out at 9, and headed the 12 minutes toward Oswego, the town I call home. My friend Jenn was with me, we just happened to have the same shift that day, and we turned on the radio as soon as we got into the car. It was all over the news on the radio that the tower had been hit. As we were driving home, we heard some comments about the burning building, that some people were jumping. As soon as we walked into our apartment, we heard that the other tower had been hit too. Now it was apparent that the first plane was not an accident. Both Jenn and I were worried so we got into the car and headed toward our parents. My mother was working at Price chopper and we stopped there so that I could talk to her. I needed too talk to her. Then we went across the river to Jenn's Dad's house and watched the rest of the attack on the pentagon and the crash in Pennsylvania. I just sat there in amazement. It was like this was a bad tv show that you couldn't turn off. It was the most horrible feeling that I've ever had. Helplessness had never felt that real and scary before. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My way of thinking about stuff has shifted a little. I am a little frigtened when the news says that we will have another terrorist attack soon, that one's on Memorial Day and that there's another on the 4th of July. I am a little apprehensive about watching the news, sometimes I skip any news entirely. I'm also thinking about the actual things that I want to do with my life and starting to make them happen. There is too much of a chance that there will be a war sometime in the next few years, and that scares me. I want to spend everyday that I can woth my parents, my boyfriend, my niece and nephew - all the important people that I love. I want to get stuff done. No more sitting around letting precious time go by, get up and move. Tommorrow may be the last day that we feel secure or aren't at war, or aren't mourning a loved one. Have as much quality time as you can, for you and the people you love. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Everything. How can one part of that experience ever escape any of us? We all witnessed it, we all felt it, we all mourned for the lost,for the loved ones of those lost people. These types of tradgies scare your soul. 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 went and got one and have flown it ever since. I realized that the flag had slipped from my life since I got out of school, now its back and comforting once again. 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 nmah49.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. 2002-07-02 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.24.42.81 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 Marine Park, Brooklyn. I'd just gotten home from dropping my kids off at school. A friend called and told me a plane hit one of the WTC towers. I prayed, then called a couple of other friends and told them to pray. I turned on the news and saw the second plane hit. I went right back out to get my kids. I felt a compulsion to assemble all my loved-ones at home so that we could face this threat together. Being separated from each other made the situation seem more horrible. I arrived at the grade-school just before crowds of parents swarmed in, got my boy and ran to the pre-school. There too, I was one of the first parents to arrive. I was tremendously relieved to have both my boys with me. Back at home, while I watched the news, throughout the day I got in touch with my husband, my family and close friends who were at work or in transit. I served as a central clearinghouse for communication. As I located people and put them in touch with each other I had a growing sense of order and usefulness that kept me from dwelling on the fear, confusion and helpless that was all around. I have a lot of sensory memories from that day... outside my door the flying paper glinting high in the perfect blue sky, the lumps of gray death ash all over the street, then the dark cloud overhead with its acrid smell, on TV the impact, the fire, the horror on the faces of the witnesses, the desperate faces at the windows, the falling bodies, the ash-covered displaced people walking miles, the sacrificed rescue workers, the lack of survivors... it was all so horrendous. Later, the candles, the vigils, the flags everywhere like bandaids on our wounds, the widows and orphans, the funerals, the grief in my neighborhood and all over. Just horrible. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I feel a sense of dread when my husband leaves to go to work in Manhattan; My family now has better strategies for being in touch and reuniting quickly in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster; I do not patronize businesses that did not fly the American flag immediately after the tragedy. I don't feel at ease in neighborhoods where the vast majority of homes and businesses did not fly the flag; We do not plan to travel out of the country, or to fly unneccesarily. We take road trips. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? It was admirable how New Yorkers pulled together. I will never forget the love and assistance we, the grateful living, gave each other. As the story unfolded and we learned that our attackers were Arab Moslems, we did not harrass those in our midst and corral them into detainment camps. We behaved in a decent and civilized way. It makes me proud to be American. 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 my flag much before 9/11. I thought it was something veterans and government buildings did. I flew my flag every day after 9/11 until I took it in recently because of the harshness of this winter (2004). I will fly it again in the spring. I have a red, white & blue, and a yellow bow on my door. I want to show allegiance, solidarity and respect. 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 nmah6439.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. 2004-02-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.191.214.225 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Everyone seems to like everyone else alot more. I enjoy my family more and i try to get along with my peers now. im scared to fly on air planes and talking about 9/11 is pretty hard. 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? my feelings about the American flag have changed because 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 nmah3632.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.158.161.206