76 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 in school going to chemistry class. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I think that everyones lives have been changed since September 11, 2001. The way our everyone has pulled together through the times of loss and need. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that there are many "things" that should be remembered about September 11, 2001. A few being the lives of family memebers, friends, coworkers, etc. that lost their lives. The firefighters, police men, and other security officials that helped the victims. I think that it is just a monumental day. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I did fly an American flag on my car after September 11th. I think my feelings and respect for the flag have grown since the events. 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 nmah3414.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. 64.8.162.66 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. on a tv in my classroom at ccms we were all shocked when we found out it was a terrible experience especially those who lost someone NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It's really made me think that we are so lucky to have so much freedom and rights I mean the 9/11 attack was a terrible thing because it tore a piece out of everyones heart but we have to face reality i mean there are always going to be wars but this wasen't a war this was something that has really changed america and all of us NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? the people who lost there lives and those who lost someone or new someone who lost there life it's just hard to think about I mean cause what would you do without your family thats hard to deal with but just think about who didn't know anything about it until after they watched there familys lives crash down with the towers NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes I did and no i still feel the same way but in a way i do have more respect for the flag than i probley did two or three years ago 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 nmah4178.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. 63.189.208.221 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. My name is Dennis Tafoya. I have a wife, Jill, and in 2001 my children were 15, 11 and 8. I'm in industrial sales. I was working, on my way to a sales call in a little town called Palmyra, PA, near Harrisburg. I was trying to find a radio station and actually heard the first clear reports on the Howard Stern show that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. They were making jokes about it. Eventually, I found a real news channel, but no one knew anything when I first started listening, around nine o'clock. I went into my sales call, but all we did was listen to the radio and try to figure out what was going on. The company was owned by a young couple with a child, and the husband was in South Africa. While I was talking to the purchasing agent, the woman came in and said her husband had called and told her to close the building and send everyone home. By then, the third plane had hit the Pentagon. From South Africa, I guess, it looked like the whole country was under attack. I got back on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and headed east toward my home in Bucks county. The news on the radio consisted mostly of rumors and panic. A truck bomb at the State Department. A report that the Air Force had shot down one of the planes. State Police cars raced by me, lights flashing. I realized later I was only a couple of hours from Shanksville, where Flight 93 went down. I kept expecting that they would close the turnpike and I would have to find my way home on secondary roads. When I got home a couple of hours later, my wife and a friend of hers were watching CNN. We didn't turn the the TV off except to sleep. We had the most terrible feeling of helplessness, of wanting to do something and not knowing what was appropriate. We made arrangements to donate blood. People took their children home from school. I had friends working in lower Manhattan that I didn't hear from for three days. I talked to a friend who sat in his car in New Jersey and watched the buildings burn and collapse across the river. I kept thinking about the people in the building and how terrified they must have been. I kept thinking about their final moments and that no one would know what happened, that people were being brave and self-sacrificing, making each other comfortable, trying to help one another, that some people were panicking, some were resigned. It seemed especially terrible to me that no one would know all those stories. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The changes have all been intangible for me. I look at planes flying overhead differently. I wonder what's in the hearts and minds of the people around me. I put myself into the positions of people in the planes and in the buildings and I wonder how I would have acted. I wonder how long it will take to regain the sense of security we had before 9/11, or if we ever will. I wonder if my children will see the world as a more dangerous place than I did. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The heroism and self-sacrifice of everyone, both the rescue workers, the recovery and salvage workers, and the ordinary people who found themselves in terrible situations. I believe 9/11 should be a national holiday, and that it's focus should be on firefighters, rescue workers, police and EMS personnel. It should be a day to honor volunteerism and community work. 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 until the US started the attack on Afghanistan. In the days after the attack, flying the flag felt like the right expression of respect and pride in the best spirit of our country, expressed in the selflessness of the heroism on 9/11 and the days following. Every day afterward has seemed to add a layer of confusion and ambivalence about our national purpose and the rightness of our military and political response. 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 nmah6324.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. 2003-10-03 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.32.226.78 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I have worked in 2 World Financial Center since 1991, and I would pass through the WTC at least 2 times a day. On that morning, I went to the cash machine on the way to work: I still have the receipt (2 World Trade Center, 09/11/01, time 8:38, ATM number 00681-1). Moments after I got to my desk on the 31st floor of 2 WFC, I heard the first explosion. My office window faces north, thus I saw only a scattering of paper and other debris initially, and I assumed a plane had exploded in mid-air. I went with my colleagues to the windows facing the towers. We saw the North Tower in flames for the top 10 - 15 stories. In the first 30 seconds or so, no one seemed to know what to make of it. It seemed to be a contained event. We saw that at least the sprinklers were going. I called my wife and left a message on the machine, that there had been some sort of a bomb and that we were unaffected. No one thought of evacuating. Then the people started to jump out of the building. Many people turned away and were in shock as the action seemed to wind down. On my mind was the thought: "How freaked out are the people in the (yet unaffected) South Tower?" A very loud explosion and a large fireball then came out two-thirds up the South Tower. This time, a lot of people saw the plane coming. At that point, the World Financial Center evacuation took place. It was never announced; rather, it was assumed. The only exits of the WFC empty out onto West Street, so that is where everyone had to go. Some very calm building employees herded the slow-moving lines of people back through the Winter Garden and to the side of the marina. I was able to use my two-way pager to send messages to my wife on her cellular phone (I still have the messages). Likewise, mine was one of the few cellular phones that was working, albeit intermittently. I was able to contact my wife (who had no television signals) and the wives of friends. My colleagues and I were two or three blocks north when there was another loud noise. It sounded like another explosion, but a few observant people noticed through the smoke that the South Tower was gone. At this point, the masses of evacuees were being strongly encouraged to move north. I got separated from my coworkers (and my cell phone), and proceeded uptown, witnessing also the slow-motion collapse of the North Tower. After several hours of wandering and speaking to everyone along the way, I got in touch again with my wife. She told me that I was invited to the apartment of a staff member if I had nowhere else to go. From 12 noon until 6 p.m. that's where I stayed, watching the collapse of 7 WTC, being emotional on the phone with my wife and 2 children, and soaking up all of the cable news I could. While riding the Long Island Railroad home that evening and while driving to Westchester County the next morning (where the company backup site is located), I saw an abbreviated lower Manhattan covered in heavy smoke. I first went back to my office on October 15, 2001 (to retrieve only the essential office materials). The fire was still burning strong, and the shells of 4, 5, and 6 WTC were still standing. The stench of burning was overwhelming. The ruins of the towers were still piled high. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Any loud noise makes me jump. 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 nmah156.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. 2002-08-18 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 64.154.72.199 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I woke up that morning feeling the way i usally do. When my mom brought me to school i had heard osme people tlking apout planes,but i didn't know what was going on. Later that day I saw it on the news. the way I felt just can't be explained. I always thought that nothing like that would ever happen. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It has changed alot since this happened. I now know that we should not always think of the good things that could happen. We need to know the bad things that can happen, and be perpared for them.I now know that we are not the untouchable country. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that we should remember how unexpected it was. The way they took our planes crashed them into our buildings, and killed so many of our people was what I think is the most horrible thing about it. We should remember all the husbands,wives,and children that are left alone now.All the people that gave blood. All the fighters that lost their lives to try to save others. People should never forget 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... but the only reason why was because after my mom got off work and went to the store she could not find one. We did put out red white and blue streamers. 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 nmah654.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-30 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 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. Paper Tigers and Waxen Wings is an essay I wrote after 9/11 about my own experience with the paralyzing fear of flying. I have since overcome it, yet know many people who have discontinued flying as a result of that event. In response to your question of balancing safety and freedom, I present this essay in contrast to the natural tendency to react to ones fears in such an extreme way. Overcoming my own fear allowed me to put my life into perspective, and to see that safety is often merely a state of mind - perhaps just an acceptance of ones surroundings. When I began flying again, I promised myself I would one day use my experience to help someone else. The unfortunate circumstances of September 11th have allowed me the courage to tell this story. 6/21/02 PAPER TIGERS & WAXEN WINGS A Personal Essay by Paula M. Froehle I have a secret. I have taken flying lessons. I have boarded a 747 while it was grounded to experience how it felt to move around inside the aircraft and to simulate what it would feel like in flight. I have listened to tapes countless times which explain the sights and sounds of an airplane during liftoff, in flight and on landing. I have stopped a plane taxiing for takeoff, forced it back to the gate, asked to be let off, whereby I was systematically removed and interrogated. I am 37 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes, a white female from the Midwest. And I stopped a plane cold. Back then, they said it couldnt be done. After twelve years of carrying around this little secret, it seems time to come clean. Because now, its easier to communicate a little about why it happened. Of what I feared. Of how the freedom I associate with flying had become mixed up with the fear of the unknown, and how this fear won out. New York was the first place I traveled by plane, in 1985 at the age of 19, with the man I would later marry. I remember being enamored with the beauty of the clouds; the endless landscapes of foam and cotton seemed so close you could reach out and touch them. I had thoughts of God, of art, of the smallness and yet ingenuity of man. I felt that all things were possible, given the right mindset. I remember my ears being clogged on ascent, and I chewed my gum accordingly. I enjoyed the feeling of floating, and I was never more in love with my husband than on that day. Over the years we went to many cities, traveled to Europe, the West Coast. In between my first flight and my last, there were well over 30 million takeoffs and landings, less than 100 highjackings, and approximately125 fatal accidents. Each time one occurred, my heart raced a bit more as we boarded a plane. Each time, my fascination and sense of safety was robbed, but since I believed that everyone else was at ease, my fears increased in private. In October of1989, I boarded a plane bound for Oklahoma and proceeded to take a seat on the aisle. I noticed a rise in temperature and adjusted the air vent. The airline attendants came around, checked our seatbelts, told us to prepare for takeoff. Still pretty warm, I removed my jacket. My heart was beating a little faster than usual and feeling uncomfortable told my husband. He reassured me that everything was fine, but as the doors closed for takeoff, my heart was beating through my chest, racing out of control- I was having a heart attack. I had never had this feeling before in my life; I was 100% convinced that I was going to die if left on that plane. So as it backed up from the terminal I told my husband I was going to get off. I unstrapped my safety belt and headed up the aisle, where I was quickly met by the flight attendant. I informed her that I was in severe danger. She attempted to reassure me, asked me to sit down and brought me a glass of wine. I explained that wine wasnt going to do it, that I was seriously in trouble, that there was a history of heart problems in my family, that I needed to get off that plane. She told me to stay seated, we would be airborne soon, and that I had no choice. I grabbed her arm, pleaded with her to let me off. Noticing my fingernails digging into her skin, she told me she would talk to the captain. When she returned, she tersely explained that they were going back to the gate. Relieved, of course, my heart slowed down. By the time we were let off the plane, I was back to normal blood pressure and felt fine. Pretty embarrassed, but fine. I was escorted to a private room and asked a series of questions about my circumstances, my background, my intent in going to Norman, OK. Convinced that I wasnt a terrorist, they let me go. I spent the following decade trying many ways to overcome it: I drank heavily beforehand, tried talking it out with friends & therapists, I even took classes in the Fear of Flying, where we were told that we were all smarter than the average citizen, because we understood there was a danger - however small- in this simple act that others take for granted. I listened to my tapes, chanted, meditated and then one day, something happened that changed my perspective forever. A friend died at the age of 50 from cancer. As I obsessed about something that in all likelihood would never happen, along came this mysterious force and sucked the life right out of her in 4 months time. It was one of the cruelest things Ive ever witnessed. But it made me realize a few things: that life is short, that I have little control over my time or means of dying, that statistically it is 19 times safer to fly than to drive in a car, and that in order to do and see the things I wanted to in my life, I was going to have to suspend disbelief, trust in others, let go and fly. And so I did- to places like Indianapolis, Detroit, Grand Rapids. Originating in Chicago, the total in-air time was always less than an hour. Eventually I flew (always with my husband) to places like Columbus, Atlanta, and even New York. Then, in the fall of 1999, a full decade after my initial attack, I decided it was time for me to try it alone. Walking toward the gate that day, my fear rose up in front of me like a dragon. My body was moving, but not under my control. My mind tried to focus on the positive reinforcements I had learned. I was determined to find the friendliest person in the terminal and sit down and talk to them- about their life, where they were heading, what their dreams, desires were- to use basic human interaction as a distraction from my fears- and it worked. Next thing I knew, I was in the air, on an overcrowded plane, my knees jammed into the back of the person in front of me, listening to a woman talk about her boyfriend, who she loved, but knew would never marry her. All the while twirling the ring on her left finger. Having gone from the paralysis of fear on that flight in October to landing alone at midnight in New York City was one of the greatest moments of my life. As I exited the terminal, lost in my reverie, my jacket was stolen and a man "offered" me a cab ride who had no yellow taxi and no license. But from my newfound perspective, none of this mattered. I had finally broken through the paper tiger of my fears and realized the world has lots to offer. So, after the events of September 11th, I believe its important to keep in mind these few things: -that the world is a very large place, with many opportunities bigger and greater than the fear we feel now -that we diminish ourselves in being driven by these fears, instead of our rationale and desire, and -that if the hour of our death is on a plane, it would be one of great valor, like those on any of the flights that day, who by giving their lives, saved many. Well never know how many people were in the process of scheming the takeover of their hijackers, or making emergency phone calls, or simply saying a prayer that they hoped would save them. But what we can believe is that they died in the process of going to or doing something they loved, as free from fear as we can now hope for. When I began flying again, I promised myself I would one day use my experience to help someone else. The unfortunate circumstances of September 11th have allowed me the courage to tell this story. 9/11/01- Prior to this moment I had buried this secret deep within my body sheltered from my soul the secret of how I have imagined the plane I see overhead dropping vertically out of the blue- as if to prove the laws of physics wrong, my fears correct. but now, I openly admit to that which seems much less significant than the papers scattered over NY streets Now I have perspective on what to truly fear which is not an act of god or a break in the law of physics but rather the evil that rests within the hearts of men. __________________________ 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 nmah2360.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. 63.50.26.115 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. i woke up during midnight and watched on cnn with my mom...... first think that came in to my mind was "we are going on a war" and that gave me a chicken skin... i could'nt belive what i was watching on T.V news.. it was like a horor movie to me. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. september 11 changed my life in many ways. i thought where i living was most safe place in earth but now is diffrent. every time i hear in news about any thing that is related to war or terrorism i think about september 11. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? we should remember that september 11th is not a just a day when many people died but is a day when america got reminded that is not impposible to get attacted. 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 fly an american flag after events and my feeling 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 nmah6756.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-09-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 4.27.149.121 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 the car and on my way to school. I turn on the radio to listen to music and all I hear is the news on every station telling us what had happened that morning in New York. Our country had been attacked. I was scared and I didnt know what was goin on, I turned to my mom and asked her what has happned and she replied with..."We have been attaked Maria." I was worried that we might get attacked here in Orange County also. I didn't want to go to school but my mom made me. I walk into class and my teacher was watching the news, but when the student came into class he turned it off. The teachers were not aloud to talk about what had happned and they just decided to avoid the subject. I didnt know how I felt, I was scared, confused, and didnt know what to do. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, my life has changed because of September 11th. Every year now I remember what had happned and I dont think I would ever forget, because experiencing something like this is big and will go down in History. Its not something great, but oneday my children will be learning about this in History and im going to be able to tell them a lot more about it and my experience with it. This event has made me realise how important our country is to us. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think everythign should be remembered about September 11th. But mostly the thousand of innocent lives that have been lost and the heros who have lost their lives trying to save 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, my family did fly an american flag, we even had one on our car. This made me realize that flying a flag now means something to me and my country it's not just for 4th of july. We still have our flag flying ourside of my house, and it will always be flying. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6652.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. 209.79.78.98 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 can still remember exactly where I was on the tragic day of September 11th, 2001, and I am sure I won't be able to forget it either. I was in my 9th grade English class and we had just finished discussing one of our upcoming projects when one of the teachers came in looking very unhappy. She told our teacher, Ms. Hegge, that she needed to speak with her right away. It only took about three minutes until Ms. Hegge arrived back in our room and told us to put everything away and just listen to her. She told us that two planes had crashed into the twin towers. My insides were trying to tell me that it wasn't real and it seemed like it was just a story. The rest of the hour, which was about 15 minutes, we sat in silence watching the t.v. screen for the latest update. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed since September 11th, 2001 and i would be greatly surprised if someone told me that theirs has not because it is such a big piece of our history now. I guess it is liking saying your life didn't change after World War II or the Korean War becuase we all know that everybodys did. I think the biggest part is it was a wake up call for all of us. I was shocked that people would want to do something like that to our country and I was pretty much in dark about how other countries felt about us. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think everything should be remembered about September 11th. Every piece is a piece of our history and should not be forgotten if we can help it. I am sure that others would like to forget some parts of the tragedy and I don't blame them for it. I believe that if we remember everything we can our country will stay strong and stick together more than ever before. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, we did fly an American flag after September 11th, and also received the little miniture ones at about every parade in the state. I can remember many of the stores had to keep ordering them becuase of the demand for one. My feelings have greatly changed, since September 11th, on the American flag. Before I didn't really think about the flag or what it meant that much, but now I will never forget that is stands for our unity of the nation. 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 nmah1524.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. 198.81.16.164 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. When I found out about September 11th I was in second period. It was Social Studies and he had the tv on. It was a tragic time for all of us. I knew right then what I was thinking where is all of my family, are they all ok, are any of them flying anyway today. That day September 11 is my dads birthday. Usually he his gone on his birthday. I was so happy when I remember he was at home. When i got home i had a new appreciation for things. I felt my hole life saying I want this I need this was a waste or pointless I should appreciate the things I have. Now I live one day at a time one minute at a time and dont take anything for granite. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I think my life was changed so much. Before September 11 I thought that the American flag was meant only for the Fourth of July. I never thought anything of the American flag. When we stood and said the pledge I felt nothing thought nothing. Now when I hear or see all of that I think of that day when millions and millions were killed. I think go how lucky I am to be alive. I think it is very sad that it took such a tragedy like this to bring us together as a nation. We should have been together before this but we werent. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think there is a lot to be remembered about September 11. We should remember about our pride to be free. We also need to remember the bad things that happened that day. We need to remember the millions that died that day. That the twin towers are gone and it wont ever be the same. When we remember those tragic things it will bring us together 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? After September 11 we always fly our flag. I think the flag shows our pride as Americans to be free. Before I thought the flag was for only the Fourth of July. I kind of thought it was tacky. Now it has totally changed my opinion. I think when every we see the flag most of us remember that day. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3805.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. 205.221.2.151 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. Well I'm not sure.I live in Michigan and when I heard about the first plane hitting the tower I thought that it was a mistake then when the second plane hit I knew then that we were going to war and it scared me to death.I couldn't wait to get off of work so I could get in touch with my husband and children.I think it was the longest day of my life. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes it has.My life has went down hill scince then.Any and everything bad has happened it's been one bad thing after another.I've hit rock bottom.All I can hope for is that things will get better it surely can't get worse. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? That we need to stand together as one.And these people can't win if we do. All they did was make us stronger they can knock us down but they can't keep us down.We will win this fight because were AMERICAN"S.Home of the free and the brave.God bless America. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes I flew the flag.I've always had strong feelings about the flag that day just made those feelings stronger. 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 nmah3701.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. 208.31.143.197 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 Sept. 11 I was working on an upper floor of an office building located on 17th St between 7th and 8th avenues in New York City. As the crow flies we were about 2.5 miles away from the WTC. The office had a fine view of the WTC and we could even spot the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. At a few minutes to 9am my magazine's publisher came out of her office, which had the southerly view, and said in a rather calm voice, that one of the towers was on fire. I worked in a cubicle toward the center of the floor so I walked down to her end of the office with the rest of my co-workers to see what was happening. The fire was very widespread at this point with smoke pouring out of the upper third of the north tower. We immediately began speculating about what could have caused it and wondered how it would be put out. There was a large slash in the side of the building and some people did think a plane hit, but nobody was sure. We could clearly see flames licking up from some windows. However, overall it looked like a "normal" fire. Terrible but nothing that indicated terrorism. After after a few minutes a co-worker came out of the elevator and said he had seen an airliner scream down over Sixth Ave. about 500 feet up. We pointed the burning tower out to him and we all figured out at that time what had caused the fire. A plane strike. Our thoughts then turned to how could any pilot be so bad as to hit the tower in broad daylight on perfectly clear and beautiful day. Within a few minutes of expressing this thought one co-worker said, "Hey look. A military plane is circling the towers." I thought that odd since the emergency had just happened and I knew there were no Air Force or Naval bases within several hundred miles. We watched the plane bank in from the south, New Jersey side of the harbor and slam into the south tower. Everyone screamed and a few people started to cry. Being a bunch of journalists we had a digital camera on hand and got an amazing shot of the flame and debris flying out of the north face of the tower. We all now knew that we were under attack. During this period I tried to call my wife at home, but all the cell phone and landlines were filled and I could not get through. I felt bad because I knew she was worried for me. I sent her an email and Instant Messaged my niece in college up in Connecticut. As we settled down after the second impact we began speculating on how many people were trapped and how the fire would be extinguished. We figured about 30,000 people were in the towers. At one point I was in my publisher's office talking with my editor over how in the world they were going to repair the damage. This was probably about 30 minutes after the attacks started. Neither of us mentioned that the towers could actually fall down. The thought never entered our minds. I then left my floor and went to another where I knew a TV was located. There I heard that the Pentagon had been attacked and there was a rumor that the State Department building was attacked. Another rumor was floating about another plane that was heading into Washington, DC. (Many rumors floated around that day. Looking back these were identical to the rumors that took place right after Pearl Harbor. That Japanese bombers were over Los Angeles, had landed troops on Ohau, etc. I always thought these had happened because communications at the time were pretty rudimentary compared to today, but despite TV coverage we were repeating history.) I brought the news up to my floor then tried to call my wife on a nearby phone. I was finally able to get through and was talking when I heard everyone start screaming that the tower was falling. I dropped the phone and ran to the window where I saw the huge plume of smoke and dust rise up into the air. It covered the entire lower section of the island in just a few seconds. Everyone was really scared and upset now. And very angry. We knew thousands of people had just lost their lives. I went back to the phone to finish speaking to my wife and to tell her I was fine so far and would call back in a bit. I returned to the window and numbly watched. The single tower looked so strange. It just did not fit into the skyline. I then noticed that the large, white TV antenna on the north tower began to tilt to the right and said so to everyone. Within a second it fell straight down as the tower collapsed. More screaming and crying ensued as everyone tried to comprehend what exactly was happening. It was really just too much to process. The rest of the day was one of preparing for survival. I realize that sounds overblown, but we were pretty sure another attack would happen in the city. Perhaps, even a nuclear strike. At one point I left to find an ATM. Eigth Ave. was flooded with dirt covered people walking north, away from the WTC area. They looked like Polish refugees fleeing the German Army in Sept. 1939. There was no way for anyone to get home as the subways and commuter railroads had all shut down. Those who lived in Manhattan started to walk home and the rest of us just waited. After awhile the city started ferry service to New Jersey where people could then pick up their trains, but I live on Long Island and there was still no way to get home. I made plans to stay with a friends family. Finally at about 4pm the Long Island Railroad began operating again so I made my way to Penn Station and went home. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. In small ways. Working in NY City I now realize how vulnerable the city is to attack. I do not go anywhere without my cell phone, I think of escape routes from neighborhoods, I wear good running shoes and I eyeball people that could be potential terrorist while on the train or street. Call it profiling if you want, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Two things. All of the people who lost their lives, and the fact that the U.S. has to protect itself both at home and overseas. If this means eliminating terrorist activities by crushing countries that support terrorists, that's fine. I'll even re-enlist in the Army to help. 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 and still do every day. Prior to Sept. 11 I would put it up just on national holidays. 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 nmah5594.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-08-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 65.242.244.1 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 in school and the teacher was talking bout the lesson and another teacher had called her out she walked out and when she had came in i will never forget the look on her face it was a look that you cannot forget the kind that will haunt you in till you die and she had turend the tv on and i seen it it was all at once and i did not no what to say i did not no what to did i felt helpless i was so upset and i juts set there not talking not speaking just sitting there and seeing the experice that had happin i felt sick i could not eat that day NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. yes it has a a lot i ahve leardnt to love life and i ahve found out that always tell your loved ones you love them that you will not no what will happin the next day and i was thinking if some 1 was in an aruggement with there mom and it had hit the buliding and there mom was gone that would haunt them forever NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? the loved ones that wre taking away on the day the firefightes and ploicemen 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 yes before september 11 i thought the amreican flag was just some thing that u stood up to every mornig and said the plege of alagance buit now i say it w/ prode and i am proud to be an amrican 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 nmah530.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-29 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.191.87.61 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On the morning of Sept. 11, I was online, checking my e-mail, when a message popped up from a member of one of my groups: "Anyone who is watching these terrible events on TV...," or something to that effect. I quickly went into the next room and turned on the TV. Of course CNN and all the major networks were playing stories of the strikes against the Towers (they hadn't yet fallen, but did soon afterward). The TV stayed on all that day until about 11 at night. We ate in front of it, and I kept orbiting between it and the computer as people posted reactions to the events and several of my lists put out calls to members for a "roll call"--"yes, I'm here, I'm OK." Next morning I turned on the TV as soon as I was dressed, and again it stayed on until about 9 or 10 PM. This is something we had never done, not even when JFK was assassinated--perhaps because Presidents have been assassinated in the past, but the attacks of 9/11 were unprecedented in American history. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I live in a small, out-of-the-way, rather depressed city (Scranton, PA) which is very unlikely to be a target of terrorist attacks, so my day-to-day life goes on very much as it always has. I read news stories about the developing War on Terror when they appear on my computer, but I don't obsess about the news--I think obsessing about anything is bad for you. I might think twice about taking an airplane somewhere, but it would be at least as much because trains and busses are cheaper than because I might fear being hijacked. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? First, we should never forget the innocent people who were going about their lawful occasions on their home ground when they were senselessly murdered by a group of misguided religious fanatics. Nor should we ever forget the hero firefighters and police officers who went above and beyond the call of duty or were lost because their radios weren't up to snuff. (We need to make sure that all such people are equipped with up-to-date tools for communication.) We must dedicate ourselves to finding and severely punishing anyone who was in any way connected to the attacks, Osama binLaden first and foremost. But we must also keep in mind that *most* Muslims are neither fanatics nor murderers, and that they should be accepted as fellow human beings on a case-by-case basis. Of course all members of al-Qaida are by definition outlaws and the enemies of civilization and humanity, and there should be a bounty on the head of every one of them--half as much alive as dead, because it would be impossible for them to get an "impartial" trial in this country anyway. I hope that the great outpouring of solidarity from countries all over the world which was so evident immediately after the attacks can be to some extent recovered, but I'm afraid it won't be unless and until other Western nations like England, France, and Germany also suffer attacks against their property and people. I hope that eventually a large portion of Ground Zero in NYC will become a memorial to the thousands who lost their lives. To me it seems sacrilege to think of rebuilding there--it's a graveyard now. I can see and support having a Memorial Center where video clips, artifacts, and tributes (like this one) can be viewed by the public and by future generations, and perhaps an ecumenical chapel of some kind, but that's all. 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 it because I had no way to do so. But I did tape a paper copy of it (published in my local newspaper) to my front window, and plan to continue displaying it in some fashion until al-Qaida is destroyed. 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 nmah6001.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. 205.188.208.44 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in school in Mrs.Engle/Hunts class when Mrs. ross came running in and said New yorks towers were just blown to bits by terrorists. So we all went to her room to watch the news. Mrs. Ross was frantic because her family lives in New York so she was concerned. So some teachers were walking down the hall crying and Mr. Cole or principal went over the intercom and told everyone about what just happened in New York. I was scared because i got friends and family there. So i called my mom and told her and she was crying she told me that my grandmas cousin which is also her cousin is dead and a few more i was upset but i really didn't know them so i didn't freak out i was just a little bit upset because its still family. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yeah i had to go to 3 funerals and funerals are something you never forget they change your outspect of life forever. Also my family never stop talking about it so i know everything that is going on in the news about it. Also my mom is terrified to go in a plane now and so and I. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The people that died could have been YOU!! 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? Yeah we flew a flag on our cars to proove that we are proud to be an American. Yes and No the flag is still a flag but now the flag is now a rememberance of the thousands that died trying to save the people on the ground from the terrorists. 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 nmah2123.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. 198.108.204.40 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. September 13, 2004 On September 11, 2001, I received a phone call from our daughter, Annemarie, who was also called by a friend and told to watch television at the moment. As I turned on the television set and saw the first plane pierce one of the towers, I immediately called my husband to witness what was being recorded electronically and as we both sat together, I began to cry, knowing in my heart that something tragic had just taken place. This event prompted me to write a poem which I mailed to the President and will now record for the national archives. The poem is entitled, OUR PLEDGE We must face the fear! Move forward as the enemy is near. We must live with sorrow for our lost brothers; Yes, we must pray for a better day, so we can pave a clearer way for all others! We shall gain strength from this insidious horror, And, we shall grow from within as we deal with the terror. We shall rise from the depths as we rebound. We shall face fear and in numbers abound! We will unite and in unity find hope. We will call upon our power to cope, Instilling in one another freedom from the evil that persists! We shall find that patriotic glory that still exists. We will share our love with one another, Caring for our world as no other, Doing good deeds and whatever we can. . . . This is our pledge to our country--our long-term plan! (Inspired and written shortly after 9/11 and mailed to President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura) Concetta A. Rash (Florida resident) 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 nmah6778.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-09-13 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 206.148.72.5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. i live in mesa arizona, and on that day i woke up, and got ready for school, i was picked up by one of my friends, and he told me that something was wrong, but he didnt know, what exactly, what it was. so when i got to school, my a-hour teacher had the tv on, and i saw it for the first time, and like 30 seconds later i witnessed the second plane hit the tower, and i just fell down in my seat in astonishment, and disbelief. from every class on all we did was watch the t.v. even at lunch, all eyes were glued.when i came home i learned the a worker for my dads company had been one of the ones on the plane that faught the terrorists. i was amazed at the couraged these men displayed. along with many other people these men are my heros, along with all the fire fighters and medical, and law inforcement personel. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. my life has been dramaticly changed, i now life my life every day with the knowlage that my own life could of been one of those on the plane or in the building, so i have a great appreciation for my own life. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? i think we should not remember the deaths, and statistics, but remember and focus on the good things, like seeing out country come together in a time of need, and seeing all the support put together by peole who just wanted to help, and for websites like this one that alows people toexpress themselves how they want on such a tragic, yet glorious day. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? my family and i flew an american flag for the first year then took it down in fear that it might get stolen, or ruined, but yes, i have earned a graeter appreciation for not only the flag itself but who and what represents it. such as people on this day and people like george washington one of the founders of our country. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5451.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. 2003-03-02 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.99.139.242 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 witnesssed the history making of 9-11-01 while I was in school. I walked into my 3rd period class and out teacher was watching the news. Once we walked in and sat down out class became silent. We just sat there staring at the TV screen. I was so confused. I think everyone else was too. I remember my teacher say thisis horrible. I could hear the TV in the room next to ours, and that was all you could hear. I was so lost and confused. I mean, I didn't think America was in any danger at the time. I just sat there devasted. I thought about my sister who was at college 15 minutes from the trade center, and my grandma was on a trip. I just didn't know how to think, feel, or anything. I remeber going up to my friends to ask if they had heard what happened. Some of their parents worked right there and some of their family too. I just went through the whole day not understanding. Some of my friends went home early and I just didn't know what to do. I felt alone because everyone had left me there. The I was walking home from my bus stop. I looked up at the sky. It was so beautiful and clear. Then I thought to myself. It really isn't so beautiful with all this terrorism. My mom came home and didn't really know what had happened because they didn't tell her at her elementary school. I had to explain the whole thing to her. She was speechless, and ran to go call my sister, who we couldn't get a hold of, and we were so scared that something had happened to her. I knew later that day that I had lived through massive terror and death. And that September 11th, 2001 would never be forgotten by me or anyone else who had lived through it. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life really hasn't changes. 9-11 didn't directly affect me, but indirectly it did. It made me feel depressed, confused, and all around worried. I just didn't know how to think, feel, or act. I wrote poetry about it. That's how I kept myself from crying and freaking out about it. Just as everyone else is deeply saddened by this so am I. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that everyone that died should be remembered. Everything else about the day should be kept quiet. We shouldn't do things like sing and light candles and things like that because that's like celebration. It's like celebrating people's death. On Pearl Harbor Day we don't sing and light candles and have big gatherings. We should do the same for September 11th. I mean celebrating isn't going to bring back the people who died. So, I think a moment of silence is all that should be done. Nothing else. 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 nmah1651.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 207.99.16.132 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. At the time of the incident i was working in a small town in North Western New Jersey,Sparta NJ, working as a EMT on a transport ambulance service. We were immediately dispatched to liberty state park were me and my partner manned a staging area to treat the injured comming from the city. On our way to the state park we were driving up the highway we were looking right at the towers when the second tower came down. We manned the staging area from about 11 am on the 11th to just after 2am on the 12th NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The countless number of firefighters/medics that lost their lives trying to save people. and the fact that our freedom is not free NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? 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 nmah5169.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. 2002-09-30 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 151.199.131.189 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. the way i witnessed the 9-11-01 the planes going into the twin towers was, I was in school going to third period and when I got to the classroom my teacher was watching the tv. He told us what was happining. Than we watched the news for a while and than turned off the tv and talked about what was going on in New York. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life really hasent changed that much since September 11 but the lives of other people have changed alot from it. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think what should be remembered from September 11 is all of the people trying to help the people in the tower and all of the lives that were lost that day. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah1596.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 207.99.16.132