82 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 witness the 9/11 in language arts class. my teacher had ran to the tv and started to call one of her relatives that lived in New York, while that happing we were all looking at the tv amazed and shocked and scared at the same time. When my tacher walked back in and almost started to cry because she couldn't get a hold of them I felt really bad for her I was so happy that I didn't know anybody from there. So while doing our work we watched as the twin towers were on fire and people running trying to get away from the disater that had just happen. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The tragedy of 9/11 has changed my life a lot of ways because well first of all it made you relize that other people are badder that you think. It also made me and my family closer then ever before. It made you think aabout things twice that you couldn't take things for guarnted. It also made me think about orther people because I know that some people most of lost a lot of family members. So it just made me happy to know that I had my family with me at that time. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think what should be remembered about 9/11 is our American flag because that flag will always hang and it made us stronger. Also all the people that died in there and the firefighters that risked there lives for those people. 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 toward the American flag has changed because without it we wouldn't be as strong as we would be today. We didn't hand a flag pole put we did hang like that american paper and taped it on my window and put one on our car. 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 nmah3859.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. 209.3.137.130 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 don't know if this site is exclusivley for Americans but I would like to add a perspective from a UK citizen. I was in a meeting untill 10 minutes after the second plane went in. We came out and a guy from the sales floor told us that two planes had hit the WTC. We were all a bit sceptical untill we looked on the web and saw the initial grainy pics from the BBC. We bought a radio and listened. We listened all afternoon till it was time to get the tube home and as soon as we got in we tuned to the BBC (in my case, because I have a satellite dish, it was the BBC Sky News and CNN). We watched into the early hours then switched on again after a few hours sleep while getting ready for work. I phoned all my relatives just to check in because we had planes being diverted away from London's airspace, tall buildings being evacuated and emergency measures being talked about on all media. I think even then we knew the best way to combat all of this was to work on. Keep the wheels of our way of life turning and denying those who would destroy us the satisfaction of seeing us afraid and paraylised by their acts. That afternoon was horrific and brutal but we kept working through it even though what we produce is pretty trivial in the great scheme of things. We tried to get to grips with the possibilities, who and why and what would follow. The overwhelming fellings I take from that day were fear and rage. When my children ask why it all happened I don't know what I'll tell tham, but, I will tell them that a lot of people were killed to very little purpose by others who made the greatest mistake that humans can make with each other: seeing other people as objects that only matter as a statement be they terrorists or people in government commiting the atrocity for their cause. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed to the extent that I carry a gas mask to work every day because I travel on the tube (one of the deep lines) and I have a horror of being trapped 200 feet underground whith the tunnels filling up with smoke. Apart from that I lead my life listening to nobody, especially religious fanatics of any stripe, when they try to tell me I am evil or corrupt just because I was born different to them. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? That there is nothing, no matter how stupid or outlandish, that a group of people will not commit mass murder over no matter how trivial it all might seem to 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? Patriotisim is the virtue of the vicious and I think we've all had enough of that. Too many American's are using this attrocity as an excuse to instigate whitch-hunts and waving a 20 foot flag is a large part of that sort of idiocy. I'll have none of it. For God's sake, love your country but try to be aware that it has flaws. 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 nmah5681.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 212.162.206.130 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 happened to see the towers on 8 Sep 01 (for the first time)from the Jersey turnpike. My husband, an Air Force member was stationed at Dover AFB and this was the first time we had lived on the East Coast and were on vacation to Massachusetts. We came home early on 10 Sep 01. My husband and I were still on leave on 11 Sep, but my daughter was at work at the Public Affairs office on the base. I had been using the telephone and as soon as I hung up, about 9 a.m., she called and told us to turn on the TV. It was unbelievable. Although our base was on high alert,reality hit hard when we entered the checkpoints at Andrews AFB a couple of nights later. It was so dark, but spotlights were on us and our vehicle. After initial ID checks we went approx. 200 feet more into the base and there was a soldier holding a rifle pointed right at us. a little farther and there was an armoured vehicle with its guns pointed right at us. I thought, Oh my God, this is really real! My husband, daughter and I worked at Dover AFB and in the afternoon helicopters would come in bringing remains from the Pentagon, since we have the large morgue at the base. The press would come outside the base when the remains started arriving, which I thought was bizarre. Active duty military were asked to volunteer to unload the remains, and it was all very depressing. In the evening around 5 p.m., for about a week or more, helicopters would fly past our house bringing more remains. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has not changed so much. But for the first year after 9/11 I felt that I might die soon and I wasn't ready. I thought too much about death. But finally, I told myself just live every moment and thank God for that moment that you are alive. My husband's mission in the Air Force and mine and my daughter's (we are civil service) has changed to supporting the Air Force members who are deployed. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We must never forget the people who died that day and we must never forget that we have joined the ranks of all those other nations who have to live with terror on a daily basis. We don't need to "freak out" but we must be cautious. 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 are not "flag-waving" patriots. We have lived overseas many many times and have been trained to stay "low profile" Americans. Even though we were in the states at the time, we felt we did not have to prove our patriotism by flying the flag. After all, we were all serving the country by our military and civil service jobs. I 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 nmah5640.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. 2003-09-05 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 217.187.246.165 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was asleep and had my radio on. I awoke to the news instead of music. I thought it had to be a play of some kind. It all became too real when the phone rang and it was my sister. She was terrified and thought it was the end of the world. She had been told to leave work. Her and our other sister were at Mayo Clinic in scyscapers. She said she was going to get our sister and was going home to hold our nephew. She told us she loved us all very much. I knew that she might be right. I knew we had faced our darkest hour as a world. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, it has, It made me realize not one of us has a day to spare. Those people all got on planes and went to work. They never knew they weren't returning home to their loved ones. It also made me say I love to those I do love. I don't want to leave this earth with loved ones behind not knowing I love them. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The wake up call we all got. None of us are 100 percent safe. It was a major sucker punch for the entire world. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? YES! I AM AN AMERICAN AND I AM PROUD OF IT! GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. 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 nmah6731.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 137.118.245.13 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. When I witnessed 9/11 I was in my Engineering Design class learning to build a building out of Popsicle sticks while a real building was being destroyed. For some stupid reason our teacher wouldnt let us view live history in school. I was mad because I wanted to see what was happening. I heard my friends saying Oh yeah we saw it. Its bad real bad. So that made me even more frustrated. But finally I got home and saw my mom was at home crying watching TV. I asked what was it. Then I saw two buildings up in smoke. I heard the whole story finally and saw the most horrible things imaginable. I wondered what would happen next. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life hasnt really changed because of 9/11. If I had to say something changed I would say that may belief in god has become greater because I turned to him when I was afraid and I am more aware of things NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I remember how the news was just about 9/11 for the longest time ever. I remember seeing the people jumping from the buildings. It was horrible people committing suicide like that. The people running away from the clouds of ash. The people crying, breaking down on the streets and most of all the people who gave their lives.My dad also is in the National Guard and worked at security at Newark Airport. 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 nmah1836.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 207.99.16.132 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was told in school that two planes have hit the Twin Towers. Then my teachers put on the tv so that we could watch what was going on. My school called my house and told my parents so that when I got home they could talk to me. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. YEs, because I almost lost a very important person in my life. Also my brother was standing on a building in New York and saw the whole thing happen. So now when I think about life, I try to live it to the fullest. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Eveyone who died tryin to save people in the Twin Towers and the World Trade Center. Also that people should put together when hard times are around. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? MY family put the ASmerican flag outside after September 11. As for my feeling towards the American flag, they have not changed, but I do feel proud to be an American. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3898.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. 207.99.16.132 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was attending a breakfast in the grand ballroom of the Marriott World Trade Center when the first plane hit. There was a tinkling in the chandelier crystals, than a terrific muffled boom and everybody ran into the lobby. We could see debris raining down and waited about five minutes until security evacuated us out to the south. We crossed West Street, looked up, and saw Tower 1 was burning. After people began jumping from the upper floors, I began walking north and was about a half-mile away when the first tower fell. It was hard to know or understand what was happening -- it felt like the end of the world. I spent the rest of that day in Greenwich Village near St. Vincent's Hospital. Very few casualties arrived. I kept looking down Seventh Avenue at the huge plume of smoke. It was impossible to believe the Towers were gone. 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 nmah5290.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. 2002-11-20 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 207.46.169.60 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 noticed that my 8th grade American history class, being the only class that was able to view it, we were the only kids in the entire SCHOOL that cared. It really hurt to know that no one else even showed sympathy. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It has changed. I have become so much more thankful to be alive every day that passes. I also pray every nigt for all the families that lost someone that day. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that all the lives that were taken should be remembered about sept.11. I have no clue why families would not want their loved ones remembered. Its only to gain prays' fmro the outside world. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? 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 nmah6518.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. 2004-05-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.81.26.103 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 in my second hour Language Arts class getting ready to take pictures for the yearbook. But right before we could go get our pictures taken Mrs. Fienning, my teacher announced that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I didn't believe her at first. Then I thought it wasn't as big of a deal as she was making it. Little did I know that a second plane was on its way into the other tower, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That day when I suddenly remembered that my Uncle Mike works in New York City about a mile and a half from the Twin Towers. When I expressed my concern to my mom she told me that she had already talked to my uncle earlier in the day. He was told that he couldn't leave work that evening because it was too dangerous, so he spent the night in the city. Finally, what I thought was impossible became reality; the September 11 tragedy was personally affecting my family and I. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, my life has changed since September 11, 2001 because after the attacks I feel that I am more appreciative for important things in my life, like family, friends, health, and my safety. Before the events, I was a more materialistic and selfish person but now I've set that all behind me and worry about things that actually matter. Everyone these days are more patriotic and proud to be Americans because we've shown the world that we can make it through hard times as long as we have each other. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think everything should be remembered about September 11th. The heroes (firemen, policemen, volunteers, etc.) that faced challenges, risked their lives, and helped to protect us should never be forgotten. The world needs to remember America's grieving and how we pulled through our nation's tough times and have been successful with our lives since then. Lastly, all the innocent Americans thats lives were sacrificed during that eventful day need to be in our minds and hearts forever. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? The day after September 11, 2001 I overheard my mom talking to my dad about how they need to hang up our American flag again. By September 12 almost every house on my block had a flag in the window or hanging up outside. It was really neat to see our country's patriotism grow so rapidly in such a short amount of time. It was amazing to not be able to go anywhere without seeing a flag hanging outside, racing by with cars, and people wearing patriotic colors. It made me feel very proud to live in a country where we are all proud and patriotic. The flag now symbolizes hope and freedom to me. It's a symbol that reminds us that we should never give up and we will always make it through difficult hurdles in our lives. 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 nmah5036.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-16 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 67.202.32.149 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 dont live in New York, Penn. or even close to the Pentagon. I live in the Midwest and on September 11,2001 when the attacks began, I was in my car driving out of town to a Doctors appointment. Listening to music and crusin along I was content on this beautiful September morning...until there was a sudden breakthrough. The news of the 1st attack shocked me with dismay. I immediately shifted my thoughts back to my children, all of whom were in school that day and wondering to myself if they were allright. I felt confident they were and with hesitation, I continued to the city for my appointment. I continued listening to the broadcast with total amazement. I reached for my cell phone and called my mother at her job. She updated me on the situation. I persuaded her I would be fine. My doctors appt. didnt last more than 40 minutes. Unfocused, I made my way back to my car, driving through downtown KansasCity, I encountered city blocks closed. I was near all the state and federal buildings and I witness chaos amoung even those thousands of miles away from the terrible scenes of New York. At that time I began to question if there was more to know than what was being told to the media. Every corner I turned people were running in the streets, total dishevil. If things were so bad here what must they be like in New York I asked myself. I rushed home to the television and eagerly awaited for my kids to arrive from school. What impact would this leave on them?? Was this horrible incident the end or was there more to come? Questions enveloped my mind. Hours passed ... I couldnt bare to turn off the television. My mind led me astray to thoughts I never imagined I would encounter in my lifetime. I just kept thinking to myself, " How coud anyone do these unforgivable acts? " I felt so hopeless. I felt grieve for people I had never met in my life. I felt their losses empower me.I wished I could help just one person even. Tears flowed at a steady stream for hours upon end. Days passed and the tension eased, yet the inital impact can never go away. I thank God how truly lucky I am. I have my family and friends and I can never imagine what the victims have had to live through. If it left me with such unbearable images, one cant even begin to think how the true victims had to encounter and will have to continue to live day to day with. I continue to be grateful each passing day. I pray for all the heroes, the victims and I pray our country will NEVER have to go through another day like September 11, 2001. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed just knowing something like this could really happen. I just never thought anything so terrible could occur in the United States. I truly believed we would never be attacked by anyone. I had always felt secure. I question this now. I realize there truly isnt a 100% gurantee of something occuring again. I question the world and how safe we really are. I fear for my children with every passing day that terriosts can strike again. I remind myself to live in the today and to give thanks and show love to all those in my life everyday. I strive to live life to it's fullest now, because we just never know if and when the unthinkable will come. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? All the patriotism and togetherness our country performed. People did not lude the streets and everyone reached out from everywhere. Unity prevailed !!! 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 have a flag to fly but I did go to local gatherings to show out spirit and pride for all those directly imapcted by Sept. 11 2001. I have a red white and blue ribbion hanging in my car and a picture of the flag in my window at home. I have become more patriotic because of this and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected 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 nmah4409.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. 207.192.222.90 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 didn't know what happened until I got to school. When I got to school all my friends were talking about it and told me what happened. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, Now I feel that all of America started coming together after September 11th. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should remember all the people that died on September 11th. I also think that we should remember the N.Y.F.D and the N.Y.P.D 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 think that my feelings have changed ,because now I think that since we overcame such a tragedy it brought everyone closer together. My family still flys an American flag. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah1218.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-05 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.237.72.252 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was at work on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, When a friend of mine told me that an airplane had crashed into the World Trade Center. That it, at that time, was an accident. That's what we all thought, until the second plane crashed into the building. My heart sank. I will never forget that day. So many gave their lives that day, innocent people that never had a chance. They left families behind; husbands, wifes, children, and precious babies. Those babies and children will never know their fathers and mothers, except in pictures, and the words. I will never forget those whose lives were taken on September 11, 2001. Let us never forget the price of freedom. God Bless President and Mrs. George W. Bush. God Bless all the leaders of our country. Patricia D. Cagle NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Lives were changed that day forever, mine included. I no longer take life for granted. Life is precious. My children are so precious to me. My family is precious to me. I try to respect people more today. Treat people with kindness. We never know when our life will end. We have to treat each other with kindness. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We should remember those who gave their lives that day. All heroes in one way or another. We should remember freedom, and the price at which it comes. We should remember those left behind, and the price they paid. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I have flown the American flag on many occassions, before and after September 11, 2001. I love and repect our flag. I always have and I always will. The flag is a symbol of freedom. My feelings have changed since September 11th. The flag is such a precious symbol of freemdom. I will always look to the flag as a symbol of hope, freedom, and the future. 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 nmah4227.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. 152.163.188.168 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 occasion, my job affords me the privilege of working at home. September 11, 2001 was just such an occasion. The phone rang shortly after 9:00 a.m. Annoyed at, already the third, interruption, I answered and rolled my eyes; it was my son, Bill. I told him I was busy and to stop this foolishness, but at the same time, I snapped on the TV. Every channel had a camera focused on the World Trade Center. I admonished him that the World Trade Center was not crumbled to the ground. He persisted and added that the Pentagon had also been hit. I punched more buttons on the TV remote. We shared a moment of stunned silence, as he listened at work while I watched at home, the video replaying the collapse of the towers. When we disconnected, I called my husband and learned that, he, a civilian employee at the Watervliet Arsenal, was being evacuated; and he, as a soldier, was being activated. The ending of his conversation always seemed compulsive on the best of days, it was poignant that day. Before hanging up the phone, he stated, I love you. I had talked to my boss less than an hour before and now marveled at how our conversation had seemed so important at the time. But now our daily grind had just been trivialized. I called her again; no one answered. A message on my voice mail informed me that, some three hundred miles from the WTC attack, our Federal building had been evacuated. Within the hour, my husband was home. Within the half-hour, he was gone again. He splits his time evenly between husband and soldier; and, he plays both roles with passion. Today, September 11, 2001, and every day he is needed, he will be the best Command Sergeant Major that the New York Army National Guard has ever owned. He called from a local armory late that night. He would be in Manhattan early the next morning. When I returned to work on Thursday, September 13, parking meters around the building were flagged as tow-away zones. Their cold metal poles were topped with bright orange bags that screamed out a warning against intruding on the buildings airspace. Guards were everywhere walking the perimeter of the building. Their suspicious eyes honed in on people passing by. Funny, it always takes a tragedy. My co-workers and I had fought for the benefit of posted guards outside the building for over a year. Every morning at 5:30 a.m., the building is still pretty dark. But, that morning it seemed eerily abandoned. The daily hotel shuttle bus wasnt dropping off children headed to boot camp. I didnt have to wade through a mass of under garbed, smoking, hacking youth shivering in the dark, grumbling about how unfair it was that I could swipe my badge to gain access and they couldnt get in. It always gives me such a warm fuzzy thinking about them defending me. I was glad they werent there that day. But, they werent there any day after that either. And, the students in the line to give blood, who rallied around talking the talk, sobered when reminded that they were draft age. And, older people, who also want some "butt kicked…" A co-worker asked, "whos going to do it, your sons and daughters, your grandchildren? Silence. Maybe it was just that time of month, maybe the numbness was starting to wear off. But, I finally cried on the 20th. Not weeping, not sight blinding, but unstoppable. Stray beads that trickled down and tickled each cheek, and hung on the chin before joining sides and journeying down the throat. Not for the people who died, but, for me. For the price I will have to pay. For the stock market eating up my retirement. For my draft aged children that I could lose. For my husband who has always been spared by mere days from combat since his 1973 enlistment. And, I cried for the rescuers. For those who have died; and, for those who may wish they had once life begins for them again. I cried for our soft youth; those who have been taught to take, and have never been asked to give. I cried for the innocent persecuted; even as I, too, looked for signs in their brown eyes and faces. I cried for all future innocent victims, both at home and abroad. Then, I cried in anger. Raging against this country that, like an overwhelmed parent, had dismissed their childs distress. The warning signs ignored and not attended until the parents authority was challenged. And, Im not just talking about the government, Im talking about us too. As a nation, we raged against sending aid to those countries that have lost more than our number over years, and even lifetimes, to terrorism. Now that it touched our lives, it has become important to discipline these out of control monsters. We who have let them get away with murder in small numbers, in small places, even in our own country, have finally set a limit. We, who gave one terrorist a time out, for his atrocious deeds about ten years ago, have finally taken off our belt. Now we want them to bend over our knees. And, we have demanded that others join us in a gauntlet line. Will this teach us to listen? Will this teach us that wrong is wrong and reason, or degree, doesnt matter? That terrorism, and all brutalities, must be stopped no matter the victim, no matter the crime? That each victim is our brother and sister, known or unknown? I hope so. On September 21, 2001, I waited, holding my breath. It was rumored that another attack was planned for this day. Somewhere, sometime. I wouldnt turn on the television, and I didn't answer the phone! On this day, I needed to clean my house and do the laundry. It had been almost two weeks! I needed to get on with life and live each moment productively. I needed to live in hope or wither and die. On the twelfth day, September 23rd. My husband came home from Ground Zero. He was stricken with horror and pneumonia. He didnt talk much. He needed time and space. More than 50% of his troops have suffered from lung related diseases and infections from ingesting the cremated and mutilated debris. All of them have been assaulted by the horror. Monday, September 24, 2001, 5:30 a.m. Three young men, wearing only jeans and T-shirts, huddled by the doors of the Federal building. More youth were headed toward the doors to wait and shiver in the morning chill. I smiled. What a beautiful sight! I determined that I will not be conquered. This nation will not be conquered. Tomorrow…the sacrifices may be great, but Im beginning to bolster my resolve, and so is this nation. Myopia is slowly being corrected. I am beginning to see our connections, and so too is my neighbor, both at home and abroad. We may worship, celebrate, and live differently, but our pain feels the same. I dearly pray that all of us have the courage and fortitude to pay the cost, for I fear the bill will arrive shortly. Originally written 10/16/01 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 nmah5414.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-01-21 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.49.118.18 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I found out when I came home from school and turned on the telivision and saw it on T.V. That night all I did was watch the news, and everything that was going on. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The only way my life has changed is now I have a lot of sympathy for all the people who lost someone on that day. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should remember all the people who sacrificed their lives to make sure the last plane didn't hit anything, and all the people who lost their lives on that day. We should also remember how our country came closer together when this happened, and we became even more united than we were in the past. 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 flew the American flag. Yes, I think more than ever that our flag stands for everything we take for granted. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4589.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. 207.28.166.251 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 thought my day would be the same. I had only been up for about 20 mins when my husband called and asked me if I had turned on the television and I told him no. He then told me a plane had hit the World Trade Center, but I told him not to be joking with me like that. Then I asked him was this a way you are telling me Happy Anniversary. We were celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary, He told me to turn and the tv and that is when I realized he was telling me the truth. As I watched the events unfold I could not believe my eyes. That night as I klwent to work that was all I heard about and it made me really sad about all the lives that had been take on such a short notice. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed because I have realized that I have a wonderful life. Also that God is watching over me so that I can live my life " in the land of the free". NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think it should be made a national holiday so that we can honor those that lost their lives so that we can continue to live in this great nation that we have. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes we flew an American flag outside our house and on our cars. 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 nmah5157.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. 2002-09-25 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.209.108 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I witnessed the 9/11 event at home. I was very shocked and scared. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has not changed but I take the pledge more seriously. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we should all remember 9/11 as the terror struck the United States. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I didn`t fly a flag but there is one hanging in my room.jmj 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 nmah1920.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. I remember being in art class when my friend walked into the room and said, "Did you hear? Did you hear what happened?" Responding with an eye roll, I figured it would be about another break-up between a friend and her boyfriend. She had a look of worry and seriousness in her eyes and I knew, at that moment, that something was defintely wrong. The rest of the day was a blur, from watching television at school to later that night at home with feelings of fear and anger in the pit of my stomach. With dead phone lines into New York City, my family was unable to find out if my aunt, uncle, and cousin were okay in Manhattan. I did not understand the severity of this event until it threatened the people I love. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. September 11, 2001 caused me to take a closer look at my life as well as life in general. A year later, I rarely take anything for granted; you never know the true meaning of something until it is taken away. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that we should all remember September 11, 2001 as a terrible day in which many innocent lives were wrongly taken. Although, through all of the sadness, we should remember the strength and pride that this country had during a time of such great turmoil. 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? When I got home from school that Tuesday afternoon, I helped my mother dig out the American flag that we had, sitting in our laundry room collecting dust. We normally only put it out around the time of Independence Day, but as of today, it has been on our porch for a whole year. I now look at the American flag in a new light; I see it as a strong symbol of this great country. I do feel a bit ashamed, though, that it took such a devastating event to make me realize what the American flag really means. 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 nmah4149.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. 65.24.189.156 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 11th is a day I will never forget. When I found out I was walking in the hall way and a teacher called me in a room to look at the t.v. It was mostly shocking. The whole school spent the rest of the day watching T.V. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life hasnt changed in a big way but I know it has for the people that have lost there loved ones. It has made me realize how lucky I am to still have my family. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that everything should be remembered and tought to the little ones but I dont think having the media talk about it everyday is very good. The first lady has told everyone that has young children to turn off the tv and have there children pray and teach them about it but what is on tv is the truth we shouldnt hide the truth from the young children. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We have flown an American Flag forever so what happenened didnt change anything. 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 nmah3583.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 September 11, 2001 I was at school in my Math class in Cinncinati, Ohio. We found out very little about the attacks that bell. However, the next bell we were in Social Studies and found out that planes had hit both of the twin towers and the pentagon. Instead of continuing with class we decided to watch TV and find out more about what happened. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Right after September 11 my life had changed. My family was worried about my father possible having to go to war. Yet at the same time the attacks helped me realize how great our country is, the attacks helped me realize how great our military is, and most of all the attack helped me realize how important my family is to me. We were a fortunate family not to have known any one that died but it could have just as esaily been my family members that died that is why I don't just let time pass freely. When I am with my famliy now I think about how much they mean to me. It is very sad though that it took something this horrible to realize how much my family means to me. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that instead of having a day like momorial day which everyone just thinks of as the last day of Summer we should have a day on September 11 where children aren't at school and should get to spend time with there family. I think that we should also have a moment of silence on that day to rember those family members that were lost on 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? After September 11 the flag did not mean much more to me that it didd before the attacks. I know that the flag represents America but it is more the history of America. What meant more to me was that we would defend our contry against thing like this that we would learn from this and that we would grow from this not just as individuals but as a nation. I also did feel more patriotism but did not truly feel the need to express it aseveryone else did. 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 nmah2341.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.144.8.173 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On the morning of 9/11/2001, my two-year-old son had just spent his first night away from his parents. He was unconscious, lying in a pediatric intensive care unit following a 12-hour surgery to reconstruct his right foot which had, a month earlier, been shattered by a falling garage door. The doctors had said there was no reason for us to stay at the hospital after the surgery was successfully completed, and that, if anything, we would need what was left of the night of September 10 to rest up before a predicted long week in PICU. We live in the Central timezone. At 7:30 AM our time, I awoke and rolled over to phone the PICU nurse, who gave me a positive report on my son's condition. Breathing a sigh of relief, I fell back asleep. When my husband and I opened our eyes again around 8:15 AM, I turned on the TV to see the media replays of what we will all remember forever. By that time, both towers had been struck and had not yet fallen. We watched our television in horrified silence. At that moment, not knowing whether this was just the first of a possible series of attacks on our country's locales of great importance, I feared for my son's life as he lay in one of the world's preeminent children's hospitals near the center of the undisputed capital of petroleum-based energy. After frantically phoning the PICU again to assure ourselves of my son's safety, we arrived at the hospital where security was heightened, and there laid my slumbering boy, tubes, wires, and all. In the PICU waiting room where families gathered in limbo as their children teetered in various states between life and death, the television droned the horror on and on and on. I recall it now as the most difficult and lengthy day of my life. In the end, my son was fully recuperated. Whether or not I have remains to be seen. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The day had very clear ripple affects on my life. In the days immediately following, I was preoccupied with caring for my son's medical and related emotional needs. The trauma of 9/11 echoed in the back of my mind, begging for attention, but I had no time to cry. The following months of recuperation and rehabilitation for my son were costly and hard, financially and psychologically, for all of us. Only two months after 9/11, my husband and I separated and are now divorcing. While our marital problems leading up to the dissolution began long before that date, there was something about the combination of my son's accident a month before in August, all of the resulting hospitalizations, and the horror of the attacks. The 9/11 attacks made me feel as though I needed and still need to move more consciously through my life, to make even more of an effort to live each day, each moment as if it could be my last. Dissolving a marriage that had been troubled for years felt and still feels like the only right thing to do in light of those impressions. I felt a similar impact from 9/11 in relation to my profession as an Internet writer. I had for 4 years served as an online community guide and "guru" to people who were struggling with infertility. After 9/11, I found it difficult to minister to their needs, which now seemed to me so incredibly pale in light of what the attack victims and their loved ones were experiencing. That sense of disconnection from the community I served, combined with the increase in marital problems and the tasks of caring for my son, led to my eventually leaving that position. From there, my life has evolved out of necessity into something a bit different than before 9/11. After losing my primary job, financial issues became more pressing. I no longer am a homeowner. We are besieged with hospital unpaid bills from my son's hospitalizations. I am a single mother. But my son is healthy and happy. We have something to eat every day. We exist in relative peace and freedom. We try to live each day as if it were a gift. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? To me, the most important thing is the clear message this event sends on the impermanence of life, of what we perceive to be our reality. That all we have is right now. I truly believe that if we all carried that message away from 9/11, there would be no need for "war" on terrorism. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? No, I did not fly the American flag. Except for displaying it outside my front porch on July 2 of this year, I have not joined with the many, many people who have taken to flying flags from their homes, businesses, and cars. While I know that the attacks were based on religious fanaticism and disturbed nationalism, and that the attacks were aimed specifically at symbols of the United States, I do not feel that meeting such insanity with a sense of fervor of any kind is constructive. I do not look unkindly on those who display flags, but I feel that for most of them, it is merely a reflex, a reaction against the affront. Feeling strongly that reactions are usually not nearly as positively effective as responses, I do not feel the need to fly a flag. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3846.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. 24.206.76.156