93 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 rememeber the incident like it was yesterday. I woke up to my alarm clock set to my favorite radio station and heard the people talking about something. I didn't really think it was that important and turned it off to go get ready for school like i had always done. When i saw my brother that morning he said something bad had happened. I went downstairs and looked in the news and I was shocked. There was a picture of the WTC and there was smoke coming out of it. I didnt know what was going on until i was told by the news caster. It was so out of the blue. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed. People around me acted sad and more paranoid. All the airlines were down and secuirity had been beefed up. I have also changed mentally. I feel sad for all the people that were there and am grateful that no one else was hurt. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the people who died saving other people should be remembered. They put there life on the line and not for money, glory, or fame. It was just love for their fellow American. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I did not fly an American flag on that day, but my feelings have changed since September 11. I feel that the flag is more important to me. It showed how Americans immediatly go to help a stranger in need. Most of the people that died saving other people were saving people they have never met before. It has shown me that when times get hard people will help eachother. 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 nmah2655.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.73.104 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. September 11 was and still is a very tragic day, full of sadness and sorrow. I don't remember much because i try to block out all the pain it caused me. The one thing I do remember is when i first herd of the awful news. I got wind of the terrible news during a bus evacuation in seventh grade. The bus driver was telling us not to move, to always stay seated, and the usaual things then he told us that two planes had hit the Twin Towers in New York and i was like Oh my God. When I went back into school my mother, who work in the school, came up to me and asked me if I was alright. I replayed the scene back to her and, asked her is that true about the twin towers. She said, "yes". After school ny mom spoke to me about he plans and how they hit the Twin Towers. But i really didnt get the full story until i got home and saw the footage that would change my life forever. That's when my mother and I saw the twin Towers fall to rubble. It was scary knowing that an airplane can destroy a skyscraper with one blow. After my mm and I saw the footage, she went out with my step-dad to my little brother's open house. I was home alone scared but prepared for the worst. I talked to a lot of my friends about it. I went to bed scared to peices but I knew i had nothing to be scared of because i had my mom, dad, step-dad, and brother. That is my remembrence os September 11. 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 nmah5248.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-10-18 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.60.58.139 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 9/11 I was on vacation to visit DC. I was riding the DC Metro yellow line and noticed smoke in the distance. This I felt was a large fire, never could I imagine wht it really was. Just before we got to the Pentagon City stop an announcement was made stating due to a National emergency we would have to leave the Metro and walk up to the street level. When we reached the street I was amazed at the number of people milling around, trying to use the payphone or non working cellphones. In retrospect I am proud to be a part of this mass of people. Everyone stayed calm through out this ordeal. Everyone was helpful and caring. One lady was trying to reach her husband that worked at the Pentagon and my sister offered her cell to this woman. Of course no cells were working. While we talked with her the crowd seems to part and her husband walked up. Amazing. We spent some time walking that day until we discovered the Metro was running again. Made it back to our hotel. The next day we decided to leave the city and visit friends in Norfolk for the rest of the vacation. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I have always been patriotic, but 9/11 has enhanced this in me. For the last 5 years I have been setting aside a weeks vacation to visit Washington DC and this last year I decided to visit DC on Sept 11, 2002 to honor the victims and show the terrorist that I am a proud and unafraid American. I was saddened that so few visitors were on the Mall that day. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? That we (American) are a very resiliant 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? I love the American flag, but am ashamed of the people that don't know the correct way to fly OLD GLORY. You do not hang it from the antenna of your car or put a large flag on the back of your pickup truck. The flag gets tattered and ruined. I hurts to see our national flag ripped and torn. 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 nmah5490.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. 2003-04-12 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 198.81.26.42 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. Sept. 11th, 2001 I was 8 months pregnant. My 4 year old slept in that day, and I was thankful I had a chance to also. Around 8:45 am my husband called, waking me up. He kept repeating..'You need to turn on the T.V..Any Station..Just find the news'. It didn't make sense..but I did. As I sat in my living room watching images of two planes crash into buildings, I simply didn't get it. I said to my husband, 'I can sort of see one airplane having an accident like that..but two? That doesn't make sense!' My husbands voice got kind of wierd in a quiet way as he replied,'Honey..it's a terrorist attack. Terrorist hijacked the planes and crashed them.' I can't explain the shock. The shock I know everyone felt that day. In an instant that statement disoriented me. Terrorists? In America? My America? This just doesn't happen here!!!! I have never felt so alone as I sat so many states away and watched the different news reports. Flipping aimlessly through channels. My husband called nearly every 20 minutes for more information. I had family, also unable to leave work, calling to hear what was happening until radios could be brought in their work. I remember sitting there and watching the first tower falling. I just sat in total numbness and disbelief as I told my husband,'It disappered. I don't know what happen..but It looked like an explosion of glitter and now it's gone.'. I felt so helpless and confused and scared. I was hurting for people I'd never met and never seen. I was crying for children I would never know and wives who I'd never lay eyes on. Simply because we were all Americans, and the tragedy touched us all. The next 24-48 hours I lived on the news stations. Peter Jennings became my source of comfort and sort of an old friend. I prayed, I cried, I asked why, and I was mad. I have never been so angry..at no one and at everyone. Why us? Why so many innocent lives? 15 Days after Sept. 11th occured I gave birth to a wonderful baby girl. We named her Mckenzie Liberty. The Liberty was in honor of Sept. 11th and our belief that America will always be free, and no one, not even terrorists, will destroy our Great Nation. And we wanted her to always remember that America is Free and what happened the day someone tried to hurt our liberty. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The way September 11th changed my life was mostly my attitude. It gave me a renewed sense of pride in our country and it's people. I still can't see a picture of the towers without tearing up. And I still feel a sense of anguish for those I now have lost loved ones. As it did not affect my life in a physical way, it has had a huge effect on me emotionally. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the most important thing that happened on Sept. 11th and after was our Pulling together as Americans. The pride we had for our nation and each other. I find it sad that two years later we have all returned to our own busy lives and not caring for one another. Strangers no longer look at each other with smiles of compassion, courage, and silent boosts of strength for one another. I believe we all need to remember that feeling of becoming one nation and helping each other and pulling together for a greater good. People stood for hours in line to donate blood, volunteers brought food and supplies to exhausted workers and those affected by the tragedy. Caring, Compassion, and honor are the things that should be remembered. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We did fly one after..but we had been flying one before. My husband is ex-navy. Pride in his country and in his flag were a way of life for us before the tragedy.I think my feelings did change in a way. I felt more pride. Pride in the flag, my country, and the people of my country. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5615.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. 2003-08-29 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.252.65 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. Like most people I first witnessed the tragic event on the television. It was in the morning before school started that day, and my brother told me to turn on the t.v. I'm definbetly not proud of my reaction at first, becuase I just didn't really understand what was going on, maybe it was because I was used to seeing that sort of thing in movies. When I went to school everybody was talking about it, and then it began to directly effect me. There was this one boy in my class, and he was saying that his sister was in new york so he was really afraid. All I could really do being in California, so far away from New York was witness the attacks over and over again on T.V, and all the frantic people running in the streets. The whole thing just seemed so surreal to me, even though it was actually taking place. I remember my mom and I bought some rememberence bracelets that went towards the fund, and for support for the fire fighters. All this is how i witnessed September 11th.It may not have been in the streets of New York, actually seeing the fallen towers and debre, I was just watching with the whole world. 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 nmah6705.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. 209.79.72.178 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. It was a tragic day September 11,2001 when the two towers were hit. The day that happened I was at home watching tv, and my mom was in the kitchen cooking dinner. I was scrolling threw the channels and there it was all over the news a plane sticking out of the World Trade Center. I told my mom to come over and see. While we were watching another plane hit the other tower. As we watched with confused thoughts and anger going threw are minds the two towers came tumbling down. It was so sad that day. When all those lifes were lost. But I will never forget that day September 11, 2001. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It changed my life in diffrent ways. It has brought me and my family closer to gether. It has showed me a lot of how lucky I am to have all the things I have, and most impotantly my family. It scares me though. Will they do it again, were will they do it, who will they do it to. Those kinds of questions go threw my head. I try not to think about things like that. But I will never forget September 11,2001. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The thing I think we should remember most about September 11, 2001 is all those lifes lost, and all those the rescuers who tried to save lifes. We should remember all the lifes lost that day. They had no right to die the way they did. They had to sit there knowing they were going to die. Its sad to think about it, but I will never forget all those lives lost that day. I also will never forget all the people who saved lives and helped out during all this crisis. 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 fly an American flag after September 11. My feelings have changed a lot about the flag. I look at it everyday and thank it for freedom. 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 nmah609.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. i was first told the story when i was in social studies class. My guidence councler gave my teacher a note. my teacher was speachless for a little while, then he told us. I never saw or really knew what the towers were so I was not as emmoitional. but once I got home and saw I was devistated. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed since the attacks. i have never felt safer than before the attackes. but I can trust are fine defence teams and systems that they wount let a tragif event like that happen agien NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? all the great lifes lost. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes it has i have never been more prode to be a part of America 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 nmah5826.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. 209.80.185.237 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 computer services office at the Jefferson County Police Department in Louisville, Kentucky. Another officer was in his office next door, and called out for us to watch the TV. A airplane had flown into one of the World Trade Center towers. We arrived in his office just in time to see a replay of the first plane striking the tower. After watching for a few minutes, I went to the third floor, Criminal Investigations Property Crimes Section. I work in the Fraud Unit and at the time we didn't have a TV. But every other office did. My partners and I went to the other offices, and proceeded to watch as the terrorist attacks continued. Every TV on the floor was tuned to a different news channel as we tried to get information on the attacks. We did not investigate crime that day, and the phones DID NOT ring. I picked up my 10 yr old daughter at school that afternoon, and asked her if she knew anything about what had happened. The school had made an announcement, and the TVs in the classrooms were tuned into the news. Shelby said the teacher provided answers to the kids questions. She asked me why this had occurred. I found it difficult to explain the motives behind such an attack. After putting her to bed that night, I cried. I teared up every day for at least a month. We attended a candlelight memorial at Jefferson Square, where the memorials to local police officers and firefighters is located. We learned that members of the Louisville Division of Fire, Quint 9, had spoken with firefighters in New York and been given a list of supplies that were needed. They were leaving for New York the next morning, and wanted to take leather work gloves, underwear, heavy socks, and bottled water. Upon leaving the memorial, we went to K-Mart and purchased the requested items, and delivered them to Quint 9. We also included sympathy cards. The next morning the news reported that the firefighters who were enroute to NY had so many donations, a small trailer was donated. Later, the community began raising money for the relief efforts. Shelby insisted on contributing $10 to the effort. She personally handed the money to a firefighter. The Louisvile/Jefferson County area raised $1.5 million. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My personal life hasn't changed much. I cherish my mother and daughter more than ever. My daughter now knows, her father and I could be killed at any moment while at work. She wanted us to quit. This didn't last long. Now when her father and I talk of retirement, she says she doesn't want us to retire. She's the only kid in school whose parents are both police officers. My work life has changed. We are busier than every. The FBI and Secret Service don't have the time to conduct the fraud/counterfeit check investigations as in the past. A Counter-Terrorism Task Force has been formed, and local agents were placed on the task force. So we get the additional work, which is fine. The public is still as critical and impatient with the police. It's still "I pay you salary". My response hasn't changed: "I still pay taxes, so I'm paying my own salary." Extra consideration is not given during contract negotiations by local officials. Homeland Defense positions aren't filled by the most qualified, but by the good old boy system. I feel helpless in the fight against terrorism, because I work at the local level. Even if I were to retire in November 2002, I cannot apply for a air marshall position. At the age of 44, I'm too old. They will hire a 56 year old retired FBI agent, but not a 44 yr old local cop. The retired FBI agent get to take a year off his age for every year he was an agent. My department has a number of officers retiring that want to continue to work in some capacity. A lot have wanted to apply to the air marshall program, but it's the age thing. It odd that this past year, I should learn more about my father service in the Army. I knew he had served in WWII but didn't know he was part of the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Bronze Star. I also found a box of WWII souveniers. He never showed them to me even though I served for 20 yrs in the KY Army National Guard. I also learned more about his service in Viet Nam. I found a certificate presented to him by the South Vietnamese government. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We need to remember to keep our Homeland Defense strong. Continue with the screening of people seeking entry into the US. Enforce INS laws, and deport violators. Stregthen our borders. This was a lesson in what can happened when your guard is down. It also shows what has occurred thanks to Clinton's cuts in the military. 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. My feelings didn't change. I was raised to be patriotic, and respect the flag. I'm raising my daughter the same way. 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 nmah4374.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. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, my life has changed as a result of september 11. Thankfully I did not know anyone that lost their lives. I take vacations quite often so i fly a lot. After September 11, my family and I have witnessed the changes that have happened throughout the last year. More people get searched and their luggage is x-rayed. I think that security is not as good as it should be. Hopefully it will get to be excellent withing the the next five years so that not other attacks will happen. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that many things should be remembered. First all of the heroic people who saved peoples live. The fifremen, police and other civilians. Also our freedom should be cherished. The sense of patriosim should always be thought about. 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 nmah3686.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.158.161.206 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 Texas, and I had just dropped off my girls at school. I was listening to the radio and it was interrupted saying that one of the World Trade Centers had been hit by a plane. When I got to work, I told my boss to turn on the news and explained what had happened. As we were watching it, I saw a huge airplane that was flying low, and I remember stating to my boss that I could not believe that someone was that stupid to fly low, and then we witnessed the plane going into the 2nd building. At that point, like everyone else,I was numb and didn't know what to think. As the day wore on, and all of the reports of the other planes that had hit, I thought to myself that this was going to be WW III. I watched the movie after it was released, and cried, to know that all those brave women and men, risked thier lives, even though they all knew that it was a hopeless cause, went to save the lives of the others. I applaud each and every person that was and is a victim of this aweful crime. May God Bless each and everyone of ya'll. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, because after September 11th, nothing will ever be the same again. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? All of the firefighters, police officers, and every victim that had to go through this. This also should be remembered by the way that everyone helped each other, and others that needed their 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? Yes, but I always have. I feel the flag symbolizes that no matter what we are still free., and no one can take that away from us. 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 nmah5351.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-12-31 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.186.131.146 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I am an eighth grade English teacher and I remember walking down the hallway between classes. Another teacher on my team told me that we need to find a way to "explain it to the kids". I had no idea what she was talking about. She then told me that two planes were hijacked and slammed into the World Trade Center. I remember staring blankly at her and then pushing past her to watch the television in her classroom. The hardest part of the day was trying to explain what had happened to my seventh period class. It gives me chills to realize that whenever these kids think of where they were that day and how they found out, it would be my face that would always come to mind. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I never EVER leave my house without kissing, hugging and telling my husband that I love him. An average morning for thousands of people ended so tragically and I am sure there are so many out there that did not get to say the things they wish they had. I've also become quite leary of everyday activities. I don't have the same trust in people as I once did. It is sad and I hope I do gain some of that back. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I believe that average people can do extraordinary things. Many acts of heroism came from every day people. It's that part that gives me hope in humanity. 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 up until June of this year. I then bought a whimsical patriotic flag. As a teacher, I say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning and recognize the flag at assemblies and sporting events. I have always had very strong feelings of pride when our flag is flown. 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 nmah407.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. 2002-08-23 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.61.84.97 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in my 2nd period science class and an anouncement came over the PA system telling the teachers not to turn on their T.V. or if it was on to turn it off. We did not have our T.V. on and had no clue what the anoucement was about so we turned it on and right then i saw the second plane hit the tower. Right when we turned it on,the very second. Our class was in shock, me,personally, I didn't think the fotage was real at first then they showed a prediction of how many people were in the building and how many would never leave. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Not as much as someoe who lost a loved one or friend but, I do have more of a sense of pride in our nation. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? How quickly the rescue workers, firemen, police, and paramedics reacted and the curage they had to go up when all the people around were running for their lives, they still kept going to try and find someone who might be traped. I think that is a great thing about this nation, the care people exhibit when a crisis is on hand. 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 now see it more as a symbol of our beliefs and political ideas. Not just our nation's 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 nmah4839.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. 216.143.56.172 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 on a friends couch when my husband called shortly after the first plane hit. We turned on the tv just in time to see the second plane slam into the other tower. At first I thought it was a replay, then I realized it was another plane, another building. My next thought was, "it's ok, they got all the people out after the first plane hit. Surely they did." When the weight of what had happened hit me I was in shock, I was scared, I called my parents, my husband, my job, my friends, I was scared for my loved ones and my country. I went to work, we had a tv with rabbit ears set up in the store, I had to be around others I cared about as I watched the events unfold. Always scared, in a way, I'm still scared. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. The friend I was with that morning is no longer my friend, September 11 caused a change in our relationship. She had always been the strong one and suddenly she needed me and I didn't know how to be that person. I just wanted to be alone. We quit speaking a few months after and haven't spoken since. I think about September 11 every day, I think about the friend I lost because of it. In the shadows of the thousands of lives lost it's not much but she had been all I had for years and I had to learn to live all over again, trust all over again. Two year later I moved to Baltimore Maryland where I think about the attacks every day and what I will do should it happen again. I spend hours consoling my Mother, letting her know I will be ok. It's hard to do when I don't know if I will. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The way the country came together in the minutes, hours, and days after. We are stronger when we stand together. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, I proudly display a FDNY sticker that my uncle designed, he's a firefighter in Kilgore Texas, and a flag on my car. A flag hangs in my window, the same flag that was there prior to September 11, 2001. I have always been a proud American,and I always will be. I will always stand behind my country and our Armed Forces. Without my freedom, I have nothing. 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 nmah6420.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. 2004-01-26 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.33.167.103 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. I woke up at 6:30a.m. on a very beautiful September morning. I was going to drive an hour and a half away from home to do CPR/First Aid training for a new job I would be starting in the next week. I took a shower, got dressed, and walked downstairs to get some breakfast before i left the house. My mom was sitting in the recliner watching the news. There, on the screen in front of my, was one of the trade towers on fire. I asked my mom what was wrong, and she said that a plane flew into the tower, and they suspected terrorists. This didn't really scare me or sink in at the moment. What did i care about that for? I was in California, far enough away from this silly trade tower and it's terrorist. I knew the stories of people trying to bomb the towers. Nothing bad ever happened. Oh well, a plane hit the tower...it'll be news for a few days, then be forgotten. As i stood there watching the second plane hit the neighboring tower, the sheer magnitude of the situation fell over my heart. We knew, sitting in our living room in Southern California, that the world as we knew it had just been changed FOREVER! I left the house that morning with a sense of fear as i drove toward Los Angeles. Of coarse, there was still the inevitable infamous rush hour traffic as usual...but as i sat there, in the midst of all of the traffic, I looked around at the faces of those around me. There was not one man or woman with a dry eye. Everyone had a look of shock. It felt as though we needed each other, while sitting in that traffic, to keep one another sane. We didn't know what was happening other than what the radio was saying. They announced that the Pentagon had been hit. They announced that another plane had crashed in a field. They announced that the Sears tower had been hit, only that statement was retracted moments later. They said airplanes had been grounded, but i could still see planes in the sky. It was simply the most terrifying moment of my life. Shortly after i got to my CPR/First Aid training, we all sat there together and watch the towers fall. I will never forget the image of that moment. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I don't think that there is one person that can hear the date September 11 and not think of this "story". 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 nmah6397.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. 2004-01-03 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.5.1.110 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, 2002 I awoke later than normal. My telephone had been ringing on and off in sporatic sequences as I tried to get out of bed and get myself going, for what I didn't know would be one of the longest days of my life. Those calling were friends and family trying to reach me with the news that two airplanes had crashed into the World Trade Center buildings in New York City. But not realizing there was any urgency to connect myself to the world so early, I lazily walked around my house trying to wake up and prepare for the day ahead, and I ignored the ringing. Only until I grabbed the t.v. remote control and turned on the set had I made the connection as to what the true meaning was to the unusually large number of early morning phone calls to my house. I stood in front of the set peering into an odd and somewhat unbelievable scene as my brain tried to catch up to the reality that was on the set. I stood listening to the various voices as faceless reporters at NBC tag team reporting, as the events of Sept. 11 unfolded over the airwaves, and the television cameras were glued to the towering infernos of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. Then the phone rang and my mother's voice was asking me if I was watching the news. At this point, time was beginning to slow down and what I was witnessing began to feel surreal. I did not know, or rather immediately comprehend, that two jetliners full of passengers had been flown into the towers, despite the continuous babble from reporters and eyewitnesses. My first assumption was that two smaller aircraft had somehow managed to get off course and collided into the mammoth buildings. And despite the large amounts of billowing smoke and flames coming from the upper floors of the two giants, I couldn't see how this was any more bizarre, freakish, or unusual (in comparison) to some of the tragic events of war and natural disasters that are broadcast over the airwaves seemingly everyday. That soon changed. As I kept listening to the reporters and watching the story unfold from cameras on the street, and cameras in the air, from every angle and every minute, I soon realized that this day would be lost to disbelief and horror. When the words "terrorist act" and "terrorist groups" began to infiltrate the conversations from the screen, I then spoke out loud softly to the room..."Oh dear God...tell me this is not happening." Over the next hour or so I pryed myself from the t.v. and managed to clean myself up enough to go into work. I had to get out of the house, be around others. During the long 45 minute drive into work I switched from radio station to radio station to see if there was new information to be heard, that I had not heard all morning. Who put this awful event in motion? What were we (the nation) going to do now, that very minute, to stop it from happening again? As I approached the city, I saw the traffic piling up on the expressways as hundreds of thousands of people were desparate to turn around and go home. Some, I'm sure because of shock, others out of fear that more planes were targeting major metropolitan areas, and downtown Atlanta has it's fair share of high-rise structures and Federal buildings. I had gone into the office despite all this to check up on my colleagues and find companionship in the group, only to be told by my company's home office ( based in New York City) to shut down and go home. But we needed to be with others at that time to share in the severity of the events, so my colleagues and I lingered in the office until mid-day. It turned out to be a smart descision it was to hang out as the roads were heavy all morning with bewildered commuters, exiting the city in waves. Eventually we closed up shop, and headed in our separate directions, all feeling disconnected from the world, and at the smae time trying to feel closer. When I did return home, the neighborhood was quiet, but American flags , and red, white, & blue ribbons were already being displayed. Adding to the dreamlike state I was now functioning in. From that point forward my day was filled with confusion, saddness, anger and recurring images of the collapse of the towers, the Pentagon tradgedy, and the charred field outside of Pittsburgh, where one plane ended it's flight. Those feelings slowly subsided over the next few weeks, as I fought to keep the days terrible images out of my mind. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes. It's created more stress thinking about the future of the civilized world. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I believe the two most important things that should be remembered about September 11 are : 1.) The efforts of all those who courageously fought to save lives in New York, Virginia, and over the skies of Pennsylvania. 2.) The blessings that God has given us to be citizens of our great country, and the freedoms that we have too often taken for granted, and were tragically reminded we need to occassionaly fight in blood to protect. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes. My feelings were always strong about the flag. I've always supported Old Glory and all that it stands for as a proud symbol of the United States of America. 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 nmah439.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. 2002-08-26 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 67.33.164.113 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 September 11 with my world geography teacher during 1st period. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life hasnt really change just that Im more aware about terriosts and the mid eastern culture NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the people who died and the brave fire fighters. 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 and no feelings have change about this country im still prowd 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 nmah2541.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.73.111 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 basically witnessed history on 9/11 as most other Americans claim they did, and that is watching on television. Half of the teachers were turning the television on in the classes so the students could see, and the other half stressed activy and/or work during that period. It was hard to get any new information once all four of the planes were down, as the stations kept playing the same videos/thoughts/etc. for what seemed to be an indefinate amount of time. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I don't think I realize yet how 9/11 has changed me, or even if it composed a change. I don't tend to evaluate myself in comparison to my attitude, behavior, or thoughts in the past, although I think it would be a safe bet to say that it has. Those who were not directly effected by 9/11 will not likely know how they were changed for some time, at least that's what I have gathered from my point of view. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I'm not sure yet what we should remember at this point and time. Of course most people (as I do) agree upon the obvious, which is the sacrifice of those that died, and the exhaustive attempts by others to save them. Also, we should remember 9/11 as the end of one chapter in American history and the beginning of another. That is to say, over the course of years American social and government change shifts the boundaries of our society, and thus September 11th is one of those events. Probably the last change on this scale was the post-Vietnam/Watergate change in public opinion on government, and government opinion on itself. 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 didn't fly an American flag post-September 11th for the simple fact that they couldn't be found in stores for months. I would have, however, if I had came across one. My feelings about the American flag have not changed at all post-9/11. As a person who understands and studies history, my patriotism is already at a higher level than most people. That isn't to say that I am more patriotic than anyone else, as I am not, it is just a reference to the fact that people that understand the past of their nation can better appreciate the sacrifice demanded to sustain it. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah2544.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. 66.144.13.254 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 sitting at my desk at work that morning when a co-worker came walking around the corner and said (to anyone who was listening) "A plane has crashed into the World Trade Center in New York!" At first, none of us really thought that much about it. We just thought (like so many others) that it was just an unfortunate accident. Even the initial news reports didn't really concern us as the details were very sketchy. Then, suddenly, our whole world fell apart with the sudden "breaking news" announcement that a second plane had struck the second World Trade Center tower and that it was a large passenger jet. Immediately, all radio stations switched over to their news affliate and we sat transfixed as we were informed that this was no accident. We had been attacked again! This time by a faceless, unnamed enemy. I went into my boss' office and said, "We've been attacked!" He said, "Yes, I've already heard." I called my husband at work to make sure he had heard. He had and was also watching the TV. Then I heard the news that our local schools were being dismissed. I called to make sure they had gotten home safely and that everyone was o.k. There was a TV in one of the nearby conference rooms and several of us stood in the doorway in complete shock at the images being broadcast there. Some were in tears, others spoke in hushed, unbelieving tones. We just didn't believe that this could really happen in our lifetimes. We certainly didn't believe it could be happening to ordinary men and women like us. Upon the announcement that our firm was allowing early dismmissals as desired, many of us went home to be with our families. We just wanted to hug our loved ones and reassure ourselves that everything was still ok in our own little worlds. We've come to expect that our military personnel and installations will be attacked. That doesn't seem to rattle us as much as a nation. But innocent civilians who are guilty of nothing more than simply going about their daily lives, doing their jobs, taking care of their families and personal business? That was something we just never imagined could happen right here in our own country, on our own land. Even with the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing, we were shocked, but that was an "inside" job -- one of our own who had some kind of personal vendetta against our government. We've become somewhat indifferent to pictures and reports of terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in other lands. After all, that's way on the other side of the world and doesn't really affect us! Surely, international terrorists would never think of attacking us on our own land and certainly never attack our innocent civilians. We now know differently and it has changed our entire lives! We've seen history made right before our eyes in living color. It's not a pretty picture nor one that we really want to remember. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I'm a bit more alert and cautious, but no more "fearful" than I was before September 11, 2001. I don't believe in living in fear. Putting everything into perspective, I have a greater chance of being injured or killed by walking across the street than I have by a terrorist attack. I'm more alert to what is going on around me and I am more cautious as to the things that I do and the people I come in contact with (although I try not to let them know that I'm being cautious). My family had vacation plans that included flying to our destination. We did not change our plans in any way. While it was a little more inconvenient having to wait in security lines at the airport, we appreciated the extra attention. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think we need to remember those who gave their lives (both willingly and unwillingly) in this tragic event. We need to remember why we were attacked and determine to stand strong in the face of our enemies. We were attacked only because of our strong support for the nation of Israel -- the sworn enemy of the Islamic countries. We were attacked only because of our strong stand for individual human freedoms and liberties. We were attacked because of our nation's strong Judeo/Christian heritage (regardless of those who would say this was never an important part of our history). We need to remember these things. 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? Our family has always flown the American flag at various times throughout the year. Both of our fathers fought in WWII and both were strong patriots and raise their children to be proud of their heritage. Immediately upon returning home on September 11, our flag was again hoisted and has remained there until this day -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a spotlight on it at night. The American flag has always reminded me of my rich heritage -- both as an American and as a Christian. It reminds me that many good people have died to make this the greatest country in the whole world. We are only strong as long as we remember who we are, where we've come from, what we stand for and determine to continue on that path. If we buckle or waiver in our determination, the terrorists have already won. We can't allow that to happen. As we saw with our involvement in Vietnam, it really does not take a tremendous amount of effort on the part of our enemies to defeat us -- we can do it ourselves from within simply by failing to be supportive of the efforts of our military in defending us and the freedoms we hold so dear as well as in defending human freedoms and fighting against tyranny everywhere it occurs in the world. While we may not always agree with the actions of our government, we need to support our military personnel no matter what. They are only trying to do their jobs and following orders. They can't do that successfully and maintain their morale if they feel that they don't have the support of those of us who are left here at home. Fly that flag. Write letters to our military and let them know how much you appreciate what they are doing and the sacrifice they have been willing to make on your behalf -- regardless of where they are serving. Be proud of who you are and the country in which you live. Get involved with our government. If you don't like something, write a letter to the President, the Vice President, your elected representatives (state and federal) and let them know why you don't agree. If you do like what they are doing, write to them and let them know they have your support. Don't just sit around and grumble and complain and think that your opinion doesn't matter. It does. Make sure you get all the information you can this November when it's time to elect new representatives (or keep the ones we have). Then make sure you get and vote. Never assume that your vote doesn't matter. It does! Use it! It's really the only "voice" you have. Just make sure that you really get to know the person you're voting for and that you don't allow yourself to be persuaded by the smooth-talking promoters. 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 nmah183.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 208.211.44.102 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was at home when I heard about the terrorist attacks, but I was at school when I actually noticed how bad it really was. At first I thought know way this can't be happening when I was numb all inside. Then for the next couple of weeks I asked my mom why would somebody do a thing like that. That is how I witnessed 9/11/01. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes, it did because I thought about all the innocent people that died, and the fireman who risked their lives to save the people trapped in what was left of the World Trade Centers. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think I should remember that this is still a dangerous world no matter what we think. It also reminded me when all of my family started to call each other after the attack happened to see if every body was alright. 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, no matter what we think God is always with us. 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 nmah562.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. It was a day i will never soon forget...i was in child development, period 3. We were discussing life and how it is created. Quite an irony if i do say so myself. The teacher from next door told us when she heard and we immediately turned on the tv. I had gotten wind of it at the end of second period but i truly thought it was a joke till i saw the chilling live footage on tv. Which can not accurately be descride well enough to truly represent the feeling. The first plane crashed into tower 1. Then the second plane hit tower two as we all watched in disbeleif. Tears came to my eyes for the first time in school since i left mommy that first day in kindergarten. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I cannot honestly say my life has changed since then, physically anyway. However, there are moments when i will just listen to the new song made after the events of september the 11th about the plane and how "he" is just soo afraid to fly and he's not the nieve and i just will be taken back and brought to tears. I also have thought about things that i might never have thought of before. For example, my parents flew out to miami last june and normally i would have been secure in knowing they would safely return, but i just was very worried and suddenly i did not want them to leave. ; for once in my teenage life! NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? There are so many aspects of that day that should be remembered, there are just no moments that should be left out. However I do realize that not every single minute and second of it can be kept in the human mind. Perhaps the most important thing that should be remembered is the heroism both from the passengers on the planes and the many rescue squads and police etc. that jumped right into the horrid event and risked their lives. 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 most ceratinly did fly an American flag after the events of September the 11th. My feelings have most ceratinly changed concerning the flag too, as a result. I am ashamed to say that i just did not have the amount of respect that i have for it now. I look at it and a certain feeling takes over me and boom the events of the 11th. coming and flooding over my head. 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 nmah1685.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