58 20 70359 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question Since 9-11, my mother has become distant from most people. My mother used to be somewhat religious, but she thinks that God turned his back on us that day. Life has become increasingly difficult. She’s always angry or sad or mad about something. I hope that one day she will understand they those people are in Heaven now and know no pain. She’s hard headed though, so it may take some time. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question It’s been awhile since a got to spend 9-11 with my mother, but the last time I got to, we had a great day. We watched a lot of TV shows about 9-11 and we ate junk food all day. When my mother is alone, because I’m at school, she spends the whole day sleeping or cleaning the house. At the end of the day, we talk and eat a big dinner. I always say a little prayer for those who were lost and the loved one’s they left behind. Then we normally go to bed early. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question Life changed a lot since 9-11-2001, there is more security and everyone seems to be more aware and more cautious about things. The flags hung lower on that dark, dreary day and it scares you to where you wake up and finally realize that things like that can happen and you just have to be prepared for when it does. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question When 9-11 started happening I thought it was just a normal day like any other, working at Mountaineer Race Track, doing my housekeeping, cleaning windows and such when I hear on all the TV’s in the room I was in that a plane crashed into one of the twin towers in New York City. My first thought was what is going on? What happened? Did the engine malfunction or did the blade stop turning? I didn’t know what was happening. I continued to watch the TV when the second plane hit and I felt a feeling of horridness. Immediately, I went and found my friend Laurie and she said she was watching and seen everything happen. I went and found a phone and called New Manchester Elementary School where my children attended and they said they are keeping the school on lockdown and not releasing any kids till the end of the day. I left them there worrying hoping that everything would be okay and then I remember hearing that the third plane hit the pentagon and then not long after that, the fourth one went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, which was very close to where we live. I called my boyfriend and made sure he was okay. He said he was and then I went and found my boss and talked to her about what was going on. She said we had to stay here at work and that there was nothing you could do about it and they aren’t going to release your kids to you so you might as well just stay. I stayed till my shift ended and then I went and got my kids from the bus stop. That day will remain in my mind till the day I stop breathing. It was a horrible day and no one should have to live through something like that and know that that could be a family member, friend, loved one, anything and anyone close to you being killed in a crash. Always remember and never forget what happened on that horrible day on September 11, 2001. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question My dad believes that everyone’s lives were changed in some way on that day. He said that he and everyone around him felt sad for the innocent people who were harmed and lost their lives or loved ones and angry at the people who were behind the attacks. Now, my family and I’m sure everyone in the country have different perspectives on other countries and the people that come from them. Our country will never be the same. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question When interviewing my dad he started off by telling me where he was and his first thoughts of the attacks. My dad was at work when he found out about the tragic events. At first he didn’t think anything of it. He and the people he works with just thought that it was a freak accident with the plane driver, but when he found out that a second plane had hit he realized that it was definitely not an accident. Instantly he thought of the innocent people on board the planes and in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. At that time, my mom had been working in a tall office building in Pennsylvania and she was the next thing that went through his head when he was told about the plane that crashed in the field. Of course he didn’t want anything to happen to her, so he called her instantly to make sure she was alright. She told him she was fine and to not worry about her. Their next thought was my brother and I. I was in first grade and it was quite difficult to understand. Parents came to the school and had my classmates leave school in fear that something would happen, but for some reason my parents weren’t too worried with mine and my brother’s safety. Not much time was left before we would all be at home together, safe, and happy. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question My mom’s life was affected in some ways. She believes everyone’s life changed after that day. Our country is extremely precautious now. When people go to airports, the security is unbelievable. My mom has always worried more than most people and after that day she was a worrier and very overprotective. Our country will never be the same again. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question My mom stated that she was working in a cancer center that day. She went over the hospital to get something to eat as everyone in the hospital begins to panic. Every television in the building turned to the same station. She sat in shock as she watched the second plane hit the world trade center. She tried calling my dad but the phones were down. Finally after 45 minutes she got a hold of him. My dad came to get my sister and I from school and took us to the fire station because then my dad was a fireman. My mom was not allowed to leave the hospital because at that moment the third plane was hitting down in Pennsylvania. All the phone lines were tied up with everyone trying to call their families, so my mom couldn’t get a hold of us. She was so scared something would happen to us because at that point she didn’t know where we were. My mom just didn’t know what do that day. She sat in shock and just wanted to be home with her family. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question While I was interviewing my step-father he said that it changed his life because security in airports is really tight. He also said that it gives him a different perspective on other countries and our involvement with other world issuses. While I was interviewing my mom she pretty much said the exact same thing that she feels our country should be more caution on how we act and involve ourselves with other countries. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question While interviewing my step-father his rememberance of the 9/11 attacks was him being at work at Ball Corpartion in Weirton. He said that he was bagging ends at the plant when they had got the news of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. His thought of what happened was that maybe something went wrong with the plane or something went wrong with the pilot. After finding out about the second plane he had thought he had an idea of what happened because of the previous attack in 1993. I asked if he knew anyone in the attacks, he said no. He believed that the Patriot Act and tighter airport security was a very good thing in further protecting our country. While interviewing my mom her rememberance of the 9/11 attacks were her being at work at the current law office she was working at. She first got the news from a co-worker of the first plane hitting because there are no tv’s or anything like that there. She then monitered the story on the internet while continuing to work on her things. At the time of finding out about the second plane hitting she had no clue what was going on. 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question A generation would understand that we are volerable, just like the generation did at Pearl Harbor, and that you must stand up for what you believe in as a nation. To understand that we had to go to war over what happened. It changed the generation’s perspectives on securities. For example, the air ports check everything and take more precautions to prevent what had happened. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question The heroic actions from the police, medics, fire departments, and the citizens that lost their lives trying to save others, there is no greater sacrifice. The memorials and the news broadcasts will remind all of us of the attacks on the anniversary. Also, the speeches, websites, and books that were made for the attack. My father, Todd Jones, will remember the attack from sitting at the filter house in an oil refinery hearing something about it from a radio. He had no outside contact but the little hand radio so he walked over to the central control room to talk to his unit to find out some details. He didn’t fell like where he was at he was under attack. He figured that the terrorist would just go after important buildings not Newell, WV. He mentioned he just felt a lot of rage when he found out about all of the attacks. He did not make any phone calls himself to anyone. He felt like former President Bush did a very tremendous job with the actions he took. Mr. Jones was also very impressed and proud of all the citizens! For the next couple months that all that was on the news and how they were going to make changes. This is how he will remember that day! Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question Interviewing my mother, Pam Wright, she felt the biggest change was the tightened security. The number one place which has changed the most is airports. All the airports now have scanners to check for metal and they also have new rules in place for the amount of liquids you can have on a plane. In her first trip through an airport after the attacks she said she had to wait in security lines for over two hours. She said all the time spent in security is a necessary evil. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question I was at work on the day of and the entire hospital had a moment of silence. I will also pray for the families that were destroyed do to this horrific day. I will never forget this day and I hope our country doesn’t either. The way I feel the country should remember this day is to keep everyone involved in our thoughts and prayers. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question Interviewing Blaine McCartney he believes security has had a great deal of change brought to it. Airport’s having far more ways to deal with an attack now than they ever did before. People worry another attack might take place or that our economy will never recover. America will always remember September 11, 2001 it was a turning point for the government, gaining support for the war in Afghanistan and spreading fear to the people. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question Mr. McCartney had this to say, I remember September 11 every year by going to a Patriotic parade, doing three Hail Mary’s for every person killed, and lighting off fireworks to end the night. I feel the anniversary of 9/11 is an important day for all Americans to remember those lost in the Twin Towers. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project https://www.911digitalarchive.org/files/original/25f0deb59ff5a5e0838aae42e1e60a31.m4a 8b6da933a3e4378adb8755ef3bdaf245 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 10th Anniversary Collection Sound A resource whose content is primarily intended to be rendered as audio. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question 9/11: How will you remember the September 11 attacks? I asked my mom how she feels every year on the 9/11 anniversary. She used bold words like sick, sad, and mad. I asked why she was mad and she said she thinks about how the families of those 3000 murdered people must feel every year re-watching the towers fall on the news. She told me she was cleaning my sister’s room the morning while watching television when a breaking news alert showed the twin towers being struck by commercial airliners. She then woke my dad up out of bed and told him that something horrible has happened and that America was under attack. That is what she told me she thinks of about that tragic day and that it is forever instilled into her head. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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/. Description An account of the resource An interview with my mother about the 9/11 attacks. https://www.911digitalarchive.org/files/original/b7b8bde6fe3a846a90cce1b701e95367.jpg f50381980ad2101e424877d0b272e088 Omeka Image File The metadata element set that was included in the `files_images` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all image files. Bit Depth 8 Channels 3 Height 1667 Width 1109 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 10th Anniversary Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. 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/. Description An account of the resource My son was only 3 on 9/11/2001, but was obviously impacted as represented by his recreation of the WTC using the canned goods at his Grandparent's house. He placed a picture (taken on 9/10/2001) of the towers in the center of his sculpture. This picture was taken in Sept. 2001. 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question I was only a kid when September 11 happened but I still am effected by this horrendous event. The good effect is I think the security and the protection levels have risen for my generation. The one of many bad things is the hurt that comes from loss of lives. Hearing stories of my friends losses hurts me. The thought that any group was possible of such an evil doing stings my heart. September 11th has sadly effected the amount of trust I have in other countries. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question Of course, I will remember the lives that were lost and the ones who were hurt. Yet one thing I will never forget is that when our country was attacked, tormented, and almost weak...We stood up against the odds joined hands and together pushed through it. I think of the many courageous men and women who risked and gave their lives to attempt to save even one soul. I think of the compassion, sorrow, and comfort every person gave to each other. I think of our country, being at the lowest point of security, having the strongest faith. I will always remember 9/11. Because it showed me that this country can not be broken. It showed me how incredible humanity really is. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question September 11, 2001 I was in kindergarten and I was too young to understand the concept of evil. I remember getting picked up early from school and my grandma was home watching the tv and crying. I have never seen my grandma cry before I knew something happened. She was the happiest person in the world and seeing her like this struck me. As she would try to explain what happened to me with the help of my mother I finally understood what happened, but i would never understand what drove them to do that. As it turned out my grandma worked for the government and her friend was in the pentagon that day. After this day everything changed security and the way of most peoples life. It was as if noone trusted each other. Ever since that day I became aware of the wicked, evil, and vicious things people are capable of. A 4 year old knew there was evil in the world. That is too young if you ask most people. Thats how it changed my life and most of the entire country. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question I will always remember this day by all the stories people tell, and watching the documentaries on the history channel. This day will always be remembered and mourned by all the loved ones of those that lost their life to this horibble tragedy. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question Once I got older and became more aware of the situation of 9/11 and the entire impact of the event, the September 11th attack didn't just prolong my future check-ins at security points of airports, it changed my entire perspective on life and the U.S. as a whole. I became very thankful that fate had spared all of my family members during the attack, and especially the ones who were in the cities that were struck at the time the attack occurred. I later came to notice the hundreds of people sobbing after the attack because of loved ones they had lost or because of the sympathy over another. As a child, I never really paid much attention to the government. I'd always heard that the U.S. was involved in conflicts and had enemies, but I'd never really seen a major impact of any of the wars mainly because the physical conflict and war existed across an ocean in an entirely different region. This, unfortunately, changed on 9/11 as the world witnessed a tragic event that brought a war the U.S. was fighting to the home front where my family and I were able to see the proof first-hand that the U.S. was indeed at war. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question I will remember the attacks on September 11th as not the tragic events that they were, but as unifying events that joined people together to help others get through a difficult time. I will still acknowledge the events that occurred on that significant day, but the sadness and grief that the day brought will not be what I chose to focus on. Although it did bring sorrow and bitter tastes of anguish to millions of people, that day brought families and people together to brush aside the negative relationships or events that may have been existent for a time and come together to share the good feelings that they have for each other. So on this anniversary, I do understand that this day will always live in infamy, however, I prefer to focus on the unity, triumph and affection that came as a result of it. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? Center for History and New Media 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question My life has been greatly affected as a military dependant because of what happened on September 11, 2001. After the events, the military went to Iraq and Afghanistan, including many soldier who have been over seas multiple times. My only memory of September 11, 2001 is that my parents were home early due to the events at the Pentagon which is only 20 miles away from where I live. The next day I told my Pre-school teacher that a very bad man crashed his airplane in my dads work building. In 2001, I did not know what was really happening, but now I understand how the world would never be the same and that I personally would be affected. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project https://www.911digitalarchive.org/files/original/fdd0f688323c4c2709d320460d74e5c4.pdf db13bc741cb5cb2427bc2f761026c28f PDF Text Text Remembering 9/11 M. Acuna 9/11/12 Eleven years ago today I was standing, staring out the window from my office on the 9th floor of 701 South 12th Street, Arlington Va in Pentagon City. I had just heard of a plane that had flown into one of World Trade Center towers. It was early and details were still sketchy. Initial reaction amongst my co-workers was it was a small plane, maybe a Cessna that had lost control. Not long after news broke of another plane flying into the second tower. At this point we knew it was more than a small place that had flown off course, much more was going on. We headed to the lobby of our building to watch the news on the TV’s near the elevators. It was crowded and still not a lot of details were coming in. I decided to go back upstairs and see if I could get updates online. Within a few moments after getting back to my desk the building shook, this was no surprise as being across the street (i.e. I-395) from Arlington Cemetery we were use to the occasional F16 fly over as part of the military funeral services at Arlington Cemetery. However, when I stood to look out the window expecting to see an F-16 I instead saw what appeared to be a large commercial plane flying over the building. The plane then banked right towards 395 and Arlington Cemetery, making a uturn to aim itself at the Pentagon. In what must have only been seconds played out for what seemed like an hour as I watched as the plane came in lower just above Washington Blvd, engines going full thrust as it neared the helipad, and then disappear into the side of the Pentagon. There was a very eerie silence that was quickly broken by an explosion that shook our building followed by a fireball that then came towards our window. My first thought was that we were going to die; the fireball was going to hit our building. My second reaction was to look at my co-worker standing on the other side of the cube wall to see if she saw what I just saw. I will never forget the expression on her face; shock, eyes and mouth wide open, speechless, white as a ghost. Apparently I had the same look. I looked back toward the Pentagon, everything had gone quiet, there were some cars stopped along the side of 395 and Washington Blvd, and then came the sight of one ambulance, as if it didn’t realize the magnitude of the carnage and death it would soon witness. One ambulance was on its way to save all those people I had just seen die. My co-workers that had gone to the lobby had returned to see what caused the explosion that shook the building for the second time that morning. People were asking and couldn’t understand or wouldn’t believe when I told them a large plane had flown into the side of the Pentagon. My boss kept asking, asking if I was sure it was a commercial jet as there was no news yet on the attack of the Pentagon and when there was the first reports were not clear on what had struck the Pentagon. I knew what I had seen, I saw a commercial flight, and I saw passenger windows. �In the short aftermath of the attack, explosion, one ambulance, and confirming what I had just seen was real; I called my wife who was at work. Her office located two blocks from the White House bordering Farragut Park on one side and Lafayette Park on the other. When she first heard my voice she knew something was wrong, I told her what had happened and for her and everyone in her office to get out of the city. She told her boss who responded that I was wrong; the attacks were in New York. She told him “no, Mike just saw this”, he told everyone to get out now. We were told to go home, though looking down at the street there was nowhere to go. The streets were jammed in every direction. Roads around the Pentagon were blocked, Washington Blvd was closed, and I needed to find a different way back to Maryland. The Metro was also closed and there were concerns and rumors that Metro stations might also be attacked. Eventually I pulled out of the parking garage and made my way around Fern Street. Smoke was billowing from the Pentagon, people were everywhere, roaming about, stuck in their cars, and crying. I eventually made it to Army/Navy Drive and went west from Arlington, not that I knew where I was going but it seemed to be the only way out of Pentagon City. My sunroof was open and I could see fighter jets circling the city, I turned on the radio and for the first time had heard that the towers were gone. Speculation of unaccounted flights was rampant, cell signals were down, and I had no way of reaching my wife to see if she had made it home. Our son was just six months old, our daughter three, and my parents were watching them on Mondays and Tuesdays when my wife and I were at work. At least I knew (..assumed) they were okay. Despite the terror and sadness that everyone felt that day I will always remember the kindness that was offered by the people, complete strangers, that lived along Army/Navy Drive. Sitting in our cars in the hot sun, not moving, people came out of their homes to offer us water. No one asked they just felt there was a need and came out to help. There was unity amongst destruction. I will and can never compare what I went through that day to the loss that so many suffered as a result of 9/11. I will share though that until the last few years that my experience with 9/11 was not something I was willing to talk about. People that knew what I had seen would sometimes ask and I might give a few words, some asked if I was okay, but bringing this experience back to the surface was not, and sometimes still, a comfortable task. That said there were some affects from what I saw. We were told to return to work on Thursday 9/13. I really didn’t want to go back to my desk to look out at what had once been a beautiful view of northwest Washington that had now become a view of where hundreds had died just days before , but I did. I remember feeling anxious and eventually terrified of the thought of pulling into my building. My boss asked if I wanted to move my desk, I declined. For the six months following the vision of flight 77 crashing into the side of the Pentagon played in my head on an endless loop. At some point it started to seem normal; I might be having a conversation with someone, seem engaged, but the only thing going through my head was a plane crashing into the side of the Pentagon over and over again. Eventually that stopped, but there are always reminders. The oddest �reminder, even to this day, is I somehow manage to be walking by a digital clock either on an oven, microwave, DVD, bank, watch, etc. when it’s reading 9:11. I will never forget 9/11/01, I wish it never happened, but out of evil must come good, otherwise evil has won. Since 9/11 I have made it a point to volunteer my time to help others, something I never did before. I’ve been a soccer coach, baseball coach, scout leader, a director and volunteer for kid’s fun runs and other road races. I’ve donated money and raised money for various efforts. Basically, trying and wanting to make a difference. Maybe I would have done these things anyway, but I like to think that being on the 9th floor that day pushed me in this direction. The last thing I remember about that day was finally getting home to see my wife, kids, and my parents who were over. As horrible as this was, my dad was calm and eventually said that when he was young they got through the attack on Pearl Harbor and we’ll get through this. He was right, he still is, and together we got through this. � 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? Facebook, Twitter, other social networks 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question Next to the Pentagon Watching Flight 77 Crash by Kevin Malecek Posted: 9/10/02 It was a beautiful morning. The sun shown through my window shades as I looked at my alarm clock. It was 9:15am and my cell phone was ringing. I quietly said to myself somebody better have a damn good reason for calling this early on my morning off. As I looked at the caller ID, I saw it was Greg Gadren, a friend and the president of the Graduate Student Association at American University (I was Administrator/Secretary) at that time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I heard a sound I will never forget as long as I live." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a light conversation, he said he was not going to go into AU today. I said that we had a University Homecoming meeting and the Eagle Roundtable dinner, and that it would look a bit odd if he did not come in. He said "terrorists have driven two planes into the World Trade Center." I replied, "oh yeah, that's funny." He said, "I am serious, turn on your television." I hung up the phone and turned my bedroom TV on to CNN. As I lay in my bed, I watched in horror as the towers burned. I remember thinking to myself, "I hope they don't collapse because tens of thousands of people would die." I debated getting up to take a shower and start my day, but was enthralled and drawn to the coverage. I live right across the I-395 interchange bridges behind Pentagon City, so I view two sides from the Pentagon from my windows. We are approximately a quarter to a third of a mile away, but we are the closest high rise to the Pentagon. As I lay there, I heard a sound I will never forget as long as I live. It sounded as if thousands of train locomotives past by my window. We have helicopters and planes heading to National Airport and other aircraft fly over the apartment all the time, but nothing like this. The moment was frozen in time. Immediately I thought, they are attacking something in Washington. Nothing would prepare me for what I was about to see. Sometimes I thank God I did not open my bedroom window and see the complete horrid scene and instead ran to the living room window to observe the tail of American Flight 77 burst into a collage of fire, smoke, and flames into the side of the Pentagon facing my apartment. I had no idea what to do. The first, moronic thing that popped into my head was "call the news networks", but I figured they would have the story within minutes. I called Greg back and informed him that a plane had just hit the Pentagon. He was in disbelief and wanted to make sure I was not hallucinating. Greg later explained that his disbelief was due to the fact he had not seen it on the news yet. I attempted calling a variety of people, with ever increasing difficulty as the phone lines began to be tied up. I got a hold of my mother in Ohio to inform her that I was alright, but that I had seen the incident and was a bit shaken up. Then, I heard Bob Franken on CNN say that another plane was heading for Washington. Being in a high rise near the Pentagon, and wanting to get out of the apartment for a bit, I decided to leave. The scene around Pentagon City was pandemonium. Packed neighborhood streets, people running and screaming, emergency and military vehicles streaming toward and around the Pentagon. Smoke was billowing out of the Pentagon and the air was dank with the smell of fire and smoke. I went to my parking lot and sat in my car, listening to the radio. I soon met a man hanging around that had come over from Crystal City, but could not go any further because the roads were packed. Jason Reimer, the SC Secretary at the time who lived two buildings away, met me in the parking lot and we decided to proceed back to his building that was farther away to watch the coverage. At around 3:00 p.m., I returned to my apartment and was interviewed by two polite FBI agents, wearing the trademark FBI blue jackets with yellow lettering, when I walked into the building as to what I saw. They were so sketchy on the details of the Pentagon crash at this time, they were asking everybody coming in and out of the building if they had seen anything. I talked with my roommate, who works on Capitol Hill for a Congressman, who described his experience of thinking bombs were around the Hill, Capitol Police/Secret Service whisking his boss away and piling into a car with other staffers to get back to Virginia. As the day ended, I went to dinner at an old friend's house, watched President Bush's speech, which we analyzed and said was the best speech of his presidency (to that point) and called several people in at home to let them know I was OK and prepared to go back to work as the President had dictated that Americans should do on September 12th. Two other events I wish to comment on occurred September 13th and at the beginning of October. On September 13th, all of AU proper was forced to evacuate because of an unspecified bomb threat. I went up to campus and was most impressed with the behavior of campus officials while I picked up some of my friends rendered temporarily homeless by the threat. It was AU in its finest hour. At the beginning of October, at the heeding of Mayor Giuliani, I changed my Fall Break plans to go to New York and help the city's economy. As I made the pilgrimage to Ground Zero, I was amazed at the kindness and caring of the people of New York. I was horrified at the soot still remaining on shoes in shoe stores blocks away, the shuttered shops, and the smell of burning embers and twisted metal only yards away. But in all that carnage, while I saw a demoralized, saddened populace I still saw a determined spirit on the faces of the Americans of the crowds: a spirit that I hope will live on in our hearts for a long time to come. Kevin Malecek is a graduate student studying Political Science. He is the president of the Graduate Student Association and lives near the Pentagon. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? Facebook, Twitter, other social networks 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question we learn about it till this very day 9/11/01 was a great impact on the u.s.a i think about people that lost there family members loved one even friends i was only one and i dont remember what happened very well but i still give the pledge every day even when im at home i give the pledge of elegance i want to share a moment of silence .................................................... ok thank you and thank the soldiers who give there lives every day to keep us safe if you or someone you know in the army thank you for the freedom - Kristopher ahng sierra middle school 7thgrade tucson us : ] thanks for reading How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question learning it every day Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? News media https://www.911digitalarchive.org/files/original/d9e0fde81a5e810e206148d0f5583412.jpg 4faea41a2724781b3c41d28c7a32e41e Omeka Image File The metadata element set that was included in the `files_images` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all image files. Bit Depth 8 Channels 3 Height 787 Width 967 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 10th Anniversary Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question My painting when through a very angry period, many works were never shown. I actually stopped painting altogether because I didn't want to put more hatred into existence. Then, I encountered a photograph of a native man dancing with joy and it changed my life. He had nothing in comparison but was caught in a moment of pure joy. From that day, I resolved to paint only the joy of life...we still have freedom. How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question With prayer and thankfulness for another day of life and liberty. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? American Social History Project 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/. Description An account of the resource 'Ghosts of the Present' by KC Moore represents the loss and smouldering anger of that morning. 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 10th Anniversary Collection Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001? form question N/A How will you remember the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks? form question I was in 8th grade when 9/11 happened and living in Marietta, Georgia. It must have been noon since we were filing back into our classroom after lunch. My teacher, Mrs. Pepper, told us what had happened. Two planes had crashed into the WTC and one of the buildings had collapsed. Most of us didn't know what the WTC was but did knew they were a tallest building in NYC-- they were what made up the beautiful skyline of NYC. The kid behind me, who was the class clown, made a joke. He didn't know how serious it was. How were we suppose to know how serious something like that was? It wasn't a malicious 'joke' but one of shock to our teacher. I will always remember his tone and I'm sure he will to. It wasn't a joke meant to be funny, looking back, I realize that he was trying to lighten the mood of the room because I knew he was afraid. I didn't know anyone who died but when I got to college knew someone who had lost his aunt. Since working at Mason, I've known more who lost someone or knew someone who died in the Pentagon. The scariest part of that day was not knowing if they would go after the Bank of America building in Atlanta. It's the tallest building in Atlanta. The 'Big Pencil' they call it. My dad worked in the building, second floor. He wasn't there. He was at home watching the TV. I was so angry that something like this could happen. I'm still angry. When I got home, he was on the phone with my aunt who sometimes works in the NYC. She wasn't there either. I thank God for that when I think of 9/11. That they didn't go after the CDC that is so close to my childhood home and that she wasn't in NYC. This is the first time I've ever written this down. Thank you for having the digital archives. Telling the story is a part of healing. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? Facebook, Twitter, other social networks https://www.911digitalarchive.org/files/original/a9236af2d49e93a9ea54ebb7673c115b.jpg 21df434d2cac1241a4f834d19fa2ee2f Omeka Image File The metadata element set that was included in the `files_images` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all image files. Bit Depth 8 Channels 3 Height 768 Width 576 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 10th Anniversary Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Referred to by Where did you hear about the website? Facebook, Twitter, other social networks 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/. Description An account of the resource We returned to Athens on Sept 12. On the Acropolis, the flag flew at half mast. We felt very close to those that value democracy, wherever the are.