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 Digital Archive Stories Description An account of the resource This collection is the bulk of the archive, representing the reactions and experiences of thousands of individuals beginning in 2002. 911DA Story 911DA Story: Story Tell us about what you did, saw, or heard on September 11th. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like. Tell us your story: September 11, 2001 was the sixth day of classes and I was trying to keep my stern face and no nonsense attitude alive. I did not want to appear weak - yet, although I had not recovered from our son's wedding on Sept. 1. West Springfield High School has a break each day between 9:10 and 9:30 and I was in my room planning for the next class, when another teacher yelled to me, "Quick, turn on the TV, the World Trade Center has just been hit by a plane!" I quickly turned to CNN and stood there in awe with tears rolling down my face. I could not speak. I had just been to New York a few weeks prior and marveled at how safe I felt in the big city. As students trickled in, they froze in their tracks. The bell rang and I began class by telling them what I was watching, and with little coaxing, I granted their wishes to watch, too. However, the pit in my stomach deepened with the second hit. By now even the 15-year-old students recognized terrorism. We all were sick about what was happening to New York, when CNN switched to Washington, D.C. A suffocating silence fell over the classroom like a deep blanket of snow when we saw the black plume of smoke at the Pentagon. Terrorism was in our backyard! I was brought back to the moment when I heard whimperings in the class and students asking if they could call a parent. I was dealing with 24 students' fears by sharing my cell phone, which would not work, and letting them email parents from my classroom computer. Even former students were coming to me for assistance. Our principal got on the PA to request we all stay in the building and to offer comfort to students and faculty. However, we quickly learned that communications were impaired and we felt isolated. Since about a third of my students' parents worked in the Pentagon, fear of the unknown penetrated our souls. This was a time to do my best with limited resources to help ease those fears with hugs, consoling words, and adult reassurance. Panicked parents were wisely lining up at school to take their children home. Because of the necessity to take care of my students, I had to put my own worry on the back burner. I kept thinking of my husband, who, periodically, had meetings at the Pentagon. Was this one of those days? I could not remember if he had mentioned he would be there or not. I knew I could not reach him via telephone or email; it was too late. I had to patiently wait, which isn't one of my virtues. After my classes, I quickly rushed home to find my husband on the phone. He was talking to someone long distance. I could not contain my emotions any longer and I burst into tears. He excused himself from the phone and just held me as I shared my day of extreme emotion. Then he told me about his day. He was on his way to work in Washington, D.C. as he has done for 26 years, but today he was much later than usual. As he was driving to D.C. the plane that hit the Pentagon flew right over him on I-395. He said his first thought was "That plane is way out of the flight path and it is going to hit a building in the area!" A few seconds later his words came true. He didn't dream it was actually on a mission aiming for the Pentagon. As smoke and flames poured from his sometimes workplace, traffic came to a halt. Commuters had to roll up windows to guard against inhaling jet fuel and smoke fumes. After two hours of nightmarish hell, my husband made the eight mile trek back home. The bridges into the District had been closed forbidding entrance into the District, so he couldn't get to work. All of a sudden, my husband told me that our son and his new wife were safe, too. I was scared and shocked again. I did not know what he was talking about. Trey and Sara were on their honeymoon in Hawaii! Of course they are safe. However, they were scheduled to return on Tuesday, Sept. 11. I did not know that. Our son and daughter-in-law were twenty minutes out of Dulles International Airport when the pilot came on the PA to announce that they had been told by FAA to divert to Cincinnati. The passengers on that flight from St. Louis that morning did not know what was happening on land. Trey said he knew something terrible had happened because he saw the military F14 escorts beside their flight. It was such a relief to speak to our children. They had a three day extended honeymoon - in Cincinnati - and a close friend at the University of Cincinnati loaned them his car to drive home because transportation was impossible to acquire those days following the attack. Our other son, a college student in South Carolina, was safe, too. Even his girlfriend's mother called from Japan to check on us. Many concerned calls came that day from all over the country. It was a good feeling to know that someone cares. I had an overwhelming need to hug and kiss my family that day. I am forever a changed person; maybe even a better person. I just know my priorities are different and I take time to appreciate the smaller things in life now. Although my life is guarded due to an element of fear, my focus on what truly matters is a blessing. Our students lost two parents in the Pentagon attack along with their innocence that day. Somehow, the basic things in life are important again because we all lost something that day. Simplicity is a necessity. Teaching has always been my passion and I feel very grateful that I am able to share life with wonderful young people, even during a tragedy. 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 story50.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. 2002-02-09 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 207.172.11.147 Annotation Annotations to this item. Internet Personal connection to someone at site Struggle to get home Students/Teachers Telephones and Cell Phones Television Coverage DC:3