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 came all the way from Sydney Australia to celebrate my 30th birthday in New York City. A city I dreamt to visit and experience since the age of 15. It took me 15 years to get there. Why? Because I was affraid of flying. I summed up all of my courage and was set to celebrate my 30th in my dream city, Manhatten, NY. I arrived in New York at JFK international airport on September 10th at 6:30pm with my partner (whom had visited NYC 3 times) . We took a yellow taxi into the city. Crossing over the Queensboro Bridge into Manhatten I saw the Twin Towers in the distance. I was so excited. I knew I had finally made it to New York City. In my excitement I pleaded with my partner to give me the video camera. Much to my surprize my partner turned to me and said, "We're here for two weeks. You can take footage tomorrow when it's daylight." With disappointment I gazed into the distance and marvelled at their beauty as they twinkled amoungst the NYC skyline, standing strong and mighty. The following morning I awoke to the sounds of sirens, thinking it was just a typical day in NYC. Boy, was I wrong. My dream holiday, favourite landmark and 30th birthday had turned into a living nightmare. I saw nothing of what I wanted to see and exprience. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. On returning home to Sydney Australia, I was very weak, under weight and had insomnia. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress. I was unable to express what I felt and experienced to anyone. I avoided the city and became anti-social. I wasn't coping with my job and became extremely angry with the world. In June 2002 I had enough of life and gave up all hope in living and left my job. I kept to myself and avoid outside contact. For the first time in my life I had turned to drugs and alcohol and was on a downhill spiral fast. In May 2003 I crashed and suffered a nervous breakdown. The trauma of September 11 had a huge impact on my life and has left me with a mental illness. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The victims, families of the victims, witnesses and all the children in the world. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5662.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. 2003-09-08 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 203.134.35.9