Today is the anniversary of 9-11. Ten years ago, at 7:59 a.m., an airplane took off from Boston. Fifteen minutes later, another airplane took off. And within an hour of that, all hell broke loose in our city. Every one of our lives changed because of what happened that day.
This post is an opportunity to share memories. Every adult that I know can tell you exactly where they were on 9-11. Many of you were only two or three years old in 2001. But even you might have memories of your own. In your comment, you answer any of the following questions:
- Where were you on September 11, 2001? What do you remember? How did you feel? What did you think was happening?
- Where were your loved ones on 9-11? Have you asked your parents what they were doing, what they were thinking, how they felt? Other family members? Older friends? Teachers? What are their stories?
- How is your life different today because of 9-11? What were the consequences for you personally? Did you move to a different place? Did people in your family join the military and fight in wars?
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
For what it's worth, here are my memories. I was a senior at Troy High School and took calculus at a college called RPI in September 2001. This is part of the journal entry I typed on the night of the attacks:
ReplyDeleteThe crickets are still chirping outside my window. My dog still greets me with foolish, overjoyed barking. I ate my dinner today at the kitchen table, just like any other day, except that I had to rush off to church after a quick meal. I had to go pray for those people who won't have that opportunity anymore...
This terror...this pointless terror...Leap to your death or burn alive? Run for your life or save someone else's? No one should have had to make those decisions today. Imagine being on that flight, fearing for your own life at first, then slowly realizing the hijackers' plans. Thank God we weren't there.
I saw the scarred towers for the first time by peering into Mrs. Ehmann's classroom after first period...I walked down to chorus in a brisk, wide-eyed step; I was worried. In the band room, people had only begun to turn on the television. A couple of friends burst out of a music room. "Have you seen it, Martin?" they asked excitedly. "It's crazy." They were almost gleeful. Of course, none of us knew the magnitude of the attacks at this point. It was scary, but thrilling in a sick, sick way. All the discussion in chorus was speculative and the class continued as usual. We sang "For the Beauty of the Earth." I belted it out, because I love the hymn and was on edge anyway. When I returned to the band room after second period, Tower One didn't exist anymore. Despite the news, I decided to practice my solo for GT with Mrs. Neira. "Gambler Don't You Lose Your Place" didn't fit the mood at all. My voice was wavery towards the end...After practicing, I bounced between the hall and the band room for the rest of the period. I was in the auditorium when Katelyn told us to go watch, that the other tower was gone. The Pentagon had been hit. I couldn't stay in one place for too long. The sixth grade music class was singing "We Are the World" as we left for the high school. Serious irony. In Troy High, almost every teacher had her television on and tuned to the camera shots of billowing smoke. The dust still hasn't settled!
I went to the RPI Union, hoping to find Jeff [my best friend, now known as Captain Kennedy to those ofe you who met him last year] and eat lunch before calculus. I didn't find Jeff, but, as you might expect, I found about twenty people clustered around a small television in the cafeteria. More people were upstairs, where I sat down and watched nervously for about 45 minutes. People hugged each other, a girl got in touch with relatives in New Jersey to insure their safety, a kid cried on the phone as he waited for someone to pick up at his house. No one did. I talked to everyone else, asked a couple of questions...I didn't eat lunch, but I did study for calculus while watching the news. I was supposed to have a quiz, but it didn't happen. My TA, who's in the armed forces, said he was surprised that the United States wasn't in a state of emergency. We practiced calculus, which removed my mind from reality for a while. On the sidewalks as I returned, all conversation regarded the attacks. There was more security out around campus...Gym went on as usual. We walked and jogged around the track. I wanted to start a conversation but didn't want to talk about the bombing and didn't feel proper talking about anything else. Jeff and I considered giving blood at RPI after school but decided against it after seeing the long lines there. I regret not doing what I could at that point.
I still want to do something. All I can think to do is pray...
I hope this is a rallying point for us as Americans. I feel bad for not being patriotic in the past. Maybe, under such terrible conditions, we can bond together as a nation...
After posting that comment, I notice it's very long. Don't feel like you have to read it all or write as much as I did.
ReplyDeleteOn 9-11 I was in school. I dont remember much but I do know that I was in preschool. The rest of my family members were at home or school, fortunatley. 9-ll effects my life by hearing all those names bieng called at the memorial and know thousands of families have lost sombody who is very special to them. I will always pray for those who have lost a close freind. I'm glad that others have decided to look at the bright side of this situation, evn though there isnt much. To reshape the twin towers and keep moving on in life.
ReplyDeleteON SEPTEMBER 11 2001, I WAS AT MY OLD APARTMENT EATING BREAKFAST WHILE TRYING TO HAVE A GREAT START TO MY DAY. THEN MY FATHER CAME OUT OF HIS ROOM TO WATCH THE NEWS AND HANG OUT WITH ME AND MY MOM BECAUSE HE ALWAYS HAS TUESDAYS OFF. I REMEMBER HIM GOING TO CNN TO WATCH THE WEATHER UNTIL HE SAW THAT THE TALK OF THE DAY WAS THAT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HAD AN ATTACK, THEN HE CALLED MY MOM TO WATCH AND I COULD TELL FROM MY SEAT THAT THEY WERE HORRIFIED. I REMEMBER YELLING OUT “MOM, DAD, TWO BUILDINGS ARE ON FIRE”, AND MY PARENTS WOULDN’T RESPOND BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF SHOCK THEY WERE IN. THEN MY MOM REMEMBERED I WAS IN THE ROOM AND QUICKLY TOOK ME TO MY ROOM TO PLAY WITH TOYS. I WASN’T REALLY AFRAID BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A SMALL FIRE AND THAT THE SUPER COOL FIREFIGHTERS WOULD PUT IT OUT. I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE PLANES OR THE TERRORISTS OR THE OTHER ATTACKS. ALL I KNEW WAS ABOUT THE TALL BUILDINGS WITH FIRE. SINCE I WAS OUT OF THE ROOM I GUESS I MISSED THE PART WHEN THE OTHER ATTACKS WERE MENTIONED. WHAT I DO REMEMBER AFTER THAT WAS STAYING HOME FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE MY PARENTS THOUGHT IT WAS UNSAFE. MY PARENTS AND I STAYED HOME FOR ABOUT TWO MORE DAYS BECAUSE MY PARENTS’ JOBS ARE PRETTY DOWNTOWN AND MY PRESCHOOL WAS AROUND LINCOLN CENTER, A BIG LANDMARK. I DO REMEMBER THAT NIGHT AND HOW DEAD SILENT IT WAS AROUND US AND THE ONLY NOISE WAS FROM TVS LOOKING AT THE DESTRUCTION OF 9/11. MY RELATIVES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WERE BACK AT THEIR HOMES, WORRIED ABOUT US. I ASKED MY PARENTS ABOUT THE DAY AND THE NEW INFORMATION I GOT WAS THAT THEY WERE THINKING HOW FORTUNATE THEY WERE SINCE IT WAS ONLY 10 DAYS BEFORE THAT DAY THAT MY COUSIN AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OF MINE WENT TO THE TWIN TOWERS TO GET TO KNOW THE CITY SINCE THEY ARE JUST TOURISTS. I ASKED A LOT OF PEOPLE WHAT THEY THOUGHT ON THAT DAY AND THEY ALL REPLIED THE SAME; IS THEIR LOCATION NEXT? 9/11 DEFINITELY CHANGED THE WAY I THOUGHT; I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THIS COUNTRY REALLY IS THE BEST, WHY FIGHTING OVERSEAS IS NECESSARY, AND HOW IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED IN HISTORY. I FEEL MORE SCARED ABOUT BEING IN THIS CITY AND GOING TO BIG PLACES; BUT I GUESS THE BIGGEST CONSEQUENCE IS KNOWING THAT I WAS LIVING ON THAT DAY AND THAT I MUST KEEP IT IN MY LIFE’S TIMELINE. LOCATION OF MY FAMILY WAS NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT REALLY NEAR DANGER ZONES. NONE OF MY FAMILY IS IN THE US MILITARY BECAUSE WE ARE VERY TIGHT KNIT AND IT’S HARD TO DEAL WITH LOSS.
ReplyDeleteErwin D. (804) E-mailed to Mr. Toomajian
On September 11th, 2001 I was two years old and had no idea what was going on at the World Trade Center. My babysitter was taking care of me and trying to put me to rest. I don’t remember much about that day, except what I do know was my babysitter had a concerned and worried look on her face. My mom was evacuating from The Empire State building where she was working. She said she was scared out of her mind. She had to go home mostly bare foot and take a train from 125th street to 175th street. She was worrying about not coming back to see her kids. My dad was at home and heard the news. He rushed to go pickup my sister from elementary school. My sister said that at her school they told everyone to go to the gym. They told my sister that something bad was happening. My life is different now because of 9-11. I realize that we and loved ones and friends could pass away at anytime and we need to appreciate everyone, what we have, and our lives. 9 -11 feels like a permanent scar, but I am happy that nothing tragic happened to my family or friends and I give hope and luck to anyone who has been badly affected by 9-11.
ReplyDeleteJason Cruz (804)