This post original ran on 9-11-2011, the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on US soil. Please feel free to add your comment.
——————————————————————————On the morning of 9-11-2001 we were sleeping at the W Hotel in San Francisco. We drove in the night before to be there for an early morning meeting with an attorney from BostonĀ in an attempt to resolve what seemed to be a matter of utmost urgency. He called our room and told us that there had been terrorist attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. At first I thought he was kidding until we turned on the TV. Rumors were rampant about threats in other large US cities and his recommendation was that we cancel the meeting and leave San Francisco immediately. We packed quickly and were soon on the road headed home and Alex was headed to stay with a friend until flights resumed. Our urgent matter was no longer so urgent.
We drove home, listening to the news on the radio. As did the rest of the nation, we sat numb in front of our television over the next few days and even weeks. The numbness would give way to sadness, anger and fear. Eventually those feelings would give way to what would become our new normal, heightened airport security, homeland security, new passport rules, border patrol beyond a wave through, closure of the bridge over our local dam creating traffic nightmares, terrorism threat colors, and American flags being flown from the beds of pick-up trucks. From the ridiculous to the long-needed, some of the changes stayed while while others faded into history. Life went on.
In 2007 Michael and I had an opportunity to visit New York City and visit Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center Towers. It too was a day I will never forget. Below is a compilation of some of the photographs we took that day, set to the music “World Trade Center Piano Theme” written by Craig Armstrong.
In remembrance of the tenth anniversary please leave a comment about your where you were on September 11, 2001.
Lana in Phoenix says
It was very early in the morning here in Phoenix, AZ when I first heard about the Trade Centers. I was at home, starting my day, when the breaking news came on. I called friends and family to turn on their tv’s – I think when I first called they all thought I was crazy. I watched all the networks until I had to go to work. It is a time I will never forget. I think we should have more reminders of the day that our world changed than we currently do.
Mary says
I agree Lana. When we were driving home, there were news reports that said the death toll could reach 50,000. Certainly a day that changed us. I don’t even know how many days we sat glued to the TV.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Wayne says
I was at work at my job as manager of a cabinet factory. I had gone over to the main office and found everyone watching it happen on a small tv in the lobby. I ran back to my plant and called a group meeting and told them what was happening. It was chilling haveing to say" at 9:20 this morning the U.S. came under attack by unkown terriost" ! I spent the rest of the day running back and forth getting and giveing the latest information. I felt it was my duty to keep my employees informed as up to the minute as I could. After all at the time it wasn't known if it was going to be widespread or not. It still chills me to the bone to think about it.
The Other Mary says
I'll never forget that day….I remember watching JFK's motorcade in Dallas from a seat in an elementary school classroom in San Antonio, Texas, and I was again in a classroom, this time as a Teacher's Assistant for a learning disabled high schooler, when the teacher got a call just before the tardy bell sounded. She quickly turned on the television. I sat with a class of mostly sophomore high school students as the commentators described that a plane had hit one of the Trade Center Towers. The room was eeriely quiet for a bunch of high schoolers. We were still watching when the second tower was hit. Shortly thereafter, the PA blared "Teachers who have televisions on, they need to be turned-off", the students moaned, but the teacher reached up and turn-off the television. I, and many other teachers and assistants, spent every free minute in the workroom where a television had been set-up for us to watch. Many students were signed-out early by their parents. When the school day was over, I hurried home to watch the coverage. So many brave people, so much heartache, so needless………. The Other Mary
Nancy says
I remember that day all too well. I was doing routine grocery shopping when I heard people talking excitedly at the butcher dept. All I could make out was that an airplane crashed into some tower. They seemed much too upset about such news for it to be a minor event. I had such a feeling of dread my stomach hurt. As soon as I walked in the door at home I put on the tv and saw what we all saw at least 50 times a day for the next several weeks – the scenes of the first plane striking the tower and then the second.Just chilling no matter how often they replayed that and then far worse the scenes of people jumping or falling to their deaths.,people on fire.
I didn't realize I was witnessing an act of war. To me wars happened on other shores . Soilders went to other countries to do their fighting. I always thought we would be safe at home. Who would dare take on the USA?
That "wretched act of cowards," has changed our lives permanently,, we live, we love, we willl go on but, will we ever feel safe again.?
Kelly says
I was watching TV while on my treadmill. Spent the next several days watching it. So sad for everyone lost and the families of those lost.
Andrea says
A day I will never forget. I was trying to get Emily ready to head to the school bus, a task that she was really making hard on that day. I had not had time to turn on a TV or radio as she wasn't being very helpful. I remember the ringing of my phone and thinking I don't have time to deal with whoever that is that's calling. I had to look at the phone and see who it was and saw your number and knew this was a call I had to take since you were out of town. That is a call I will never be ale to forget. The sound of your voice is burned in my memory. I made the decision at that moment that Emily would not be leaving the house that day. I spent the rest of the day as well as the next few in front of a TV watching the news. The pictures the news was showing were horrifying and I don't know how long I cried for those poor people who made the choice to jump rather than burn. The families who were having to hear the voices of their loved one saying goodbye from those upper floors or planes still in the air. And all I could do is hug my kids a little tighter and wish my mother would hurry and get home safe. I will never forget where I was that day and will never be able to forget the victims and their families.
Kathy says
I was home watching TV. Like you, Mary, we sat in front of our television the next few days-weeks. Words elude me. Tears, many, many, many tears. MAY WE NEVER FORGET!