Where were you when the world...

[CliffnMesquite]

Stopped turning on 9-11?

I had just gotten home from work and was watching CNN when the second plane hit. Didn't get much sleep that day. Then at work that night everyone watched the coverage in the lunch room.

[CowboyMcCoy]

I had gone to bed after watching the local news report about an alleged threat against the U.S. Then next day I woke up and was eating blueberry crunch cereal and soy milk (yes, I remember) when I turned on the television to see what had happened. I went to work and we didn't sell any cars at all that day.

[kristie]

at home sleeping. my husband had come home from work that morning & watched it happen on TV. i didn't believe him at first when he woke me up & told me what happened until i got up & saw it for myself. it was very scary.

[Teren_Kanan]

My B-Day is the 9th, I generally take a few days off.

I was skipping school that day (due to my birthday), playing Everquest in my living room. The TV was on the news, saw the 2nd plane hit live.

Lots of people were talking about it in game.

Pretty sure I just played EQ for the rest of the day, at least 13 hours. That was pretty standard back then.

[Warick]

September 11, 2001 is definitely a day I will never forget.

I was at work checking on some equipment when one of the attorneys walked through, and said that a small plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York. I went back to my office, and sat down at the computer, and tried to pull up CNN.com, but site wouldn't load. I tried a few others with the same result. That was unusual. I had a bad feeling about this.

Our records manager walked in, and I asked her if she heard about it. She said no, and I told her that I couldn't pull up any of the news sites, so she said she would go to her office, and call the records manager in our New York office to find out what was going on.

After having no success pulling up any of the news sites, I went to her office to see what she found out. When I arrived, she had two phone lines going. One line was to the records manager in the NY office, and the other was to her friend, who was at home watching things unfold on tv. Her friend would give her updates on what she was seeing, then she would flip over to the other line, and let the people in NY know what was going on. The folks in our NY office weren't able to make, or receive calls on their cell phones, or office phones, but were able to contact our other offices. They were also barred from leaving the building, so we were their link to the outside world.

We were listening to her friend describe what she was seeing on tv, when she suddenly screamed "Oh my God, the building is falling down, OH MY GOD!!! Those poor people!!!" Laurie told her to hold on for a second, and she switched over to the New York line, and asked Marian if she was still there. She responded yes, and that the entire office was there also. Laurie told her "Marian, one of the World Trade Center Towers has just collapsed". The people on the other end started screaming, and crying. That hit me like nothing else ever has. I will never forget that sound for as long as I live, and every time I think of it, I get choked up.

After we hung up, we just sat there in shock, and someone finally walked in, and said that we were closing the office down for the day. Rumors had started going around that large buildings in other cities were being targeted, and since our building was the third tallest in downtown, and lies directly in the flight path to Love Field airport, we left. While standing at the bus stop, I remember how eerily quiet downtown was, and how quiet the skies were. Every once in a while you would hear the sounds of a few military jet fighters passing by, as they patrolled the skies.

After leaving the bus station, I drove to a friends house, and we all sat around the tv completely stunned, and watched the coverage of what happened for the rest of the evening.

[SaltwaterServr]

I was taking a nap after dropping my girlfriend off on campus at Texas State. She came in, woke me up, and said someone had attacked NY. We sat on the edge of my bed for hours watching the footage. My roommates got home, and I don't think anyone said more than twenty words before lunch. Went to Lowe's, bought an American flag that afternoon.

Hung it up on the balcony overlooking the parking lot. That night about 2 or 3 am I hear singing downstairs. LOUD. Woke me up and my gf was pissed. People out drunk, on that night? Blood was a'boiling. Opened up the blinds in the living room, and there's a dozen, maybe 15, people out in front of the building singing the Star Spangled Banner and then America the Beautiful.

Next morning I had a note on my door. "Thank you for the flag, it helped me stop crying last night." Still have the note somewhere, and the flag too. Never found out who left it.

Warick, reading your post gave me goosebumps.

[big dog cowboy]

At work, no TV. My first images weren't until 4:00 that afternoon. After hearing all the talk all day I was still stunned when I finally saw everything.

[ninja]

I was staying at my parents' house that evening in Pittsburgh. My mom woke me up and said "We are being attacked and I can't go to Hawaii tomorrow. Turn the TV on." I was, like, "what?" My parents had a flight to Hawaii on Sept. 12th which was cancelled. They ended up going sometime in Nov.

I watched the TV for about 5 hours and then went for a drive. It was strange driving the roads that day. Everyone was kind, no tailgating, no honking the horns, people driving slower and kinder (e.g. letting people make left turns against cross-traffic, waiving them ahead).

[rynochop]

My B-Day is the 9th, I generally take a few days off.

I was skipping school that day (due to my birthday), playing Everquest in my living room. The TV was on the news, saw the 2nd plane hit live.

Lots of people were talking about it in game.

Pretty sure I just played EQ for the rest of the day, at least 13 hours. That was pretty standard back then.

mines the 9th too. My sons is the 11th. He turned 3 that day. Had just dropped him off at day care, turned on the radio to the Buzz alt rock station in Houston.

It was on news, so I knew something big happened. They were interviewing someone on the ground, during the interview the second plane hit. The guy freaked of course.

Got to work and everyone was packed in the break room watching it. Never forget watching that building come down, surreal.

[Sam I Am]

I had just walked in the door at work when it happen. We had a TV in the room next to us. We basically spent the entire day in there watching the coverage.

[Jenky]

Junior year in high school, right in the middle of English class.

[Ranzo]

I was in my office. Someone had just come in from driving and was listening to the radio. He asked if I'd heard that a "small plane crashed into the WTC." I went to Drudge who was reporting the same thing and that site crashed...went to another forum and got a moment--by-moment update. It was quickly obvious that it was not a small plane accidentally striking the WTCs...twice. I still remember my processing of it vividly and think I always will. Initially the confusion and thinking there was something I needed to do but not a having a clue what...It's really jarring and unexpected how intricate particulars of certain events can be singed into your memory.

[VietCowboy]

Junior year in high school, right in the middle of English class.

I was in Cibola High School Spanish Class in Albuquerque, NM. That's about all I can recall about it. I have a horrible memory.

[Cythim]

It was my second day out of basic training with the Air Force. We were starting briefings when they wheeled a television into the room and told us what happened. One girl in the room had family that she was worried about, it took her all day to find out they were okay.

[peplaw06]

I was a Senior at Abilene Christian University. I remember waking up for my 10:00 a.m. class to a short blurb on the radio that a small plane had hit one of the towers. They didn't know all the information at that point. I got ready for class, and headed to the campus. On the way, the radio station was giving a lot more information, and I knew something bad had happened. Walked into my class and the projector was on CNN and shooting on the screen. We sat there for the entire hour and watched the news.

After that class, heading to chapel at 11:00 I walked through the campus center and all the TVs were on the news. Those TVs rarely had the volume up, but that day they did. No one was walking, everyone was standing in the middle of the campus center watching the TVs.

Chapel was lots of praying and singing that day.

When I was done with classes my roommate and I were glued to the TV all day.

[bbgun]

Asleep. By the time I woke up, it was all over.

[Alumni2k11]

Senior year in High School. In math class. Someone came and told the teacher what had happened but all he would say to us was "A national tragedy has happened, but I don't wanna get into what it was." So naturally, nobody pays attention the rest of class wondering and speculating what really took place. Found out from friends after that class got out.

[Cajuncowboy]

I was having a meeting with one of my clients. His Admin. Asst. came knocking on the meeting room door and said we need to come to the lobby. It was highly unusual to interrupt a meeting like this so we just got up and went to the lobby. There were maybe 15 people gathered around the receptionist desk listening to the radio. This was just after the first plane hit.

After listening for a few minutes and realizing the tragedy that was unfolding, my client and I looked at each other and agreed the meeting was over and we would get back together the next week. I just wanted to get out to my car and get the radio on and drive.

As I was driving the second plane hit. I know at that point we were under attack. I called my wife and told her to get the TV on and watch but I had to get to a TV myself. I stopped at a baseball card shop that I went to a lot and they had it on. There were four other people in there.

I can still remember thinking the odd contrast in the visual image on the screen. The beautiful day against such a travesty. And one of the things that stick in my mind most was that in a lot of the shots that were on the news had a Verizon sign in them. I don't know why that sticks in my mind, but it does.

When they had announced that they had lost contact with a plane, then another, I knew I had to get home and protect my family.

I was mad as hell. I went home and held my wife a bit closer and kissed my daughters a few more times than normal.

There will never be a day that goes by that I don't remember that day.

[jimmy40]

I was at a Sears service Center in the tech room with a bunch of other techs calling our customers for our routes that day when our district manager came in and told us a plane had hit one of the towers. When we got through calling a few of us went onto the sales floor where the display TVs were and started watching. When the second plane hit I left and went by my house to turn on the tv for a few minutes and see what had happened. I ended up watching until the second tower fell then had to leave because a couple customers were calling *****ing that I was late. I couldn't believe it. I ran my route that day and most customers were shocked that I showed up at all. I'll never forget the couple customers *****ing at me being late and then watching the news while I was working on their applliance.

[Romo_To_Dez]

I was at home having the TV turned on to Good Morning America which I had watched every morning at the time. I came into the room and the North Tower was burning. It might sound silly but when I saw the second plane come in I thought that it was one of those planes that carried water and it was going to try and put the North Tower fire out since it was so high.

Guess it was because I couldn't imagine what would happen next. I was shocked and horrorfied when the SOuth Tower Collapsed and the Pentagon getting hit and later flight 93 crashing. Didn't have much of an appetite that day

[Biggems]

i never remember specific dates or what i was doing...so i find it strange that i do remember this.

i was living in corpus christi, tx. it was a gorgeous, and i mean gorgeous partly cloudy Tuesday morning.....a nice cool breeze, not hot at all......no stinch whatsoever eminating from Oso Bay....and if anyone knows anything about Oso Bay, it was funkier than a George Clinton jam....

I lived on campus and worked as a residential advisor....so I strolled on into the clubhouse between 8-9 am. I saw all my co-workers huddled around the TV. I thought they were watching some movie or something. I asked what was going on and they said someone flew a plane into the WTC....I was in complete denial, until I saw the second plane hit....I have never done drugs in my life.....but if I had done a hit of acid, I believe that is how I would have felt.....so surreal......like I was high and hallucinating.

Then I found out another plane hit the Pentagon, another landed in Pennsylvania, and I believe a 5th crashed farther south. Well, if you know Corpus, there is a Naval base right across Oso Bay from TAMU-CC. There is also one in Aransas Pass. There was also a military base in Kingsville. Then you have the San Antonio area full of military bases.

I was scared. I am not afraid or ashamed to admit it. I was worried they would attack our military bases. No one knew who or why. No one knew their true motives. I have never been so numb and dumbfounded in all my life. The school even talked about closing down and evacuating for the rest of the week, but never did. Even if it had, I leave one hot zone in Corpus for another in San Antonio.

Fast forward to today. I hate that this tragedy happened. But, what I hate more, is that we never built another WTC. Had this been a natural disaster or a building malfunction, we rebuild. I say we should have rebuilt a bigger, better, badder WTC at Ground Zero.....turn it into not only a working building, but also a memorial for 9/11. Oh, and when does the new WTC open its doors....on 9/11. Show Al Quaida that we are the USA and we will not bow to terrorist scum. IMO, leaving the area nekkid and void of a new WTC, it is as if the deaths of all our fellow Americans have not been honored, at least not in the American way. BTW, if it were me building it.....on the day it was opened....I would have a the blinds positioned where they were giving a middle finger in the direction of the middle east.... It would be a giant middle finger with a giant letter U under it....all in red, white, and blue.

Also, as far as that mosque.....H to the E double L NO. I am all for freedom of religion, but this one has political and cultural overtones......It is like they are purposely trying to give America and all those lost Americans a huge middle finger, a full on mooning, and Wilt Chamberlain sized slap in the face. I for one will have none of that. They want a mosque, go build it elsewhere, not withine a mile or two of ground zero.

God bless all those who lost their lives, those who had loved ones who lost their lives, and those who took time, energy, and money to lend a helping hand over the past decade.

BTW, if my post offends anyone, too bad. These are my memories and my feelings. I speak honestly and from the heart. I speak with great respect for all those who have fallen and continue to fall for the stars and stripes, in the name of patriotism, freedom, honor and the American way. I speak for all of my military family members spanning several generations. I am not PC and I never will be. And if you are offended...God Bless you.....and God Bless America land that I love stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam....God bless America my home sweet home.....God bless America my home sweet home.

[The30YardSlant]

I was getting ready for school. My most significant memory was sitting in second period and watching on TV as the towers collapsed live. My social studies teacher, a marine veteran and a classic "tough guy" broke down and cried right there in front of us. It was maybe the most unforgettable moment of my life, because I knew right then the world had changed forever.

[notherbob]

I was a ranch hand on my father-in-law's ranch at the time and spent the entire morning from first light out working on barbed wire fences and was in good spirits and didn't learn of it until I came in for the midday meal, which is called dinner out here and it's the big meal of the day.

Mother-in-law always prepared a big meal but nothing was made that day. I went home and cooked a burger made with our own beef and watch a little of the coverage and went through lots of emotions and turned the TV off and went back to work. My thoughts were certainly a lot different that afternoon than they had been that morning. It's hard not to be affected by the scenes they showed.

I was shocked but not devastated by it as I had been expecting something bad because there had been anti-American protests all over the world leading up to it and just days before there had been anti-American riots in South Africa. In the aftermath I have changed the ways I look at people, places and things.

[The30YardSlant]

In the aftermath I have changed the ways I look at people, places and things.

I think just about everyone did. How could you not? I'm sure it was the same for those who lived through Pearl Harbor. The world changes in moments like that, and people's outlook on it changes as well.

[Biggems]

I think just about everyone did. How could you not? I'm sure it was the same for those who lived through Pearl Harbor. The world changes in moments like that, and people's outlook on it changes as well.


Yes.....just as the actions of Japan caused so many hardships for all Asians who lived in the US after the Pearl Harbor attacks....I mean we put them in concentration camps and prisons out of fear.....Innocent Asian people were ostracized and dehumanized because of the actions of a few madmen.....

Now with these terrorist attacks both here and abroad.....the millions of peaceful Muslims suffer because of the actions of a minority of radicals. I cannot blame the American people for looking over their shoulders, for not trusting any Muslim, but it is sad really. There are thousands, probably millions of Muslims who love America and what it stands for and are willing to defend it.....but they get shunned, harrassed, and slammed because of those psychotic radicals.....and the sad part is, those very Muslims understand and except the burden.

I hate that the events of 9-11 have jaded me in such a way that I am very distrustful of any Muslim or Arab. The way a town full of white people felt when the 1st black family moved into their town in the deep south, is how I feel about Muslims and Arabs. I know it isn't right, I hate that I feel this way, I try hard not to be this way, I pray to not be this way.....But my fear consumes me.....and thanks to 9-11 and later Fort Hood, I am sorry, but I just have zero trust, understanding, and compassion. Take their war back to the Middle East and leave it there.

[The30YardSlant]

Yes.....just as the actions of Japan caused so many hardships for all Asians who lived in the US after the Pearl Harbor attacks....I mean we put them in concentration camps and prisons out of fear.....Innocent Asian people were ostracized and dehumanized because of the actions of a few madmen.....

Now with these terrorist attacks both here and abroad.....the millions of peaceful Muslims suffer because of the actions of a minority of radicals. I cannot blame the American people for looking over their shoulders, for not trusting any Muslim, but it is sad really. There are thousands, probably millions of Muslims who love America and what it stands for and are willing to defend it.....but they get shunned, harrassed, and slammed because of those psychotic radicals.....and the sad part is, those very Muslims understand and except the burden.

I hate that the events of 9-11 have jaded me in such a way that I am very distrustful of any Muslim or Arab. The way a town full of white people felt when the 1st black family moved into their town in the deep south, is how I feel about Muslims and Arabs. I know it isn't right, I hate that I feel this way, I try hard not to be this way, I pray to not be this way.....But my fear consumes me.....and thanks to 9-11 and later Fort Hood, I am sorry, but I just have zero trust, understanding, and compassion. Take their war back to the Middle East and leave it there.

Very true, sadly enough

[Faerluna]

I lived about 30 minutes north of NYC at the time. I was on the way to work and was listening to the radio, Scott and Todd on WPLJ, and they were talking about how a plane had hit the tower and as more news came in, it wasn't a small plane but an airliner.

As I pulled in to the parking garage, the second plane hit. Todd said, "This is not an accident! This is a terrorist attack!"

I got to the office in a daze, one of the women trying to get ahold of her husband who was on the train into the city. I called my parents to let them know I was ok. My Dad knew that the company I worked for had offices in Lower Manhattan and didn't know where exactly I worked, which was up by where I lived, not in the city, thankfully.

I tried calling my friend, Jennifer, who lived in Midtown. At this point, we didn't know if there would be more planes and what if Manhattan would end up being a mass of burning rubble.

Of course, I couldn't get her at home or on her cell. She was on her way out of the city for a meeting in Connecticut later that morning. She didn't even know what was going on because she hadn't turned on the radio until she saw that all entrances to Manhattan were blocked off and they were turning people away.

She finally got ahold of me and I filled her in on what was happening, knowing that she would be unable to get back home that night. We agreed to meet later when she could get through the traffic and up to my apartment.

I went downstairs to the gym in the building, the only place with a TV. I watched the towers fall as I sat on the floor.

Eventually, they told us to all go home and decisions about business for the next day would be made later.

My friend and I stayed up watching TV news all night, wondering, hoping, praying it was over.

I talked to her this morning and we went over what we were doing that day, how it all went down for each of us. It was very emotional for us both and much more raw today, 10 years later, than it was when it happened.

At the time, it felt like a slap in the face and we stood there, mouth hanging open at the enormity of the moment. Now, as we look back we can see how it changed everything and we can allow ourselves to have the kind of grieving that we just couldn't manage in those days, or even years, after.

[Eskimo]

Yes.....just as the actions of Japan caused so many hardships for all Asians who lived in the US after the Pearl Harbor attacks....I mean we put them in concentration camps and prisons out of fear.....Innocent Asian people were ostracized and dehumanized because of the actions of a few madmen.....

Now with these terrorist attacks both here and abroad.....the millions of peaceful Muslims suffer because of the actions of a minority of radicals. I cannot blame the American people for looking over their shoulders, for not trusting any Muslim, but it is sad really. There are thousands, probably millions of Muslims who love America and what it stands for and are willing to defend it.....but they get shunned, harrassed, and slammed because of those psychotic radicals.....and the sad part is, those very Muslims understand and except the burden.

I hate that the events of 9-11 have jaded me in such a way that I am very distrustful of any Muslim or Arab. The way a town full of white people felt when the 1st black family moved into their town in the deep south, is how I feel about Muslims and Arabs. I know it isn't right, I hate that I feel this way, I try hard not to be this way, I pray to not be this way.....But my fear consumes me.....and thanks to 9-11 and later Fort Hood, I am sorry, but I just have zero trust, understanding, and compassion. Take their war back to the Middle East and leave it there.

I don't want to say anything too political but until you have true energy independence, you will always be linked to events in the Middle East.

In response to the thread topic, I had just come into the hospital and we sat down and watched the carnage unfold in the residents lounge for about two hours.

I found out my staff was trapped in NY with no way to get out and I had to run the medical service for the next two weeks until he could find a way to get back home. It was a stressful time for me as I was only a first-year resident and had only about two months experience in the role when this all transpired.

[Yeagermeister]

I was at work when it all happened so like BDC I knew what had happened but didn't get to see any of the footage until I got home. Once I saw it I just sat in stunned silence with my jaw on the floor. Well I did once the power company fixed my power. The was something wrong with the transformer on the pole behind my house.

[Meat-O-Rama]

Flew home from the Dallas game the day before. We're on the West coast and didn't have the TV on that morning. As we were leaving for work mother in law came over to watch the baby and told us about it. Spent the ride to work listening to Howard Stern talking about it, then the rest of the day on CNN.com trying to make sense of it all.

[CowboyMcCoy]

Junior year in high school, right in the middle of English class.

That's where the president was too.

[Jenky]

That's where the president was too.

Ouch. :laugh2:

[urface59]

Me and my older brother were home alone from school sick. Our mom called and was like "America's getting bombed everywhere turn on the news!". We tuned in about a minute before the second plane hit. We both literally sat there on the bed watching the news all day.

[CowBoyRod]

I was 10 years old, I woke up, went to school, and did the usual school stuff, around 9 am, the intercom went on and told all classes that we were not allowed to go outside to play that day. Everything went the same the rest of the school day.

When we were kids, we werent allowed to watch cartoons until we did our homework. So when we got home, I remember changing the channel to KidsWB, but that day, it was not KidsWB. They were broadcasting the attacks of the towers. My first thought was "What if my mom was in NYC?" But i knew she wasn't as she lives in Del Rio, TX

That night, we lit candles.

[rkell87]

i was in mrs goodins 8th grade English class(only reason i remember her name) I remember seeing teachers go from room to room and briefly talking to each other and then going to another room and doing the same thing during the in between class period and i thought it was odd. anyway somebody got a text and that person asked the teacher what was going on and she said she heard something happened but she wasnt sure what(lying) and that we should focus on the lesson. after that basically everybody started texting their parents or whoever to find out what was going on and people started getting little bits of info and we were all whispering about what we heard then a girl yelled out OMG two planes hit the WTC and the news is saying we are under attack by terrorists! the teacher knew she had lost us at that point so we turned on the tv right past 930 and they replayed the second tower falling. half the school got checked out because the rumor mill was full force and the oil refineries in the area were supposedly a target.

[SaltwaterServr]

i was in mrs goodins 8th grade English class(only reason i remember her name) I remember seeing teachers go from room to room and briefly talking to each other and then going to another room and doing the same thing during the in between class period and i thought it was odd. anyway somebody got a text and that person asked the teacher what was going on and she said she heard something happened but she wasnt sure what(lying) and that we should focus on the lesson. after that basically everybody started texting their parents or whoever to find out what was going on and people started getting little bits of info and we were all whispering about what we heard then a girl yelled out OMG two planes hit the WTC and the news is saying we are under attack by terrorists! the teacher knew she had lost us at that point so we turned on the tv right past 930 and they replayed the second tower falling. half the school got checked out because the rumor mill was full force and the oil refineries in the area were supposedly a target.

I was living in Post Road Place apartments, the building closest to the road that backs up to Post Road Villas. Third floor, apartment facing the parking lot that's closest to Post Road itself. First bedroom when you walk in the door.

[rkell87]

I was living in Post Road Place apartments, the building closest to the road that backs up to Post Road Villas. Third floor, apartment facing the parking lot that's closest to Post Road itself. First bedroom when you walk in the door.
i think ive been to a party there lol, but on 9/11 i was living in the nasa area

[Joe Rod]

I was working in Tyson's corner outside of DC in the tall building outside of the Tysons Mall. We were watching what had just happened in NY in disbelief when we felt a tremor. One of the who was in the office we were watching from looked up and said, "OMG, isn't that smoke coming from where the Pentagon is at?". We were evacuated shortly after and were told to stay home the next day as well.

[CowboyMcCoy]

Ouch. :laugh2:

Sad, but one of the many truths people seem to forget about that day.

[vta]

Sad, but one of the many truths people seem to forget about that day.

That the President was reading a book to a bunch of kids? Seems kind of irrelevant.

[Doomsday101]

Stopped turning on 9-11?

I had just gotten home from work and was watching CNN when the second plane hit. Didn't get much sleep that day. Then at work that night everyone watched the coverage in the lunch room.

I had just got to my office and was talking with a co worker who told me a plane had hit the WTC at 1st I thought a small plane had problems and managed to hit the WTC in an accident. As I went down the hall another Co worker had the TV on and I saw that it was a passenger jet that hit and knew there was something very wrong taking place then the next plane stuck.

My heart fell to my stomach and knew we were under attack a bit later the Pentagon is struck and reports of other aircraft may also have been hijacked. Many High rise building were evacuated even here in Houston since no one knew exactly what was taken place. For the next few days it was strange not seeing any Jets flying in the Houston area

It will be a day I never forget and one I hope this nation never forgets and understands the treats still exist

[DFWJC]

On a conference call with a guy in the Tower 2.
No kidding.
He lived, btw.

[rkell87]

On a conference call with a guy in the Tower 2.
No kidding.
He lived, btw.
holy crap how crazy

[Muhast]

I was in 9th grade lit class, we were watching the news because of the first tower being hit, when we saw the second tower hit live. We thought it was just a replay until we realized BOTH towers were on fire.

Thats when it got really scary, and people started worrying about what would be next: The white House, Big sports arenas, The CDC(Center of Disease Control) in Atlanta, major airports etc.

It was definitely a scary day. It's also my parents anniversary.

[DFWJC]

holy crap how crazy
For sure.

The building announcers kept telling them to stay put. They finally said they were going to go down the stairwell and that was the last we heard from them for a long while.

Here in Dallas, we went up to the Tower Club in Thanksgiving Tower to see what was up on TV. The fire was already blazing and the story was coming out.

Their wives had called in by then and we were trying to calm them down. But when we saw the towers come down, everyone was in major shock.

They later would tell us that as they were leaving, the two guys on the phone saw the NYFD guys charging up the stairwell. One guy tells me that he will never forget the looks in their eyes.

Maybe 45-50 seconds after they got out of the building, it started to come down. They ducked into the subway but were still completley covered in white/gray soot. I think one of the guys' photo was in the news the next day, as he looked like a snowman.

Pretty haunting stuff--especially knowing that all of those 1ts responders were certainly killed.

[Faerluna]

Maybe 45-50 seconds after they got out of the building, it started to come down. They ducked into the subway but were still completley covered in white/gray soot. I think one of the guys' photo was in the news the next day, as he looked like a snowman.

My friend's sister worked in the city. She was on the street when the towers fell and started running as fast as she could. Someone from a little bodega on the street saw her coming and grabbed her, pulling her inside seconds before the debris came roaring by.

Another friend worked down there and did the long walk over the bridge to get back home.

[WV Cowboy]

I was at work when someone told me in the hallway that a plane had hit the WTC.

I thought an air traffic controller must have messed something up.

Walked over to the Marketing department, where there was a TV and was watching when the second plane hit.

I know it's stupid, but I thought now that the air traffic controller must be drunk.

Once I realized terrorists, I worried that it would happen more acros the U.S. Who knows how many more planes/flights were targeted?

When I began to realize the enormity of what was happening to our country, I feared that both of my sons, 23 and 18 at the time, would be called to duty.

After watching TV all day, I was out in the yard with my dog that evening. The skies were empty and everything seemed extremely quiet.

Then a huge, all white jet flew over. Traveling in the direction of Washington D.C.

All planes were grounded, it was weird.

[WV Cowboy]

My friend's sister worked in the city. She was on the street when the towers fell and started running as fast as she could. Someone from a little bodega on the street saw her coming and grabbed her, pulling her inside seconds before the debris came roaring by.


I remember seeing something about that on TV at the time.

[Faerluna]

I remember seeing something about that on TV at the time.

I bet it happened quite a bit. I'm sure the building falling caught people off guard and they just stood and stared, then there came a wall of dust and debris barreling at them.

I'm sure that everyone took cover wherever they could. I can't even imagine it.

[arglebargle]

I had taken my truck in early to get something fixed before making a trip to visit family. As I was heading out of the shop, the mechanic told me a plane had hit one of the twin towers. My vision was of an accident with a Cessna two seater. I headed over to a local coffee shop/bakery to get more coffee, and they had pulled a TV out to the front, with coverage on. Ran in to an old friend from out of town, we were talking and watching when the second plane went in. At that point, I knew it was some sort of planned attack. One plane could be an accident, but not two....

[CowboyMcCoy]

That the President was reading a book to a bunch of kids? Seems kind of irrelevant.


Without getting into a political debate, I disagree because of the context in which the CIA and the NSA presented certain threats by particular people, several times over. In any case, I view this as more of a play put on by our government than anything. It was the precursor for irrelevant, agenda-backed wars....

[Joe Realist]

I was between jobs, wife had a migraine and stayed home from work...I couldnt sleep and ended up on our couch. She woke me up in am and said, a plane hit the WTC. No lie I said, " Oh no, they got us! " She said " Who? ". I said " terrorists ". We watched in horror as the second plane hit and that confirmed it. I told her I always felt we were too open as a society and that made us vulnerable. I still feel that way today, especially with our rail service. I can't believe it has been ten years.