Where Were You? by Sarah Campbell

Sarah Campbell

sarahcampbell21 — 2015-09-11 14:45:39 UTC

It was around 6:30 in the morning, Pacific Time. I lived in Portland, Oregon then. The news was on TV. I was getting ready for work, but something was not right. I got out of the shower in a towel to go to the living room, shampoo still in my hair. When I saw the news, the burning building, panic had not yet set in. Before the second plane hit, I sat and shook my head in disbelief. Surely, someone knows better than to air this on television. My mind was trying not to go to the reality of an attack. Instead I thought it was a SNL joke or a David Letterman spoof gone too far. I was in shock. I didn't want to believe what I saw. That day I shivered there cold from the loss of safety more so than need for warmth.

Farris F

2015-09-11 15:26:31 UTC

I can't say I remember much from 9/11 since I was 3 years old at the time. I have a vague memory of my mother calling friends and family to ask if they were watching the news and probably crying from the shock of the event. A related event that I do remember is May 1st, 2011 when Osama Bin Laden was killed. It was the spring of my 7th grade year and I was sitting in bed that night watching tv when my mom tells me to tune in to the news. I knew that I was watching an important piece of American History in the making.

KP

2015-09-11 15:26:42 UTC

I have no memory of where I was or what was happening during 9/11 because I was too young and my memory is pretty horrible. Although I have no memory of when it happened, my aunt and parents told me some details of how horrible it was though they didn’t give me any description of where they were or what they were doing. My aunt used to keep replaying they clip even years after it happened. She told me that our families came to the US to safer, which it did, but 9/11 made them so scared they considered moving elsewhere.

Grace Turner

2015-09-11 15:27:50 UTC

Although I was only 3 years old when 9/11 occurred, I know exactly where I was and what happened on that day because my mother has told me. My family and I had just moved to Oxford, and my mother and I had been invited to a play date at Avent Park by two of my new friends (these girls are still my close friends today!) When the news broke, my mother was devastated. She called the mothers of my friends, and they decided that taking us to the park would be a good distraction for us, although I think they really just wanted to distract themselves because we were much too young to know what was going on. I think they also still took us to the park as an act of defiance: they were not going to let these crazy terrorists inhibit us from enjoying a public place, which is what the terrorists wanted.

Lamarkus Banks

lamarkus98 — 2015-09-11 15:29:51 UTC

Well at the time I was only 3 years old. So i can't remember much but, I know once I got older I understood what that day mean to a lot of people in the U.S.A. What I was told that it just happen out of no were no one was expecting it to happening.

KD

2015-09-11 15:29:56 UTC

I was only 2 three years old. Didn't really know much about it.

Jacob R

jacobr662 — 2015-09-11 15:30:48 UTC

I was about 8 months old, so I don't remember much about it

Mary Arden Guyton

2015-09-11 15:31:17 UTC

I cannot remember anything from that day because I was only three years old. My mom tells me that she didn't want to put the fear that she felt into me and my brother so it was not talked about often when we were around. My family has told me that they felt so vulnerable and afraid during that day and for many months to come.

Mildre

2015-09-11 15:33:19 UTC

Although I was only 3 years old when 9/11 i don't not remember enthing

shyjuan clayton

2015-09-11 15:34:54 UTC

i dont remember that much i was real young like in headstart pre k one of those and it was on the t.v and the teachers wouldn't let us see it but we watched i knew what happened but learned more about it as i got older

TB

poohnuboyd — 2015-09-11 15:36:21 UTC

I was to 2 when this happen so i really don't know at this time,

W

2015-09-11 15:37:11 UTC

I was 2 years old when it happen. The only thing i was told from it was many families had stories about that day that had effected them tragically and has been imprinted into them. All i know it was beyond tragedy. Everyone's safety was destroyed and had been replace with fear, confusion, and uncertainty.

Luke L..

2015-09-11 15:37:32 UTC

9/11 survivor story

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140422/ARTICLES/140429967

Marq Mcj.

2015-09-11 15:47:56 UTC

I was really young when 9/11 occurred but as i got older i heard of the horrific deaths and losses that occurred.

Zack Fadhel

2015-09-11 16:31:10 UTC

I cannot remember a lot from that day when 9/11 occurred. I was 6 years old, but still I remember some moments, I was in the house in the living room exactly and I saw everyone watching the news. But all I can say is all my thoughts and prayers to all victims families and for all these innocent people who lost their lives because some crazy, sick group of people.

Keith Boudreaux

2015-09-11 16:32:45 UTC

When the planes struck the world trade center I was only 1 just about to turn 2. I really don't remember anything about that day. I lived in Durham North Carolina. I think that this was a huge shock to American citizens because many regarded America as untouchable. No one thought an attack like this could've been successful.

Cailyn Brock

2015-09-11 16:34:24 UTC

I wasn't even 1 year old When 9/11 occurred but as I get older
I begin to understand it more and have more questions but also understand that some may never be answered. You can't go on without acknowledging what happened because it shaped our nation. Pres. Bush said, right after the incident, "Today, our nation saw evil." Which is the simple but deep truth.

Nahoma

2015-09-11 16:35:48 UTC

I was 1or 2 when it happened two of the men on the plan was friends with my dad and they were create people . I miss them so much I cry every year.

Dennis Canales

2015-09-11 16:37:32 UTC

i was 3-4 years old when it happen and well i was not in the united states but my mom was and i got a call from her she was in MS when it happen and she said "Dennis whatever you see in the news happen really far from me ill be ok so their nothing to worry about I'm fine' but i of course freak out and one year and a half i believe my cousin on dads side was in the marines and he called my family and my self that he was being deploy that the president has declared war with the terrorist group.

http://www.military.com:80/video/operations-and-strategy/terrorism/bone-chilling-9-11-attack-footage/1810903763001/

James

2015-09-11 17:11:21 UTC

I was 7 years old in 2nd grade in the library of my school when a whole bunch of teachers ran in to turn on the tv. I didn't really understand the magnitude of what happened that day, but looking back I remember the emotion of all the teachers in the room and the impact it had on all of us.

Caroline Freeman

2015-09-11 17:13:34 UTC

My dad was in the hospital very sick and me and mom were there bc I skipped school that day and we were watching the news at the hospital. I was in second grade. I remember seeing on tv all the people covered in ash and it was scary.

Jesse Lang

2015-09-11 17:20:20 UTC

I was 7 years old in my 2nd grade classroom. My birthday is the 12th so I was looking forward to the plans I had the next day. My teacher was called out of the room to the office. We were all looking around confused because they never called teachers out of the classroom except for emergencies. She came back, and without saying a word she turned the T.V. onto the news. We watched the rest of the day as she explained to us the significance of the situation. It was truly a sobering day as we tried to grasp the concept of what was actually happening

Reginetta Mixon

2015-09-11 17:32:26 UTC

I was 3 years old. I was in Milwaukee Wiscousin when 9/11 happened. I don't remember hearing about it on the radio but i remember my grandma calling asking about the event.

Korben Avery

2015-09-11 17:33:01 UTC

I was 3 when 1911 occurred. I was told by my parents what happened but couldn't fully comprehend what happened.

Crayton Bowie

2015-09-11 17:33:02 UTC

I was 4 years old when 9/11 happened. I barely remember it, my mom was picking me up from preschool and we were riding home. We heard it on the radio and my mom went straight home. I think my mom continued to watch it on TV with my dad who was already home. I probably played in my room or something because I couldn't really grasp the gravity of the situation. The main thing I remember is we went on a flight not long after 9/11 and I remember how serious all the security was, because I actually remember airport security before 9/11 and you just walked through, but after 9/11 it seemed so much more intense. I also remember when Osama bin Laden was killed in May of 2011. I was in my room and I was checking twitter and saw my brother's friends tweeting about it. I was 14 then and understood how important of a day it was because it was the beginning of the end of the war on terrorism that really started on 9/11

Chase Cassada

2015-09-11 17:33:31 UTC

I was 2 1/2 and I was at daycare. I don't remember much about that day. My mom was in the waiting room at the hospital

Alden McInnis

2015-09-11 17:34:01 UTC

September 11, 2001, my family and I were trying to get home from Kansas back to Jackson. I don't remember this day because I was only two years old, but my mother has told me about that day many times. We were in the airport waiting to board our flight back to Mississippi, when suddenly it happened. The airport locked down, all flights were cancelled and we were sent back home, my parents watched everything that was happening on the news. They decided that there was no way that they were getting on an air plane anytime soon, so we went to a car rental place and packed up and headed home. It was a silent car ride listening to the updates on everything that was happening. Hearing about it now as a teenager is terrifying, I could never picture something like that actually happening. I could not possibly grasp the fact that 9/11 actually happened.

Grace

2015-09-11 17:34:42 UTC

I was really young when 9/11 happened so I don't remember anything, but I have heard stories. I had the chance to go to the 9/11 memorial in New York City a year ago and it was a very humbling experience. They have recordings in the museum of people making their last phone calls to family members. Hearing people talk to their loved ones for the last time when they had lost all hope of survival is something I will never forget.

Gregory Milliner

2015-09-11 17:38:15 UTC

I was 2 years old when 9/11 hit, but i know that it was a plane that hit building . I know that 2,977 people had died in the building on 9/11.

Justin Payne

2015-09-11 17:43:12 UTC

On September 11, 2001, I was Sitting in the living room with my family and we were all watching the news....while the entire thing was going down. I can vaguely remember that my Aunt Mae from DC was visiting us and as we were watching the new ,she was absolutely silent the entire time , because she was in such disbelief.

Anonymous q

2015-09-11 17:44:09 UTC

I was only 2 at the time but I was living in Oklahoma. My stepdad was in college and every class that he had was cancelled that day. My mom was at work and both of them said that for a long while, it was almost as if the world just stopped. Something we could all do to make this world better is to not wait until we have a national disaster to come together as one. Something that many people do is take life for granted. Often times, we as humans expect for there to be a tomorrow. However, you never know when a normal day will turn into the worst day imaginable. So don't hold anything in, say what you need to say, and tell your loved ones how much you love and appreciate each one of them.. because you never know when they will be taken from you or you will be taken from them. Think about someone you CARE about and love... if they died right now, would you be happy with the last conversation you guys had? Do they know how much you love them? We as humans need reminders. Tell the people you love how much you appreciate them and all that they do because you never know when your world will come crashing down.... all it takes is a few seconds

Mindy Walters

2015-09-11 17:52:52 UTC

I was 13 years old when this horrible event took place. I was sitting in study hall, and the teacher turned on the t.v,and this was the image I remember seeing. I was instantly scared, but I didn't know the whole story until I got home from school later that day. I didn't understand why this had happened, I was worried for our country's future, my future.

North

2015-09-11 18:06:12 UTC

I was only 1 when twin towers collapsed so i didn't really know much of what happened but from the stories my parents told me it wasn't a great day. And my mom told me all about it from her experience she said my brother and sisters were in school at the time and my dad was at work and she was sitting down feeding my baby brother but as she was watching a breaking news alert came on and then it showed the twin towers collapsing my mom freaked out didn't know what to do she called my dad at work and he tried to get home as fast as he could cause my parents didn't know what was happening and my mom had to get my two siblings from school but my mom didn't really tell me a lot cause she don't like to talk about it.

And as JFK once said

Change is the law of life.And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future

R

sarahcampbell21 — 2015-09-11 18:24:12 UTC

Why? Why did they do it? I may not be able to tell you the answer, but I can tell you how to change the world. I can tell you what should have been in place to keep something like that from happening. I can tell you how to keep it from happening again.

Two things:

1. Be a man of honor.

2. Pay your debts.

GK

2015-09-11 18:24:41 UTC

I was 4 years old when this event happened, but I know how it changed the country. I was not with my parents at the time, but they made sure to get to me as soon as possible. Once they got to me,

Vishal Patel

2015-09-11 18:25:13 UTC

I was only 1 year old when the 4 planes on September 11, 2001 has hit both of the World Trade Center buildings, the Pentagon, and thankfully the 4th didn't get to it's destination wherever it was heading and it just crash landed and the plane was on it's way to Washington D.C. so i think that the plane was going to hit the capital because they hit the world trade centers which was our economy, the pentagon which was our military, and i think they were going to hit our capital because that would destroy our government. So any people on 9/11 lost their lives to terrorists who were mad the United States of America for some odd reason that we still do not know. Thankfully all the investigators had found out that there were 19 total terrorists that were getting all their directions/duties from one person who everybody knows was Osama Bin Laden. There were 2,996 deaths that day including the 19 terrorists, and there were 6,000+ non-fatal injuries that day also. The terrorists caused over $10 billion dollars in damage that day. It was pretty much un expected and we did not think that something like that would happen the U.S, but anything can happen in this world. Hopefully anything like this will never happen again. I hope that we all take a moment to think about all the people that lost their lives that day and their love ones who felt horrible and also to everyone who helped out that day including firemen, policemen, the military, the president, and even regular citizens who helped out other americans to escape what I think was Americas darkest times.

video.foxnews.com/v/1151859712001/flashback-911-as-it-happened/ 9/11 videos

Camille G.

2015-09-11 18:27:33 UTC

September 11, 2001

I was only 2 when this happened but Ive heard stories of this day. I've been to Ground Zero in NYC and it was such a frightening and rememberable experience. I heard voice recordings of the passengers from the plane to their loved ones. It made me think a lot. If you knew you had minutes left to live, who would you call? What would you do?

My mom has told me stories of this day so many times. She remembers the exact moment it happened. We lived in Pennsylvania at the time and only a few towns over from where one of the planes hit. She remembers the feeling that rushed over her. She hadn't heard the news yet but she knew that something was wrong. She stayed home that day. She couldn't place what it was. Until she heard the news. Then it all made sense.

This was a day in history when our whole nation came together. All differences where put aside. American was in a state of panic.

Jhalil T. Coleman

2015-09-11 18:28:00 UTC

I was only 3 years old when this tragedy had happened. I didn't have a clue nor memory of what happened on that day, I didn't even know what was 9/11 till I was in like middle school. I think remembered asking my mom what happened on that day, but I think she said that she was just scared out of her mind. As a matter of fact I do recall that my Reading Strategies teacher (Ms. Holmes) told me how she felt about 9/11 last year. She felt that America was under attack that day, like the tourists had took over our country. I was a little distraught at that moment, because it was out of the open, but she was giving out an example to a student for her lesson, but still. All I know is that the tourists had no rights to take over the plane that crash and threaten us to do whatever they planned to get whatever it is they wanted.

Kitty C.

2015-09-11 18:30:08 UTC

I was only a month old when 9/11 happened. Obviously I can't remember it but my mom has told me the story many times. She was sitting in my grandparent's living room, feeding me, and watching the news. The first plane hit and my mom didn't know what was going on. My mom immediately picked up the phone to call her sister, who lived only four blocks away from the Twin Towers. The phones were not working, everything had been shut down. My mom didn't hear from my aunt until two weeks later when the phones began working again.

Riley Bennett

2015-09-11 18:35:57 UTC

I was about a year and two months old when it happened so I don't remember anything but I've learned much in school and through other sources. "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" is one of the movies.

Jessica Cooper

2015-09-11 19:10:30 UTC

I asked my mom what she was doing on September 11, 2001, and this is what she said:

I was at work listening to the Steve & DC radio show. They said that a plane hit the World Trade Center. I mentioned this to my co-worker Sam. We thought it may have been an accident. We were trying to figure out how this could possibly happen. Then the second plane hit. We could not believe this was happening. Sam pulled out a small black & white tv from his desk drawer and we watched the rest unfold. I remember it was a beautiful day. I walked outside to go to lunch and looked at the sky because all planes were grounded at that point. I was stunned and saddened about what was happening in my Country.

My co-worker TJ said he was in high school. They locked them in their first period classes. They were allowed to watch what was going on for a bit then the staff decided that maybe they shouldn’t see what was happening and turned the TV off."

Stephen Campbell

2015-09-11 20:21:49 UTC

On September 11, 2001, I was just waking up to my normal morning ritual of the Houston Chronicle and coffee. As with now, I tend to avoid the sensationalism of the TV media, and instead found it relaxing to read the Chronicle. Moments after the first tower was hit I received a phone call from my long-time childhood friend, John Cathey. He was in Detroit on business and called in a panic to see if I saw what was going on. I turned on the TV and to my total disbelief, I witnessed the second tower being hit. My first reaction was to think "what kind of sick hoax is this" but my thoughts soon turned to total disbelief and fear like so many of my fellow Americans. I was completely frozen in disbelief and utter shock but my thoughts soon turned to the safety of my children. I quickly went into action to pick them up from school. Were they safer with me? I'm not 100% sure but that wasn't what was important. What was important was that we should be together immediately. Somehow, I felt safer with them close to me and all I wanted to do was protect them. I also had concern for my friends, such as Johnny, who were unable to get home to their families.

Like most of you, I was petrified and glued to the news coverage. It wasn't sensationalism for the first time in a long time and instead was reporting the news as it happened. I will never forget that day and the horror we as a country witnessed. It set a course that forever changed so many aspects of our everyday life, both positive and negative. We had a great opportunity to become an even greater country and in some ways we did. However, today I feel that political opportunist used that unfortunate incident as leverage for issues then that plague America today.

I am proud of how our country came together and bonded. We bonded and there was no color, race, or creed involved. Instead we were a country...we were Americans!

God Bless all those who gave their life on September 11, 2001 as well as those who chose to save lives.

Letty Ruiz

2015-09-11 20:26:26 UTC

The picture Mindy placed is tattooed to my memory. I was a junior in high school. I always had the minutes counted to walk to school so I never had time to watch TV or listen to the radio. It wasn't until I arrived to my history class that the TV was turned on and those horrible moments were being televised. I remember it suddenly felt so cold and cloudy. That cloud of smoke that came from the towers covered the entire USA. It was unbelievable to think someone was capable of causing so much damage and pain. It was so hard to think one person had so much control to brain wash so many people to hate Americans. I just pray to God that this type of tragedy never happens again.

I was in Van Nuys Senior High in California. And it was almost like those ashes landed outside our classrooms.

Justin Fuhler

2015-09-12 00:56:57 UTC

I was preparing for my first day teaching as a student teacher. I was extremely nervous and around 7:40 AM my cooperating teacher told me to sit and relax. We were sitting in his room, having coffee and watching the Today Show when they broke to the news of the first plane. We were watching live when the second plane hit. I knew right away that this event would change everything. That day I scraped my lesson plans and did the best I could to explain why this happened and how it could effect them as 17-18 year old kids. It seems like it happened yesterday in the fact that I can still remember so much about that day

Aidan O Brien

2015-09-12 01:23:17 UTC

I was only 10 years old when this happened and we were on a family holiday just south of Barcelona and we were due to fly home the next day. Me and my brothers (8 and 11 years old) didn't understand what was happening and how it affected us but our parents were glued to the TV trying to figure out what was going on. I remember seeing the buildings on fire but not even knowing where or what they were. The next day flying home took us three times as long as normal to get through customs and all our bags checked multiple times. We eventually boarded our flight to Dublin and once we arrived everything was checked all over again.

Taylor Reilly

2015-09-12 03:30:36 UTC

I was 6 years old and in the first grade on 9/11. At the time I was living in Hohenfels, Germany, on an Army base. I finished my school day normally, but when I returned home our tv was stuck on the news and it replaced all of the American shows. Our outside walls shut down and locals were not allowed on base, nor did we go off base as much in the months immediately following. My dad's job and the interactions within our military community changed drastically.

Karyn Fortenberry

2015-09-12 15:16:37 UTC

I was teaching at Oxford Middle School. I remember the principal talking to the teachers in the hall about what had happened. As teachers, we were concerned about what that meant for Ms. Dowd, who is Army Reserves. I was also concerned for one of my cousins, who is a pilot. I found out later that day that he was in New York at the time everything took place. He was on the runway getting ready to take off when he got a call telling him to return to the airport. All of his crew were put up in a hotel. Restaurants were not open for them to get food. He said that the crew pooled all of their money and cleaned out the vending machines. I am including a picture that he took from the runway in New York. Seeing this picture really makes me think about what happened even more. While we have all seen pictures on the news, this was taken with his cell phone that day. I can only imagine how scared all of the people in New York were and how scared all of the pilots in the country were about flying anywhere.

Mike Concord

sarahcampbell21 — 2015-09-12 16:08:46 UTC

I’m originally from New York, I was living there when the WTC was hit and I have never seen this video or even heard about it. I don’t know if it was shown in NC or if anyone even knew about it.

It was an untold story that should have been shown to all Americans.

(Posted from email to reporter Molly Grantham of WBTV posted on Facebook by Michael Lorello.)

Oxford, Mississippi

2015-09-12 22:08:27 UTC

I was at St. Peter's Epuscopal Curch in Oxford, MS. I was called from my office for a non-profit after the first plane hit. I was holding my 6mo. old daughter as I watched. I wouldn't let her look at the images which were unbearable. I was standing in front of the TV when the 2nd plane hit. My daughter and I went to the memorial in June. I cannot fathom the pain of the loss of so many who were loved by so many.

Mrs. Arizaga

2015-09-13 13:44:56 UTC

I was 8 months pregnant standing in my kitchen when my mother called and told me. I had just moved back to Oxford a few days earlier, and had not had my cable connected as of yet. I turned the radio on to hear the news, because it was the only way I had at the time to find out what was happening. I remember being extremely scared and worried about the world I would be bringing my son in to. After the second plane hit, my mother came and picked me up. We watched the footage at her house and I was in total disbelief. The footage of the planes hitting was played over and over again, as well as the footage of people who jumped off the building before it had collapsed. I know after a few days, it was decided that the footage was not to be shown as much on TV because it was so traumatizing to everyone.

Mrs. Witt

2015-09-13 13:58:37 UTC

I was a freshman in college when America was attacked. I had just moved to Oxford to attend Ole Miss, and I was sitting in English 101 in the basement of Bishop Hall. We had had an awesome class discussion in which the teacher bragged on my writing, so I walked back to my dorm room with a bounce in my step. I was too excited to act like a normal freshman in college and go back to bed after an 8 AM class, so I made peach instant oatmeal and turned on the television. Nothing was on; it was all just news. I began watching, and watching, and watching. I stopped breathing when I saw people begin jumping from one hundred stories up. I thought, "These people got up just like me today. They drank coffee, read the paper, maybe gossiped with their friends in the elevator, and made plans for lunch."

I suddenly thought of my father, who worked in a downtown high-rise in Atlanta. He was so far away from New York, but the thought of him being in such a tall building scared me. My freshman need to escape my family suddenly vanished and I missed them all terribly. I called my father immediately just to hear his voice. Classes were canceled at Ole Miss for the rest of the day, and the oatmeal was freezing cold by the time I remembered it.

Ebony Nicole Johnson

2015-09-13 15:50:32 UTC

I was in Indian Head Maryland which is about 45 minutes from the Pentagon and Washington D.C and about 4.5 hours from NYC. I grew up between here and Leesburg Virginia. At the time I was a junior in high school. I remember going through the mundane routine of classes because everyone was pretty excited for fall sports to climax...anyway I remember classmates saying ..."where is your mom...have you talked to your parents...did you see what happened?" I was clueless because at that moment I did not know. Then I remember the bell ringing and we went to class and everyone turned on the television is their classrooms and we watched the plane crash. My classmates and I were crying and we all scared. There was a mass rush of parents coming to school to check out their children. Quite honestly I think I was in shock...most of us were. But there was a classmate named Adam and he had three friends who were volunteer fireman. There was a call for fireman to go to the Pentagon and New York City. Our school excused him to go to New York and DC to help with the fires and explosions...I remember then realizing how "close" to home the attack was. After that everything changed though in our school...a watch ticking, a tape recorder...any little noise and it was taken as a bomb threat. Looking back on 9/11 I don't always feel patriotism as much as I feel pain...Pain for those who feel like these killings justify their beliefs or serve as an answer for past relations. To this day I still don't quite comprehend how, why and the effects of what really happened in a global sense and what does it mean to be "american?" Looking back... my heart then and now went out to all the families of loved ones who were killed, injured or lost to the acts of terrorism.

Katie Bridges

2015-09-13 18:16:13 UTC

I was teaching at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, MS, but I was still on maternity leave with my 1 mo. old baby. I was giving him a bath when my mother-in-law called and told me to turn on the tv. My husband and I just stood and watched the news. We both watched the second plane hit live. We were horrified as we watched the footage of people jumping from the buildings and others running through the streets. We spent the day glued to the tv. At the time, my husband was playing baseball with the NY Yankees triple A team and he spent the next couple of days checking up on players who were in the NY City area. When I got back to school, I learned that my students had also spent the day watching the tv in all of their classes. What was most amazing to me about that day was how close it brought our country together. People came forth from all over the country to provide help and support.

Thomas Ardrey

wtardrey — 2015-09-13 20:02:30 UTC

I was in 7th grade at Liberty Middle School in Madison, Alabama. I had gotten up to sharpen my pencil when our principal came over the intercom and told all teachers to stop teaching and turn their televisions on to the news. We turned the TV on in just enough time to see the second plane hit. We were glued to the TV and saw both towers collapse shortly afterwards. We didn't change classes for the rest of the day and most people were checked out by their parents. Definitely a difficult thing for a 13 year to have to see.

Doug Cromwell

2015-09-13 22:47:39 UTC

My family and I were in Okinawa Japan. That day we were restricted to quarters because of a typhoon hitting the island. Mylene, Cole and I were watching the news and we watched the second aircraft strike the second tower of the World Trade Center.

I contacted my commanding officer, Colonel Mike O'Neal, and informed him that the United States had just been attacked and recommended that we elevate our security posture at Camp Hansen to Force Protection Condition Delta. He concurred.

I then drove through the typhoon to Camp Hansen, assembled a guard force, began installing barriers, assigning guard posts, issuing weapons, ammunition and the initial rules of engagement to our Marines.

Thus began the "New Normal" for our next 12 years on active duty. Heightened security measures, family separation and three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mackenzie Bishop

2015-09-14 00:54:40 UTC

I was in first grade at school with one of my favorite teachers. I just remember her crying and everyone was confused we had no idea what was going on until she turned on the tv. Although i knew i should have been sad that all the people were dying and that people were attacking the United States i just remember sitting there watching the news and just not understanding why everyone was so frightened we were forever away from New York City. Looking back now i laugh at myself because it just shows how as a first grader they are so innocent and can't see evil in people and now I just watch the the buildings being hit and falling down and my heart breaks not only for the united states but also for the people who lost their lives and their family members who now have no fathers or sons. When I was older (5th grade) we went to New York and saw the fence where there were letters, flowers, bears, even missing posters that were made when it first occurred, everything you could imagine. I just remember sitting there looking and feeling so sad and i started to cry but i couldn't really wrap my head around the fact that there were so many family affected by one day. Then years later (senior year in high school) I was able to go back to look at the new memorial and thats when it really hit me, to be able to see the walls of all the names of the people who lost their lives,it is something that you can't even begin to explain.

Ali Hartweger

2015-09-14 03:39:41 UTC

I was at school in first grade as the twin towers were burning down. I vaguely remember what happened but we were all surrounded around a tiny T.V. in our classroom watching the news, while all the teachers on our hall were together talking and crying about what just happened. I was too young to even understand what was going on and how much this tragic event would shape America. Later to find out one of my family friends uncle was in the building and died during this tragedy. It is crazy to think about the amount of people who died on this day 14 years ago.

Reagan Evans

2015-09-14 04:09:14 UTC

I remember being a first grader and being in my homeroom class. All of a sudden, the entire elementary school was distraught and in chaos. My teacher told the class that the school was dismissed for the rest of the day. I remember my teacher frightened holding back her tears saying, "School is out for the day and we are getting you all safely home to your families." It was hard for me to really understand what was happening. I just have a mental picture of everyone being so scared and terrified of the situation. My babysitter picked up me and my best friend and took us back to her house. I remember her muting the sound of the TV because of the yelling and horrific sounds that were being shown on the live footage. I now look back on that experience and get chills. It is such a surreal experience to think back to. I feel for the lives that were taken on that day and believe 9/11 should never be forgotten. The people that lost their lives that day deserve to be honored and remembered forever.

Brianna Murphy

2015-09-14 16:19:37 UTC

I was in my 5th grade classroom when the event on 9/11 happened. I remember all of the sudden the intercom came on and informed the Teachers to take their students to the cafeteria immediately for a very important message. We didn't understand what was going on until our principal spoke to us in the cafeteria. I couldn't process much about what was going on but once the news broke out at our school, our whole day was chaotic. Our school dismissed all the students for the day. So my mom checked me out and we went home. The next day was when our teacher really sat down and talked to us in class in more detail about the events that occurred in New York City the previous day.

Hayden Harbour

2015-09-14 16:41:11 UTC

I believe I was in first grade at the time the towers were attacked. I remember some of the teachers in the school crying while listening to it on the radio. We could all here what was going on but most of us didn't even know where the World Trade Center was at the time. I also remember going outside and our whole elementary school held hands as we prayed around the American flag. That day is one of those days in your life you will never forget and it is a day I never won't to forget.

Dev Patel

2015-09-14 17:25:03 UTC

The thing is i was not even born on 9/11. but i knew the incident that had taken place as my father told me about it when i was in 5th grade. I felt so sad about the tragedy the the residence of NYC faced.

SaraGrace Pardue

2015-09-14 18:37:26 UTC

I remember I was in my first grade homeroom class when I heard the news. Our teacher pulled a tiny tv into our classroom so we could watch the news. I remember seeing all the teachers in the hall discussing the tragedy while we were still in a daze, confused about what was happening in our country. At that time, I was too young to understand and grasp the whole concept of what had happened. Later that day, our school surrounded our American flag outside and prayed for our country, the victims, and their families. I still can't believe it has been 14 years ago.

Austin Roberts

2015-09-14 23:04:30 UTC

I believe I was in the 2nd grade whenever 9/11 happened. I remember sitting in the classroom and my teacher turned on the TV after the first plane hit, then out of no where the second plane hit and it was devastating. The teachers and got all of the students out of their classrooms and took them all outside to the field/playground outside our school. We waited the rest of the day out, outside. I'm not sure why but this article about Steve Buscemi, who is a famous actor, going back to serve for the NYFD on 9/11. I thought it was awesome how he showed courage and helped out volunteering that day.

Chris Cutcliffe

2015-09-17 15:34:15 UTC

I was a freshman at OHS on 9/11/01. I remember learning about the horrific events in my 2nd period Spanish 1 class. We watched the news all day, and everyone was really in shock. I had Coach Tyler for health 4th period, and he was out that day. I remember telling our substitute what had happened, and she didn't believe me. She finally allowed us to turn the news on at the end of the period and was blown away to see that we were telling the truth.

Amanda Smiley

2015-09-18 15:53:13 UTC

That morning, I was on the band marching field. I had no idea anything had happened until I returned in the building. I feel that the country showed strength after 9/11 by pulling together.

Allysha Certion

2017-09-11 20:37:55 UTC

I was 2 months when it happened so I basically don't remember.

Amber McFarland

2017-09-12 00:45:02 UTC

I remember being in my second grade homeroom doing our normal morning routine. Out of nowhere a teacher screamed "turn on the tv!" I saw what looked like a movie and people were running and screaming. That image was stuck with me with the thought that people were really evil. My teachers cried and prayed. I was praying that I hoped it would all end and nothing else would happen. Many lives were taken on 9/11 and many lives were changed because of this horrible event.

Mohamed Marzouk

2017-09-12 01:57:47 UTC

I wasn't born when 9/11 happened but as a kid I always wandered what had happened on that day because I heard a lot about it when it came by each year. I wasn't really sure if I should ask anybody or not. When my family decided that we should move to the United States, (I am originally from Egypt), I learned all about 9/11. I was terrified about the thought that people can do such a terrible thing. Because of my religion and my race, once on the day of 9/11 I was called a terrorist by a teacher. I was very sad about the idea that because of what happened that day Muslims that are all around the world and suffering from being called terrorists.

Kristen Yager

2017-09-12 02:01:05 UTC

I was six years old, in first grade when 9/11 happened. I do not remember much about it, other then my teacher watching the news on the smart board almost what felt like the entire school day. I do remember the entire school feeling different, everyone kind of having this sad look on their face. I did not find out what happened though until I got home from school that day. My parents came home from work early, and checked me and my sister out from school. I remember my parents watching everything happening on the news, but that is about it. Being that I was so young, it was not until a few years later that I realized how much of an impact it was, how scary the situation was, and why the airport security was so much stricter. I remember being really interested in it, watching documentaries, and wanting to know more and more about it. My dad even took my family to the 9/11 memorial a few years later, and I feel like in that moment it was really put into perspective for me. Another thing I remember was a girl in my class had a uncle die in the twin towers, she brought tons of pictures in, and the teacher tried to explain to us what had happened to him. Each year I take a few minutes to reflect and pray over the loved ones who lost their lives on 9/11. I also reflect on the heroes who lost their lives trying to help/save others. 9/11 is a date that will never be forgotten!

I was in 4th grade Mrs. Edwards classroom at Saltillo Elementary on 9/11 when the planes crashed into the towers. I will never forget it. Our teacher turned on the TV, and all class stopped while we watched what was happening to our country. I remember that I didn't quiet understand exactly what was happening, but I knew it was not good. 9/11 really hits home to me. Not only do I remember it like it was yesterday, but I had an older brother that served our country during the Iraqi freedom and in Afghanistan. I didn't quiet understand why he was leaving, but I knew he was doing a good thing. Now, I appreciate him more than ever, especially now that I am married to a military man. This was a very sad and tragic day in history, however, 9 years later, in 2010 my nephew was born on this infamous day in history. It was a great way to turn a sad day into a day of celebration.

2017-09-13 03:08:58 UTC

-Courtney Campeau

Hannah Mims

2017-09-13 17:22:56 UTC

I was in the 2nd grade when the twin towers were hit. I remember I was writing a math problem on the board in front of the class when my teacher asked me to sit down. She had just received an email saying to tell her students about a plane crash that had occurred. At the time, none of us knew that it was a terrorist attack. I remember everyone in our building at Hutchison being very confused. We dismissed early that day, and I will always remember sitting with my mom watching the devastating news in our living room with my brothers. I find it interesting that the students I am teaching now were not alive for this event. This year, I made sure that everyone in my class understood the importance of this day.

Justin Ragland

2017-09-13 20:36:36 UTC

I was an 8-year-old living in the Midwest when the towers came down. To me the towers were just something that was in the background of movies that were based in New York City. I did not know what a terrorist attack was. The school day went just like any other day, at least I think it did, but when I got home from school my dad was already home from work - out of the ordinary, but it wasn't something that made me worry. Unlike most afternoons, though, my mom wouldn't let me watch the TV: I would always come home and watch RECESS before starting whatever homework I had. I didn't know why my mom was keeping me away from it, but I relented and read a book. Eventually my parents explained to me what happened; but it took a long time for the magnitude of the day to really impact me.

Avery Larson

amlarson — 2017-09-13 21:59:06 UTC

I have a very vague remembrance of 9/11, because I was in the first grade at Davidson Elementary School in Water Valley, Ms. The tragic event happened the day before my brother's birthday and four days before my birthday. I remember watching the tragic event on the news and not being able to understand why. I am now almost 23 years old and it is still hard for me to wrap my head around the horrific event that happened so many years ago. However, I take time to remember all of those that were involved in 9/11.

Addison Smith

apsmith2 — 2017-09-13 22:07:39 UTC

I remember being in 1st grade during 9/11. I was at school at Madison Ridgeland Academy. They were very calm in that situation but sent emails out to our parents saying they could come get us if they wanted. I remember leaving school and watching the news all day, although I didn't understand what was happening. I can not believe it has been 16 years since this happened, but I still remember sitting in my living room watching the news.

Olivia Maxwell

ommaxwel — 2017-09-13 22:11:41 UTC

I was in 2nd grade at Jackson Christian School and my class had just come back to the room from P.E. My teacher asked our class to make a big circle around the room and began to tell us what had just taken place in our country. I remember my teacher being devastated and sad as she explain to use what was happening and how people were getting hurt and people were losing their family members. From there my teacher asked us to grab hands in our circle and she prayed with us for our country, the people in NYC, the people in the builds, people responding, people in the buildings, and so much more. When I got home I remember watching the news with my family. My family has a close family friends who had just moved right outside of NYC a year prior, and we were waiting to hear back from Mrs. Amy to make sure that her family was okay. From there my mother ordered all of my sisters and I a silver bracelet that had a persons name on it and we prayed for that person and their family every night. Five years ago, I got the opportunity to go to the 9/11 memorial for the first time and I got to find his name. He was a firefighter and I still pray for him and his family. It was such a special moment to get to find his name. I do not know him personally, but he has been apart of my life since I was in 1st grade. It was an awesome experience!

Gazel Giles

gdgiles — 2017-09-13 23:20:17 UTC

I was a junior in high school when the twin towers were struck by planes. It was also my birthday. I can remember watching the news at schools. Tears begin to roll down my cheeks because it was a total disaster. We took a moment of silence and continued to watch the news. The entire classroom was in total shock. It was the worst birthday ever. I will never forget that day because it was my birthday.

Ashley Hilton

2017-09-15 18:07:46 UTC

When this horrendous tragedy happened, I was sitting in my 8th grade classroom at Dauphin Junior High School in Enterprise, Alabama. I remember this day like it was yesterday. We were in Health class, and my teacher turned on the TV and we watched the news. So far, only one plane had flown into one of the towers. As were were watching the news (live), the second plane flew into the second tower. Thats when I knew our nation was under attack. I remember having this gut-wrenching feeling, and the uncertainty of what was going to happen next. Students were getting checked out of school left and right too, and I also remember all after school activities being cancelled for that day. Something else I distinctly remember was how close Americans came after that tragedy. EVERYONE was putting American flags on their cars, homes, and businesses, and our country was coming together like I had never seen before.

Lynette Hibbler-Lark

2017-09-24 23:17:36 UTC

On September 11, 2001 I was in the 7th grade. I remember teachers running in and out of classrooms discussing what was happening. Everyone was afraid and we felt like the world was about to end. I remember one of my classmates crying her eyes out. She had just experienced a tornado, and this incident was very frightening to her. She hid under the table and cried for an extended period of time. The room was silent, and you could hear a pin drop. I can remember the people in my community blaming Bush. I was young, and I really didn't understand, and to be honest I didn't know what was going on. As someone else posted, I remember all Americans coming together. You saw flags everywhere. I also remember people strongly relying on their spiritual beliefs. Everyone had signs hung on their walls or decals on their car that read "In God We Trust".

Aubrey Womack

2017-09-25 00:37:58 UTC

I was in 1st grade at West Elementary School in Arcadia, FL on 9/11/01. I can remember my teacher along with other teachers in the building acting very worried. Several of my classmates left school early with their parents that day. I remember getting home and watching the news with my parents. I was definitely confused about what was going on but I knew that something horrible had happened.

Mallory Cumbie

2017-09-26 14:11:32 UTC

I was in the first grade when the twin towers were hit. I was living in Murfreesboro, TN at the time and didn't really understand what was happening. I remember being at school and an announcement came on that the teachers all needed to get on their computers and look at the news. A follow up announcement would commence in a minute. The school let out early for the day and my mom came and picked me up. We went home and she turned on the tv. She told me that although she knew I wouldn't fully understand what was going on, that it was important for me to watch as she tried to explain to the best of her ability. The only thing I remember thinking was why? Why would someone want to hurt that many people. 16 years later and I still don't have the answer to that question other than the simple fact that some people are just bad and there is no explanation.

Laneetra Cooper

2017-09-28 14:00:39 UTC

I was in middle school in my 7th grade band class. We were in the middle of playing and one of the band instructors ran in saying they had just struck the twin towers. None of knew what he was talking about at the time. He turned the television on and allowed us to watch the news for ourselves. We all could tell from his expression that something devastating had just happened.

Ambe Sims

2017-10-02 22:25:20 UTC

On September 11, 2001, I was in the first grade at West Amory Elementary School. I can remember my teachers talking about something and they seemed concerned. I remember them rolling out TV's on a cart and turning them on. I remember seeing the news footage, and some of my teachers were even crying. It was one of the gloomiest days I have ever witnessed in my 23 years.

Miranda Williams

mawill10 — 2017-10-09 22:18:27 UTC

On September 11, 2001 I was at home getting ready for school (I was running late). I remember watching the news in fear as the towers fell and the newscaster announced this was a terrorist act. I couldn't understand, I thought maybe this was unreal. But it was not and the longer I watched the more real it became. It was as if the world was ending before my eyes. There I sat alone at home looking at the television. Glued to the couch. All I knew to do was begin to pray for those involved and our country as a whole. It was a very surreal day.

Jamie Fiveash

2018-09-10 15:54:20 UTC

I was a freshman in high school. I had just been dismissed from Geometry class and was headed into FCS (Fellowship of Christian Students). When we entered they began announcing it. We prayed and prayed hard. We weren't exactly sure the details but we knew it was not good. They turned on the TV so that we could start watching it. We transitioned through the day to our other classes but each TV was turned on. We all sat in disbelief that something like this was happening. I felt so empty even though I didn't know exactly what was going on. Before that point I think I was so naïve about things of the world that the event made me realize that there was 'life' beyond my little town. Moms, Dads, Sons, and Daughters were being lost in a matter of minutes and the fragility of life hung in the hands of terrorists. As a Christian it was hard to understand why God was allowing this to happen but it also allowed for so many to turn back to Christ. This image was my image of hope.

Kacey Shelton

kshelton14 — 2018-09-10 16:17:47 UTC

I was in my kindergarten class at Winona Elementary when the attack on 9/11 happened. I remember my principal talking on the intercom and we held a moment of silence. Because I was so young, I don't remember my teacher giving us much detail about the event that had taken place. However, I remember coming home to my parents watching Fox News and seeing the look of shock on their faces. I had no idea why this had happened or what this even meant. Now, as I am older, I still cannot imagine what those people went through. This is a day that will never be forgotten even though it happened 17 years ago. Darryl Worley's song "Have You Forgotten" still gives me chills as he talks about remembering this day.

Danika Aday

2018-09-10 20:17:20 UTC

I was in Mrs. Clayton's third grade class. I sat on the far side of the classroom next to her desk in the second seat from the front. I remember having class like any other day and then Mr. Shumpert, our assistant principal, coming in and turning on the old box TV we never used. The TV was right in front of my desk and I remember sitting there watching a news cast similar to the one below. When the news was first turned on only the first tower had been hit. My whole third and fourth grade class watched live as the second tower was hit. I remember watching people jump out of buildings. It was a tough experience for a third grader to go through and has permanently left a memory for me. Shortly after my mom came and picked me and my siblings up from school. Everyone was getting checked out and parents were frantically trying to get to their children. I just remember feeling panic and wondering where my dad was. He is a truck driver and delivered to the World Trade Center one year exactly before it went down. I think this may be one reason why I have anxiety from watching the news today. I usually don't watch the news or read news articles. I love what Jamie Fiveash shared on her post. The image of the cross in the ruble is a great image of hope to share.

Kelsey Weeden

kgweeden — 2018-09-11 13:20:21 UTC

I was in the first grade when this tragedy struck our nation. I remember the principal coming over the intercom to have a moment of silence. At the time, I did not understand exactly what was going on, and did not understand why everyone was so upset over what had happened. It wasn't until I got into junior high and saw video footage of that day that really made me realize the impact this attack had on our country. While looking through quotes of this day, one that really stuck out to me was Sandy Dahl, who was the wife of the pilot on the flight. These are her words of hope:

Ashley Goralczyk

abgoralc — 2018-09-11 14:23:50 UTC

I was student teaching on 9/11 in Louisville, MS. It was mid-morning when teachers started coming around to other teachers' rooms, then teachers started stepping out into the hallways to talk quietly. Mrs Woodward stepped back into our classroom and called me back to her desk. She told me to get on the computer and pull up CNN.com because there had been a terrorist attack at the Twin Towers. We had no idea that magnitude and scope of the tragedies that were unfolding literally minutes after minutes. Shortly after that, I received word from my supervisor from Mississippi State that I was to leave and go home for the day. Classes were cancelled. As I drove back to my apartment in Starkville, I listened to the radio announcers tell horrific detail after horrific detail. Once I arrived at my apartment, my roommates and I were glued to the television all day long and for several days thereafter. I will never truly understand the extent of grief and tragedy that all endured, but watching the actual video footage of those attacks have left lasting impacts on me. It has also caused me to be much more patriotic, and I try to thank a veteran or fireman or policeman anytime I am given the chance.

Ty Vanderford

2018-09-12 01:31:39 UTC

I was in first grade when this happened. I was in class and the principal came over the speaker and told teachers to check the news. Once teachers looked at it they explained to us what happened. School was closing so my parents came to get me. I wasn't sure what was going on. I didn't understand how big of an impact this would make on our country at the time. The next day, the entire school went outside and let go of red, white, and blue balloons.

Sam Franco

2018-09-12 01:55:18 UTC

I was at work at the U S Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg. Our super computers are on a grid with the Pentegon. All communications froze and our computers started showing news feeds of the World Trade Center.

It was the first time I had ever seen our computers go into a safe mode. All outside connections were sealed.
The only connections we had were with the Department of Defense Computer Grid.

We had friends, co-workers and family that we worked with daily in the Pentegon. The silence awaiting their fate was unnerving. Most watched the news frustrated about our inability to help.

Within 24 hours everyone in my department were on planes to Department of Defense Computer Centers to help in determining what happened, how it happened, who did it and to help insure it never happened again.

Barbara Mesecke

2018-09-12 01:58:01 UTC

I was in New York City on the 42nd floor of 1407 Broadway.

Cassie Carlton

cacarlto — 2018-09-12 23:34:18 UTC

I was in kindergarten at Robert S. Hyer Elementary in Dallas, TX. I don't remember very much from that day, but I do remember my parents being very upset about something that was going on in the news. My mom later told me that me, her and my brother were supposed to fly with my dad to New York for a business trip, but at the last minute we ended up not going because it had been re-scheduled. At the time I obviously didn't realize how intense everything was, but each year I learned more and more about that horrific day.

Picture below taken from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KYE4zViAAg

Haley Beth Pegueros

2018-09-13 01:06:18 UTC

I was in third grade on September 11, 2001. I remember my teacher being afraid and confused at what was happening. I do not think that she knew how to respond or react. I mean, would any of us know how to react to a classroom full of scared children? On September 11, 2018, I showed several "kid-friendly" videos about the events on 9/11 and was moved when my students were crying for the families of the lost. It was so touching to see how this event still has a lasting effect on people today. We had a heavy discussion about what the country did after 9/11, such as uniting together to rebuild and become stronger and how we can use that same strategy in our classrooms. We also read the book "September 12tt: We Knew Everything Would be All Right" written and illustrated by a first grade class. Then, we reflected on what we learned from this event. It was a great reminder that we can accomplish so much when we come together for a common goal: to become stronger!

Natalie Williams

newillia — 2018-09-13 20:20:19 UTC

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I attended my 8:00 Business Law class at the University of Mississippi as usual. I parked behind the Turner Center and hustled across campus. My class was only from 8-8:50, so I was back in my car shortly after 9 a.m. When I cranked my little green Nissan Sentra, Q 93.7 came blaring through my speakers. But, it wasn't music that I heard. When I heard the news, I was totally shocked. I picked up my Nokia 5165 with the blue and white lighting case and called my then fiance', Corey, to see if he'd heard. We decided to meet up at the Baptist Healthplex, where I worked, to watch the news on the tv. I kept listening in silence as I drove across town. When I got inside, I stood next to one of the treadmills and watched smoke billowing from the buildings, and I just sort of zoned out. I still just couldn't believe it. It didn't seem real despite watching it all unfold on live television.

Since then, my husband joined the United States Marine Corps and served overseas just like many young men following that fateful day. He also became a firefighter and EMT as a result of his service and his desire to help people. As a show a respect for the fallen, my husband has participated in several 9-11 Memorial Stair Climbs in Dallas, TX and Panama City Beach, Florida. Even thought I don't climb myself, I go with him every year to support and encourage him because this is no easy task. He climbs in full gear just like the men and women who risked their lives that day.

This is a day that seems to be easily forgotten, and I am always shocked by how many children don't know about 9-11 or Patriot Day. So, I make it my mission to share a kid-friendly version with them, so that the ones we lost are forgotten in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives.

Picture - ringing the bell after the PCB Stair Climb (2016)

Jessica Cagle

jwcagle — 2018-09-15 01:56:18 UTC

9/11/01
I was in an eigth grade English class at the time of the attacks. I can remember being scared of the unknown of why someone would do this to our nation. I also remember my mom being out of town on business and scheduled to fly home that afternoon. All planes were grounded and there was no way for her to come home. She happened to be at the headquarters for Ashley Furniture and they were in need of someone to deliver payroll to MS facilities since FedEx was also grounded. A man drove her to a rental car 2 hours from the plant and she drove all night on Wednesday to make it home on Thursday afternoon. All cars were towed away from the doors of the airport in Memphis, so she had to search for her car.
As I reflect on this day, I still can't believe the attacks happened. They still bring me to tears. I have recently visited Ground Zero and the Pentagon Memorials. Each one fills me with so many emotions.
I have so much respect for our nation's servants (military, policemen, firemen, paramedics, and officials). I am a proud American. I hope to encourage this generation to be good humans. I pray they will make our country strong by loving their neighbor without judgement.

Candies Cook 9/11

Candies — 2018-09-15 16:31:07 UTC

I remember exactly where I was Tuesday, September 11, 2001. When I walked into my dorm room in Stewart hall (Ole Miss) my roommate had the news on the television. We were glued to the screen as we watched in shock of what was happening in NYC . For sure that day is ever sketched into my brain as it has definitely influenced our society.
My voice can move the mountains of change by intentionally preparing myself to positively impact the space I occupy. I try to be the change I want to see in the world and encourage my students to do the same and model the behaviors I want them to engage in. I believe we have to teach students expectations as well as model the behaviors. The United State of America is a resilient nation. 9/11 was an event where America has shown her resilience for sure. I found an online scavenger hunt students can participate in to remember America. Click below to view it. https://www.educationworld.com/sites/default/files/Scavenger-Hunt-Sept-11.pdf
Although I visited the 9/11 memorial site in 2011 while it was still under construction, here are a few pictures I found online of the completed structures.

Emily Dubrovin

2018-09-15 19:18:20 UTC

I was in 5th grade. I remember sitting in class and the teachers leaving to talk to others in the hallway. Then the counselor came in and told us something terrible had happened in New York. If we heard about it on the bus it was probably true. But they decided it was best not to tell us what exactly happened and leave that task up to our parents.

Katie Chadwick

2018-09-16 14:14:14 UTC

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was in a kindergarten classroom at Fillmore Elementary School in Hamilton, Ohio. Since I was so young, I have little memory of this day. I vaguely remember my parents worried and the television being on all night. It was rare for the television to be on for that long at our house, so I knew something important was going on. It wasn't until years later when I finally learned and processed what happened on this horrific day. Through this tragedy, something amazing happened throughout the United States. We came together as a country and helped in anyway possible, no matter how close or far away we were from New York. I remember watching videos and reading articles in class that explained how people were using their boats to get others out of the city and to safety. Although this may not seem like a grand gesture, it truly was. Over 500,000 people were transported on the various boats that volunteered that day. I attached a link for those that want to learn more about it!

Brittney Price

2018-09-18 01:32:05 UTC

I don't have much memory of 9/11. I was in the first grade. My parents didn't come get me and school didn't end early. It was pretty much a normal day besides the whispers of the teachers. It didn't hit me until I got home. My parent never came got me because they were freaking out. My dad works on a military base and they were on lockdown. They didn't know what to do. Finally, they were all evacuated, but my mom was a complete mess the whole time. I didn't realize until later in life that she was so scared because it was a military base and it could have been a potential target. It just makes me think about how vulnerable young children are and also how innocent they are. The whole time this was going on, I knew something was wrong and I just wanted to comfort my parents, when in reality, they were trying to kind of sweep the whole thing under the rug to protect me. I will say, I wish they hadn't. I also was affected by Hurricane Katrina and they did a very similar thing by trying to downplay the situation, even though I lost my whole house. I just wish they would have sat me down and had an honest conversation with me about these horrible things in life. I know I was young, but my lack of knowledge made it a lot harder to respond to other disasters later in life because I wasn't exposed to it at a child. This brings me to my point, which is that I think one of the best things to do is not shelter children. We think we are trying to protect them, but many times we are shielding them from the truly horrible things going on in life and then they are unprepared as adolescents and young adults. There needs to be conversation based around moments of crisis and violence because it is a sad reality of life. Young children have to deal with it, so it is better if we prepare them early on. I'm not saying we should terrify them to go to school, but they need to know about the violence in schools and terrorism and all kinds of things so they can be prepared.

Sara Hardman 9/11

secruse — 2018-11-24 23:19:42 UTC

On September 11, 2001, I was in first grade. I can remember sensing that something was not right, but my teacher never let us know what
was going on. It wasn't until I got off the school bus at home and walked in the front door and saw my mom standing in front of the television that I realized that something REALLY bad had happened. I remember the look on my mom's face. I have never seen her so scared! Now, I understand why. Each year, I make it a point to educate my students on what happened that day. I do this by reading the I Survived story about the attacks. We finish the story on 9/11 and then have a very positive discussion about the heroes in that story and in our lives.

Wesley Gash

2023-09-11 17:03:07 UTC

I have zero memory of 9/11, because there was no me. I heard of the stories of people losing loved ones and I know the stories of the brave firefighters that put their life on the line to save others. I pray for all the families and friends that lost people.

Caroline L

2023-09-11 17:06:25 UTC

although I wasn't born yet I have herd many stories and have Friends who's parents were victims of 9/11. I have gone multiple times to the memorial to pay my respects pray for those who lost their lives.

Mimi Lewis

2023-09-11 17:07:30 UTC

I was not alive during 9/11. My dad and mom had told be that they were in Virginia at the time and they both watched the 2nd building get hit live on TV. My parents had explained to me that my uncle was currently downtown New York when it happened but he made it out of the city safely. I have gone to the memorials to pay my respects and send prayers and love to those people who lost their life.

Michael Santoriello

2023-09-11 17:09:25 UTC

Fortunately I never had family or friends who had suffered loss from the attack on 9/11. I have not gotten stories about that day until class today and my heart goes out to anyone who lost loved ones to the attack.

Ella Anderson- I wasn't born yet, but I remember my mom telling me exactly where she was on 9/11. She told me that she was standing in line at The Knowledge Tree store and all she did was call my grandmother and dad and ask them if they were seeing what she was seeing. I've seen old news footage and have watched movies on 9/11 too. I cannot imagine how it must've felt to be there and to be strongly impacted by that terrible event.

2023-09-11 17:09:37 UTC

Kalia Merrill

2023-09-11 17:09:38 UTC

I was not alive during the 9/11 attack. Fortunately, I did not have to endure such a hard memory. I could not imagine the strength it takes to keep this memory in the back of their heads. I have gone to multiple sites and monuments dedicated to those who lost their life in service that day. Thoughts and prayers forever.

Joseph Castrogiovanni

2023-09-11 17:09:44 UTC

I was not alive when 9/11 occured but i have stories from my parents when it happened. My dad was working in the city that day but thankfully he was very far from the towers and wasn't effected at all. My dad described it as the craziest day of his entire life. He was stuck in the city for hours and hours. My mother was at home and when she saw the news she went into an immediate panic, and tried to get in contact with my father. Thankfully no one in my family was effected by the attack.

Rae Duplechian

2023-09-11 17:09:56 UTC

I was not alive when this tragedy occurred. I can hear all my mom and her friends stories about what happened. My friends mom was actually there when the planes hit, she was on her way up to see her friend in her office and right before she got in the elevator her dad called so she stepped out and thats when the first plane hit right on the floor her friend was on. She still has PTSD till this day. She was extremely lucky to have not gotten on that elevator.

Hailey Parker

2023-09-11 17:10:30 UTC

Fortunate for me, I never had the chance to experience September 11, 2001 because I was not born. I remember every year in elementary school we would watch the videos of the twins towers being hit, learning about the lives that were taken. One life that I will always remember is the story about the falling man. I photographer took an imagine of a man falling off one of the towers right before it collapsed. I find this image very setful because of the ideas you could have running through your head when looking at it, thinking about what the man was thinking about. Was that his only option? Did he say goodbye? Did he have any regrets?

Alyvia McLaurin

2023-09-11 17:11:15 UTC

I was not born at this time, but my mom told me how she was in her teacher's class and everyone was freaking out. There were kiids crying and wanting to be home with parents. There were kids who were having panic attacks. Everywhere around here was chaotic. She explained that her class was watching the news and the news said that we were under attack. She told me that many lives were lost and it was very tragic. A few years back, my teacher showed us a video of 9/11. We can see people jumping out of the towers because the heat was unbearable. It was very traumatic.

Christian Seamster

cseamster30 — 2023-09-11 17:15:37 UTC

Of course I wasn't alive when 9/11 occurred. But I remember every detail of the story my mother told me about her experience. My mother was a buyer for Belk. And in September of of 2001 she found herself in New York City. On the 11th she was leaving the Financial District when the first plane hit. She told me everyone in the city could hear it. At first she did not know what it was. Then she looked out of her cab window and watched the second plane hit. She was in shock. Her and her friends run to their hotel where the all gather in one room. My dad calls her and tells her not to move and leave as fast as she can in the morning. In the morning she leaves for North Carolina on a bus with many others. She still has trouble talking about it today.

Yasser Gonzalez

2023-09-11 17:20:41 UTC

I remember my 9th grade advisory teacher telling the class about where he was on 9/11. He talked about being in the middle of teaching a lesson at Sheffield High School in Memphis. Receiving an email from the principal to tell the students that a plane had crashed into the towers in New York. Though he had to be careful to not panic his students or cause distress. They had turned on the tv to the news and had seen the 2nd plane crash. He immediately turned off the tv and attempted to calm his students down as no one knew what was going on.

Chase Chiericozzi

2023-09-11 17:24:52 UTC

During 9/11 I was not yet born. my parents never told me much about it. obviously a huge tragedy, and rest in peace to the lives lost that day.

911

2023-09-11 19:07:01 UTC

I wasn't alive for 9/11 but my mom's story was in Southern Utah in a hotel room. She was traveling for a story that she was going to report on. My mom went to another hotel room which was her photographer’s. She went and asked him if he was watching what was happening. They both sat down in silence in disbelief.

Zoe Garcia

2023-09-11 19:08:32 UTC

I wasn't born yet but I have heard lots of stories. My mom was 19 when this happened and she told me that she was with my dad and they were just watching TV together and they saw the planes hit the towers. They were both in shock and didn't know what to do. I have heard so many stories from people who have lived during this traumatic day. No one will ever forget this day.

9/11. story

2023-09-11 19:09:02 UTC

my dad was working and he was pulling another late night turn day. he was on his way out of the hospital but then he looked up at the tv and saw the new. he watched as the second plane hit the towers then he stood in the hall watching the tv for a bit longer and went home.

Lily Wells

2023-09-11 19:09:15 UTC

I wasn't born when 9/11 happened but I remember my mom telling me exactly where she was. She was driving home to California from a work trip and she heard about it on the radio. My mom called my dad, he was working on a case in court and then she called my grandparents who were at home. She said that she world stopped and it was one of the scariest moments of her life.

9/11

2023-09-11 19:10:09 UTC

Although I do not have my own story of where I was on 9/11, I know through the experience of others what an awful event it was for the entire nation. My dad told me his story of the day. He was in college and they had tvs in the hallways. After the first plane hit, all of the students in the building huddled around the tv and stood there watching for the rest of the day.

Zoe Tsopelas

2023-09-11 19:11:09 UTC

I have no memory of 9/11 because I was not born yet. But I hear stories every year about how my family felt and what they were doing on this day. My sisters birthday is on this day and she talks about how much sadness she felt when this happened, even when this was supposed to be a good day for her. I continue to go through the years learning more and more about how people felt during this time and details about exactly what happened.

Kristen Williams

2023-09-11 19:12:01 UTC

I was born four years later after 9/11 so I don't have any stories however my stepdad was in the navy during that time and I could only imagine what he was going through. What part of the country was he in? Was he evenn deployed?

Mia Giannetto

2023-09-11 19:12:04 UTC

I was not alive when this happened but, in my class earlier today, we got to watch a documentary about one specific man who was in the second tower. He was a hero, he was a D1 lacrosse athlete then went and had a computer job after but always wanted to be a firefighter. When the building was hit his first instinct was to find a way out and to help people. He found the stairwell and started escorting the people who were still alive he went down 17 flights of stairs and said I am going back up to help the rest. He got back up and started escorting more people down until the building collapsed. He had saved around 12 people's lives that day and in the documentary, 2 women talk about how this young man was a hero and his first reaction where to help as many people if that meant he was going to die. You also get to hear his parents talk about how it was identified because the woman said it was a man with a red bandanna and he wore the bandanna every day since a little kid. It was the bandanna his dad gave him.

I think that its good that everyone that was alive when these big events happened remembers exactly where they were when they happen because of how big of a deal that they were and how significant of events they ended up being they will be engraved in history of the united states forever and everyone should remember them and have a vivid memory of what they were when it happened.

2023-09-11 19:12:09 UTC

Sahara

2023-09-11 19:12:21 UTC

I was never given a proper story about 9/11 from my parents, but I remember the first time they told us about it in school. There was a memorial on the main road right near the elementary school I went to, and I remember one kid asking why that day was so important. The teacher tried her best to explain the devastation, but none of the kids truly understood the impact of the events until she played a video showing the buildings being destroyed. The room fell absolutely silent and nobody uttered a word for a long while after. She also showed us pictures of people going about their day normally with one of the planes captured hitting the first tower in the background. It really provided a new perspective on how much you should value each living moment, given how quickly things can change.

Gabby Merrifield

2023-09-11 19:12:53 UTC

I was not alive when 9/11 occured, but I do remember being told so many people's stories on where they were and what they were doing. My mom told me of how she was at work beginning her day when the first plane crashed into the the first tower. She remembered how quiet her office got. "It was like time stood still for awhile," she said. My mo discussed with me the loss that America felt after the day was over and all the planes had crashed.

JP Baptiste

2023-09-11 19:13:50 UTC

I was not born yet. I do know that my dad went a few days later and helped clean up. He has never really told me about it, he just said that it was very dusty. This is all I can really say about this event

Ella McFarland

2023-09-11 19:15:30 UTC

I was not alive on the date of 9/11/01, so I do not have a personal story I can share today, but every year someone has discussed it to me whether it was at school, social media, or home. It caused a lot of tragedy and made people reflect on how we can change the world so this doesn’t happen again. The devastating events of 9/11 have forever shaped the world we live in today. It serves as a reminder that we need to stand together in times of crisis. The memory of 9/11 will always be in my mind as a symbol of growth and strength.

Abby Wimberly

2023-09-11 19:17:41 UTC

I hadn’t been born yet when 9/11 occurred, but my parents both vividly remember that horrific day. My Dad had a work conference in Washington DC that week. He and my mom were staying in a hotel together while my grandmother took care of my older brother and sister. The morning of 9/11, my dad was in a meeting. My grandmother called my mom crying and told her to turn on the TV. My mom says it was nothing but complete chaos and fear. She and my dad took the subway to VA and got a ride back home with my mom’s step dad’s nephew. Neither of them will ever forget that horrible and terrifying day and i'm forever thankful both of them are okay.

jenna freebery

2023-09-11 19:23:25 UTC

I wasn't alive at the time, but i remember my dad telling me he was there when it happened. At the time he was in the FBI, and went to the sight almost an hour after the second plane hit. He didn't tell me much, but he did say he remembered the way it felt breathing in the thick air having an empty mind on what to to to help. He talked about how many people were devastated, screaming, yelling, looking for family. He stayed in New York City for almost two weeks trying to help people pick back up their lives, identify missing people, and so much more. I couldn't imagine the feeling of this happening on a average evening in September. I think this is something everyone will remember due to the complete panic and shock evey individual was in on this day.

Morgan Leaman

2023-09-11 21:03:34 UTC

I wasn’t alive yet, but my parents were and they told me where they were. They had just gotten married that same year and were in their very first house. They were sitting on their couch and my grandpa called my mom to ask her if her best friend (who lives in New York) was okay. My mom didn;’t know what happened and turned on the news and saw. She immediately called her friend and she was okay.

Jenna Phillips

2023-09-12 03:53:25 UTC

Obviously I was not personally alive on the tragic day that 9/11 happened. To be honest I haven’t heard many personal stories from people close to me about where they were at that exact moment on September 11, 2001. However, I have heard some bits of stories from random people on 9/11 documentaries and such. One of them was actually a firefighter on the scene. He talked about how he went to work that morning with 12 other firefighters and it was like any other day until the first tower was hit. They went straight there to help and he was climbing the stairs finding hands in the deep debris and guiding them to the ground. At the end of his long story he said that he was the only one out of the 12 workers from his department that made it back home that night. This day was truly such a tragic day for our country and it affected everyone alive at that moment in one way or another.

Ted Morano

2023-09-13 04:04:37 UTC

The attack on 9/11 happened before I was born, so I cant say I remember anything form the event. As I got older I learned what happened on that day and why it was so tragic. Every year my parents will tell me their stories and how their lives were affected by this tragedy. My mother had just gotten to work when she recieved a call from my father saying to turn on the television immediately. They were in shock and very worried as was everyone else. My father actually knew someone that was in the on of the towers at the time. Thankfully he was one of the lucky people who was able to escape this event. About 5 years ago my mom took be and my brother to the 9/11 manorial in New York and this helped me understand the magnitude of this tragic event. Every year on September 11th I always think about all the lives that were changed on that day.

Kate Ingram

2023-09-13 18:55:22 UTC

I was not born yet when the events of 9/11 happened but I know the stories my parents tell me of that day. My parents lived and worked in downtown Chicago. My mom worked in a big office building for a news company so she always says she remembers going down the big escalators in the office and seeing all of the videos and news stories of what was going on posted all over the tv's. She also remembers getting a call from my dad because people in Chicago were worried they were going to hit more major cities across the country after New York. I hear from most everyone that it was a day of shock and fear and truly something they will never forget.

Zack Byrd

2023-09-14 02:30:38 UTC

I was negative four years old when 9/11 happened. So, while I can't talk about all of the terrible things that I went through that day, I can explain the different things that I was taught about 9/11 while going through a public school education, and the different things I have heard online about 9/11. In school, they teach you what occurred on 9/11, and what the effects of 9/11 had on America and it's culture. It changed the way our country handles flight and travel. It changed our national security measures permanently. It changed the way newer buildings are designed, and the fire escape measures in which are used. When I was a bit older, i got told about the more blunt and harsh truths of 9/11. I remember the most traumatizing thing to me, was learning about the jumpers. Hearing about how these people, clinging to any hope for life, would jump in the slimmest to 0 chance of survival. Or others, that knew they were picking the quick death of falling over burning alive in a building. 9/11 was a terrible tragedy, but at least we can take solace in the fact that our country became stronger because of it.

Kennedee Clark

2023-09-15 17:04:45 UTC

On 9/11/01 I was not born yet, but my two older brothers were. One was just born and the other was getting for school. My mom in fear and shock kept him home from school and just continued to watch the news in disbelief.

911

2023-09-17 19:47:23 UTC

For september 11, 2001 I was not alive but I have heard friends and family stories about where they were during it. One of the crazy ones that I have heard was the day before, my good friends mother was on an airplane from new york to jacksonvillie. And it is crazy to think about that she was on an airplane the day before one of the worst acts in history occured and it happened in a airplane. If that happened to me I would have had a panic attack.

Eliza Greemon

2023-09-26 20:35:02 UTC

I personally wasn't there or even alive to experience 9/11, but I do know some people who were there to experience it for themselves. My mom used to live in New York and she had just moved a few days before so I'm happy she wasn't there still. My heart hearts for people that had to experience and I think that it's very important to recognize this day every year.

Grant Pierce

2023-10-02 04:34:16 UTC

I wasn't alive when 9/11 happened, but my mom was supposed to fly that day, she was at her office. And her boss was the only person that had the video of 9/11. So they watched it on his computer, when it was live they saw the second plane get hit, they didn't think it was a terrorist attack. My mom was in downtown Chicago next to the sears tower and she was terrified, so the workers started to close the metal bars on the window to try and stop the glass from imploding if the sears tower was hit.

Lily Hayden

2024-09-09 23:58:03 UTC

I was not alive for the events of 9/11. However, I have heard many stories regarding the day. The story that resonates with me the most is a story from my mom's friend, Erin. Erin was in New York City the day of the attack. She worked across the street from the Twin Towers. Luckily, Erin was running late to her 8 am meeting, so she was stepping off the subway when she heard a crash and saw smoke. Erin explained that she was frozen in place. People screaming around her, telling her to get back underground. She did not move a muscle until a stranger picked her up and carried her down the stairs. She went back to her apartment out of the city and turned on the news. She described her life as never being the same again.

Seve Vogt

2024-09-10 13:10:58 UTC

I was not born yet during 9/11. I know my aunt was working around the trade center that day, I believe it was the suntrust building. She said she heard a plane crash at the time and a rumble. She did not know what it was until she looked at the news then proceeded to evacuate the building and saw the second tower crash down a little after the rumble.

Elinor Davidson

2024-09-10 20:46:28 UTC

I wasn't alive during 9/11, but my mom was at work at Babtist Hospital in downtown Jacksonville and it was during the morning around 9:00 and when the first plane hit her and her coworkers were all gathered in the lunch room watching the televison because no one understood what was going on. She describes it as totally unbelivable and surreal. My parents had just got married at the time so she called my dad to see what to do next. Everyone at her work started to go home to be with their families and they closed her office that day. She imediatly got in the car to go get my older brother from school along with calling all of her friends she knew from new york to see if they were ok. Once she picked up my brother Trip from school there were alot of other parents there because they had decided to shut down everything that day. When my mom got back to the house with my brother she watched the TV with my dad and they were both thinking it was some freak accident because it would be strange for someone to intentionally hit one of the biggest buildings in new york. Once the second plane hit they knew it wasn't an accident at all. My mom says the day after was more clear knowing that we had been attacked and wondering what the U.S was going to do next and move forward with what had happened. My heart goes out to all of the people involved in 9/11 such an unforgettable tragedy.

Ava Waguespack

2024-09-11 00:23:03 UTC

I was not born. However, my mom was leasing a building and the building happened to be right next to the airport. My moms' boss called her in to watch the TV, and she saw the catastrophy. When she went outside, she saw planes circling the sky to try to land and no one could take off (obviously). She said it was surreal and awful.

mimi schaefer

2024-09-11 04:33:55 UTC

even though I was not alive when the attack of 9/11 happened my mom has told me stories about where she was along with my other family members. My dad was on the way to work in Sf and my grandpa called my mom to turn on the news because she was two hours ahead. She turned it on in shock, my dad didn't go to the city for work and they spent the day mourning the loss of all the innocent Americans that lost their lives.

Drew Ayers

2024-09-11 14:17:56 UTC

I wasn't alive during the terrorist attacks of 9/11 but I have been told stories from where my parents were that day. The two have always told me that they were about to fly to the Bahamas for their 5 year anniversary until they tried checking in for their flights and above the counter the tv was playing a repeated video of the first plane crash, they than watched the second one live while in the airport, they both had family that lived in New York and they recall frantically rushing home to make calls and check on their relatives.

Brennan Rottger

2024-09-11 15:31:16 UTC

I was not yet born on the date, but I have received stories. My sister was born in August of 2001 and my grandma always remembers watching my sister and watching a kids show on the TV. The program was quickly redirected to the tragedy that was ensuing. She remembers what chair she was in, what show my sister was watching, and the weather. When something like that happens you very easily implant the moment in your brain.

Coston Crawley

costoncrawley — 2024-09-11 16:05:32 UTC

I was not born. However, my dad was in the middle of giving of a presentation in a meeting in Atlanta when suddenly everyone had gotten up and left the meeting.This left my dad clueless until he checked his phone at saw what had just happened. My dad rushed to call all of our family to make sure everyone was safe.

chloe sammons

2024-09-11 16:06:07 UTC

Although I was not alive yet when 9/11 happened, I have heard many stories from relatives. The craziest story I have heard so far was from my Uncle Brian. My Uncle Brian was living and working in New York at the time, and he actually had a meeting in one of the twin towers on 9/11. For some reason his meeting was canceled, thankfully. My mom was at work in Atlanta, Georgia and they watched the news and called people like most people did. My grandparents were in a plane waiting to take off when they were then stuck there for hours unable to fly. My Dad was at work trying to get ahold of my uncle because he was in NYC. This is a very sad day to hear about.

Mollie Schaaf

2024-09-11 16:06:42 UTC

I was not born yet when 9/11 happened however, I do have stories that I have been told. My mom was working at her job in Lincoln Nebraska, with my newborn baby sister next to her. My dad was also at work calling my mom and watching the news while it all happened. They remember seeing the towers on the news. They remember seeing the second tower go down on the news. A story I was told by my sisters friend was about her father. Her father who lived in New York at the time and had a job interview in the second tower that day. Now, i'm not sure what made him late, maybe it was a feeling, or traffic or his alarm didn't go off. All I know was that He missed his interview that day, and if he hadn't he would have been in that building when it went down.

Vanessa Hurtado

2024-09-11 16:09:14 UTC

My parents were in Hawaii on 9/11 for a work trip. They had been just waking up enjoying the resort as they heard the news. One of their friends had just announced that she was pregnant with her first child. She had not heard from her husband all day. Her husband ended up being on one of the planes being flown by terrorists. He hijacked the plane to crash in the ocean instead of hitting and killing people. Unfortunately, he passed away but is known as a hero in my family and many others.

Emma Cook

2024-09-11 16:09:44 UTC

The story I remember hearing the most was from my mom. She and my dad had just gotten engaged and they were both at work. My mom got a call from my dad and he told her to turn on the news. She had turned the news on to watch the second tower go down, my parents continued to stay on the phone while each watching the news wondering what was going to happen next. My dad was in his final year of law school and had his undergrad in political science, he was so curious about what was going to happen to not only our country but also the world. Something my parents often talk about is traveling, we are big on road trips and rarely fly unless we have to and they never fail to bring up how different airports are now. Before 9/11 as long as you had a boarding pass you could basically roam freely through the airport and now there is a lot more security so no tragedy will happen again.

Alyssa Robinson

2024-09-11 16:10:52 UTC

I was not born yet when 9/11 happened, but my mom was on her way to work and heard about the attack through the radio and live descriptions about what was happening in New York and seconds later was receiving a call from my dad.

Dylan Elder

2024-09-11 16:11:18 UTC

Although I wasn't born yet when 9/11 happened, I do have a good amount of stories from my parents that I can share. My Dad and Mom were supposed to be on a plane for a wedding to New York from Tampa. The flight fortunately got canceled due to the horrific weather in Florida on that day, but who knows what could have happened to them if that plane actually took off. Another story I was told by my Dad, but from his sisters (my aunt) perspective was that she was in New York at the time of these attacks. She was in New York for some political campaign she was helping with or something along those lines. Yet, the fear and shock that she felt from herself and everyone around her was devastating.

Ava Diebling

2024-09-11 16:12:13 UTC

September 11^th, 2001 was probably one of the scariest days in American history for the people who had to experience it. Thankfully, I was not someone who did. I was born in 2005, so 9/11 wasn’t even something I knew about until I was old enough to learn about such a tragedy. However, I have heard so many stories from my family members and older friends that can remember the exact moment, the time on the clock, and the feeling of their heat sinking when they learned the United States was being hit by terrorists. The one story that stuck out to me the most was one that my mother had told me. She was at Build A Bear, where she worked, sitting at her desk making a campaign for the newest teddy bear and checking company stocks. She was 1 month pregnant with my older sister. As she was sitting there, she just remembers hearing screams. She was terrified when she saw on the break room TV that one of the twin towers had been demolished by terrorists on an airplane. I remember her telling me that everyone in her office was crying, and shortly after all of her employees left the office to go home to check on their families. She was terrified. She remembered that a week prior to this day her parents were in New York. Her parents could have been there. I might not have grandparents today of they were still there. It is so scary for her, and it was equally terrifying to learn about this.

Grace King

giking — 2024-09-11 16:17:27 UTC

During 9/11 I was not born but my family has shared their stories about where they were and how they felt with me. My mom was working in a suburb of Illinois for Hyatt Hotels, so she was in her VP's office and one of her coworkers came into the room and said you need to come look at this, so they all go into a hotel room and turn on the tv. My mom said the was in shock and couldn't believe she just saw the world trade center filled with smoke. Her Initial reaction was to call my dad since he was working in the Sears tower in downtown Chicago, they didn't know what the next target would be. As soon as she got a hold of him she felt immediate relief, they didn't know what to do next. My father was told to go home and so was my mother, they spent the evening with my moms side of the family, my mom said she'd never felt a bigger wave of grief and unsettlement in her life. She realized that things would never be the same again.

Taylor Moore

2024-09-11 16:22:33 UTC

Although I wasn't born yet when 9/11 occurred, I have heard stories from my parents about how horrific it was. My mom was sitting at home and was watching TV before she got a call from my dad to turn on the news immediately. She turned on her TV to see news reporters giving updates on the situation. I remember her telling me how while she was watching the news, she saw one of the planes crash into a tower and one of the towers falling. I can't even imagine how it must've been to see all of that. To this day, both of my parents say that day was filled with so much fear.

Christian Harris

2024-09-11 16:45:18 UTC

I was not born yet when the tragedy of 9/11 struck. I started learning about it through school and my parents once I was old enough. Countless family members and teachers have told me about their experiences on 9/11. My teacher's story stood out the most to me. She was in New York trying to live out her dream of dancing. She was in her apartment when the planes hit. She had been getting dressed to go to her dance practice. The building was only a few blocks away from the towers. She said she could see the smoke covering the sky and was filled with fear. All she wanted to do was go back home but the ways of transportation were all shut down. She said our country has never looked more in unity than it did when everyone came to help clean. She said American flags were everywhere and everyone showed their pride for their country. The whole city came together to help each other. This shows how disasters can bring people together. Sometimes it takes something bad to happen to realize how good things are. People become more grateful for each day when they realize how no time is promised.

Ashley Marquardt

almarqua — 2024-09-11 17:05:09 UTC

I was not born yet but my mom has told me what a terrible, sad day it was for our country. She remembers immediately calling her friend who lived in NYC. My mom was so worried for her and her safety. Her friend ended up being ok. My mom said that no one knew what was happening or what building would be attacked next and that the unknown of it all was so scary. I can't imagine having to experience such tragedy. I do think that it made our country stronger and safer though. Transportation wise and just being able to all come together.

Isabella Lo Porto

2024-09-11 17:05:50 UTC

Although 9/11 took place 5 years before I was born, I feel like it still has an effect on me and my family. My aunt told me her story just recently. Aunt Kathryn was a student at Ole Miss the day of 9/11. She says she remembered waking up for class and turning on the morning show. She heard of the first plane hitting tower one and thought that it was a trailer for a movie. She said she was getting ready to turn off her tv and leave Crosby, when she saw the second plane hit. Because the events happened so fast, they did not have time to cancel classes that morning. She remembered walking around campus and seeing people grouped together crying and strangers hugging each other. The students walking around campus looking like zombies. Everyone in the union stood there and watched the giant televisions as the news was updated. Even though I was not personally there to see it, I can imagine how heartbreaking and life changing that must have been for people across the world.

2024-09-11 17:05:53 UTC

9/11 was a horrific terrorist attack, that affected Americans drastically, and other people worldwide. My parents were in Hawaii on a vacation when 9/11 happened. My whole family was there and watched the news as it happened. My dad told me his friend was a firefighter there, and unfortunately passed away trying to save other innocent lives. My friend told me her parents were in New York when it happened and were driving near the twin towers as the first plane struck it.

Sophie Crum

2024-09-11 17:06:01 UTC

I wasn't alive yet however, the story I remember hearing the most was from my dad. My dad and mom were engaged at the time living in Austin, TX. My dad was at work and my mom had just woken up for the day. My dad saw the news on the TV and immediately called my mom in shock. He explained how he knew multiple guys who worked in New York at the time who were right in all of the action. Thankfully they all made it out safe, but will never forget that huge moment in their lives.

Caroline Ricketts

cdricket — 2024-09-11 17:06:38 UTC

Even though I wasn't born yet my mom told me the story about how she was working in her office in Downtown Dallas. At the time she worked in a big arena and was just minding her own business. All the sudden everyone was screaming in the hallways to come in and watch what was happening. Immediately my mom freaked out and drove home everybody was leaving the build and they couldn't believe what had happened. When my mom finally got home, she watched at both planes hit the towers and began to start getting class from her family. They were all in shock of what was happening and couldn't believe it. Everyone was so worried they might try to target other big cities like Dallas and my parent were really worried. My mom didn't go into work for a while because everyone was so in shock of what had been happening. She said it home with my dad for weeks and didn't do much around town because people were just so terrified.

Ava Mohler

agmohler — 2024-09-11 17:07:16 UTC

I wasn’t born yet but I have been told many stories growing up. Every year during school growing up I watched videos about 9/11. I have been to the world trade center in New York City, I saw so many pictures and videos and it was absolutely heartbreaking. I saw the waterfalls where the previous buildings were and seeing all the names was so sad. My dad told me his story, he said that he was driving to Colorado Springs and heard that a plane hit one of the towers. He was very shocked when he saw the first tower go down. He had an ACL repair case at The Air Force Academy and then had to be escorted onto the base. He wasn’t sure if they were going to let him off but thankfully they did. His emotions were very sad and angry afterwards. I couldn’t imagine being alive during this time and experiencing that.

Mitchell Lindhorst

mlindhor — 2024-09-11 17:08:59 UTC

When the hijacked planes hit the world trade center on September 11th, 2001, I had not been born yet. I remember learning a little bit about it in school and how tragic it was. Last year in my history class we watched a documentary on the New York Yankees baseball season and how that was affected by the terrorist attacks. It was interesting to see how the city came together to inspire a team to succeed through one of the hardest times in this country's existence. The Yankees ultimately lost in game 7 of the World Series that season to the powerhouse of a team that was the Arizona Diamondbacks. My parents have most definitely told me stories about where they were when it happened, but I was either not paying attention, or was too young to remember what they told me. It was obviously a terrible day for our country. We have the saying never forget. I don't think anybody could ever forget about this, even if they tried.

9/11

ckcolli1 — 2024-09-11 17:09:04 UTC

On September 11th, 2001 in America, the Twin Towers in New York City were destroyed by two planes that were hijacked by members from Al-Queda. This is most defenitley the scariest day in American history because it was just a normal day in New York City, with thousands of people working at the World Trade Center and out of the blue a plane just flies into one of the towers, along with the second plane hitting the other tower minutes later. I was not alive for this because I was born in 2005, but I have heard countless stories while being in school and my parents telling me where they were on the day that this happened. I have seen many pictures from 9/11 and a lot of the pictures are so scary because there was smoke everywhere the buildings were set on fire and people were jumping out of the towers so they wouldn't burn in the building. All of this was just so terrible and it is a day that Americans will never forget because it was such an emotional and horrible day for everyone in our country.

Jamie Syms

2024-09-11 17:10:03 UTC

I was not born at the time of 9/11 however I believe it did affect my life as well. Both of my parents have been in the military since they were young, I haven't been told specific stories however I do know that when it did happen, my dad was sent out to war and it lasted a long time so he wasn't around for most of my earlier years in life. I have seen a few stories online, one of them has really stayed with me. It was about a young girl who's dad worked at the trade center, the morning of 9/11 she pretended to be sick because she didn't want to go to school that day but her mum had already left for work so her dad had to no go to work that day and stay home to take care of her. He would have been on one of the top floors of the trade center at the time the planes had hit.

Gianna kramer

2024-09-11 17:10:32 UTC

I was not alive yet but i have been told many stories. The story that stands out most to me is my best friend's mom's story. She was working in one of he twin towers. She would meet up with her friend for coffee every so often and on that particular day her friend was running late. So they were still sitting their when the first plane hit. If she had been on time that day she would've been in the tower on 9/11. I might not have met my best friend. This makes me believe everything happens for a reason.

James F

2024-09-11 18:04:39 UTC

I know the story of the man in the red bandana, he was a hero and saved many people. Also after 9/11 happened an NFL player, Pat Tilmam, dropped football and joined the military. He later died in battle.

Patrick Burns

2024-09-11 18:05:02 UTC

I was not born yet but my parents have shared a little bit about their stories. My dad said he remembered being at work and hearing lots of chaos and people saying to turn the TV on. He sat there for hours in shock watching the news and seeing everything unfold. My moms story was very similar she was at home watching the news in shock as well. Everyone I have talked to about it said it was one of the worst most memorable days in their life.

Ansley harrison

2024-09-11 18:05:29 UTC

I was not alive during 9/11 but I have heard many stories. While none of them being personal to me, I have had many family's of my friends effected tremendously by this. My friends aunt was supposed to be working that day but for some reason didn't go to work.

George Gilland

2024-09-11 18:05:49 UTC

I was not born yet, and I really have heard nothing about it from family members, but there are so many heart breaking and crazy stories about the day. I don't remember much but I do remember hearing from a friend that their Dad was supposed to be there that day and luckily he was running late and was not there. Hearing stories like that make me realize how lucky we are and how fast things can go bad. Today is very sad day for our country and we honor the lives that were lost and the heroes that helped make this not worse than the already horrible incident.

Robert Kerrigan 9/11

2024-09-11 18:06:44 UTC

I was not alive during 9/11 but however it was my dad birthday. He turned 25 on that day and then had found out that the two planes had struck the twin towers. I do also have a friend whose dad was supposed to be on the flight that ended up striking the twin towers, thankfully he missed his flight and was not on the plane. My mom however was at my dads birthday party and then the mood was forever changed when the planes hit the twin towers. She said "it was a moment when all of the people in the room were in disbelief. She said, "nobody could believe that it was true".

Mason Liebbe: 9/11

2024-09-11 18:07:51 UTC

The main story told to me by my family is from my Uncle. He works for a Bourbon distillery company called Brown- Forman, He lives in Louisville, Ky and has an office in New York. That day he was supposed to be traveling to New York very early that morning and his office was in the twin towers. Thankfully his flight that morning got delayed and canceled right before the attacks occurred. He was supposed to be in those towers during the attacks but thankfully his flight was canceled hours before.

Makenzie Salter

2024-09-11 18:08:27 UTC

Even though I wasn't born yet when the twin towers were struck I still find it very interring to hear others stories. I asked my parents where they were. My mom was still in but school at the time and she told me she was doing hair while watching the news. She was in total shock she told me that was one of the scariest moments in her life. Even though she was over 10 states away she still feared for what was going on. As for my dad he was working as a fire fighter for a small fire station in North Carolina. My dad and all his friends sat around the tv in fire station as they watched disaster happen. My dad didn't know what this would mean for him. As a young tiger fighter he didn't know if he would be taken to New York to help with the catastrophe. He was scared that he would have to leave my mom and my brothers alone.

Cosy Gale

2024-09-11 18:09:00 UTC

I wasn't born yet but my uncle told me he was just down the street getting coffee before he went into a meeting. He said when it happened everyone ran outside to see what was going on. Nobody knew it was a terrorist attack till the second plane hit. All he could see was a big cloud of black dust. He said it was the scariest day of his life.

Emmett Graham

2024-09-11 18:10:37 UTC

Although I was born after the tragic incident of 9/11, I have many stories about it. My parents at the time were living in Boston, at home, my dad getting ready to head to work. He said it was the most shocking and insane occurrence. I am thankful that I did not have any family members or loved ones involved in the attack. Yet, being from the New York area I have friends who's families as well as my parents friends who suffered from the attack. It is still shocking to me today and I make sure to take the time out of my day every year to remember the ones who are no longer with us.

Dylan Heskett

2024-09-11 18:10:41 UTC

I have been given a few stories about 9/11. The ones from my parents aren't as cool as they were just living their normal life when they all just stood in shock and looked at the TV seeing the destruction of the twin towers. I have a friend who has a much sadder story that he told us. Before he moved near me he lived in Connecticut where he had an uncle who he never met because he was one of the many firefighters that died during 9/11 this story is always hard for me to grasp as he is the first person I have ever met with a story like that. The challenger explosion a lot of people have the same story and they all sound like this my dad talks about them wheeling out the TV to watch the challenger that everyone was excited to see because one of the passengers was a teacher and then all of a sudden disaster struck. The teachers didn’t know what to do and they just stood there shocked and then told the students they are free to go home. He said even though he was a teenager it was hard for him to realize the scope of what just happened and it hit him later when he got home and talked with his parents.

Mac Wotton

gmwotton — 2024-09-11 18:12:23 UTC

I had not been born yet when 9/11 or pearl Harbour happened. But my Grandfather served in the military during the time of Pearl Harbour so I heard many stories of him and his friend's during that time. When it did happen, he said it felt like everyone stopped what they where doing no matter where they were, they came together as a big group. He said there was a complete change of attitude from everyone. From that day on, they meant buisness, no more messing around.

Kevin Canto

2024-09-11 18:19:53 UTC

Although I was born after the 9/11 attacks, I have heard a lot of stories from local firefighters and policemen. One that really stood out was my fathers. At the time my dad was a volunteer firefighter for my town. When the first tower was struck, my dad was doing construction on a roof near the city. When he got news of what was happening he said he had to run from the job site to the closest fire station since it would have taken him to drive back home and then go to the city. Although he wasn't running in and out of the buildings, he was stationed at the firehouse helping people that came in or that walked by. The following days after the attack, my father helped clean up ground zero and also helped look for missing people.

Ava Freeman

cafreema1 — 2024-09-11 19:05:55 UTC

I had not been born yet, but my dad was traveling at the time across Europe and had heard about the tragedy of 9/11. He wasn’t able to take a flight back to the US immediately. Traveling after this date had changed for good and airport security was taken with extra precaution.

Bailey Finnan

bmfinnan — 2024-09-11 19:07:45 UTC

I wasn't born when 9/11 happened; however, I have heard many stories about it. One of the stories was from my aunt, who was 20 years old at the time in college. She was at one of her classes when all of the sudden people all around her started freaking out. She had no clue what was going on, but when she looked up at the news that was playing in the classroom, she saw the twin towers news. She remembered that she had just failed one of her first tests of the semester coincidently. She said that after this event, she learned to never take your family and friends for granted. One of her best friends was in New York at the time, and she said that she was extremely nervous for her welfare for the entire day. When she heard back from her it was the ultimate relief.

Sydney Collier

2024-09-11 19:09:28 UTC

I wasnt alive in 2001.

It was my moms 24th birthday and she was spending it hanging out with her best friend. Her birthday took a turn. All of a sudden they were all sitting around the TV watching the news and watching the 2nd tower get hit. Another story I have heard was that a girl was supposed to be on one of the planes and she missed her flight. She was thinking about how lucky she was. She ended up getting in a fatal car crash and died that same day.

Carlie Epstein

2024-09-11 19:09:44 UTC

I haven't been told many stories, at least that I remember, about 9/11 and that day from my family, the couple things I do remember is my aunt was living in New York City at the time and the rest of my Family was in Buffalo. I Remember how it felt visiting the 9/11 memorials when in New York and the tone in my aunt voice as she talked but now I no cant remember the details.

Isabella Elley

2024-09-11 19:11:09 UTC

During 9/11 I had not been born yet, but I have received many stories from family, mentors, friends, etc. What I can 100% guarantee is, everyone who was alive during 9/11, knows exactly where they were and what they were doing when it happened.

One story I have heard is from my mom, Angela. My mom was a nurse and was in the middle of child labor when the first plane hit. After that labor was done, my mom heard the news and was absolutely distraught. She was able to look at the television/news and see what happened. She felt so hopeless and down. As a nurse, she just wanted to help these people but she wasn't able to. She couldn't understand why anyone would do this.

Additionally, the hospital she worked at during this time was placed on lockdown after the second plane hit. She said it was a very scary day with lots of fear of the unknown. Patients in the hospital were panicking, so this didn’t help anything. Everyone was just very scared of what was going to happen next after watching thousands of people lose their lives.

Isabella Feo Zakharova

2024-09-11 19:11:45 UTC

The story I was given about 9/11 was about my mom. I wasn't born yet, but my mom lived in New York City when 9/11 occurred. She explained to me how different the atmosphere was and the affects it had on everyone. She was in her apartment and the tv was on, all of a sudden her friend calls her on the phone to check the news. She sees the screen and is in shock. She said she stepped out of her door and the streets were just filled with smoke. It was startling to her because at this time her English was not as good yet but she still could understand the seriousness of this.

Ava Winston

2024-09-11 19:15:50 UTC

Even though I wasn't born yet during 9/11, I've heard many stories from family members about where they were on that day 23 years ago. My parents were at their respective jobs in Stamford, CT when they saw the news and stood there in shock. My grandfather was living in New York City at the time. When he first told me he was there when the attacks occurred, I could only imagine how he must have felt that day - scared and frightened for the city itself. I'm tremendously grateful that he is still with us today.

Ellie Austin/Where were you?

2024-09-11 19:17:22 UTC

I was not yet born when the 9/11 attacks occurred in 2001. With that being said, my parents have shared their story about where they were countless times to me. My mom was 9 months pregnant with my older sister with September 11, 2001 being her due date. My parents were at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas ready to bring my sister into the world. They were shocked when they saw on the news what had happened to the first tower. They both say it didn't all sink in until the second tower was hit. They became extremely concerned for everyone in New York's safety, as well as their own and my unborn older sister. My mom did not end up having my sister on that day, but my parents still vividly remember the terror that the attacks brought to themselves, and the rest of the United States.

Ellison Register

2024-09-11 19:39:18 UTC

Although I had not yet been born when 9/11 occurred, I have heard multiple stories from not only my parents, but different people who were alive during that time, and everything I heard seems very surreal. I have also learned about this disaster each year in school for as long as I can remember, and each time it is brought up, especially on 9/11, there has always been a heartbreaking feeling that I can feel and also with everyone else surrounding me. My mom actually had a few close friends who were working in NYC at the time, so when she explained it to me she basically was saying how she called them right away and stayed on the phone with them for almost the rest of the day. Hearing this, I can’t imagine being in either of those situations.

Missy Puopolo

2024-09-11 20:07:09 UTC

I was not alive during 9/11, but my mom told me about her day. She was home with my two siblings and feeding my sister while watching the Today Show. She saw the plane hit the towers and the whole world stopped and then when people started to realize what it was, she got scared. She called my dad. My mom immediately went to the grocery store to get groceries, stopped at the gas station, and filled the car with gas because she didn't know what would happen. When she was sitting in line, the planes hit the Pentagon, and the guy in the gas station was listening on the radio. He told my mom that she was the last customer. She went home and had a very dark day. That was a terrible day and she will remember forever.

Deonte Smith

2024-09-11 20:14:16 UTC

My mom tells me every year on this day about the story of where she was when the 9/11 attacks happened. On September 11, 2001 my mother was walking into her second period debate class and she recalls her teacher having a very troubled look on her face. The entire class was silent. Her teacher then turned on the tv and on the screen was the repeated image of the second airplane hitting the World Trade Center. Her teacher was explaining what was happening and that there was a national state of emergency, but no one had answers to exactly what was going on. She was soon let out of school and she sat down with my family and watched the news together. My grandpa was in the military at the time and was deployed to the Middle East shortly after the attacks happened.

2024-09-11 20:19:44 UTC

I wasn't born for 9/11 but I was told by my grandmother that she was working and instantly everyone just went crazy. After wondering what was the issue, they all began to discuss the attack. It was from what I heard horrible. It was very chaotic and worrisome. 9/11 was a sad day and will always be remembered even by those who were not alive at the time.

Porter CLark

2024-09-11 20:21:16 UTC

Although I had not been born yet when 9/11 occured, I had been shared stories from both my parents. My father was walking on his way to another day at work. As he was on his way walking on the sidewalk to the building over from the twin towers, until he heard and watched the first plane strike straight into the tower. Chaos broke out, people screaming and running as my father watched the tower collapsed. My father as well panicked and started running towards a fairy on the Hudson River. He jumped on barely making it on the boat in time in which then he met my mother. My grandmother in the moment living in NJ called my mom from the selarium in her house watching the smoke rise in the air panicking if my mother was okay. This horrible day is a day that no one will ever forgot.

Ann Grier Johnston

2024-09-11 21:12:52 UTC

I was not born yet and neither were my siblings, but I have received my parents' experience from 9/11. Both of my parents were getting ready for work. My Mom was a middle school teacher and my Dad was getting ready to go to work as a banker. My Dad told me that since they didn't have phones, their source of news was from the television. Both of my parents ended up going to work, but watched the news the majority of the day with their coworkers. Both of my parents have shared that 9/11 was very very sad and a day they will never forget.

I was not alive during 9/11. My mom had told me she was in Walnut Grove, MS when it hit live on TV. She had explained to me that my aunt was headed towards downtown New York when it happened, but she made it out of the city safely. I pay my respects and send prayers and love to those people who lost their life.

2024-09-11 22:43:11 UTC

Lauren Pearson

2024-09-12 02:47:53 UTC

I was not born at the time of 9/11 but I have heard many stories growing up. My mothers best friend lived in New York at the time of this terrible act. She was in her apartment and it first happened. Her roommate ran into her room screaming there is a plane in the Twin Towers. As they ran to turn on the TV they witnessed the second one crash in. I can't imagine the way that she was feeling in that moment.

Olivia Hastings

2024-09-12 18:29:07 UTC

I was not alive when 9/11 occurred in 2001, but I have heard countless stories from people that were. My dad had just landed in Florida right before he heard about the terrible event that had just occurred, and he called my mom right after he saw what had happened. My dad has shown me many videos and has told me all the stories he knows. I have also learned every year in elementary and high school about the tragic event. I pay my respects to all the people who lost their lives and lost loved ones.

Julia Langdale

2024-09-12 23:12:55 UTC

I was not born when 9/11 happened. My dad told me a story about how he was at work and he had to go on the train. He was in the train station when the he had been told the trains were shut down. He was confused just like everyone else around him. They had been notified about what happened and everyone was in shock and scared. 9/11 was a tragic day that will never be forgotten.

Jenna Simmons

2024-09-13 04:33:42 UTC

Although i had not been born yet when 9/11 occurred, i've had stories shared from both my parents. My parents had just moved into their newly built house 3 weeks prior. my mom was at home working on the house when she got a call from my dad saying to turn on the TV and as she did the second plan had entered the Twin Towers. That day my Dad had told my mom he was going to war as so he thought. For them witnessing a terrorism attack they for sure thought he would be called in due to him being in a medivac unit. my mom was in disbelief from all the events unfolding and the chaos that was occurring. later that night people gathered with their loved ones and hugged them a little tighter.

Tyler Branson

tbbranso — 2024-09-13 20:09:02 UTC

Although I wasn't alive when 9/11 occurred, I have heard how it impacted the world. I have it memorized where both my parents were when the event occurred. They were engaged and months away from getting married. My father was leaving early morning for his work trip when my mother called him to share the devastating news. As many did, he froze. No words could describe the emotions they must've felt. The world froze. Alan Jackson wrote a song called "Where were you when the world stop turning". Once I heard this song for the first time it was instantly stuck on repeat. One of my favorite lyrics from this song is

"Did you stand there in shock at the site of that black smoke
Rising against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
Pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?

Did you burst out in pride, for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doing what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?". I believe this is a perfect representation of the emotions that were felt. Alan Jackson wrote this song to show everyone they aren't alone and the emotions they were feeling were normal. I also heard a quote a few years back stating that September 12th was the most patriotic day ever. Everyone was proud to be American, everyone got along and grieved together.

Catherine Cowden

2024-09-13 20:46:15 UTC

I wasn't born yet during 9/11, so I asked my mom what that day was like for her. She said that she was in Lubbock, Texas working on a bank exam. She was in a meeting working in a basement when someone else saw it on the the news online. She said that they were all in shock and could not believe what was happening. Then their management team told them to go back to Dallas but the airports were closed because of the attack, and they had to rent a car and drive 5 hours back to Dallas.

walker dew

2024-09-13 22:37:35 UTC

My story is very interesting. Obviously I was not born yet, but the day of 9/11 was the day that my parents moved into the house I've lived in my whole life. While they were in the process of moving the twin towers were getting hit. My mom tells me the story of her own mom being in NYC when it happened and it will be a story she will never forget. She was walking nowhere close to the towers and she could hear the screams and the terror coming from the other side of the city. She has prayed everyday since then for the people that lost their lives and god sparing her life that day. She always tells me to live my life like it's the last because you'll never know what's gonna come your way.

2024-09-15 09:39:08 UTC

JAVARES PETTIES

Although I wasn't not born yet and it took my years to understand how serious this event was on our country, its not until you actually go to the memorial in New York where you can truly sense of eerie and fear that everyone had that day. March of last year I was luckily enough to visit the memorial with my family as one of the tours we had planned while staying there. The tour guide said it was one of the most gut wrenching thing that he ever experienced in his life. Not that many people talk around that area it is very peaceful and quiet. There are people smiling, crying, staring off into the monument where all the names are and just mourning that terrible day that took ahold of America.

Zaria Windless

2024-09-16 01:28:48 UTC

I wasn't born at the time but I remember my mom telling me about that day and what she experienced. She told me she was in the living room, sitting on the couch feeding my older sister who was 7 months old. She was watching the news and when she saw it she just broke into tears. She couldn't move she was so shocking and confused. The rest of that day was just full of emotions. Later that night all the people in town got together and prayed.

Jack Murphy

2024-09-16 18:44:14 UTC

I wasn't born at the time of 9/11 but I do remember my parents telling me where they were. They were both at my grandparent's house with my two-month-old, older brother. My mom, grandma, and brother were in the living room watching TV while my dad and grandpa were outside. the first plane hit the tower and my mom told me she didn't even know how to react it felt so unreal. They called my dad and grandpa in and they couldn't believe what they were seeing. I don't know what I would've done in the moment if I saw that live but I know it would've been scary to see happen.

Ann Greer Camp

2024-09-17 04:57:02 UTC

I was not born yet when 9/11 took place but I will never forget the story my grandmother told me. She was supposed to leave for a work trip to New York on 9/13 before anything had happened. She said she was at home during the time everything took place. She immediately started receiving tons of phone calls from family and friends calling to make sure she wasn't there because they had lots of work conferences there. She is very thankful to this day, she did not leave for this trip early, as she did consider it.

Cartrell Jordan

2025-09-08 23:41:53 UTC

I wasn't present on September 11, 2001, but I remember hearing a story once from someone who was there that I've carried with me my entire life. I met a woman named Dianne and she told me she was working on the 89th floor of the North Tower when the plane hit it. She spoke of all the terror and chaos, and she didn't know if she would ever escape alive. Then, a guy named Frank, who worked for the Port Authority, came and led her and others to safety, even breaking a jammed door to open up a stairwell. She thanks him for saving her life, although he perished. Hearing her tell it made it sound real in a way that history books could not.

Most striking for me was the way ordinary people showed great courage. Reading Dianne's account made me think about hope and how what we do does count, even in the face of uncertainty. Even though I wasn't there, I knew that I can carry that spirit with me. Through listening, storytelling, and acting with compassion, I can use my voice to help bring understanding, empathy, and positive change into the world.

Emma Geiss

2025-09-09 00:56:45 UTC

I was not born when 9/11 happened; however, every year, I get reminded of how I almost lost one of the most important people in my life that day. My mom was in history class her senior year of high school, where she watched it on TV with her classmates. After seeing the first plane hit, she immediately ran to the office to call her mom because her dad was at the Pentagon. When my grandma answered the phone, she said that my grandpa was fine and that he had to rent a car and drive home because all of the flights were canceled.

Davis Victor

2025-09-09 23:41:00 UTC

When I called my mom to ask her, she was on 9/11. She said that it felt like it could have been yesterday, that's how vivid it was to her. My mom was 2 years out of college and had a high school teaching job near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. She said that the school day was just starting, and she was preparing to give a biology test that morning. All of a sudden, the principal came on the loudspeaker and announced that there had been an attack on the World Trade Centers and that other parts of the US were being targeted. She told me that the class was completely silent, and her first thought was if her parents (my grandparents) were safe in Washington DC. My Grandpa, at the time, worked for the Department of Agriculture and worked not so far from the Pentagon, where one of the planes was hit. Then she told me that school was immediately canceled, and parents rushed to pick up their kids, regardless of whether they were working or not. She made a million calls to friends, roommates, and people she went to school with who lived in NYC. It is important that my generation remembers what happened that day, as we don't really know how it feels when America is directly attacked and thousands are killed. It is also important that we remember the ones who lost their lives in the War on Terror as well.

Jackson Hartnett

2025-09-10 13:54:43 UTC

I was not alive yet when 9/11 happened, but I vividly remember what my elementary teacher told me. She told my class the story of where she was whenever 9/11 happened. She was teaching her 3rd grade class and all of a sudden she got a call. She rolled out the TV screen and had to show all of the children what was going on and had to comfort them. I can't imagine being that young and having to process all of that.

Tessa Denger

2025-09-10 15:36:47 UTC

Although I was not born yet, 9/11 is something I quickly understood. At a young age I learned about the tragedy and understood the seriousness of it. My parents told me about how devastating the day was for them. They tried to tell me about their experience but also did not want to scare me at a young age. As I am older now I have learned so much about it and I saw the memorial in real life. My heart broke when I saw it and really just took it in. I was there for Christmas and wanted to have a great day but when I saw the memorial, I felt sick, 9/11 is a true tragedy that no one has to experience ever again.

Abbie Thieneman

2025-09-10 17:06:35 UTC

I was not yet alive during the attacks of 9/11, but I do recall growing up and hearing my mom's story. She was driving in the car on the way to work when she heard on the radio the events taking place. Similarly, my dad was sitting at work when he got wind of the attack and turned on the TV to watch it unfold. Growing up, they both tell me about how shocking these events were for them because of how strong they viewed the nation and how vulnerable this made us as a country.

Tyler Cesarski

2025-09-10 17:09:27 UTC

I wasn't born yet for the tragedy of 9/11, but my family was impacted dramatically. My dad watched the second plane hit the tower as he was leaving class that day. He described it as the most horrifying event of his life, and he was in the streets, surrounded with people in complete panic. My mom was also in New York at the time and actually lost her friend, who was a firefighter who went into the building and unfortunately did not return, and she had to go home that day and see his family, who were her neighbors outside, in tears. Although I wasn't directly impacted, I will always know the pain and suffering it caused to not only my family but the millions impacted on September 11th.

Mikolas Thiebaut

2025-09-10 17:09:30 UTC

I was not born yet for 911, but I have heard many terrifying stories about it. Growing up, every 9/11 my teachers would tell me there experiences which would usually be very intriguing. Sometimes it would be there stories or they would tell a story from a close friend. I believe my dad was aboout 30 minutes away at the time, when hearing about it, obviously causing him to flee home.

Laith Kojah

2025-09-10 17:09:58 UTC

My 10th-grade math teacher once shared his experience of 9/11 with our class. He was in high school at the time, sitting in English when another teacher rushed in to turn on the TV. At first, he said he didn't pay much attention and didn’t understand what he was seeing. The smoke pouring from the towers looked unreal, like something you see in the movies. Then the second plane hit, and the room went silent. Some students started to cry, while others just stared in shock. He said that he remembered how the rest of the day felt heavy and uncertain, and how parents showed up early to take their kids home. What stuck with him the most wasn’t just the fear, but how people around him grieved with each other for comfort when no one really knew what would happen next.

Alina Longsworth

2025-09-10 17:10:28 UTC

I wasn't born yet when 9/11 happened, but I go to New York pretty often and my family always tries to make an effort to visit the memorial. The first time I went I was only about 10 years old and that is when my mom shared her experience of this tragic day. She was at home with a few of her friends when they got the news. They felt as though they were trapped in their apartment because they thought something bad would happen to them if they even stepped foot outside. Although my mom was no where near the incident, it just proves that people all over America were affected by this day.

Lyla Gordon

2025-09-10 17:14:09 UTC

I was not alive when 9/11 occurred, but it is something I think about rather regularly. Something my mom tells me about 9/11 is that her friend who was living in New York at the time saw one of the planes hit one of the towers. It's hard to imagine what type of reaction someone would have in response to witnessing such an unfathomable moment. If I witnessed that moment, it would take me a minute to realize the gravity of the situation. 9/11 is a difficult subject to wrap your mind around, I am always perplexed by it. Each year on the anniversary I hear so many stories from survivors and from family and friends of the victims on social media, and I am always so interested to hear what they have to say. These stories are always so moving, tragic, and important. It is also interesting to think about how 9/11 changed the world, our airport security, the war in the Middle East, and a rise in terrorism. 9/11 is still hard to process, they continue to make documentaries about it because of how complex it is.

Brody DelVallez

2025-09-10 17:15:11 UTC

Although I wasn't alive during the horrid attack on 9/11, growing up in New York it was always a very serious day that will always be remembered. My parents were teaching their students and found out about the attack in the middle of class. My popa was working in the city that day and luckily wasn't near the twin towers but heard and saw everything with his own eyes. Ive had many friends who have lost loved ones on that day, and it was an all around traumatic experience for not only New Yorkers, but also our entire country.

Mazaria Parks

2025-09-10 17:15:45 UTC

I was not alive yet on September 11,2001 but one of the stories that someone give me is my one English teacher named Mrs. Hancock when I was in 5th grade .She actually told a story that his dad told her about 9/11 and what he seen around the city of New York and seen people get stuck under the building of the twin towers ,Hearing this story when I was younger it made me a little scared when I was a child but now I understand that it is a part of America history despite being so sad.

Keegan Lehecka

2025-09-10 17:21:53 UTC

I was not born yet but one of my high schooler teachers sons lived in new york and my teacher always said how scared he was when this happened and how much it mattered to him but for my family they saw what happened on tv and felt very sad that day also So hearing how this affected people all around the world really makes me saddened for what happened that day

Baryn Brown

2025-09-10 17:22:11 UTC

September 11, 2001. My father was on a business trip to Canada and decided to go watch a sports game. In the middle of the game everything stopped. The world just about stopped spinning. Him, his coworkers, and everyone in the stadium were alerted that the Trade Center had been taken down in a terroristic way. He remembers the exact seat he was in and how the stadium smelt and how his heart started to race. He remembers immediately thinking of how difficult it would be to get home to see our family and make sure we're safe. The National Anthem started playing and the Canadians at the stadium begun booing and being very disrespectful. He remembers the fear and anxiety he felt about what was going on in the world and how it could ever be repaired. We have never been to New York and he has not been back to Canada since because of the blatant disrespect.

Til

2025-09-10 17:23:46 UTC

I was not born yet when 9/11 happened, but my father told me how he experienced it. From a friend, he heard that a plane had hit the first tower. Then they turned on the TV and watched as the second tower was hit. Nobody really knew what was going on, everybody was confused. And even though my father was far away, it was a shattering experience for him. On the other hand, my mother never talked about it with me. Maybe it wasn’t such an incisive event for her.

In 2024 we visited the memorial in New York, which was an interesting experience. You could really feel the atmosphere of how it was on that historical day.

Avery Van Komen

2025-09-10 18:02:42 UTC

My mom told me where she was when 9/11 happened and she also knows exactly what she was wearing. She told me she was on the way to work when my dad called her and told her what was happening and to turn on the radio. When she got to work they TVs where all turned on and everyone was running around and wondering if it was going to happen in more places. I was not born yet but I hear and learn about this event every year and have even watched the documentary of hunting down the terrorists.

Griffin Chambers

2025-09-10 18:04:13 UTC

Although I was not alive for the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, I have been told many stories about that day. When I was younger I went to school with a kid who once told me that his uncle had been in one of the buildings around the attacks when they occurred. I was in third grade when he told me this story about his uncle and I still remember the moment so well. It was the first time I'd ever met someone who had a connection to someone in the attacks. This memory has stuck with me after all these years which shows just how impactful the event was on our whole country.

Callie Cason

2025-09-10 18:05:14 UTC

I was not born yet on 9/11, but I have always grown up hearing many stories of where different people were during it. Listing to school teachers and parents saying they remember exactly what they were doing and turning on the tv and watching it happen. I also have watched many documentaries about different parts and pieces to everything on 9/11. When visiting New York I went on a 9/11 memorial tour. We had a tour guide show us different things and historical facts about that day. At the very end we went to where the twin towers once were and one of the older men on the tour then informed us that he had been a firefighter that day and was called to help. This was truly such a cool but also sad thing to hear his story about how he came to help.

Brooks Parsons

2025-09-10 18:06:16 UTC

I was not alive when 9/11 happened but I have a few stories of different perspectives and what happened. I remember a childhood friend of mine named Eli and his parents telling me that his dad was a firefighter living in New York City when 9/11 happened. This was a long time ago that I was told and I do not remember any details about it. I remember my parents were living in their old house at the time and my mom had the news on in the background while she was getting ready while my dad was at work and did not find out until much later because he was in a very long meeting. They told me about the tragedy and how awful it was since then I have mainly learned about it in school. I have a very distinct memory of my childhood doctors office that I stopped going too after probably 10 years old. They had an area where there were mini picture books and this one was specifically on the dog heroes of 9/11, I remember that memory specifically.

Corderi Burnett Jr

2025-09-10 18:07:08 UTC

I wasn't alive when this tragedy happened, but also I did hear alot of things about it. It was sad because so many innocent lives died from the tragic event. The attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11 resulted in the largest loss of life by a foreign attack on American soil. 18 people were rescued alive from the rubble of the World Trade Center site. Cases of post-traumatic stress are common among 9/11 survivors and rescue workers.

Oliver Parish

2025-09-10 18:07:29 UTC

I wasn't born yet but Ive hard many things about 9/11 growing up. My parents didnt live in the US at that time but still had stories about 9/11. My dad told me that on that day he was getting ready for work and for some reason decided to go to the T.V and turn it on and watch some news. Not something he did often but on this paticular day he decided to do it. He turned on the television eating his weetabix (a staple cereal where my dad is from) and saw what he descirbes as "the most shcoking thing he has ever seen". My dad just stared at the T.V in awe of how crazy and breath taking the sight of a plane hitting the twin towers was. My dad continuous to describe that day as gloomy and dark. Although it may not have affected my dad personally it still definitely definitely took a toll on his day and took a toll on his thought on the world.

Campbell Hipsh

2025-09-10 18:07:36 UTC

I was not actually live at the time, but my mom was working in Washington D.C. at the mall across the street from the Pentagon. I don't remember exactly what all she had told me, but I do know my Great Uncle had to drive from North Carolina to go get her that same day. She told me it was one of the scariest moments of her life, because no one knew what was going on. I have been to the memorial as well as the museum. I really enjoyed reading and listening to al the prospectives from that day.

Chris Watters

2025-09-10 18:08:12 UTC

Although I wasn't born yet during the 9/11 attacks, I have listened to many stories of where my parents were during that time. A story I remember was that my uncle was planning on going on a trip to New York that day but was too sick and did not make his flight. When he watched the news that day he told me he had never been more glad to be sick than ever. Listening to these stories made me realize how much horror this tragedy caused. I can't imagine being there and watching that unfold.

Annemarie Dacus

2025-09-10 18:08:34 UTC

I was not alive yet when 9/11 happened, but I have heard many stories from people about the exact moment they found out that the twin towers had been struck. My mom has told me this story a number of times, but she told me she was doing rounds in the hospital for her pharmacy degree. She was in the break room, drinking her coffee and talking to all the other residents working the same shift. She tells me that every single person remembers where they were when they found out there had been an attack and many people lost their lives. The break room had the tv playing in the corner and that is when my mom looked over to see what everyone else in the room was watching. It was the news of the towers being hit. My mom said she was frozen in that moment. She told me that some people froze, had to sit down, or immediately broke down into tears. She said it was one of the most shocking and hard things because every single person in the United States felt it. My friend also told me about her aunt and that her aunt used to live in New York and was a flight attendant. After that day, she was so traumatized, that she moved away from New York to New Orleans, LA and quit her job as a flight attendant because she was so terrified. I think everyone knows someone who was impacted or can recall the feeling and where they were at in the exact moment they learned of the attack.

niko ninos

2025-09-10 18:08:43 UTC

Although I wasn't alive during the shocking event of 9/11, I have family who lived in New York city during the time and they said devastating was a understatement. Everyone who was able to see the world at the time iv'e talked to knows exactly where they were when 9/11 happened no matter if it was on there home across the world or in New York city with all the other residents terrified that they could the next to fall. This story was heard everywhere no matter who you are or where your from. This story really bring americans together no matter wear your from and built connections. Tragedies like this can really make you feel fortunate that your here today.

Richard Bell

2025-09-10 18:10:29 UTC

I was not alive during 9/11 but I asked my parents where and what they were doing that day when they found out. My mom was a teacher and she was about to go to class when she had the news on and saw the first plane hit. she originally thought it was an accident and then the second one hit and she couldn't believe it and she said she just felt cold inside but had to go to school. She said she tried her best to teach her classes but ultimately gave them a study class. My dad was in the car driving my older brother to school when he heard it all happen and he thought America was under attack and thought it was gonna happen to other important places around the country. My dad ended up not sending my brother to school. I could not imagine being there that day.

LD

2025-09-10 18:12:14 UTC

I wasn't born yet during the tragedy of 9/11, all my school teachers growing up told me how much of an impact it had on themselves and the effect it had on the rest of the counrty/world. It's crazy to me that something so bad and impactful can happen so fast. It reminds me of my sophomore year of high school sitting in latin class when i learned from my friends texting that there was a shooter at my brothers school. It really made me go insane inside and it really still has an impact on me to this day. I imagine that the people directly impacted by 9/11 tragedy felt. Scared and hopeless.

C.J. Sanchez

2025-09-10 18:14:08 UTC

I was not yet born when 9/11 took place but I was told of a story from 9/11 coming from my mother. She was born and raised in Queens NY so she already had a connection to the city. My mom was in Miami at the time and had just woken up an hour before the attack. It was just a regular day for her until my grandmother had turned on the TV and started praying in Spanish. Confused, my mom ran to the TV and stopped. Completely distraught by what she saw, no words came out of her mouth. Smoke pouring out from the first tower was not a daily occurrence. She had called my dad shortly after and told him to turn on the TV. After one of the towers fell, and then the second, she couldn’t believe it. Even though this was twenty four years ago, she still remembers it to every detail.

Camren York

2025-09-10 18:14:38 UTC

I was not born yet but one of the stories that I have heard was with my mom. My mom was in Florida at home taking care of my older sister who was 8 months old at the time when the tv showed the terrible attack on the world trade center. My moms first instinct was to get my other sister that was in preschool which she did and my dad raced home from work making sure his family was okay. I remember my mom saying with emotion how attached they were to the tv in disbelief of what was going on.

Matthew Konow

2025-09-10 18:17:59 UTC

I wasn't born when 9/11 occurred, but the tragic attacks that happened that day still live present in my life and is something i think about often. Out of all the stories I have heard, one stands out the most to me. My Grandfather served in the navy on the USS Cacapon, his story was one of the most impactful one I heard. My grandfather was at home with my grandmother making breakfast before work. During breakfast they like to watch the news in the morning. My grandfather remembers going from just watching the regular news, to putting his dishes away, and grabbing his things for work. Then to come back and see the tragic attack in new York. This wasn't a crazy story but it is something I think about often because even a small average morning could always turn into one of the most memorable and scary days of your life.

Sara Jackson

2025-09-10 20:03:33 UTC

I was not born yet, but one story I have heard is of a girl who was in elementary school. I watched a video of her explaining how she was in school that day and she remembers looking out of the window and seeing the smoke from the impact and hearing all sorts of sounds from it. Later on, she realized that her school was too far away to actually see the smoke and hear it. She talked about it with others and realized that the traumatic experience changed her perception of that day. She imagined that she actually saw the smoke and heard the sounds even though it was physically impossible. After I watched that video, I heard of other stories of people realizing that their memories were inaccurate from that day, and that some events they remembered didn't actually happen or were different.

Allyson Curnel

2025-09-10 20:03:57 UTC

I was not alive yet when 9/11 occured but I have heard stories that my family and people that were alive have shared with me. One story that has always stuck with me is how George W. Bush was in a classroom teaching young children when he found out about the incident. I can't imagine how hard it must've been for him to take in all of that information and understand what was going on while having to remain calm in front of the classroom. I wonder if the kids that were in the room with him that day remember this moment and how they would explain it to others.

Anna Caroline Senkel

2025-09-10 20:04:08 UTC

Although I was not alive during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I have been told multiple stories by my mom. At the time she home visiting her parents. They all assumed that the whole United States was under attack. They truly did not know what to expect. My grandpa at the time was the town doctor, so he lined up all of his doctoring supplies just incase something were to happen in their town. Thankfully, nothing did but it seemed like a very terrifying experience.

Caroline Campbell

2025-09-10 20:04:16 UTC

I was not born when 9/11 occurred however I have heard many stories. One specific story was from my mom, she was in her freshman year of Ole Miss, sitting in her dorm room in Martin, when she got the news that 9/11 was happening. I recently saw a video about how George Bush was in a classroom reading a story to children at a school, when he recieved the news he remained calm, and waiting few minutes before leaving the classroom so that he did not alarm the children.

Parker Tuttle

2025-09-10 20:05:08 UTC

While I wasn't alive during 9/11, I have heard lots of stories from my family. My family is full of pilots, and at the time, my grandpa was on a trip. He has told me about how it was being in the airport in Atlanta when the first plane made impact. He always starts it with mass chaos as the whole airport shuts down and people are going crazy running around and trying to get a hold of loved ones. Before 9/11, the intensity of airport security wasn't what it is today, and it was a very loose process. Ever since then, the security to get through airports became what it is now, and my grandpa likes to make the point that after 9/11 a lot of people were scared to fly and the airports became a ghost town for a while compared to what is was and what is it now.

Cole Feathers

cafeath1 — 2025-09-10 20:05:09 UTC

None of my family is from the NYC area, nor was I born yet -- but my grandparents were getting ready for work. My grandmother and grandfather were drinking their morning coffee watching the Today Show when they first heard about it. After that, they didn't go to work and the rest of the day carried a solemn tone. My dad & mom were each at work in their break rooms where everyone crowded around small CRT TVs watching the attacks unfold. It speaks volumes to the events' impact from its influence on my family despite their distance from the victims of 9/11 and the people of NYC.

Libby Miller

2025-09-10 20:05:37 UTC

I was not alive but growing up I learned and heard a lot about 9/11. My mom would tell me how she was pregnant with my brother and on the way to work and my dad overheard the news on the radio. They tell me how security in airports became a lot more intricate and strict. I remember seeing and listening to the recordings of the last conversation some people got to have with their loved ones before they were in the crash. This image attached was shown a lot to me throughout school because it shows the first tower being hit and the second plane coming in and hitting the second one. I would often hear how President Bush reacted to it as well since I am from Dallas and he also lives there. There is an image of someone coming up to him to tell him the news while he was visiting a school. It was a very impactful and tragic event that still impacts people today.

Libby Duncan

ewdunca1 — 2025-09-10 20:05:50 UTC

I wasn’t alive during 9/11, but my parents have always told me where they were, what they were doing, and how it impacted them for years to come. My father has worked in the political world for as long as I can remember, and on September 11th, he was at the Capitol, one of the most terrifying places to be as the nation was under attack at significant landmarks. He has described the chaos, the fear, and the overwhelming uncertainty that filled the room that day. Even now, when he tells the story, the horror still rings in his voice, making the events of that day feel unimaginable to me.

Michael

2025-09-10 20:06:16 UTC

almost ten years ago my history middle school history teacher explained to me very vividly about 911. How before the event, the world trade center was essentially a symbol of power here in the united states, but once the planes struck the tower, everyone in America had never felt more vulnerable than they did in that moment. She said that the worst part about it was that all you could do was watch in horror as the feelings of being safe and secure all but completely evaporated from you. Not to mention the lives that were being taken from us.

Another person that told me about this event was my senior drill sergeant in basic training. He told me at the time he didn't understand what was going on since he was still a kid. He was in his house with his parents when the tragedy struck. He told me that he never forgot that moment and is one of the main reasons why he enlisted as soon as he was of age.

Alexis Thornton

2025-09-10 20:06:31 UTC

I wasn't born during 9/11 but I asked my parents what there stories were and even though they weren't directly affected because they were living in Chicago at the time it still impacted them. However, with Chicago being another major city there were still frightened they could be hit next. They watched everything happen on T.V. in disbelief that this would even happen in there lifetime and how this would affect there city and life moving forward. They said one of the major outcomes besides grief and unity throughout the country was airport security taking safety up a notch implementing TSA. It was especially bad in Chicago with is being a similar city to New York.

Zoe Shaw

2025-09-10 20:06:32 UTC

I wasn’t born yet on 9/11, but hearing the stories from that day has shown me how deeply it impacted so many lives. People talk about the confusion, the silence in the skies, and the way strangers became family in an instant. What stands out most is the kindness and courage that followed, the firefighters, the volunteers, and the everyday people who stepped up. My grandma worked at the Pentagon then, but by some twist of fate, she had left just before the plane hit. That detail has always stayed with me, the thin line between life and loss. Even though I didn’t live through it, I carry the weight of that day through her story.Even though I didn’t live through it, I believe we can honor that day by choosing empathy, rejecting hate, and being a light in someone else’s darkness. Change begins with how we treat each other, every single day.

Eliza Renshaw

2025-09-10 20:07:04 UTC

On 9/11/2001, I was not alive yet. My parents were though, and they can retell exactly where they were and what happened throughout that day. My mom worked in the public school system at the time and was teaching social studies to 10th graders. She remembers the announcement to turn on the TV and watch. It was insane. The shock. Everyone being terrified. She said that the school went on a "lockdown" because nobody really knew what to do. No one knows what to do in this situation, it is never warranted. The one thing my mom continues to share though is that one of her students had an uncle who was a firefighter in New York City. That day, he lost his life. The student was distraught for months. My mother said she always felt some guilt and sadness because she couldn't do anything to help said student.

These stories are all so different and heartbreaking. Nobody knew it would happen.

Trip Robold

2025-09-10 20:08:09 UTC

I was born after 9/11 happened, but I heard a story from my aunt that she saw the dark line of smoke fill the bright blue sky that day. She lived on Long Island, which is about 30-45 minutes away from the World Trade Center. She said that everyone was just horrified; that no one felt safe. From anywhere in the county you could watch on television see the world under attack which is terrifying. I couldn't even imagine being in the city or around the area it must've been the most terrifying thing a person could see.

Sophia Warner

2025-09-10 20:09:19 UTC

I was not born yet, but from what my parents said, they always remember the day like it was yesterday. As soon as it happened, my mom rushed out of work to go pick my cousins up from school and bring them home. My dad was the boss at his work, and he went straight home and grabbed two TVs to bring into the office to show his coworkers what was going on, and to keep them up to date, as some of his coworkers had family in New York and were fearful of their families. Since that day, our family proudly displayed a sign that says "Never forget" in honor of the first responders and civilians killed in this tragedy.

Ellie Cox

2025-09-10 20:11:18 UTC

September 11, 2001. I was not alive yet; however, my parents were both alive and married during that tragic day. My dad was at work, banking in Chicago. He said he remembered being in the office, setting up for the day with the radio on his desk, when, all of a sudden, the tragic news had poured out of the small box. He had to go home early that day, as did everyone, to see their families, count their blessings, and pray for all who were lost. My mother was driving into work, outside of Chicago, listening to the radio. She said she was listening to Pat Benatar when the song was interrupted and the person on the radio told the tragic news of American lives being killed. Both of my parents remember the day like it was yesterday. When my family visited New York, we went to the 9/11 memorial. We saw the remains of the towers and pictures of those who were lost. While I am grateful I did not lose someone in 9/11, I am saddened that people did lose a special someone in their lives. The incident is tragic and horrific. We should remember the brave first responders and the innocent civilians who passed.

Kendall Renner

2025-09-10 20:12:42 UTC

While I wasn't alive on Sept. 11th, I have heard horrific stories and learned information from my parents. One story that sticks out to me, that my Mom told me was, at the time, her and my Dad lived in College Park in Orlando. (Which is near the Orlando International Airport) and on the evening of 9/11, they were walking the dogs and since all flights were grounded, it was so eerie and quiet and it was on that walk they decided to pick out their wedding date. They said it became urgent because "tomorrow is not guaranteed". You never know what could happen. As they walked, the whole neighborhood put out their American Flags to show support and it was something that the whole country was going through together.

Lucy Greenhagen

2025-09-10 20:13:00 UTC

I was born 5 years after the 9/11 attacks, and even then, I still remember the impact this made on our country. My dad recently shared a story with me about how he was supposed to be in New York City on September 11, 2001. I hear stories like that all the time, about how many people were supposed to be at the Twin Towers during the time of the attack, but they didn't end up going for some reason. Hearing these stories is always insane to me because it puts in perspective on how everything in life is always meant to be. How those people who didn't go to New York City on September 11 had more life ahead of them, and while those who were there that day, well, they had nothing left in their life journey. Every single year on September 11, I am reminded of this, and no matter how many years ago the attacks occurred, I still feel the impact of September 11, 2001.

Charlotte Jones

2025-09-10 20:13:33 UTC

I'll never forget when my mom told me that she was pregnant with my older brother when she heard. She was getting ready for the day to head to work and she had the news on the TV. Her and my dad's work both called off and they took the rest of their day to appreciate each other and their families. They don't share a lot of details because it was really scary and traumatizing for not only them but everyone in the US.

Sho Iino

2025-09-11 03:29:52 UTC

I was not yet born when 9/11 occurred, but the media also covered this news in Japan, so I learned about it through them. Moreover, I watched a YouTube video about the shocking event of 9/11 in my history class when I was a high school student. This news was shocking even in Japan, and most Japanese people know about it.

Emma Morgan

2025-09-11 17:54:55 UTC

I was not yet born, BUT I have many stories. My mother and father were sitting in the DMV, waiting to renew her drivers license, when all of a sudden, everyone started screaming. We live in Washington DC, so naturally, everyone was in panic when after the two towers were hit, our pentagon was also hit. They told me it was horror. 13 Miles down the road from them was terrorism. They were in shock, didn't know what to do. What was just supposed to be a newly-wed activity, turned into a horrifying day they will never forget. They say that they could hear the impact, being so close. Another story I have is about my grandfather, He is a Vietnam war veteran, for the U.S Army. For him, this is a day that he will never be able to shed from his mind. He said the phone calls he received, messages of terror and horror are things imprinted in his mind forever. I know everyone talks about the NYC Twin Towers hitting, but here are my stories on the horrors of the pentagon third plane hit.

Jackson Dietz

jjdietz — 2025-09-12 14:23:09 UTC

I’ve always heard stories about 9/11 about people who were very brave and saved many lives but, unfortunately, lost theirs. One example being the boy with the red bandana. However when I thought about this reflection I’ve never really heard about where someone I know was or how it impacted their day. That was until yesterday when my EDHE teacher was talking about where he was. He said on Tuesday morning he was walking to his Psychology class when he heard the news. He still went and attended class and then worked a shift at his job later that night. But he didn’t just flow through the day like nothing happened. He said it made his whole day way harder than it needed to be and it filled him with fear making him struggle throughout that day.

Georgia Forbes

2025-09-12 16:04:09 UTC

Since I was not born yet, my parents talk about their memories with 9/11 a lot, specifically my dad. They were both juniors in college my mom was going to College of Charleston and my dad went to The Citadel and had recently enlisted in the army. He tells me that he had just come back from the A.M. call to se the first tower hit. He kept trying to call my mom and she did not answer until after the second tower hit because she was asleep. I think it was a really sad day for the two of them, not only because of the terrible tragedies taking place in New York, but because of this attack, the U.S. would go to war. That would mean that my newly enlisted dad would be sent overseas to fight. He talks about that day as a the day he knew everything became real and I think it is a really powerful story.

Josie Janisch

2025-09-12 19:38:13 UTC

I was not alive yet on 9/11, but both of my parents were alive at then time and they have shared their stories with me. My dad works as a financial advisor, and he was actually supposed to have traveled to New York a few days before September 11th in order to have a meeting in the World Trade Center that day. He had his flights booked and everything, but then the day before he was supposed to fly out his boss canceled the meeting because he wanted to be present on his 5 year old son’s first day of Kindergarten. I am so blessed that his boss made this decision to cancel the meeting because if he had not my Dad would have been in the tower that was attached that day. Even though my Dad was not there, I often think about the many people that did have family in the buildings that day. 9/11 was truly such a tragic event, and I will always remember and mourn the victims of that horrific event.

Romundi McBride

2025-09-12 20:12:41 UTC

I was not born yet, but I have learned and heard stories of what people told me. I can only image the pain that they love ones felt on this day. I know September 11 is something that people will never forever all the heroes we have lost due to that event. My grandma always tells me how she was on her couch when she got a call from my great grandma telling her to turn on her tv and watch the news. My mom tells me how she was outside playing when she heard my grandma screaming from the living room. That when she went inside to see what happened. This event have affect many people lives for many years.

Claire Smith

2025-09-13 02:33:15 UTC

I was not born yet, but I have heard and learned so much about 9/11. One story that has really stuck with me was a women from my hometown. She was 25 years old and enlisted out of high school. She served in Bosnia, Korea and Germany before she began working at the Pentagon, as an assistant in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. I was told that she had been reported missing in the Pentagon's destroyed section for over two weeks, but her family remained hopeful. Although I don't know much more information about her, it is really sad knowing she was from my hometown.

Haley Ebner

2025-09-15 00:53:45 UTC

I was not born yet when 9/11 occurred, but I have heard many different stories from my parents and other older family members. At the time, my mom worked at a court house, and since that is considered a government building they all got sent home early and/or did not have to go into work that day. I remember her telling me that everyone was scared, confused and panicked because they did not know where else could be a target. At the time my uncle also worked in a government building in Chicago, which is a huge city and could have very well been a target. I remember him telling me that the whole building had to evacuate in panic. Although I did not witness the day of 9/11 myself I can still feel the fear and tragedy through other people’s stories.

Nate Lucas

2025-09-15 13:06:45 UTC

I had not been alive yet, but my parents were still in college. When talking about the horrible event, my dad told me how his day went down. He was just getting done with football practice when he turned on the TV and saw the aftermath from the first plane hitting the tower. Agter seeing that, he called his parents and told them what was happening. He also told me the chilling message the college sent out canceling classes and telling them to pray for the victims of the attack.

Mary Carter Callaway

2025-09-15 16:16:02 UTC

I was not born yet, but I have learned so much about 9/11. Every year in school we would be taught the history of 9/11. It honestly was my favorite to learn about. It was such a trying time for our country and caused so much pain. It shows how our country prevailed and came back stronger than ever. I have never heard of any personal stories but every documentary I have watched has made it feel even more real in my eyes. Not living through it makes it hard to imagine, but hearing the stories of those who did, helps paint a picture.

Madilynn Miller

2025-09-15 19:18:41 UTC

I had not yet been born when 9/11 happened, but I do recall my parents telling me countless stories of brave people they had known who had given up their life to help others in 9/11. I remember when I visited New York seeing the memorial and thinking about how brave those people must have been, the other tragedies I learned about at school which lead me to question my parents who then told me my great grandfather has been a captain of a ship in Pearl Harbor and is now buried at Arlington in DC. After hearing these stories I remember being sad but my parents pushed me to feel pride for our country and to embrace our history and see how far we have come.

Arianna Andres

2025-09-17 02:31:12 UTC

I wasn't alive yet, but I have heard different stories from many people including my parents. My dads side of the story is different from my moms. He was a teaching at one of his very first schools, the day had ended early and he was on his way home. His mom, my grandmother, had called him and told him about what was going on, then to get home as soon as he could. My mom, on the other hand, was at one of her also very first hair dressing jobs. She had seen it on the news.

Sarah McGregor

2025-09-20 02:42:39 UTC

I wasn't alive yet, but my dad used to tell me about his memory of what happened that day. He was on a work trip and had a flight scheduled for later that day. He was just watching TV in his hotel room when he saw what was happening on the news. I remember him telling me that he couldn't believe what was happening. It didn't feel real. He did not get on the plane back home later that day. Even though he did not experience the event, it's scary to think about the possibility of him being on a plane on the same day that something so tragic happened on planes.

Cortland Grubbs

2025-09-24 01:01:32 UTC

I had not been born yet but, one of stories I heard was from my grandmother who had worked for Southwest Airlines for the longest time. She told me that she was loading up passengers into the terminal and they had an immediate lockdown and had to consolidate every and all passengers as the entire airport in Austin Tx, went into lockdown with the tough of anyone could be involved with this terroristic threat. As for my dad he was sitting in college and they rolled out one of those big box tv's and played the news for everyone. They both described it as the world had stopped for a few days as no one could have predicted this.

Sarah Hamlin

2025-10-03 18:42:33 UTC

On September 11, 2001, a tragedy happened. Being born in 2004 I was not alive to experience it but have learned a lot about it growing up in classes. With my mom being an immigrant, both of my parents were out of the country. My dad is from America and was called by the family when it happened. He said he was working and just remembered a pit in his stomach. My mom was moving to America the following year and it made her really scared. My parents don't talk much about current events but when they do I know it's something serious.

Jimmy Hoffman

2025-10-03 19:29:44 UTC

I was not alive during 9/11 however, I do remember may dad telling me where he was during it. He didn't give me many details but he was at work and in a meeting. One of the employees told the boss to turn on the news and they watched it unfold from there. He said many of his colleagues went home crying during the event.

Claire Herrmann

2025-10-03 20:24:47 UTC

I hadn't yet been born on September 11th, 2001, but the story I've heard most about that day comes from my mom. She was getting ready to go to work as the director of a daycare. She went to work and went about her day as if it were normal, not knowing what tragedy had occurred. She was living with my grandmother at the time for a few weeks. That evening, when everyone got home from work, they discussed what was going on. They couldn't believe the gruesome videos being aired. My mom thought it was a sick joke and didn't believe it when she watched it on the news. No one could fly commercially for several days; it was like the country had gone into a lockdown.

Rian Square

2025-10-10 06:14:46 UTC

I wasn’t born yet when 9/11 happened, but my mom has told me about that day many times. She was in college at the University of Florida, sitting in her African Studies class when she first heard the news. She said the room went completely silent, and everyone just looked around in shock, not really sure what to say or do. The professor ended class early, and my mom remembers walking back to her dorm with a heavy feeling, knowing something terrible had happened. She and her friends spent the rest of the day watching the news and trying to understand what was going on.

Sarah April

2025-12-02 21:27:12 UTC

I was not born when September 11, 2001 occoured but I have heard many stories about that day from my family. My mom at the time was attending UNO, and all she can remember is one second the campus was filled with nothing but joy, and then the next it was as if it was a ghost town. My mom, at the time, was studying in the library when it happened, and had no idea about it. She then walked outside and realized no one was there. She walked to her car, and the radio turned on, talking about the attack and what had happened. My mom rushed home to see the terrifying look on my grandma's face, and she stated that all that was left in her town was fear.

Channing Cox

2025-12-05 22:05:31 UTC

Although I was not born during the attack on September 11 I have heard recounts from many people in my family about where they were when it happened. The most touching recounts of that day is from my mom who was living in New York at the time of the attacks. On the morning of 9/11 my mom was staying at my aunts new apartment which was directly across the river from the towers. She watched the attacks first hand and had to go through watching the city go up in smoke. After the attacks my dad drove from Texas to New York to pick her up and take her to Texas. My mom has never fully recovered from the experience and anytime we go to New York for vacation she still can't bring herself to go to the museum and tears up at the remembrance ponds.