Thursday Thoughts~ 9/11 Remembrance

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Thursday Thoughts~ 9/11 Remembrance
19
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 9:58am
In remembrance of the 9/11 events two years ago, lets take a moment to think back on this day. I would like to hear everyone's story from that day. Where were you when you first heard of the events happening and what held the most significance for you?

((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

Tara

 

 Tara~ co-cl of Pregnant after TTC

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 12:50pm
Hi,

Sept 11,2001 I was at work.I heard it on the news that the first tower had been hit.I phoned my DD told her to get her dad and tell him that the world trade center had just been hit by a plane(my heart breaks to write this).My DD was only 7 and turned on the tv just in time to watch the second attack!!!She called me to let me know, wondering what was happening in the United States.My DH did not believe it, as they sat together watching this terrible attack unfold.My DD had to leave for school,but not before the towers fell.

I couldn't go home from work to explain to my DD what was happening face to face, but she knew from what I had told her, this was a terror attack.Although she couldn't understand why i don't think anyone will ever understand WHY.

I went home at lunch to find my DH in front of the tv(we stayed there for days).I knew I had to join him but my fear was unreal and I cried and cried.We live in Canada and we didn't know anyone injured or anyone that died.Still my heart was in so much pain for the people of the US and for those who lost loved ones.

At one point in the evening broadcast there was a little girl down there looking for her father who owned a restaurant or worked for one in or near the trade center.She couldn't find him and she was crying,but someone came along to help her and they found her dad.

To watch her be reunited with him gave me hope but it also made the reality of this very clear.

God Bless you all!!!!!

Tracey

 Hugs Tracey  &n

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2002
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 1:04pm
At the time of 9-11 I was working at a law firm on 42 st (good thing I wasn't working were I'm working now which is only blocks away from the towers) sitting at my computer when someone instant message be saying "are you watching the news did you see what happen", I didn't know what they was talking about then they said "one of the twin towers was hit by a plane". RIght away I thought the were lying so I went to cnn .com and it was there bright as day. First I thought it was an accident but when the second got hit I knew something was up I was so scared. I thought the world was coming to an end and all I wanted to do was go home to my son and family but I couldn't because there was no way out of manhattan but to walk and I was in mid manhattan and that was way to far for me to walk. So I went to a friend house and watch the news. As soon as I got there the buildings fell. I couldn't believe it , it was like a nightmare. At around 6pm the train started to run and I went home. I remebering looking at everyone face and they all looked sad, confused, scared...etc. I don't remeber seeing one smile. It was the worst day for all newyorkers and everyone in america.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 1:20pm
It brings tears to my eyes and chills to my body to read everyone's heartfelt stories. That day is forever burned into our memories, and has become a part of who we are....

My story is that I live and work in S. Carolina, as a regulator (environmental risk assessor) doing environmental restoration at Federal sites. That day we happened to be at the DOE Savannah River Site, which if you don't know, houses a lot of high level nuclear waste, as well as a lot of intermediate and low level radioactive waste.

We were in a boring training class and had just been given a break. As we walked out to the restrooms, someone came running down the hall and asked 'did you hear what happened? Two planes hit the world trade center, one hit the pentagon, and they're worried about the white house. We're under attack.'

We immediately ran to the lunchroom/canteen where they had set up a projection TV onto the wall... we arrived in time to see the buildings fall.

Shortly after that they did a mandatory emergency evacuation of the site. 3,000 people were told to pack up and get off the site; they were worried that we might be next because of the devastation that could occur if someone/something hit all of that rad. waste.

It took us 3 hours to get home from the site. I remember walking up the stairs at work to get back to my office, just confused and scared. We had been unable to see or hear any of the coverage on our drive home. All I wanted to do was call my family (mom and dad both on the W. coast) and be held by my husband.

This past March I was fortunate enough to visit the wonderful city of NY for the very first time. We took a group of young people from our church on a pilgrimage to St. John the Devine's cathedral. Part of what we did was visit Ground Zero. Until that day, until that moment when I stood there and looked at the large pit of what was once an architectural feat, I was unable to fully mourn. That cold morning in March, under the bright sun and blue sky, I was able to let go. I finally allowed myself to feel it.

We later went to St. Paul's chapel, right around the corner from Ground Zero. Seeing all of the artifacts from the aid provided to rescue workers, prayer books with ashey fingerprints on the pages for desecration of the dead, brought it all back. And it allowed me to grieve, to mourn, to come to terms with something that although it was so far, was so close to home.

It really puts it all in perspective, doesn't it? It makes me want a child even more, so that I can teach him/her about 9/11, and how our country rose above it. So I can teach one person to be loving, kind, and peaceful, and to be a good person.

Thanks for reading these rambling thoughts on this important day of peace and inner reflection.

Kristen

Avatar for annemd03
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 1:44pm
I was getting ready for work and Good Morning America was on the television. They announced that a small plane had flown into the World Trade Center. I left, and drove to the Holiday Inn where we were having a big meeting. On the way, it was announced on the that another plane had hit the other tower. I remember calling DH...we were newly engaged at that time...and talking to him about the possiblity of terrorism. When I got to the hotel, everyone was gathered in the lobby and in the bar watching the horrible events taking place. I sat and watched...and froze in shock as the first tower collapsed...and then I cried. It was the most horrible thing I have ever seen. We went into our meeting, and the leader led us all in prayer. Later, someone came in the room and announced that another plane had crashed. At that point, everyone left the meeting and went home... I remember feeling shocked and afraid. My brother is an FBI agent who has been very involved in all of this...and I called and talked with him. He did his best to reassure me...but my security in our "safe" America was totally shaken.

I hope we never go through another attack again. I am praying for those who lost their loved ones...for those who have family members in the forces...for my brother, as he has been working sometimes 16 hour days since 9/11...and for all of America, that we continue to hold together a united front. God bless America!

Anne

Anne - Proud Mommy to Rachel Elizabeth!

Avatar for threejsnu
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Registered: 04-23-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 1:57pm
I was home on my last week of maternity leave with my then 5-week-old daughter. I turned on the television shortly after sending my 6-year-old off to school. That is when I saw the images of the burning tower. Moments later the first building fell.

My husband was on his way to work and heard the events unfolding on the radio. He turned around and picked up our daughter from school, drove home and we sat in front of the television speechless in disbelief for what seemed like an eternity. We live 20 minutes from NYC and can see the skyline from our area.

Our company's NY office building on West Street (across from the towers) burned due to falling debris and we lost one young co-worker who happened to be stuck in the elevator at the time of the attack. It was so somber returning to work that following Monday.

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Registered: 05-20-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 2:51pm
*bump*
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 2:51pm
Hello everyone...

I was at my office when the planes hit, but my DH was on his way to work in Rutherford, NJ, directly across the Hudson River, when the planes hit. I did not believe him when he called me. He went to his office on the 6th floor and watched the towers fall. They were evacuated shortly afterwards, since he worked in a tall building. I remember thinking how awful that something so horrible could happen on such a beautiful morning. My husband had a really hard time with it all and could not be in the room if the news was on tv or the radio. It was later in the day, that we found out just how close to home this would affect us. My Dad's cousin had just gone back to work part time after taking an extended maternity leave with her son who has Down's Syndrome...she worked on the 97th floor of tower one, just three days a week. It was a terrible loss to the family. I didn't know her well, not that it really makes a difference. We went to the service this weekend at the new 9/11 memorial county park and it feels like it just happened yesterday.

Hugs to everyone!

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Registered: 05-27-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 4:26pm
*BUMP*
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Registered: 04-03-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 4:48pm
I was at the hospital with my Grandmother. She had a stroke five weeks earlier and they called the family in the evening of 9/10. On 9/11 we were all (I have a huge family) in her hospital room. It was nice to be able to be with the ones I love when hearing such heartbreaking news. The nurses told us that they thought she held on until 9/12 b/c the Gates of Heaven were full and God wasn't ready to take her from us just yet. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think of it.

LOLove & ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))) to all

Shannon

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Avatar for leanneandmaggie
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 09-11-2003 - 5:18pm
It is very hard not to cry when I read all these stories.

I live in Alabama, so I was nowhere near the tragedy, and did not lose any loved ones. On that day, my brother had moved into a new apartment and my mother and I brought my then one month old daughter over to his apartment to let the cable guy in. There was no television at all. I was so wrapped up in the love for this new little person, and had no idea what was going on. When the cable guy came in, he didn't say a word to us. When he got the TV hooked up, we immediately saw what was going on, as it was on every channel. We started screaming, "Oh my God! What happened?" when we saw the images of the burning towers on TV. The cable guy told us about the planes hitting the towers and that it had been on all day. Of course, we had no idea, so we were late getting the news. I called my husband to see if he knew about it. Then, we sat in shocked silence watching the news for a while. We couldn't believe it when we heard about the other two planes. I was thinking-what's next? and Oh my God-we are at war.

I had the thought that my precious baby was going to be living in a world of such hate and fear. I felt very selfish for thinking that way, but I couldn't help but wonder how bad things would be by the time my daughter was a grown woman if things could be this bad now.

I was so proud of the way everyone in the United States came together to help each other and to honor those who died. My heart goes out to those of you who witnessed this terrible tragedy, and to those who lost loved ones.

Love and hugs,

Leanne

Leanne

Maggie 8/10/01

Mike    5/19/05

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