I remember the absolutely crystal blue skies in NY state that day.  It was a beautiful September day.  The kids had just gone back to school, I was home with just my little one, barely over a year old.  I had just stepped out of the shower when the phone rang. 

Clark was calling me from the base (Fort Drum 10th Mountain Div.), he asked if I was watching CNN.  I made some off the cuff remark that "duh, I have a 1 year old at home, Sesame Street maybe, CNN?? No!".  He said go turn it on, someone just flew a plane into the WTC.  Then he said "Oh My God, did you see that??" It didn't sink in, I was standing in a towel and told him I'd call him back.  I got dressed, went downstairs and turned the TV to CNN.  The OMG was because he was watching the 2nd plane hit the 2nd tower.

I called him back and we talked a bit, he was in military mode so I didn't get to talk to him long.  Then I sat riveted to the television, and watched as a 3rd plane (initially thought to be a helicopter) crashed into the pentagon.  I knew better than to try and call Clark on the base, so I sent him an email that said "Should I be getting scared now?"  He replied with one word  - "Yes"

At 1:00 p.m. he pulled up in front of the house.  All the fear of that day deepened 10 fold because I knew there was only one reason he was home.  He quietly loaded all his mobility gear into the back of his car and kissed me deeply and wiped away my tears, then kissed his son of only a year, and said "I don't know when I'll be home again"  I had a million questions, and knew that he could answer none of them.  I told him to call the first chance he got.

As I watched him drive away I was mixed with a sense of terrible grief and fear because I truly did not know when I would see him again, or IF I would see him again.  But more than that, I held a sense of pride that carried me through that dark day.

The skies were very blue that day, and without a cloud in the NY sky, the rain of a million tears fell upon us...

Cat
     

Checking out of a hotel in Manchester New Hampshire - saw the second one hit on the lobby TV.

Took a long time to sink in..........

My meetings for the day were canceled by the customer, so I hung out staring at the news channels. I assumed that the airlines would running again in a couple of days so I hung out. I can only come up the word surreal to describe those days and the interaction between strangers on the street.

Finally starting driving West to California in my rental car when I realized it would be faster than waiting. Got home the following Monday.

Marc

Was doing my usual morning routine of watching CNN and having my morning cup of java.  I got up at 7 and saw the second plane hit live on tv, I was horrified and started crying of course.  I was born in NY and it will always be home to me.  Then I saw the news of the PA. plane and panicked BIG time.  The PA plane landed only a few miles away from where my daughter was staying at the time.  Needless to say I was pounding the phone buttons trying to get a hold of her, finally got a hold of her by evening time with a mixture of relief that my daughter was ok, and grief over all who weren't.

Ironically my dad and I were at the world trades center the weekend before 9-11-01, little did we know it would be the last time.

I will never forget!!!

Burying my mother at the National Cemetery about 1 mile from the Cape Cod Airbase.

The F-15s came over so low I could tell the time on the pilots wrist watches.

Eerie.

I was on the phone with my friend Sue having my coffee and the kids had just finished breakfast and were just waiting for the time to begin the walk to school.

They were watching the morning news and I got out of the chair to get a refill, still talking to Sue when the kids said something like...

"Mom, a plane just flew into a building in New York."  I thought to myself...great, they changed the channel to cartoons, so I said.."Turn the news back on guys..."  They said..."But Mom this is the news..."

I came back around the corner after making my coffee and saw the TV...just moments later the second plane crashed.  I couldn't wrap my brain around it just yet.  I thought it was a movie trailer perhaps.  This couldn't be really happening. 

As I heard the familiar voices of the news anchors, my heart dropped.  I told Sue I'd have to call her back.

Kids were afraid to go to school, but there had been no cancellation notice, so I did the best I could and told them New York was a long way away, but I'd walk them to the school crossing where they would meet up with friends and go the rest of the way together. 

I went home, sank into my chair, and watched the news the rest of the day.  My boyfriend called from work, but I don't remember what we talked about. 

I could feel the growing angst that nothing would ever be quite the same again.  And I was right.

Brew was working at home and I was going to take the dog for a walk when a neighbor stopped me at the end of the driveway asking what I thought about the plane hitting the world trade center? 

I turned around, yelled for Brew to turn on the tv, and watched the second plane hit the trade center.

Once they announced the grounding of all commercial airplanes. Brew's phone started ringing (he works for the world's largest airline) and he went into crisis mode.  I stayed glued to the tv for the rest of the day. 

Life has never been the same.

I was at work...a friend called to say a plane had hit the tower.  Little did we know what was about to happen next.

That event is like a few others in my life.  I'll never forget where I was and what I was doing.

Let us never forget.......ever!!!!!!!!

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I was on my way to a meeting in Madison, Wi and I had the radio on and thought I heard something about a plane hitting a building, I'm thinking that is odd. I arrived at the meeting and found out it was for real. We continued with our meeting, but very hard to concentrate, at breaktime, we went into the bar area and watched it on TV, and at that point the buildings collapsed, it was unbelievable, the goosebumps, and thinking of all of the people inside....even though it will be 9 years, it seems like yesterday. I want to go someday and visit groundzero and everything that is going on there.   :(

Diane

I don't really have a story. I was reading the paper and hadn't had the news on all morning which unusal for me. When I turned on the news it was all over the place. I saw everything in replay.

Our Pearl Harbor. (I'm still waiting for some serious apologies from a large group... >:( )

Charlie

I was on I 20 about 25 miles east of Bossier/Shreveport LA.  I was listening to talk radio and they broke in with the news that the first plane had hit the tower.  Then I heard the news that a second plane had hit the tower.  All I could think of was Orson Welles War of the Worlds.  Surely this couldn't be real.  By the time I got to my first stop, 4 planes had crashed. 

Bossier is home to Barksdale AFB (GWB landed there) and a lot of people are either in the military in this area or have a family member or friend serving.  There were a lot of deeply upset people.  Everywhere you turned, a tv was replaying the horror of what had just happened.

There is no way in hell I will every forget that day or the weeks/months that followed.

I was online here at ch.com and also talking with Ted (one of the old cluster gang) on MSN Messenger.  I remember his terror because his dad lived right near the towers. 

I was at work during this and our whole office came to a stand still.  I remember talking to my mom on the phone and hearing her cry when the first tower started to fall - she could see folks jumping. :( 

The tears still come...it's like it was yesterday still.  When they reopened the airports days later, I remember being really scared of all the planes and worrying that each one might have an attack plan.

I was at home getting ready to go to work late, when my son called from work to tell me about it.  I turned on the TV and watched the second on hit.  Needless to say, I never made it to work.  The next day I talked with the Marine Corp with my son.  They told me I was to old and fat (a little more diplomatically), but they were happy to have Rob sign up.

Jerry

Edit to add:  My flag will be flying tomorrow, as it does every day.  Please fly yours too.

I was in my classroom teaching. My principal took me inthe hall and told me and I just said ok and went back to teaching. Then it hit me about 5 min. later what she said. I stood in front of the whole class, tongue tied took a deep breath and began a day of acting. We couldn't tell the kids. The board of ed. had decided this would be left to the parents. Within 30 min. our school went into lock down and parents came one by one to get their kids. My only reply as I escorted them to their parents was that you will remember this day forever (I was 5 when Kennedy was shot and will NEVER forget it) and your parents are here to take you home and they will explain. We had to escort each child to the parents, making sure they were never left alone.

Tomorrow we will have an assembly to remember those who lost their lives in such a tragedy. I am very proud of how my administration has handled this with our students.

Charlotte

I was awakened by a close friend just before the 2nd impact on the Towers. I knew immediately we were under attack and it probably wasn't over.

When the Towers fell it was horrible. We will never forget! NEVER...

We flew to Vegas on 10/10/01 and I will never forget the armed troops at the airport.

Don

Driving across Lake Pontchartrain Causeway on my way to work.

Upon first report of the incident I thought, this is not an accident. Before I got off of the bridge the second tower was hit which confirmed my worst fear.

Went to my Dad's house and watched the collapse in total amazement at the utter stupidity of the human animal.

I wonder if Allah was pleased.

Steve G

I was off that day, and I was out riding my horse, with my niece and her horse.  We were racing through this huge field that we knew to be safe.  As usual, her horse was winning.

My business partner called me, on my cell phone, and I almost didn't answer it, due to the fun we were having.  Fortunately, I did answer it.

He told me what had happened, and due to the high military population, in our stores' locations, we decided to close all our stores.

I went back to the barn, and gave Cowboy (my horse) the quickest rub down (until later in the day) and headed home to watch what was happening.

Yes, it will be a day I will always remember, just like JFK's assassination and the shuttle Challenger explosion.

Chuck

Not where I should have been  :'(

Sitting at work making circuit boards listening to the radio. Wasn't really paying attention until our boss started flipping out.  I began to listen to the announcer talking about a plane flying into one of the WTC towers.  There was speculation that it was an accident.  We then took a break and went outside for a smoke (there were only 6 of us working there).  By the time we went back in, our bosses face was white as a ghost.  She sent us all home and even though I didn't know whether to cry or what, it's when I got here (home) that I turned on the TV and just collapsed onto the couch in disbelief.  My mouth was open in horror at what was happening.

Needless to say I was glued to the TV for all that day and the next.  I cried off and on throughout the whole time.

Prayers and thoughts are with the family and friends today of those who died. :'( :'( :'(

A piece of our freedom died along with them. :(

Every time the anniversary of 9/11 rolls around, I'm reminded of one of our own - I'll call him G.

G contacted me about 5 years ago through the OUCH BB as he was looking for a recommendation for a new neuro. We got to exchanging e-mails, and finally decided to meet for coffee. The first thing I noticed about G was that he seems nervous, and as we got to talking, there was something missing, a void in him on which I could not put a finger.

After enjoying meeting each other and exchanging information, neruo's phone number, etc., we started talking like two guys just getting to know one another. It was time to step outside for a smoke, and the conversation continued. Eventually I found out that G's daughter, A, was near the very top of one of the WTC towers and perished in the attack.

It was A's first business trip to New York after graduating from college and securing a job with a company in Chicago.

I think G is still out there, and today has to be very difficult for him and his wife. He doesn't belong to ch.com, nor OUCH, but he suffers. And he's one of those guys who has a whole different dimension to his suffering.

Today I think of you, G.

This is what the site looks like today

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I work in the building in the back, the one furthest to the right. Lots of security out here today, and lots of families and firemen walking around. Here's a pic from my window on the 33rd floor. Sorry for the quality, but it's taken with my camera phone. If you see to the right of the picture, behind the red crane and to the right of the hole, you will see a circle. That's a water fountain and there are a bunch of people standing around the circle. Some kind of ceremony.

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Whomever sat in my space back in 2001 must have had one hell of a view of what happened that day.....

Beautifully written Cat.  Give that man of your's a big thank you from me.

I was heading into my eye Dr for an appt to talk about this pain I have behind my eye.  Pre-diagnosis days ya know. 

Anyway, my wife called just before I got out of the car to tell me of the 1st plane.  I went in and we all speculated about an accident.  No one knew yet it had been an airliner.

Then she called to say a 2nd plane had hit.  Everything changed after that...

I went to work for an important meeting.  None of us could concentrate for the low flying F-15s overhead.  Finally we gave up and all went home.  I got there in time to see the towers fall. 

I just couldn't believe my eyes.  How could something so permenant fall to pieces.  How could the planners of it be so demented and inhuman?  I still ask myself these questions.

I remember the candlight vigle that followed.  That night the entire town stood out in front of their houses and held flames of rememberance.  I had kids to cart around and drove past thousands taking part. 

Hours later, well past dark, there was still one guy out in front of his house on a deserted side street.  He held the end of a once large candle now burned to a nub.  The wax drippings hung a full foot below his hand and tears streamed down his face.

-Dennis-

DennisM1045 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2009 at 9:41am:

He held the end of a once large candle now burned to a nub.  The wax drippings hung a full foot below his hand and tears streamed down his face.

That did it - I thought I might get through this day without crying.  But not anymore.

:'(.

Remember it very well.

Was at a rehab place after my first heartattack and was about start lunch.
Believe me when i say that we all forgot about the lunch and all was in the tv-room watching this nightmare

Svenn

I remember it starting out as one of the most beautiful days.

We must never forget.   :'(

Beth

Still remember...

Driving on the freeway to work listening to Howard Stern who started talking about an airplane crashing into the World Trade Center and one of the towers was on fire and people were jumping hundreds of feet out of windows, etc.

I thought to myself, Howard has a reputation of being off color at times and turning people off with his odd humor and this time, I can understand how people feel that way as I am turned off by his comment.  So I turned the radio station and heard it from another DJ talking about it.  I then turned back to Howard and listened in awe!

My work place was located adjacent to McCarran Intl Airport and all morning and afternoon not one plane took off or landed; that was a 1st and hopefully a last!

God Bless America!

-Gregg in Las Vegas

I was home getting ready for work when breaking news came on TV after the first plane hit the World Trade Center. The reporter was talking about a terrible "accident" that just occurred. Then when the second plane hit, the reporter said something like holy shit... this is no accident.

I was getting ready for work and half way listening to the TV when the first plane hit. One the way to work the second plane hit and by the time I got to work.. well, I was shook up totally.

One of my employees came in white faced.. her son worked for Am. Airlines and traveled to NY often and she couldn't get hold of him. We put the TV on and sat in front of it most of the day..

When GW landed at Barksdale I went into a panic because my son worked a few miles from there. Until I got hold of him my heart was doing cartwheels.

By four that afternoon my employee had found her son in Dallas and I had talked to my son in Shreveport and we closed the office early to go home and worry some more.

That and the day JFK was killed are two of the worst memories in my life and I remember every detail of those days..

I was at work and leaving the employee kitchen with another co-worker after getting coffee.  Another co-worker told us to go into the conference room, they had the news on, a plane crashed into one of the twin towers.  I asked which one.  When I saw the hole in that building, I knew immediately it was terrorists.  I also thanked God I didn't work there anymore.  I worked in the North tower for over a year a few years before that.  I did lose a friend though.  He worked in the Windows of the world Restaurant.  Gordon lost a close cousin in the plane that crashed into the Pentagon.  Isn't it weird how after all these years, it still feels like yesterday. And I don't know about you guys but I don't really feel any safer.

Hugs,
Langa