Where Were You?

Patti Hommes · September 2021

This does not fall into the “Just for Fun” Category, but I wasn't sure where else to post. It's not a fun topic at all, but one worth posting. I'm watching a news special on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and it brings back so many memories! Many of you were in the early stages of your education on September 11, 2001. Many were in college. My oldest granddaughter was less than 3 months old. I was on my my way to work on Rt. 78 in NJ from Bridgewater to Newark, to my 2nd of many RE DBM jobs, at Newark Beth Isreal Medical Center. I was watching the road, listening to the radio, when I heard that the World Trade Center had been hit. I was at the exact point on 78 that when I looked up from watching the road aroud me I saw the smoking tower. That day changed our history. No work got done that day. We all gathered on the top level of the hospital parking garage and watched as the first tower went down and the second, and we cried. We went on lockdown in preparation for incoming casualties that the NY hospitals couldn't handle. I was there all night. I think I was given the OK to leave at 2 am. The communites around me in NJ lost many. This is not a happy topic, but worth posting. Where were you on September 11, 2001?

Beth Hudson · September 2021

I was at work in New Jersey. We were glued to the tv and radio. We couldn't see the towers from where we were but in the hours and days ahead we could see and smell the smoke. I remember trying to explain things to my then 10 year old daughter what was happening. It was horrible.

Austen Brown · September 2021

I was running late that morning and a teacher at the front of the school told me what was unfolding. It was a weird school day, most of my teachers abandoned their plans and pulled up the news coverage instead. When I got home I remember frantic calls to family/friends in NYC and DC, to make sure everyone was alive and well.

Rachel Cavalier · September 2021

I was thinking about this the other day because reading about the different parts of what went on, all of the times were during my school day and yet I remember watching the 2nd tower falling on TV at home.

Thinking about it though - obviously, I am in the UK so by the time that happened (and with the time difference) the school day was over and I was at home. I don't really remember anyone telling us anything in school, but since I was 17 at the time and in sixth form, so someone might have said something, whether it was a teacher or one of my fellow students who been using the computers in the library.

Elizabeth Perron · September 2021

I was working a 5pm-2am shift in a call center so I didn't wake up until late that day. It was surreal to turn on the tv and see the first tower on fire. I lived in an apartment and after the second tower fell, some of my neighbors and I came outside to comfort each other.

Much love and peace to all.

Crystal Bruce · September 2021

I was in college at the time and my mom called me that morning to chat and while we were chatting she said, “oh, turn on the tv - it looks like a pilot accidentally crashed into a skyscraper in NYC.” So, I turned it on and I said to her “uh oh, looks like someone pilot is going to be in a lot of trouble.” Then, as we were chatting, the second plane hit. I watched the whole day unfold from the start. I remember going to class and written on the chalkboard was “go home, you are missing history unfold.” So surreal and it feels as vivid as if it were just yesterday.

Harry Frank · September 2021

I was in school. We flowed from class to class, each one with the tv on and silence otherwise.

Jennifer Vincent · September 2021

I was at my apartment - far from NYC - getting ready to go to class and work. My friend called me and told me to put on the news. We were on the phone wondering what was going on when the second plane hit. We were both silent. It felt like the whole world stopped spinning for a moment. Like everyone - collectively - held their breath in disbelief. Thinking about that day instantly takes me right back to that apartment and brings tears to my eyes. So many lives lost. So many lives forever changed.

Faith Murray · September 2021

I am probably one of the few people that does not remember “where you were when it happened”, because my family simply did not watch or listen to the news every day. We lived out in the country, surrounded by Amish folk at the time, and turned on our TV maybe twice a week. So instead of having my whole existence riveted throughout the long day, I saw it as a 15-minute recap on the news. It was shocking, but not as soul-consuming that way; I had more time to digest it, protected from the full impact of the original hours-long, grizzly footage.

What DOES stick in my mind strongly was the almost aggressive emotional response that followed. Our newspaper published a paper flag that businesses were supposed to hang in their windows to show patriotic support. While I was at work, one woman marched in, extremely angry that she did not see the flag in our window. My boss kindly pointed out that yes, it was in our window, she had simply overlooked it. People were angry, shocked, and unfortunately eying all their neighbors with suspicion on whether you were “patriotic enough”. I guess it was an expression of fear – fear of an unknown enemy in your midst – which is what terrorism is all about, after all.

Where Were You?

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