9/11/01

[LJC1861]

I will never forget the silence. The streets were quiet, as I lived below 14th St. which was the no vehicular traffic area. It was so strange, as there is always street noise.

The other strange thing was that there were no planes flying over and around the city. With 3 airports in the NYC area there was always plane traffic. What you could hear periodically was the high pitched screeching sound of the F-14 fighter jets that were regularly patrolling the skies.

After 2 days, it was like I can imagine living in a war zone was like. The grocery store around the corner had no food on the shelves as no delivery trucks were allowed in the area. I had walked up to 14th St. in a pair of flannel pj pants and a T-Shirt with a dollar in my pocket to see if I could get a newspaper. I did not carry my ID with me. I stepped outside of the National Guard barrier to get the paper and when I tried to get back in I was stopped by a very large soldier with an even bigger gun asking for my ID. I explained that I lived on W. 11th St, and came out to get a paper. He looked me up and down and agreed that I probably wouldn't have been walking around dressed like that if I didn't live in that area and let me back in. He did make me promise that I would never leave the house without ID again. Needless to say I did what he asked.

 

[JLTraveling]

My experience was somewhat different. I lived about 40 minutes from WDW, and everyone I knew worked at either WDW or Universal. A friend had spent the summer in California, and she flew home the night of Sept 10. A big group of us went the airport to pick her up. We met her at the gate.

That night we had a big welcome home party at my parents' house. A bunch of us were still passed out on the living room floor when my dad shook me awake. "A plane hit the World Trade Center. They think it was a terrorist attack." Apparently my parents were watching one of the morning news shows with a live view of the Twin Towers in the background. They actually saw the first plane hit behind the newscasters, and it took a few minutes for them to start reporting on it. They said it was very surreal.

Anyway, the entire group jumped up and bolted for the TV. We got there just in time to see the second plane hit. Hung over and bleary-eyed, we just sat and stared. Soon the phone calls started--nobody had to go to work, because WDW and Universal closed. The rumors didn't take long to start up. Supposedly the theme parks were a target. Several people in the group shared a house just down the road from Universal. There's enough pyro stored around Jaws to blow up half of Orlando. They were scared to go home. So we just spent the day sitting and staring at my parents' TV.

When the group finally broke up that night, we stayed in constant contact. It's like we went through this together, and we didn't really want to be apart. Every time a military plane or helicopter would fly over one of our houses, we called each other, completely freaked out. Seeing the new security checks at the theme parks when we went in the next day really drove home the new reality.

The attacks kicked my butt into gear. I'd been just kind of floating, not sure what I wanted to do with my life. By Halloween, I had moved to New Orleans and had a whole new life in the French Quarter. Although I no longer live in New Orleans (full-time RVer now), I never regretted that decision.

 

[Anjelica]

Everytime I think of 9/11 I remember watching the people CHOOSING to jump so as to escape the fire in the towers. That was one of the most horrific memories I have of that day.

I remember it was a BEAUTIFUL day in St. Louis and as the first plane hit I was on the Bridge crossing from Illinois to Missouri with the Arch a few hundred yards away.

It was so weird to see the skies after 9-11 and the lack of any airplanes except the military jets from Lambert or Scott AFB right next to us. Normally, I would see at least 7-10 planes flying in on my way to work as they pass over the Arch area.

 

[C.Ann]

Always on my mind.. I'm still buying books about 9/11 and always make a point of buying the newspapers every Sept. 11th..

We were in WDW at the time - my DGD was 13 days shy of turning 3 years old.. When we returned home 2 weeks later I started "a" scrapbook for her - that has since grown into "volumes".. Why? Because I don't want her to read in her history books in school about a bunch of "numbers".. These were real people: mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, daughters, sons, etc.. - not just "numbers".. All they did was go to work that day - or get on an airplane.. They deserve to be remembered as "people"..

I can honestly say that I have never been as terrified as I was that day.. My mind just couldn't wrap around it.. I remember talking out loud to no one in particular: "What's happening?" "What does this mean?" "I live in New York - where are they going to hit next?" "Are we safe here in Florida?" ... Just rambling on like an idiot.. Looking back, I think I was in shock..

I think about it every single day - and will for the rest of my life..

 

[czycropper]

I'm also I live in NJ and on that faithful day we were in Long Beach Island on vacation with our DDs who at the time were 3.5 and 18 months. All I remember is hugging the girls and saying "our world will never be the same" and just sat and watched the TV all day.

We knew people that worked at both towers and we tried getting a hold of them most of the day but of course couldn't because cell service was awful The next morning we found out that one of my DDs pre-school friends Mom was at the Windows of the World and of course didn't make it but our other friends did make it out alive out of WTC and the ones at the Pentagon as well.

I remember that everyone at LBI were just in a daze....our house is near the Coast Guard station and all we heard night/day were the CG helicopters. We decided to stay there and try and make life normal for the girls...but we returned home to a memorial service for Karen (that's a long story that everytime I tell it I cry).

I loved the unity and how everyone was so patriotic. A couple of weeks later we went to Liberty Island and my DH & I just stood there and cried for about an hour along with many others.

We will never forget 9/11/01!

 

[Karibeth19]

Everytime I think of 9/11 I remember watching the people CHOOSING to jump so as to escape the fire in the towers. That was one of the most horrific memories I have of that day.

Those are the images that will haunt me for the rest of my life. I cannot even begin to imagine having to make that kind of decision. It's what I think about every time I hear the song "Hero" by Nickelback. The lyrics are so appropriate to the situation in which those poor people found themselves.

It has saddened me to hear some pundits saying lately that we need to "get over 9/11". It is something that should stay fresh in our memories, and close to our hearts, regardless of how much time has passed. What I saw, thought, and felt that day will stay with me forever, and I will do my best to convey all of that to my daughter someday, so she will understand the enormous impact the event had on the life of every American citizen.

 

[Tiana]

......

 

[Claudia1]

I live in a rural area, far away from any major city target, I didn't know anyone other then here on the DIS that was personally touched by the tragedy yet I have also been profoundly affected. I like C. Ann's idea of making a scrapbook for future generations. My kids and their kids need to comprehend the brutal truth of it all. Even with the hours of archived TV footage, the truth can be buried.

I also can still see the images of the HBO film (I think it was HBO) of people jumping to their deaths to avoid the fire. The horror vividly remains.

Thanks for the thread. We need to always remember.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Does anyone remember when they resumed air service?

I was standing outside of a drug store in Culver City and heard and saw a plane overhead. I just cried because I couldn't imagine what that felt like to be on that plane. There were other people in that parking lot, too, doing the same thing I did. I just wanted to get back in the air and travel and be normal again. I've never heard a sound so sweet and so terrifying at the same time.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Does anyone remember when they resumed air service?

I was standing outside of a drug store in Culver City and heard and saw a plane overhead. I just cried because I couldn't imagine what that felt like to be on that plane. There were other people in that parking lot, too, doing the same thing I did. I just wanted to get back in the air and travel and be normal again. I've never heard a sound so sweet and so terrifying at the same time.

For specific flights, 9/13 for general aviation 9/14

 

[Forevryoung]

Like 2 others who have already posted, I was a Junior in High School.

Unlike those 2 posters, I live on Long Island and I was (am) a volunteer fire fighter.

We lost our Chief that day. His gear still stands ready on his rack. His son's fire gear sits nearby (he was 11 or 12 at the time).

We sat vigil, we collected donations for weeks for the site, I sorted collections, I attended more "memorial services" for fire fighters then I can think about without tears. I couldn't listen to bagpipes play for years without breaking down.

9 years later I still have not seen the site. I've been in the area many times and I either take a cab or walk far out of my way. I panic thinking about going near there.

9/11 changed the face of emergency services (fire/ems) forever. What my brothers and sisters experienced that day and the weeks and months that followed will forever be with us.

 

[LJC1861]

As the previous poster mentioned...general aviation resumed on 9/14.

Lisa ( who was living in Myrtle Beach SC at the time) and I had a trip to WDW planned, leaving on 9/12. Needless to say we didn't go on that day. We decided to cancel the trip and were both miserable.

I called her on 9/13 and asked her if she still wanted to go if I could get a flight. She responded by saying that she would start driving right away! I went to a Satellite air booking office in Midtown Manhattan and waited until I had a ticket in my hand. It took 7 hours, but I finally had my ticket.

I flew down on 9/14 on one of the first flights to leave LaGuardia airport. The flight was almost empty. It was incredibly scary to be on a plane so soon after the tragedy, but my head knew that air travel was probably safer than it had ever been. As we took off and landed people onboard were audibly praying. As we landed someone started singing Amazing Grace and several passengers including myself joined in. It was surreal.

Lisa met me at baggage claim and I swear wouldn't let go of me for several minutes. We checked in to Coronado Springs where Disney had huge bulletin boards set up giving up to the minute information for people who had gotten stranded at WDW.

We went to the MK the next day and the parks were a ghost town. Up to that point I had never ridden Dumbo because of the long waits. On that trip I rode back to back times as there was no line. In fact, the ride shut down during the afternoon parade as there was no one waiting to get on. I had never seen that before and have never seen it again.

Throughout the trip CM's would ask where I was from. Their faces showed sympathy when I said New York and I got more than one hug when I followed that up by saying I lived in New York City.

I will never forget the Voices of Liberty performances that week. They sang longer sets and included the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless the USA, God Bless America or the Battle Hymn of the Republic in every performance. The singers had tears in their eyes (and shaky voices) and so did many audience members. I sat through many of the performances that week and just sobbed. Hearing them sing was very cathartic as it allowed me to cry, something I had not really done in response to everything that happened until that point.

It was SOO strange to be in WDW during the week that followed 9/11, but for Lisa and I it was exactly what we both needed. We had been doing the long distance relationship thing at that point and we SO needed that week together. It was during that week that we decided that we needed to be physically together and she decided to move to NYC. It was a challenge for her to find a job, but eventually she did and it changed our lives.


Linda

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

It feels like so long ago to me. I just started high school at that time and was in Maryland in class when it happened. I can't imagine how it must be for those of you who still have it fresh in your minds.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

9/11 is a day I will never forget. I was home with my 2 ds watching Disney channel. My BFF called to tell me about the 1st plane hitting the 1st tower. Immediately I thought of a former coworker who worked for NYFD. I prayed soo much that he was safe. Sadly we found out that he didn't make it out of the tower. My heart goes out to his wife and children and his father who also was a coworker of mine. I use to be an emergency dispatcher and this just blew me away. My BFF and I noticed how eerily quite our skies became. There where no planes flying over. DH is a police officer and they went into a totally different mode in the event of more attacks. At the time I worked PT at the mall and they ended up closing early.

I feel soo bad that I was unable to attend my former co-worker's memorial services. I think of his family daily. He was a highly decorated firefighter. He had received numerous awards for his work. My heart aches as I type this now.

Now my children are 20,11,9,7 and 3. They know that any mention of 9/11 makes mom cry. Even at the hall of presidents last year I cried during it. I try to tell them what happened but it is hard for young children to full grip it - heck even hard for us adults too. My ds 9 said that it was 'stupid for the people to take over the plane if they died themselves too.' (stupid is not a word we allow but it seemed fitting for his statement). They do know that many many wonderful people died that day that shouldn't have.

On our way home from WDW we always pass a NYFD firehouse that has a monument infront of it for those they lost that day.

9/11 is a day that no american should forget. It should forever be remembered.

 

[*Meagan*]

Ill never forget it...

sitting in french class.. my senior year of highschool.. principal came over the loud speaker and announced it.. we all gathered in our next classes to watch the coverage.. we caught the 2nd tower falling...

Then I heard about the pentagon... my father worked there.. and I felt pretty helpless.. he was fine (thank god!) but still scary to not know if your father is alive and well..


still can not believe it all happened...

 

[java]

I almost couldn't open this because it is still fresh in my mind. We could see the smoke in the distance. I was terrified. Thankfully, my friend took my daughter and I started calling around. I had many family members in the trade center- and surrounding area. Thank God all of them got out(as they had been there for the previous bombing attempt and knew to get out asap) My BIL-a NYC transit cop was missing for most of the day. Again thankfully hours later we found out he was alive.

But we lost many friends. Many many prior coworkers. Brilliant minds.
Fred Alger Management was one of my best accounts when I worked. It was a firm full of young hungry minds. I really grew so much thanks to them.
Almost all of them were killed. Those are the ones that I think about. One had just become a mom. She was just back from maternity leave. I just think what the world has missed because they are gone.

My friends that were killed, well I can never forget. I can't forget going to memorials for bodies that were never recovered. The red cross being at each and every service I attended. Steve, we were blessed to have known you. He was on his way home and heard the call- turned around and went in to help. He died outside in a triage tent caring for someone he had just carried out of the building.

One friend's husband's remains were just identified 2years ago. So it still goes on for people.

It's a sadness that will always be here. I have talked on here before of not being able to go downtown for years for fear of breathing in my friends. I know that's not logical. But it is what remains.

 

[DisneyFed]

I was a new Federal Agent....I was sent home to pack a bag and grab my gear and not told when I would return home. My poor wife was panicking, as were my parents, but I told them it would be OK.

I was gone several months.....

Oh, and I will NEVER forget, and deep seething rage burns within......

 

[Trish Bessette]

THANK YOU everyone for sharing your most important stories about 9/11. I agree with all of you, this is something that should NEVER be forgotten.

 

[LukenDC]

Reading these stories prompted me to mail another military care package. Via AnySoldier.com, my partner and I found a Marine unit in Afghanistan. We'll go shopping for hygiene supplies and snack goods tomorrow and then mail the package on Saturday. I'll even include small Mickey and Minnie plushies for the Marines to hand out to Afghan children.

I've done this before and it is a wonderful way to express appreciation to our men and women overseas.

 

[charming23]

Another thing I remeber was hearing the planes go over my house for the first time a few days later. I live close to Hopkins in Cleveland and we hear planes all day long (and all night long) and I remember not being able to sleep for those few days without the noise of the planes. When I heard that first plane go over head I wondered about the people on that flight and hoped for their safe arrival.