Where were you on this date 6 years ago 9/11, 2001

[J-Man]

Today is the sixth annivercary of that imfamous attack on the World Trade Center in which so many innocents died. As we reflect, I am interested to know where some of you were and your first reaction.

I for one was working on a contract my company had with the FAA, working in airports around the USA, I can't say what we were doing as it is still classified today. I was to board a flight from Anchorage Alaska to Dallas, when I arrived at the airport, I was asked to report to the Alaska Airlines Main Office about 1/4 mile from the airport. When I arrived there were representatives from all the airlines that service Anchorage, plus FAA security personnal and Alaska State Police there, and we were to be on a telecom with FAA headquarters, and other folks. After the meeting, and learning that all flights all over the US were grounded till further notice. We in Alaska decided to step up security a bit. The rest of the week was spent gathering as much info as we could and trying to deal with this horror. Oh yeah I was a week late getting home, and then learned that my company lost 5 people of Americian flight 11.

 

[BlackRoseMetalHeart]

I was in class in my first semester first year of college. The attacks happened during my second class that morning, but I didn't find out until my 3rd class, where the professor explained that they were closing the campus early that day. I still had to rush to work at my retail job in crazy traffic. Then deal with stupid self-centered people all day who said things like "Oh, my company gave me the day off work, so I decided to go shopping." All I could think was: "The nation is in a state of crisis and you want to know if that is a clearance item?! WTF?! Go Home and hug your family!" :zombie:

It was my 18th birthday. I received a card from my favorite aunt later that evening with a PS that read: "Just remember this was a historic day long before 2001."

 

[sh0kr0k]

6 years ago this morning, it was the first semester of my senior year in college. I was sleeping in that morning when my roommate began her morning exercise routine. I awoke to her radio as I often did, to hear something along the lines of "Today in New York City a .... flight has crashed into a high-rise tower" followed by words like "injuring and killing" and "devastating porportions" ... The tone of the broadcast was grave and I was still too groggy to figure out what was happening on my own. So I hopped own from my bunk and went to inquire of her what was happening. I don't remember exactly what she said or what happened for a few hours after that. I presume I got ready for my classes and walked to the upper campus.

At this point I had a pretty good idea of what had happened and I think the rumors of it being terrorism had began. I don't remember when I found out about the second tower. It could have been while I was getting ready, walking, or in class. I made my way into the Student Corum (the laid-back study area/coffee house) and found the two big screen TVs from the lounge wheeled onto the stage and broadcasting the news to a crowd of stunned students. I came in and out of the Corum for the next few hours while heading to my classes, all of which had a heavy-laden atmosphere of disbelief. I remember the lesson for my Conducting II class being postponed and we just sat and talked about the implications of these events, the sympathy and sorrow we all felt, and the religious implications involved (I went to a private Baptist University, fyi)...

Later in the afternoon, I remember being in the Corum again, this time it was standing-room only. It felt very surreal to be sitting in my usual stool at my usual time watching horrific events unfold. I remember my friend Marc Berry just shaking his head and saying, "This isn't good! This is going to be very very bad!" almost as if he knew of future events. I remember being very viscerally affected by the images on the screens, almost to the point of nausea, especially while watching the footage of the second plane hit the building.

I can't deny that I was numb with fear when the news started broadcasting about a plane circling in an Ohio airport, and listing target cities like Detroit, Chicago, and Grand Rapids along with others all along the East Coast. Discussions, chapel services, canceled classes, and Corum gatherings continued for days...

Hmm... a very somber day indeed. I'm surprised at the details I was able to recall, but it's probably a good thing to do so I never forget the service of the rescue-workers and the tragic loss of life.

 

[J-Man]

It was my 18th birthday. I received a card from my favorite aunt later that evening with a PS that read: "Just remember this was a historic day long before 2001."

By the way Happy Birthday !!!!!!!!

 

[yardleybates]

I was on the train on the way into Chicago Union Station with my baby sister to work my Dad's trade show booth at McCormick place. Yippee called me when the first plane hit and they were trying to figure out what happened. Then he called me back when the second plane hit. There were a couple other passengers on the train that received similar calls. As we were getting closer to the city, we all realized that the train was to arrive at Union Station at 8:00 a.m. which was the time that the attack happened in New York. Everyone was very afraid.
We got into the station without event. I went to the washroom and as I opened the stall door, my little sister grabbed me by the hand and started dragging me out (no chance to even wash my hands ) We were being evacuated from Union Station. We hailed a cab and the drive to McCormick was crazy. We couldn't reach my parents in the hotel or on the cell phone and I wasn't sure we should even still be going there, but didn't know what else to do. We arrived and went to the booth at the show where my parents were both standing. My sister ran off to get some food, and I completely collapsed.
They didn't close the show, even though many exhibitors didn't come in that day. All the booths that had tv screens were tuned to the news all day. We were in a huge building right on the lake and we were watching the windows all day afraid something else was going to happen. I was just so thankful that I was with my family.
There were tons of guys in from not only out of state, but also out of the country. I spent the day making hotel arrangements for the out of the country fellows that couldn't stay at my parents house, and getting rental cars for the out of state fellows so they could start driving home (New Jersey, Florida, I don't remember where else)

It was completely surreal when we did drive home that evening, there was no traffic anywhere.

 

[yardleybates]

It was my 18th birthday. I received a card from my favorite aunt later that evening with a PS that read: "Just remember this was a historic day long before 2001."

Happy Birthday!

I know it's weird when a sad event clouds your birthday. I had a friend that had a tragic accidental death on my sister's birthday some years back and it took me a while to be able to think of her birthday as her birthday again.

 

[sh0kr0k]

It was my 18th birthday. I received a card from my favorite aunt later that evening with a PS that read: "Just remember this was a historic day long before 2001."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

It's difficult to deal with tragedy so close to home, especially when it happens to coincide with something very personal. I grew up in Littleton, CO and only now, nearly 10 years later, have people stopped asking "Oh, isn't that where Columbine is?" ... It sucks, but it does get easier! Keep your chin up and go have a wonderful day full of amazing memories and lots of fun!

 

[booB]

Happy birthday Bobbie!

 

[scooterSST]

Standing in the elevator of my office in Arlington, Va., with my ex-wife. We heard the rumble when the Pentagon was hit. We saw the dust cloud out of our office windows. I've never felt more hate and despair in one moment in my life. Shortly there after they evacuated DC and the surrounding four miles. It took us almost three hours to drive the 12 miles back to the house. The worst part was being in the middle of it and not being able to help.

 

[Thorn23TX]

Wow, John... great topic - reading all the posts so far have brought back some of the emotions from that tragic day. Before I start, also Happy Birthday to Bobbie - my best friend's wife also has a birthday today.

So, the day started out pretty strange for me. My normal morning routine normally involves watching the local news for about 30 minutes and then I proceed to get myself ready. However I completely slept through my alarm and woke up late for work that day. So, I didn't click on the TV or any radio and hurriedly got ready and on the road to the office. I usually listen to CDs in the car as at that time I had about an hour drive into the office from where I was living (due to traffic not distance) and because Dallas radio sucks. I was literally isolated from any source of outside news at this point. About halfway into the drive I switched to the local sports talk station that I was really into at the time. They were discussing a plane crash in PA and how that might affect the Steelers team and game that upcoming weekend.

Almost simultaneously my mobile phone rang and it turned out to be my mother who asked me if I was glued to the TV set and if I could believe what happened. I had to admit to her that I had no idea what she was talking about - just that I heard about a plane crash in Pennsylvania - and then she told me what had happened so far. She let me know about the two planes that had hit the WTC and one that hit the Pentagon, and that there were still a few planes up in the air but that the FAA had grounded all flights. My drive to the office takes me on a route that parallels Dallas' Love Field and I immediately looked to the skies to see that there were indeed no planes on approach nor any taking off. The only thing in the sky was a couple helicopters circling the skyscrapers downtown which I assume were police or military. It was eerie. I arrived at the office and all my co-workers were gathered around one of two TV sets we had available in our office at the time. It was then that I first saw the replays and heard any of the coverage. The rest of the day is kind of a blur as my mind was pretty much numb. I remember our CEO addressing the office and letting any non-essential personnel go home to be with families.

For the next several hours I watched CNN nonstop until the wee hours of the morning. A group of my close friends and I had an annual fishing trip to Canada coming up on the 14th that we had planned for about 6 months. We were prepared to cancel the trip but my buddies' wives and my girlfriend insisted that we go since we had been looking forward to it for so long. After much discussion back and forth (and to make a long story short,) we wound up going, but driving since all flights remained grounded (we were supposed to fly to Ottawa.) It was a long drive where we listened to news radio the whole way and I can't tell you how surreal it was crossing the border into Canada at the Ambassador Bridge and seeing the massive sea of cars lined up to get into the U.S. as we were heading in the opposite direction. We spent a large portion of the week listening to all of the news and updates on a small transistor radio (the cabin in Canada is isolated and has no TV.) Needless to say, it was a very strange trip - the usual "5 guys on a week-long fishing trip drinking beer and having fun" atmosphere was replaced by discussions of the future of our country, the senseless attack and resulting loss of life and what life would be like in the days/weeks/months/years to come.

My friends and I actually had a message board that we used to keep in touch and coordinate our trip for the months leading up to our trip. A year after the 9/11 attacks I went back and reviewed all the comments and it was interesting to re-read all of the posts and see two things A) the instant we learned of the attack - the posts started flooding in and B) all of the therories/rumors/speculation of what happened and who or what caused it.

Anyway, that was a long-winded post of my experiences that day, but it is nothing compared with those who were directly affected by 9/11. To any of the forum members who lost someone or know of someone who did, I just want to say that even though I may not know you personally my thoughts and prayers are with you.

~Todd

 

[mëtålspëd]

Awoken by my panicked RA in my college dorm. He was from Manhattan, and everyone on the floor piled into his tiny room to watch the horror unfold.

 

[Bryan316]

I was getting ready to head into college, and heard the stuff on the TV's morning news. Listened to coverage on my way in. Got to school, and in the machine shop, I could hear the machining instructor's office TV blaring. Lots of faculty huddled around, shocked. Then we all watched as the first tower collapsed. Quite a panic. My first class instructor came in, and everyone went upstairs to try to start class.

Then as we were kinda-sorta trying to start up, the building's office staff came racing into our class. The second tower collapsed. The school officially shut down everything, and told people to go home and stay away from Metro airport and the Renaissance Center downtown, cuz they were now considered targets.

There was an arabic kid and a black kid at the front door talking as I came outside. The arabic kid and I agreed that east Dearborn will quickly become a very hot zone, cuz you know how ignorance behaves in politically and ethnically-charged tragedies. I told him to be careful and if he even hears of any confrontations in his neighborhood, just get the fuck outta there. We all expected friggin riots to break out full blown. The black kid was worried cuz his ride wouldn't even be able to get downtown to pick him up and take him home. That was a very stressful time for him, I could tell. Told them and most of the faculty to be careful and maybe we'll see each other tomorrow, who knows if the school will be in session, or when.

Sat at home and watched the news all day long.

 

[FatesFan]

I was in bed when my wife came home from dropping the kid off at school and said that the first plane had hit. At this time it looked to be an accident and you know the rest. I later went to my bosses house and we sat there and watched it unfold from there. Very sad day....lot of emotions.........lot of prayers................

 

[lady_space]

I was just arriving at work, where they had a radio on. the first thought that crossed my mind was "this is a War of the Worlds type of thing." Sadly, of course, it was no such thing.

 

[J-Dubya 777]

I was taking a work at home day, as I was awaiting delivery of my Mesa Boogie MK IV and had to sign for it. Rolled out of bed, turned the TV on and in minutes, the second plane had hit.
Spent the day infront of the TV is stunned silence. NEVER forget what happened on this day 6 years ago, Never!

 

[thedelicateflower]

...i was crying and stressing because in 8 days i was flying to nc for my first visit with lek and his family....
...my xbf at the time told me it was the safest time to fly...it was pretty creepy seeing men armed with big guns wandering the airport.....but, paul was right, it was the safest time to fly....there were many empty seats....

...and what was really weird, when we were driving to nj for me to meet lek's mom, lek pointed out where the towers were...and i started uncontrollably crying...i could not stop...........here i was meeting mom lek for the first time and i could not stop crying..............she understood...............

 

[Stingray11214]

True Story. On my Mother's eyes.

I was in "School Car" (NYC Transit's Train Operator training program) up in the North Bronx (Concourse Yard). We did road ops that night on the D Line. At 6 AM, we laid up the train, and we started to disburse. My game plan was to hop on the #4 Train at Bedford Park Blvd. and head to lower Manhattan. My first stop would be a nice buffet breakfast at Sbarro's at the WTC Concourse. Then hang out until around noon. I loved going into the WB Store near the N/R Cortlandt Street stop. Looking at the "Rich Broker, Poor Broker" scene was hilarious. So was the scene with Taz eating the computer at Acme Brokerage.

Well, all plans changed when a classmate who wouldn't talk to me followed me for a block and told me "get in the car." Well, I got into the car, and we drove to my house. Well, I slept facing my window. Usually that was where my feet would go. Well, I laid down around 8 AM. About 1/2 hour later, my cat started smacking me in the head. After 5 minutes of this, I pushed her off my bed. About 40 minutes later, my cat (May she rest in peace) started smacking me in the head again. I got up, and put her out of my room. Around 10AM, my Volunteer Ambulance company called me. I was still groggy. they told me the meeting for that night was cancelled. OK. Big deal. I was not going anyway. Went back to bed.

Well, about 1230PM, my friend, Tom, called. Now, I was stewing. Can't a guy get some sleep? "Ray?" "Yeah, Tommy, what's up?", "Are you sitting down?", I am trying to sleep. What is it?", "Well, the WTC collapsed, the Pentagon got hit, a plane crashed in Pennsylvania, and four planes are still in the sky." Now, I am pissed. Not only can't I get any sleep, but this jackass is telling me a BS story. "Tommy," I said, "I know you do not smoke crack. However, if you, due to the pressures of your job, have started smoking crack, I urge you to stop.", "Ray," Tom said, "I am not bullshitting you."

"Tommy, I am trying to get some sleep!"
"Ray, turn the TV on."
"No!, I am going back to bed."
"Ray, I am serious."
"OK, to humor you, I will turn the TV on."

SO, I put on Channel 4....snow. Turned to Channel 5....snow. I am saying to myself that someone is screwing with my antenna. I turn to Channel 2.....

Plane flying into South Tower.

Well, after being speechless for 5 minutes. I tell Tom to have his folks contact mine, since the phones went nutzo. An hour later, I ran to assist base operations with my Vollies. On September 12th, My vollie crew was sent on a wild goose chase in the Bronx. Afterwards, we got assigned a spot at Bellevue Hospital. Folks, the amount of human despair at this place was beyond your worst nightmares. People were running up to me, "Have you seen my Mother?", "Have you seen my husband?". It got to the point when people would not take "No." for an answer. I finally snapped and said to one person, "What do you want me to tell you? Do you want me to say I had drinks with her at Blarney Stone?"

Then, we headed for Ground Zero. We were led around by some Chief from Jersey (?!?). He wanted us to bring our bus(ambulance) to pick up body parts by Deutsche Bank. We went into the Firehouse on Liberty and Greenwich, and I did some triage with the EMT's that were there. If you walked out the front, you were ON what was left of the South Tower. Well, after bringing the parts to the Liberty Street side of One Liberty Plaza (which stayed intact), I begged to go home.

That night, I placed my EMT card in my armoir. I have not been involved in EMS or Volunteer Ambulance Services since.

Remember the dead, aid the infirm, and fight for the living.

Peace,
Ray C.

 

[BlackRoseMetalHeart]

Thank you to everyone for all the birthday wishes! You guys are awesome!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

It's difficult to deal with tragedy so close to home, especially when it happens to coincide with something very personal. I grew up in Littleton, CO and only now, nearly 10 years later, have people stopped asking "Oh, isn't that where Columbine is?" ... It sucks, but it does get easier! Keep your chin up and go have a wonderful day full of amazing memories and lots of fun!

I understand what you mean here. I remind myself that no matter what day that fateful tragedy would have happened, it would have been someone's birthday and I'm sure there are others (like me) who can both celebrate our own lives and remember the losses of others today. I've always told myself that no matter what horrible things happen in this world, I am not going to stop living my life.

I do have to admit (and maybe it makes me cynical), I was incredibly annoyed a few years ago when some random person I didn't know, IM'd me to tell me how great they thought it was that I was paying tribute to those who died in the attacks with my screen name (BobbieJean911). :Smug: I wanted to reach through my modem and smack the stupid out of the guy. If I wanted to pay tribute to people who died in such a horrible way, I certainly wouldn't do it in such a trite way as through my AIM screen name.

Remember the dead, aid the infirm, and fight for the living.

Amen to that. As I have had several friends who have been emergency service providers, I have the deepest respect for those who commit their lives to fulfilling these duties.

 

[mloanna]

Bless you Stingray 11214.

 

[mloanna]

Living on the west coast, My boyfriend at the time and I were asleep until his roommate (a dude who sleeps late) starts banging on the door and screaming our names. The first thing I thought someone broke into either one of our cars or into their recording/rehers. studio, so we jump out of bed and see the t.v..The roommate's sister called to wake him up, my thought was my mom who lives in Connecticut but travels all the time and flys out of Boston or N.Y. I could not remember if she was traveling for work that day or not. I called her and she was at work.

I tried to call a few friends I have that lived in N.Y.C. but the phones were jammed. Finally I called one girl I knew mother and her mom said that my friend called and was o.k. My friend avoid being right in the middle of everything by sleeping in that day. I did eventually get ahold of my other friends. Needless to say they all now live in other parts of the U.S.

Since I live near the airport in Los Angeles, there was no air traffic for a couple of days afterwards, so the sky was silent, especially at night. That was a very uncomfortable feeling.