Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

[IndianBird]

SR in high school. Was in College Algebra when it started first period. Found out on way to 2nd period a plane hit WTC and I remember thinking how do you crash in to those huge buildings. Got to my next class, teacher was crying in the hall. Found out a guy who she taught was in tower 2. He made it out just before it fell. Spent all day sitting in the library watching the news. Remember basketball practice got cancelled and when I got home I just sat in front of the tv for hours with my family. I remember the sick feeling I had the next several weeks wondering what was next. It's truly amazing for those of us who were a little bit older. We literally saw one way of life end and a new way of life begin, with no warning, in a matter of minutes. I honestly believe that day will be the turning point in history.

[mburke2]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I don't remember quite as many details about that day as some of you do. But I remember I was in 10th grade History class when the Spanish teacher next door came in and told my teacher about what happened and he relayed that to us. I don't recall if that classroom had a TV or not but I know throughout the remainder of the day every classroom that I was in that had a TV was turned on and tuned into the news.

Being 15 years old you can't completely grasp the magnitude of an event like that, and I certainly didn't totally understand what was going on. I just remember going home and sitting in the living room with my parents watching all the coverage on TV and being scared about what might happen next. Nowadays when I watch any of the documentaries and archival footage of that day it stirs up all kinds of emotions even though I was not personally affected by the tragedy.

I for one am very proud of how we came together as a nation after such a tragedy and I will be taking some time tomorrow (well, later today actually) to reflect on and pay respects to everyone who lost their lives, and especially to those who did everything in their power to save lives that day, whether they were public safety workers or civilians who acted selflessly to get people to safety.

[chilli311]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I was in "Scared Straight", after getting in trouble for the umpteenth time in Tech training. It's basically a day of boot camp meets jail for **** up soldiers like I was when I joined. When everything started, I was standing at attention, getting yelled at by a 5'3" drill sergeant. His aide ran out of the building and yelled that the state department had been bombed. They made me stand at attention while they went to figure out what was happening. After a couple minutes, they brought me in, and locked me up until lunch time, when we are all ordered back to our barracks. Once there, I snuck out of my room (I said I was a **** up), and went to a friend's room who had cable so I could watch everything happen. I just remember thinking, "Well, I signed up for this, so no backing down now." The events of that day did more to change me than Scared Straight. After that, I only got in trouble one more time in my ten year military career.

[Scott]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I was in a Theatre class. I was a Freshman in HS.

[bcruise]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

The details of the early morning are a little hazy to me, but I can kind of piece together the sequence by looking at the timeline of that day.

I believe I was in one of my sophomore classes at Missouri State University (then SMS) when Flight 11 hit the north tower. Of course it took a little while for word to get out, but I remember seeing a lot of students checking their cell phones inside the Hall, as if something big had happened. I overheard what happened on the walk back to my dorm - about a 15 minute stroll. Seemed like everyone was talking about it that I passed by. That's the somewhat hazy part - but I'll never forget what happened next.

Once I got back to the dorm, I found my roommates, their friends, and some other students from surrounding rooms all glued to my roommate's big screen, just looking like they were in shock. That sight is burned into my memory for life. I didn't even need to ask - the images told the whole story. But we still thought this was just some horrible accident - that is until Flight 175 crashed. And we all saw it live.

We didn't budge from that TV for the rest of the day, through the Pentagon crash, the collapse of the towers and the first news that someone was actually behind it. To be honest, I don't even remember if I had classes the rest of the day or if they were cancelled (I'm sure they would have been) - it just didn't matter.

Never forget, indeed....

[Scott]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I feel like I just have to post this video...It's so emotional...

Edit: VERY EMOTIONAL, Don't listen if you can't handle it.
<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZE4wjGp-80A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[dickey1331]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I was in 8th grade in band class. We watched the 2nd plane hit live.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

Was in 9th grade. I was starting a new school, it was the first couple days.

Was still getting used to getting up early, that's why it was super weird that that day, I sat bolt upright in my bed an hour and fifteen minutes before I was supposed to get up. I knew something was up.

Turned on the TV, saw the first tower burning. Then saw the second plane hit.

By the time we were in the car driving to school and stuff, it was apparent that this was arguably the beginning of World War III. I was just, blown away. Having only lived in a big city for just a year at that point, I was certainly terrified.

That day affected the **** out of me, as it did everyone else. I don't even know how to describe it. You'd think that after ten years, the anger and sadness would turn into acceptance and all of that. Nope. Every single time I even think about what happened that day, I get angrier. Every single time I see footage, I get angrier.

Just....unreal. Utterly unreal.

EDIT: Scott, I really really wish you hadn't posted that video. Good LORD that is the saddest ****ing thing I've ever heard. I don't have the words to describe. I knew I shouldn't have clicked. ****.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

Why did I click on that video. I'm already an emotional mess today.

I was at work. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was at work. I was listening to Howard Stern and he was making fun of an idiot in a commuter plan hitting WTC. Then it suddenly got real, never in my life had I heard Stern change like that. Then I knew something was wrong. Myself, I worked in a tall building in Cleveland, so we rushed downstairs to watch on the bar in the lobby and saw the 2nd plane hit and the first tower collapse. We were then evacuated from downtown Cleveland.

At home, I sat on the couch with my friend and soon to be wife as we watched this unfold. My life changed in a second that day and is one of 5 days I remember every detail of. My wedding day, the day my father died, and the birth of each of my son's. I'm a wreck today, thankfully we have the NFL to take my mind off it.

[Sundropjunkie]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I was 22 and at my mother's house visiting and watched and could NOT believe what i was watching, like it felt fake to me, BUT I KNOW IT WASN'T!!!!!!! you know what i'm saying, i just couldn't wrap my brain around what was happening Can't belive it's been 10 years man time flies
God Bless all those who gave there life on that Tragic day you will never be forgotten!!!!!!!!!!

[jb12780]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I was in 4th grade. Didn't see what happened until i reached the babysitter's house at like 3:45. Didn't see my father for like a week. (He is a member of the FDNY.)

And yes I signed up to take the upcoming entrance exam for the FDNY in January.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I was in 8th grade. I was changing classes from Science to Social Studies and when we were entering the classroom the students exiting were talking about a plane crash into a building and how they saw an explosion. I thought they were joking or talking about a movie or something. The 2nd plane hit moments before I got into the classroom so I did not see it live. I sat down and looked at the TV of 2 buildings on fire and that is when I realized what they were talking about. At that points I knew it was bad, but I didn't grasp how big the situation was and the historical events I was watching. The rest of the day at school was spent watching TV. There are so many small details that I remember on that day.

[BXBRUINS]

I was in my 9th year working for the NYPD. Every second of that day is still fresh in my mind. I personally knew a few NYPD Officers killed that day!! Hard to believe it's 10 years later!! Still seems like yesterday. Well I'm now in my 19th year for NYPD and I will never forget!!

[buckeye02]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

Sophomore english class. Each room in the school had a TV with basic cable. No work was done that day.

[NinerFan1983]

Re: Where Were You on September 11th 2001?

I was 18 years old and had graduated high school. I was at home, I had woken up early that morning, around 7? maybe 8? Not sure of the exact time I live in the pacific time zone, so obviously all of this had happened already. I was on AIM talking to someone and he told me about it, and I was in shock and I turned on the TV to find out what he was talking about.

What I saw after that, I'll never forget any time soon. I watched the footage and coverage of the events that took place all day, up until I saw the footage of the people jumping and falling to their deaths. I couldn't stand to watch that any longer, so I turned the TV off and left it alone after that.

Good to see I'm not the only one who has a hard time watching those 9/11 documentaries, videos, etc. That **** is rough.