8 years ago today...

[ihearttrisigma]

I was in transition from my first to second class of the day as a Sophomore in college.

Since, I was in class when it was happening, I didn't know about it - and when I got to the second class and the information started coming out - at first I think we all thought it was a joke, atleast those of us who had a prior class. We were let out of class, and I ran back to my room and turned on the TV - and there is was. I'll never forget that day, that roommate, everything about that day.

I come from a HUGE family of firefighters, both cousins are now in the FDNY, so while I may not think of September 11th, everyday - I think of our first responders (firefighters, police officers, EMTs) daily.

So today, I honor the 343 FDNY who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and those who continue to do a job, often without pay for those they don't know personally but only as their fellow man:

"Firemen are going to be killed right along. They know it, every man of them... firefighting is a hazardous occupation; it is dangerous on the face of it, tackling a burning building. The risks are plain.... Consequently, when a man becomes a fireman, his act of bravery has already been accomplished."

FDNY Chief Edward F. Crocker 1908

[cheerfulgreek]

I was in my dorm room. It was my freshman year and I remember seeing the first tower on fire, and then I saw the second plane crash into the other one. I just remember being totally freaked out and calling my mom and dad right away. I can't really say it's changed my life though. I still like to travel and I still do pretty much the same things I've always done. Sometimes, I do fear another attack though. Something much worse. Just kinda scary, that's all.

[ThetaPrincess24]

I was in my car listening to my morning radio show (Rick Dees in the morning) driving to campus.

I remember thinking I wasnt in too much shock when I heard it happened to the first tower (tall buildings have planes fly into them sometimes) but then as the second tower was hit, then the pentagon was hit, then the plane went down in PA, Congress and the White House were evacuated....it started freaking me out.

When I got to campus it was a mass panic outside. People were running and crying. It was club day outside. I was manning the table for Theta. Across from us the International Student Union had a table which looked to be manned by students from the Middle East. My sorority sister and I felt sorry for them because no one was going to their table and they were gettign dirty looks from passers by. So we went to their table and talked to them for a while until they decided they needed to close down their table. Instructors and students alike were upset that classes werent being cancelled. I went up to my sorority's dorm floor to find another panic. One of our sisters was in the sky that day flying cross country and we couldnt find her until the next day. That evening a lot of people were in the student center watching President Bush speak on the days events. When he said the line, "Freedom will be defended" a roar of applause and cheers broke out.

A kid showed up to my anthropology class the next day drunk. His mother was apparently on the plane that flew into the Pentagon. So in his understandible drunkeness he was of course disruptive and campus security and someone from the student counseling center came and got him. People were very concerned that Richmond (where EKU is) would be on a target list for a terrorism hit because of all of the mustard gas and what not that is being stored at the Army Depot there.

I'm more aware now about surroundings and suspicious people. I am more likely to call the police when I see suspicious behavior/activity. The only major inconvience I experience is at the airport going through security. It isnt too much trouble for me to take off my shoes (thanks to the shoe bomber) but it is an inconvience to not be able to have a water bottle in my bag, have fluid volume restrictions, and having it all fit into one plastic baggy. Since 9/11, I am a lot more proud to be an American citizen and I am just sorry that it took such a senseless act of violence in order for me to realize that. I was iffy before 9/11 but now I have a much deeper respect and admiration/support for our troops and emergency workers.

ON a happy note. On this day in 2003 my husband's divorce from his ex-wife was finalized. On this day in 2004 my husband and I had our first date and became an official couple the next day. So for me, this day brings back crap memories of panic and anxiety, but also very happy ones with my husband.