Remember 9/11

[PM_Mama00]

My mom was canning tomatoes in the basement and my dad had run out to get more bushels. I was getting ready for school.... my 2nd year of college. In Dearborn. Yeeeeah. I turned on the TV and saw smoke billowing from the first building. I yelled down to my mom to turn on the TV and she's like yeah whatever and so I yelled at her again and my dad walked in at that moment. He came over to the TV and called my mom to come upstairs.

I didn't know if I should go to school or not, being in Dearborn and all. I went. One of the Arab fraternity guys was sitting in the university mall, just staring at the ground. Another came in and said that some guy at a gas station told him to go back to his own country and he responded "This is my country". I decided not to go to class and instead walked around campus with one of my sisters to find a TV, which we found across campus. I kept trying to call my cousins in NY but phones were done with by this time. We walked back to the mall and anytime we saw something in the sky we got scared. My campus is across the street from Ford Headquarters, located in the largest Arab populated city in the nation. My mom called me and told me to get my ass home because there were Arabs celebrating in the streets a mile away (they were shown on CNN I believe). Ford HQ evacuated the same time I left so it took me forever. We sat in front of the TV all day and I had my AIM set to notify me when one of my cousins signed online. When one finally did, her first response was "Wtf is going on???" She was in Staten Island so I'm not sure how much she knew.

My aunt was on her way to work on the BQE and saw everything. My cousins were at work on the docks and saw it. My dad's cousin was on the 37th floor and forgot a paintbrush so he went back downstairs and that's when the plane hit and he got out. His crew wasn't so lucky. The Brooklyn FDNY department that all passed, was near my uncle's restaurant. He knew them all. My uncle found papers from WTC in front of the restaurant. (Smith and Union if you're familiar with Carroll Gardens)

I think we HAVE to say remember because people forget, which is sad. We all need to remember that we are neighbors, friends, family, and to treat each other with respect. We need to remember that we are Americans and be proud of it, even though things in our country aren't going that great. We need to remember that there are people fighting for the freedoms that we love so dearly.

We have to be reminded to remember.

[crescent&pearls]

We were just waking up, and my son had gone downstairs to get ready for school. He came in our room and told us to turn on the news, something really bad was happening.

It was a few days later that I found out a lifelong friend was among the passengers who perished. My heart is still broken for the family left behind. They'll never be the same.

The service at the National Cathedral helped me grieve and regain hope. When the choir sang, I thought of my friend...he loved to sing, it was just the type of the he'd do.

[UofISigKap]

It was my first year of teaching near DC. (I was not close enough to see the planes, but close enough to be a very real situation for many students' parents.) We had just finished a flag ceremony outside and were walking past the front office. I noticed the secretaries staring at the tv, so I had my class pause while I popped my head in to see what was going on tv. That's when the 2nd plane hit. I remember feeling rooted to the floor. The kids knew something was up, but had no clue what. We actually were discussing government and being a good citizen since it was part of my beginning of the year plans. As part of the discussion I mentioned that "not every country has the same beliefs and rights as we do. Some in fact get angry with us." I remember my voice catching, and I had to move on since we were supposed to be mum. Fortunately the students didn't even question it. During lunch I frantically called my mom since that's when they were talking about other cities. She had zero clue about anything. I practically yelled, "The TV! Turn on the TV!!" I also remember the out-pouring of support and brotherhood that happened in the days and weeks after.

What brave brave people and heroes that gave some or all.

[VandalSquirrel]

It was the last day I ever watched television news.

Those images over and over again, the planes crashing, people jumping off the buildings, the buildings falling, people running for their lives. I don't remember anything else from that day except how horrified I was and that I had to turn the television off to stop all the sights and sounds.

[monakayk]

I think that we will always remember exactly what we were doing when we heard the horrible news! That day will always be part of my memories forever.

My heart and prayers still go out to all the families this tragedy touched!