September 11th 2001 Where Were You When the Planes Went Down

[MarziPanda]

I was at school. I'm British, so it was much later in the day for us when it all happened. I remember the teachers whispering to each other about something, and when the school day ended the parents picking us up looked a little rattled. I didn't watch the news with my dad when we got back. I was 5, almost 6 at the time so I don't remember if it was the case that I didn't want to, or the case that he wouldn't let me. Probably the latter. My dad didn't let me go to my mum's funeral the year before in case it was too distressing. I remember my dad saying that America was going to go to war and drag us in with them. I remember thinking that was silly, because we had nothing to do with it.
I remember 7/7 a lot more vividly and remember thinking that this must be what it felt like.

 

[JerseyGirl]

I was at work in Newark by then, across the river from NYC and a few of us were watching out the window at the towers, wondering why a "commuter plane" would hit a tower on a beautiful, clear, sunny day.

There were very few of us in the office, it was only 8:45am. When the second plane hit, we again all thought it was caused by the smoke from the first plane. sigh.

Back then we had internet, but cellphones were at their infancy. We tried to get on the internet to see what was actually going on but we couldn't access it, couldn't make a phone call, nothing.

Just as the first tower fell, a partner in the firm I work for ran out of his office and screamed and ran down the hallways for everyone to leave, go home, get out of the building ASAP - there was a bomb threat in our building too. I ran down 17 flights of stairs and out the building, hundreds and hundreds of people were outside running around too. Once I made my way to Penn Station, police ran through the station screaming for everyone to evacuate immediately, another bomb threat.

I ran into the streets, I didn't know where I was going, but a few of us decided to at least get away from the high rise buildings, that's when we saw a NJ Transit bus pull out of Penn Station. It was stopped in traffic and a bunch of us jumped on and we sat there in traffic for what felt like forever. EVERYONE was fleeing and we weren't even in NYC.

There were people from all over New Jersey on that bus. No one cared where they were going, as long as it left the city. I remember how eerie it was travelling down the Turnpike with NO VEHICLES around, only armored trucks traveling north going into NYC. It took me over 6 hours to get home.

I spent that night on the couch watching all the news of what had unfolded that day. I couldn't bring myself to go to work the next day. I eventually did, but a big piece of me died that day.

 

[Shin Masamura]

I lived in Rochester New York at the time and was a manager at a Retail Store. I lived with three other managers and two of us had work in the morning @ 9am. I remember the news cut in after the first plane hit and remember it wasn't that big of a deal and the thought was air traffic couldnt fly that direction in NYC. Then I remember as he was speaking, the second one hit and panic set in. No one knew what to do, We went to work and we had to got a call from corporate to shut it down. No planes in the sky except the one flying victims to our hospital because the ones in NYC was overbooked. Everyone went down to airport fence as the news showed people on gurneys covered in dust I will never forget. *Interesting note, my buddy who taught history at the local community college was telling me in January about Bin Laden and his turn on the US Government and the tangled web with the Prior Patriot act failing in congress and the thoughts in the professional community of what was going to happen. Everything changed that day..

 

[4SAM]

I was at home with my little boy. He was watching cartoons when my husband Aunt called to see where he was. We were living in Copperas Cove Texas and he was in the military at Fort Hood. I told her he was in the field training. She told me to turn on the TV. I saw the second plane hit. It was crazy trying to get on the base. Of course my husband was ok, but they shut the gates down and when into full inspection of all vehicles. Even used mirrors to look under cars. It would take hours just to get on the base. He was of rank and him and his soldiers had to endure many nights of staying at the gates. People in the community would drop off food for the soldiers at the gates because they were on rotation. Very scary time.

 

[Niner]

I was living in Auburn, California and getting ready for work. I had just turned on the local news at about 6:45am. Standing there not knowing if this was actually "real". I ran to wake up my husband - and could not believe what was going on! I did go to work - and they had TV sets turned on. Saw the 2nd plane hit - and I believe that's when we were all sent home. Watching those towers crumble to the ground, with people still in them.... Sat watching TV for the rest day & night.... and into the next day! Just unbelievable!

I'll never forget!

 

[Eevee Pie]

Here are two interesting articles about memories of 9/11. I think they are relevant to this site not only for the topic of the memories of the morning of 9/11 but also eyewitness reliability with respect to a lot of the crimes we discuss on here.

Seared in our memories

Do You Really Remember Where You Were on 9/11?

Also, apparently a number of people who recall "I turned on the TV just in time to see the second plane hit" were actually seeing recently recorded footage of that moment being replayed and it was news to them at that moment so they took it as live. Still searing, and unforgettable, and horrifying to see, of course.

 

[Trident]

I was at home that day in a suburb of Philadelphia. I was working at my desk, chatting with the usual group on the internet, with my tv turned on. I saw the second plane hit the tower, I couldn't believe it. Folks on myy internet group were repeating rumors, I seemed to be the only one watching tv on a reputable channel. We all spent the rest of the day chatting in horror of what was developing.

A week later a friend called me. He told me he had been in a coffee shop in the first tower when it was hit. He said he thought a bomb went off, and when he saw the chaos, he knew he had to get out of the city right then, or not get out for hours - he was used to the ways of the city. He made it home and spent the rest of his day glued to the tv.

 

[TennesseeGal]

I was at home and had a call to turn on my tv after the first plane hit the Twin Towers. At first they were reporting it was a small plane but as things began to unfold, I immediately called my sister who was a flight attendant to see where she was. I was so happy for once to realize I woke her up and didn't care if she'd just gone to bed. She was scheduled to fly that day but as you know all flights were grounded.

I will never forget how it felt that day. So surreal and sad and hard to comprehend. Still is.

 

[SugarQueen]

I was home alone wth my almost one year old. I turned on the tv and saw that the first tower had been hit. I just sat there, staring at the tv. When I saw the second tower get hit I was overwhelmed with absolute horror.
My husband left work and came home. His brother worked in the city. Not knowing exactly how far from the towers we tried to get in touch with him all day. It was late afternoon before we finally talked to him. He was simply caught in the chaos of trying to leave the city.
I also remember my brother calling 2 days later. My cousin was a Yonkers firefighter who went to the towers to help on 9/11. No one had been able to get in touch with him. The fire dept. wasn’t able to tell us anything. I spent three days on forums for people searching for survivors. I finally got word thru that forum that he was ok.

 

[Isabelle]

I was sitting on my sofa having coffee and watching the Today Show. First thing I saw was plane fly into one of the buildings. I honestly thought it was a movie trailer. As I became more oriented and heard people on the show talking I realized this was not a movie trailer and it was real!!! Freaked me out!!!

 

[oceanblueeyes]

I was at home getting ready to leave for work. I had some extra time so I sat down to watch some tv before leaving which I usually didn't do.

My husband was off that day. He was in another part of our home. He heard me scream "Oh my God this can't be happening." He rushed in then he sat down beside me holding my hand.

We sat there in total silence with our hand over our mouth. Neither of us could believe the horror unfolding before our eyes. By then tears were in both of our eyes.

I remember feeling so afraid. The attacks just kept coming. We wondered will there be more?

I knew our nephew worked in the Pentagon. We both kept wondering..will they attack other sites beyond those already attacked?

We wondered if other planes had been taken over by the terrorists..then came the news about flight 93. We learned of their heroic endeavors when Americans decided to save other lives by giving their own.

It will always be the worst thing I have ever witnessed happen to our country and to thousands of our beloved citizens.

I can't begin to even know the tears I cried for the victims and for all of the heroic first responders. As I watch today I still cry and mourn for all them and their families.

It is as vivid today as it was 17 years ago. We saw how pure evil can come in to destroy us at any time but what we also saw was the best of Americans who came together from all across our nation to show goodness will always prevail in the end.

It was the saddest of times yet we immediately showed the world we are a country filled with countless heroes with so many willing to lay down their lives trying to save others.

As we sat there watching in stunned silence we knew this horrific attacks would forever change our country.

I will never forget.

God bless them all.

 

[Bravo]

I was at home and doing a.m. routine in the kitchen. I had CNN on and was half listening. I remember hearing something and thinking oh dear a plane crash. Something told me no this is something more. It was. I sat and watched in horror with the rest of the world. I remember hearing the fighter jets fly over our home in SW Ont. coming from Selfrige in Michigan. We have friends in N.Y. and Thomas was Port Authority at the time. He was ok but witnessed much. We visited Ground Zero. I cant even describe the feeling watching the bulldozers and trucks moving about in that massive hole. They looked so tiny from where we stood. It was life changing. Prayers to all affected.

 

[Intermezzo]

One of the many things I love about US/Canada relationship is that we are there for each other. I was at home on maternity leave. Just sent my eldest and 2 other kids to school. I was watching the news and saw the 2nd plane hit. I was stunned! All the initial confusion of what was happening and the quick reaction of emergency services, the shutting down of the air space. Even in Canada we were on high alert and began taking measures. My child's school was on a military base next to our International airport and we were told to come get them, so I went to pick up my child and some neighbor kids and brought them home to my place, until their parents could leave work. Our military base and airport, our armed forces were beginning to enact security measures to help out the US and protect both countries. When the kids got home, I kept the tv off but they had already watched and heard stuff at school. They were scared.

 

[razzledazzle]

I was home alone with my almost 2 month old. I had called in breakfast at our small town convenience store/cafe right around the corner from my house. Usually the parking lot was slam full and my cousin would be there meeting his coworkers and would come to my car and talk to the baby so I wouldn't have to get him out of the car. This morning the parking lot was empty. I got the baby out and went inside. I asked Ms. Betty where everybody was. She asked had I not seen the news. I said no. She gave me my food at no charge, kissed my baby's feet and told me to go home and watch the news, that there had been a tragedy.

I sat on the floor between my sofa and coffee table watching TV (replays, I missed the actual event). I held my child all day long. I remember kissing his little head and thinking "what have I brought you into?" ...and I never ate my breakfast.

 

[makepeace]

I was living in Sarasota FL at the time, my husband was in art school there, we had two small children, and I was a stay at home godess at the time. (best 10 years of my life). I took my older son to school (1st grade) and the baby and me were home watching TV when it happened. I was crushed. Shocked, and then horrified when I received a call from my father, who pointed out, President Bush was literally down the street from my house at a school, and if this was a coordinated attack, we were not safe. Needless to say, I went and picked up my older son, called my husband home, and waited. Like the rest of the nation.
My father also had friends who worked in Manhattan and he had been taking calls from them all day, they were literally watching it all unfold from their own hi rise company buildings.
Although I did not know any of those who perished personally, this deeply affected me. I literally learned to read the tickers on CNN and other networks sideways because I never stopped watching, even when I was trying to sleep.

What makes me the most proud, is how our country comes together in times such as this. The love, compassion, and unification was beautiful.

I still ache for those we lost, but I will not be terrified. I will not let idiot zealots change how I live my life. Cherish those you love, Pray for those who hate us.

 

[DianaElaine]

My husband and I were at Burger King.

We had just parked our car, and the people coming out looked shocked. One woman stopped us and told us the tower had been hit. We didn't even know what she meant.

After we ordered, sat down and started watching the big screen TV. That's when we understood what was happening, and we saw the second one hit.

It was very emotional, because we got to see other's reactions, and we all kind of shared the experience and shock.

People started talking to each other, and it was like one big family. Strange and surreal.

 

[CARIIS]

Trisha

This is an amazing idea!

Like everyone remember it clearly.

I was at the office. My 9:00 arrived five minutes early he asked if I heard about someone flying a plane into the wtc?

As some of you know I am kinda into airplanes!

In the waiting room i looked up at the tv

Audio at the point was talking about if it was accident

I knew it was not .

At first i thought it was a 737 - but planes having control problems do not fly like that. Peroid.

We did our session.

Come out for 10. Another two planes had crashed. It was strange tho - i could tell it was control problem , and even tho now another one had done for some reason terrorism did not come up for me . I have no idea why tho

Come out for 11. (had rescheduled - good! ha) I will never forget standing in the waiting room with a colleague and the tower collapsed . That freaked me out.

News junkie . Now I am really thinking about having the front staff cancel the rest of my folks. I want to go home and see news. By this point in segments ,( chunks - it was not a fluid day it kept coming in chunks)- something horrid had happened between every pt. My 911 was broken up into 45 min segments.


Then the next tower. I recall thinking I am really glad she rescheduled I need this hour to try and catch up absorb what was going on - be alone or with friends not a pt!

I do think the chunking of it by this point in time really made it feel like everything was out of control -- like what is next when I come out after my next pt. It made it very strange.

Some of the memories now are not in sequetial order .

Random:

I recall as an aviation lover learning that all air space has been closed that was dizzying . Rerouting. What a mess.

I remember coming out after another session and a front office staffer saying there is another plane coming in the white house and capital have been evacuated.

Is this war - like are big planes with bombs coming - that is what it felt like at that point

I don't remember that day a lot about flight 93 other than it had gone down as well.

I remember close ups of the pentagon walls . As a follower of aviation investigation I could not (still cant) comprehend why there was only a fuselage circular impact area. The 57 is a large bird. HOw come in the video I am not seeing any wing or engine debris from the beginning of the impact sequence?

The next two folks were not a session ! It was more like absorbing what was going on

One was really scared about her kids in school . I dont recall the other one.

At this point I needed my mommy. She is the one that gave me my love for aviation as she is too. I do remember ( I am a very on time clinician and expect my pts to do the same !) that I went out and informed the pt that I was running late- I needed my mommy!

I also remember having a short period of time where I was kinda waiting to hear like bombers coming in and bombs being dropped - it was short lived .

A colleague of mine had left and had her pts cancelled pretty early on. I did not find out for hours that she was contracted for crisis debriefing for American. I never that.

I called her that night we talked. She was a tough cookie! Then she started on this thing that I want to tell you something but you really can not say anything to anyone . This went on for a while? Then she told me that some flight members had their necks slit. That was awful. I kept my word - I never even told my best best est friends. I was kinda scared!

Lifelong regrets. I should have had my folks reschedule and gone home. To be with CNN (ha) Msnbc was not big yet! That is funny. I regret it deeply in terms of the historic day that became in history and it was not like an event.

Remember thinking about nuclear power plants.

It was like starting your car driving a few feet and the car stalled. Start and stop .

That made it seem like it was going on and on and on and on- which also translated to it was never gonna stop -- what was next.

This was when the world met Ashley Banecroft, During the next several weeks the world knew a superstar journalist was being found. She was incredible throughout.

Other random for as long as I live I will never forget the night I first saw the video of all the ash and the relentless cacophony of phones beeping - it utterly creeped me out.

I remember first seeing the video of people jumping.

It def was our generations Dec 7.

I would love to know from people who were not alive during it was there a chapter on it textbooks? Was it a big item?

 

[rogue ant]

I was at work when a colleague came in late because she had been watching the news and something was going on but it was still uncertain exactly what.

I kept trying to go on CNN but it wouldn't load. Finally we found a radio. I called my husband who was working the night shift and sleeping and told him he should get up and watch the news.

Shortly after the second tower fell, the boss told everyone we were free to go home and be with our families.

 

[Christineisfab]

I was 11-- living in New Jersey, about 90 miles from Manhattan and 120 or so from Washington, DC. I was in my fifth grade classroom when our teachers brought us all into a room together while they watched the news and made phone calls. I imagine it was tough for them to decide how much to tell us; we were an awkward age, old enough to understand death and tragedy, but probably too young to get this kind of news from someone who wasn't our parent. We were told just the basics: there was an accident in New York and they were going to keep an eye on it. But we were going to be okay.

Obviously looking back, no one knew if we were going to be okay. I remember getting off the bus to my mom and grandparents in tears. My dad was working in Newark at the time, and though he couldn't see anything, his team was sent home in a panic (he was a pipefitter and they were working on the outside of a tall building). They were sad and scared. We were so close and no one knew what was next. Strangely enough, my clearest memory was of witnessing a conversation between my mom and my neighbor the next day, after my neighbor asked when it would be okay to garden again. He said it didn't feel right, that it still didn't feel like a normal day. My mom said "I don't think it will ever feel like a normal day again."

 

[oceanblueeyes]

On the forever memoriable day in our history we received a call late in the evening from one of our nephews telling us instead of going to college he had decided he was going to enlist in the Marine Corps. He enlisted 2 weeks after 911 happened. He has done three tours overseas since then and continues to honorably and proudly serve along with 5 and a half million who have joined the military since 911 and because of 911.

Many of them have also given the ultimate sacrifice or been badly injured. None I have ever seen have said they have any regrets. It shows how strong and committed our warriors truly are.

It showed even though the terrorists tried to bring us to our knees it only created millions of more American heroes who..to this day..are willing to lay down their own lives if necessary to protect America's citizens..our values..and freedoms.

They too should be remembered. Over 7K have lost their lives overseas fighting terrorists. Their love of country was profoundmy felt due to what happened on 911.

That is another heartfelt story among the greatest tragedy our country has ever experienced.

It shows from the ashes true heroes rose that day and will continue to rise.

Jmo