9-11

[eagle rider]

In 2 1/2 hours it will be Sept. 11th. A day that ten years ago defined our generation as much as Pearl Harbor had 60 years ago for our parents. I guess much like the Kennedy assassination, we probably all recall where we were and what we were doing when the planes hit the Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash in Shanksville PA due to the bravery of the passengers fighting back against Al Queda.

At 8:30 on Sept 11th, 2001 I was sitting on a red light detail when I heard about the first crash. I drove over to a local coffee shop and watched in horror on TV. It soon became clear it wasn't an aviation accident as the rest of the horror of that day unfolded. We received instruction from our Lt to be ready to escort buses and ambulances from the city that might be bringing casualties to hospitals out east. Unfortunately there were none.

We were mandated that night but I got a little time too go home to be with my family. It wasn't clear how many days straight we might have to be working. In the following days we all lined up to give blood. We hoped and payed for the lost and missing. We prepared to go to wakes and funerals, and we did go to too many. It compelled me to become reinstated as a volunteer firemen and I have served with a my local hook and ladder company since.

One of the most incredible memories that I had in the ensuing days after 9-11 was the fact that there was no violence towards Muslims in our country. Would another country be as tolerant as we have been? I hoped so, but I also doubted it.

I spoke to my kids about it tonight. They were five and four when it happened, They have almost no recollection of it at all. They know other kids who's parents died but other than that, they have no reals sense of the attack and what it was like to be so close to something so horrible.

What are your thoughts and memories? Good bless us all and keep us safe.

[16. ga hunter]

i was standing gate watch on the piers in norfolk when they hit. An officer from subron 8 came down with a tv told us to lock down and watch what was happening. that was a first being told to watch tv while on watch. With in minutes fighter jets were overhead from the air base and the piers were bustling all ships were underway and the water front vacant by the afternoon. i was left behind due to my nearing discharge and spent the next few days in awe and standing watches at the various subron buildings on base. the tragety did not affect my family directly but is still with me as i assume it is with all that lived that day

[132 eight pointer]

I was at work when someone mentioned that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.Sometime later I heard about a second plane and that this was not an accident.People were trying to work but also wanted more information which was only available to those with radios.I remember telling my supervisor that it was hard to concentrate when our country was under attack.Later we learned about the Pentagon and flight 93. I remember feeling shocked ,helpless,sad and angry in the days that followed.I also remember how quiet the skies were for days after due to all air traffic being grounded.

[13BVET]

I was deployed down there with the 1/156FA, along with elements of the 42d ID, and 101 CAV. Outside of that, I prefer not to talk about my experience. Forgive me for that, guys-just can't help it.

[Elmo]

I was driving my brother to school (Stuyvesant High School which is a block from the WTC). We ended up getting stuck in the highway. Got a call from a friend of mine that a plane crashed into one of the towers. We said "probably an accident". Immediately followed by another call that a second plane had hit the towers. Ok, not something is up. But I was blocks away from the WTC back in 1993, the first time it got hit and I barely felt a tremor. Since then, I always looked at those towers as being invincible but then I got another call saying that the towers came down. I couldn't believe until we started seeing smoke in the distance. The months after that, my borther joined the army and went to the front lines. I was hired by the September 11th Recovery Program and worked there till we closed the shop.

Edited September 11, 2011 by Elmo

[WNYBuckHunter]

I was on my way to replace 3 motherboards in PCs at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Syracuse. I heard something on the radio about a plane crashing into the WTC just before I went in. I started working on the computers and noticed everyone leaving their desks and heading to the break room, where there was a TV. I finished up and walked in to see what everyone was talking about. Soon after I started watching, the first tower fell. I left pretty soon after that, got in the car and turned on the radio. They were talking about the second tower falling and about the pentagon. It wasnt till I got back to my office and started seeing reports on the internet that I got the full scope of what was going on. It was a strange, horrible day and I still remember every detail of it.

[bubba]

I was on the road woring. That evening we were placed on stand as state medical personnel by by the governor to be ready to go to NYC to help with wounded. 14 hours later we were taken off stand by as wounded were not going to happen. My heart fell out of my chest at that time.

[eagle rider]

Bubba- I felt exactly the same way as the time ticked away and no amblualces or buses with wounded started to roll east bound.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I watches several of the memorials and trubutes shown on TV this past weekend. Now it might have just been the ones I was watching....probably 6 recountings.....I found it odd that there was timelines and videos just after the first plane impact......right up to the second impact and skipped to the Tower #2 in flames. THey never showed any plane impact...never showed the plane impact at the pentagon. I initially thought they may be wanting to spare that image for anyone sensetive to such a thing....but then they did show folks jumping from the buildings. I ca't help but think it was ommitted on purpose.

I made the mistake of watching one last night at around 8pm on th ehistory channel. It really brought back the fear and angy feelings. I canceled my crew that day...no one had their heads in the work and I was afraid working at 40' something would happen to someone. I really can't believe it has been 10 years.

[dave7114]

was working in Brooklyn saw 1st plane hit while watching news in office. could actually see 2nd plane hit from window. Didnt go home for 2 weeks . Being at ground zero, morgue, then off and on at Staten Island landfill till it closed.

Retired NYPD Detective.

Those pictures and videos of the world trade center should be played on every news channel 1 time each week.

THEN MAYBE THOSE WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN WILL NEVER FORGET AGAIN.

Unfortunately the liberal media will never.

[Paulie]

I think that it is important to talk about it, partially so we all never forget! I know that I will never forget that day! I was 23, and working in NYC for only about 6 months...my ex girlfriend was in the south tower on the 44th floor. I came out of the subway on wall strret to paper's falling from the sky, a tower on fire and smoke billowing upwards. Honestly, all i thought was that thing is made of concrete and steel.....it will be fine. I went to work about 6 blocks away and turned on the radio while trying to get in touch with my ex (but phones weren't working to well). that's when the second plane hit. I was stuck at work with a bunch of women that were scared and wanted to go home to NJ (so they would have had to go to the path trains under the towers)...the big boss had left and unfortunaltey they looked to me for advice, the 23 yr old kid...thankfully i told them to stay put, that we were safe where we were for the time being (at the end of the day they were all fine). At the same time, I was debating going to find my ex at Century 21, right buy the towers...as I figured she would have left and went shopping. God must have been watching over me to keep me where i was (cause if I went there i wouldn't be posting here as there was nothing left). After both towers came down i decided it was time to go...my plan was to walk up the east side and if anything else was hit I would jump into the river if need be. Well, i got about 3 blocks and couldnt figure out where i was because of all the ash and debris. I wound up walking about a block from all the debris until I figured out what direction was north and got the hell out of there. While I was trying to figure out where to go, something happened that still haunts me today.... a woman came up to me asking me how o get out of the city. The dust was so bad you couldn't even read the street signs. There was no such thing as race or color because everyone was gray with ash....and she had a stroller. I told her to walk towards the blue sky as that would bring her to the brooklyn bridge and then i was off. As i turned back to make sure she was going in the right direction, I realized there was nothing in the stroller... I didn't know what to do/say and to this day i still wonder about that. Should i have done something different?

Once i found my way north it was amazing to see New Yorkers coming together the way they did. Street vendors giving away water and food, shops giveing away all they had, particulary sneakers for everyone that had to walk half of Manhattan or more to try and get home to their families.. It was amazing how in times of need we can banned together. 9-11 will always be with me. I lost a few friends that day as well as in the years after and the wars due to it. But I will always remember....thank you for listening to part of my story. It helps to talk and share...espically with people that you have common bond with.