Where were you on 9/11?
 

I was in London on a walking tour when an American man received a cell phone call from his son telling him about the twin towers. I thought it was rude he hadn't turned off his cell phone. Could not believe it when he told us what was happening. I imagined small planes hitting the towers on accident and was horrified when I returned to my hotel and watched the news. <BR><BR>I still haven't figured out if I was watching it live or a replay as I returned to my hotel around 3 p.m. London time. If I could have gotten on a plane at that day and come home, I would have. As it was, we had to continue on to France with our vacation plans as we couldn't get home even if we had tickets.

Getting ready to go to the office when the news reported a plane hit the WTC. At that time they thought it was just a freak accident and then a little while later I turned on the TV I saw the 2nd plane slam into the other tower. That's when we all knew it was not just an accident. After that everything was just what is called "surreal". It was like watching a disaster movie except you had to remind yourself that it was too real. Did manage to go to the office like many others only to find that we had to turn back and go home for fear of the office buildings being targeted. It was like a ghost town; all the restaurants and offices closed. This is San Francisco I'm referring to.

Had just left Marlbork Fortress and driving towards Gdansk Poland. Could hear the first few word by Pres Bush then the Polish interpreter took over. Could only pick out a few words and couldn’t believe them. Got to lodging in Gdansk and saw the 2nd plane hit on Polish TV. Went to an Internet caf&eacute; to get the news. We did set a lot of support on the rest of our trip from the Polish, Romanian, Hungarian, Austrian and German peoples. Areas of flowers and candles appeared everywhere.<BR>.<BR>

My husband and I were in the airport lounge that night (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and our flight to Frankfurt leaves at about 11.30 pm. We were absolutely unaware of the happening as there was no TV set in this lounge. Then friends and families who know we were travelling that night started to call our handphones to tell us about the news. I remember telling my husband " maybe it is a small plane with engine trouble or something"....NEVER EVER imagined this happened. Later on, as we walked to the departure gate, we stopped to look at the screen and they were showing images of the 1st plane slamming into the tower....I froze on seeing that and when the 2nd plane hit the other tower...I'm not able to describe how I felt. We boarded the plane (unable to sleep the whole journey) and arrived Frankfurt the next morning and took a train to Dusseldorf. Checked into the hotel and stayed glued to the TV screen the whole day. I just cried and cried and cried even tho I didn't know anyone in America. My heart ached for all those families who had lost someone there... At that time, I was praying that some people would have survived...it is like "surely many will be able to get out of there alive"...but it is not to be. It is now 3.40pm Malaysia time, 10th September and tomorrow night will be a year since that incident....my heart still ache each time I recall images of family members of victims crying while carrying photos of their loved ones and I remembered watching the memorial service, at Yankee Stadium??, I think and it is absolutely heart wrenching. Nobody should lose their loved ones like that....If I, who does not know anyone there could feel the hurt so much..I cannot imagine the pain these people go thru.......<BR>I'm a Malaysian chinese living in Kuala Lumpur and I thank God and our leader for the peace we have here today. I hope we will be able to continue enjoying the peace we have grown to take for granted.

I was at work at the State Department and we were all watching it on t.v. and realized right after the second plane hit it was a terrorist attack. An hour later many of our collegues from the Pentagon walked over and asked if they could please use our offices to contact family and friends since theirs was destroyed. I spent almost the next two weeks working around the clock. It was exhausting but I felt I was doing my part to help out. All I can think of is that 4th plane....it's said it was coming for the State Department or the White House. I guess in times of disbelief you just don't think about all the "what ifs"

I was in Finland, driving to my favourite shop. I opened the car radio, and the news were on at a strange time (usually they are at full and half hours). I really thought it was a play, like the one Orson Welles staged in US radio in the early fifties about Marsians attacking. I remember thinking: This sounds so true, must sound even more true than the one Welles wrote.<BR><BR>I did not think about it any more, did my shopping and went back home. Opened the TV, and saw the second plane. After that I just jumped fron BBC to CNN to Finnish TV.

We were on our honeymoon in Positano. After dinner we walked into the hotel lobby and saw a group huddled around a television watching CNN, which is basically what we did for the remaining two days of our honeymoon. The next night at dinner, there were strolling musicians who played a very slow and sweet version of "New York, New York" and people wept over their pasta.

My experience was very much like xxx's. I always listen to CBC radio in the mornings. Just as I was ready to leave for work, the radio host mentioned he was looking at pictures of a horrific accident- a plane had crashed into the WTC in New York. I turned on the TV for what I thought would only be a second, as I was now running late. There it was on TV. They were talking about highrises too close to airports, about other similar accidents, it was all just a terrible accident when suddenly another airplane appeared and directly hit the other tower. I think my jaw dropped. For the first time those talking heads on TV were speechless. By this point I had to turn off the TV and get to work. I needn't have bothered. I had a job at a very busy retail store in Yorkville- we didn't have one single customer. We had a radio going the whole day. Everyone kept phoning- our boss, our friends, our family. It was terrifying and surreal. Banks and corporate head offices were closed for the day. Downtown was a ghost-town except for the crowds around the TV's in store windows. Everyone kept saying the exact same thing- "it's like the movies, this is like something out of the movies". I'll never forget the panic or the fear so many people experienced that day in Toronto- I can't even begin to imagine what it must have felt like to be in New York, or elsewhere in the United States.

We had just returned from dropping our son, 19 years old, off at LaGuardia Airport for an American Airlines flight to Arizona and returned home to Connecticut before commuting into NYC. Just happened to be listening to the radio and heard the news of the first attack and called my husband to the TV where we witnessed the second plane crashing into the WTC. We did not go into the office that day, actually mine was closed for over a week since it is two blocks away, and we waited very anxiously to find out if our son was safe. The internet said that his plane had taken off on time and if it had, it could have been the one flying towards DC but luckily for us he had never taken off. We heard from him about five hours later to come pick him up since everyone was thrown out of the airport and he wandered to a hotel which of course by that time was full. Long story, he was safe and home that night but is flying back from Salt Lake City tomorrow....His best friend's father was in the WTC and did not survive.

My boss and I were in a very important meeting. My boss' wife started beeping on my boss, and she would not stop. My boss became quite angry, but at last had to make an excuse and phone home. The long drive back to work were surreal, listening to the radio trying to get an image on what were really happening. We got back in time to see the second tower collapsing.<BR>

I had my suitcase in my hand at around 6:45am in Portland, Ore. to catch an 8:45am flight to the East after spending a great week with my children when the Tv came on with the news and my son said, "sit down, Mom, you're not going anywhere. As the horror unfolded, my son knew within hrs. that a fraternity friend had not survived. Finally on the 1th of Sept. I got a flight back. I supposedly had the last seat on a full flight. Needless to say both connections were much less than half full. A stewardess sat down with me and said that air marshals should be on board or pilots be permitted to have guns. She said yrs. ago El Al had an incident with a terrorist, the marshals walked him to the rear of the plane and shot him. At that time she was considering resigning but she was flying that day. How the world has changed for all of us. Judy

<BR>I was at work on the West Side at 14th Street. We had a unfettered view from start to finish. To this day I STILL cannot believe it happened and that I witnessed it.<BR>I worked non stop for the next three days. I could not sleep. All I heard in my head was the sound of wailing sirens and air horns. Thankfully, the next couple of days all ememrgency vehicles only used the emergency lights and sirens were not to be used unless it was necessary. We were in 24/7 mode for months afterward.<BR>Tomorrow will be a solemn day. No TV or Radios. Can't watch it anymore....

I had my twin sister staying with me because our Mom was in the hospital. She had gotten up early to Mom-sit while I took my morning jog. When I came home I noticed my house painters all gathered around the radio but didn't think anything of it. <BR><BR>When I walked in the house the phone was ringing and there was a picture of a fire at the WTC on my TV. I picked up the phone and my sister was hysterical, trying to tell me what had happened. I could still see the TV and saw a plane fly into the towers. At first, I kept saying I couldn't believe they caught this accident on TV! Finally, she made me understand that I was seeing the second plane...and the world changed. <BR><BR>It's odd to think I was jogging in a 9/10 world for 1 1/2 hours while the rest of the world had already been shaken to its very foundations.

At home, making the bed. Husband called, asked me if I was watching tv. Turned it on to see the second plane hit. And life changed forever.

Me again. I can't help but comment also that within this past year one gets so wrapped up in everyday life and its frustrations that important things are forgotten. However, as 9/11 approaches quickly I reflect back on the many good things that have been sustained and one thing is that my entire family is still with me. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their loved ones and to the babies who were born after their fathers passed away.

I was in London at St.Paul's Cathedral when it happened. But I didn't find out until I went to buy postcards on the bridge across from Big Ben. I was picking some out and the owner of the stand, a woman, said, "Are you American?" I said, "yes". Then she said "Did you hear that planes crashed into the WTC and a bomb went off at the Capitol?" (yeah-she got that part wrong.) I said "no" thinking she was just a crazy person trying to mess with me since I'm American. She said, "the whole U.S. is in chaos" At that point I said, "Really? Wow! So anyway, how much are these postcards?" I did not believe her at all. I just went on about my business. When I got back to my hotel I turned on the TV and was in shock. What she told me was true!

I was in my apartment in New York. I heard sirens going by, but that's typical for NYC. But they just kept on racing by and I thought that was unusual for that many to go by. I turned on the tv and all they were reporting was that one of the Twin Towers was on fire. <BR><BR>I walked over to 6th Avenue where you could get an excellent view of both the Twin Towers and the Empire State Building. As I was walking, people were talking about how the towers had been struck by airplanes.<BR><BR>We watched the fire thinking that they will get it under control and only a few floors will be damaged. Someone with a portable radio told us the Pentagon had been attacked. We were in shock as we watched the buildings completely collapse.<BR><BR>

My husband and I were in Melbourne, for the last 3 days of vacation. Because of the time change, we actually arrived there on Sept 11. Went to bed at 11 pm, just about the time everything happened. Woke up next morning, turned on TV, not really paying attention, when I looked at the screen filled with the burning towers. Woke my husband up and we both sat in front of the tv for 4 hours. Needless to say, we spent 3 more days in Australia then planned. The Aussies were very kind.

I was driving south through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, returning to southern NH from a conference. I didn't have the radio on the entire 2.5 hours. I remember thinking it was a glorious fall day with the most beautiful blue sky; wondering why, even that far north, there wasn't much traffic; seeing more than the usual cars pulled over with drivers on phones; when I pulled into my own driveway, my husband said that a plane had crashed into WTC, and I thought it was an accident until I too watched the second plane go into the other tower and knew that this country had changed forever, especially so for those who lost family members in all three areas.

I was touring the Mozart house in Salzburg with my parents and sister when it actually occured. But we didn't actually hear about it until over 4-hours later at a Mozart concert that evening at the Festung when the announcer asked for a moment of silence for the terrible attacks that happened in the US earlier that day. We just looked at each other and said WHAT? We didn't find out until the intermission. My sister told me the WTC was GONE, and I couldn't believe they really meant GONE! It wasn't until the next night in Heidelberg that we actually saw the tv coverage for the first time. My parents and sister were able to make their flight out on the 16th. Unfortunately it was my mother's first and last probably international flight.

My husband and I were on a plane to NYC, returning from Istanbul, after a wonderful 3-week vacation in Turkey. This was actually the 2nd flight that day out of Istanbul; the first had to return to the airport because of engine trouble (that was a scarey flight!). After an hour or so into the 2nd flight, the captain made an announcement that we had to return to Istanbul again; and we all laughed, saying it looks like they can't get us out of here! Then, a very long announcement, first in Turkish (then in English), and everyone gasped and we knew that something very serious had happened. We were then told that there was an attack on the World Trade Center, and the airspace was closed. Using the plane phones, people around us got information that there were hijacked planes, but it was all very unclear as to what happened. When we got back to the airport, things were very chaotic, and we heard many rumors-- and who could believe the strange story that the World Trade center had collapsed?! <BR><BR>We were fortunate because Turkish Airlines put usall up in a hotel for the next 4 days, as they waited for permission to fly back. We were well-taken care of, and I have to say that the outpouring of concern that we felt from everyone around us was truly amazing. My husband and I live less than a mile north of the WTC, and were concerned about returning home. We were glued to the tv, watching CNN for the next few days. We met some of the other people that were stranded, and became very close while we were together. <BR><BR>My husband and I were, in so many ways, very lucky to be so taken care of by everyone around us; and at the same time, felt very helpless that we weren't at home during the crisis. We got home 4 days later, and that, my friends, is a whole other story. We were fortunate that our apartment was fine, but life around us was very sad and very different.

I was in an internet cafe in Dublin Ireland and received a hysterical call from a friend whose husband was in NY on Business. I had advised him to stay in the City where the company would put him up for free. Thankfully he was staying uptown and fine. I panicked thinking of my best friend who is chronically late for work taking the path to the WTC on her way to John street . I called her mobile and got her husband (she left the phone at home)to find out they were rushed off the train by police after the 1st hit. She though it was a gas explosion. <BR><BR>I could not reach anyone after that for 2 days as the phone lines were jammed from Ireland to the USA but thankfully the people I knew were ok. I watched in horror the live broadcasts with my neighbors while we all cried. So many people who knew I was from NY came up to me afterwards to say how sorry they were. Many people who did not know me well always thought I was born in Ireland from my accent. I still Feel glad I moved away from there 7 years ago when I worked beside the WTC but feel so sorry for the families left without their loved ones. I am more nervous now about travelling back to the U.s. but I know its the same risk as in Europe.

My own experience was as mundane as many people's, I guess (I was at work - - and I did stop most of what I was doing for a few houirs, glued to a television).<BR><BR>But somewhat interesting was the experience of my mother-in-law (who will be traveling with me THIS year - - on September TWELVE).<BR><BR>She was on a charter flight headed to NYC (supposed to land at Teterboro), headed to a luncheon function ON Wall Street. They were approaching New Jersey when the pilot instructed the eight passengers that "due to a national emergency", they would be turning around. They were given no additional information. They landed at a little airstrip in western Pennsylvania - - not really all that far from Shanksville. There were no televisions there, and they had to just try to picture what they were able to hear. They rented two sedans, and between the eight of them, drive the seven hours to return to Indiana. Not until they were back did they see any of the television footage. They really had not been able to comprehend without seeing it.<BR><BR>I wonder how many (if any) people in other parts of the world had radio information about the event(s) but no TV. I understand that many people, in many parts of the world cannot picture what NYC is like at all.<BR><BR>This is quite a good thread - - I look forward to more interesting posts.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I was on my way to work in Tribeca, and had just gotten off the subway when I noticed tons of people walking up Broadway, which was very unusual at that hour. I walked a few blocks west to Church street from Canal and saw one of the towers on fire. I didn't know about the planes, since I got off the subway at the exact minute that the second plane hit (I remember looking at my watch, because I was running late for work). A woman was screaming that terriorists had hit the world trade center, and I told her it was a mistake. By the time I got to my office building, it had been evacuated, and I asked someone who'd just been evacuated from 7 World Trade what happend. I stood on the street in shock and watched the towers burn. I stayed for almost an hour, and had to leave. I remember walking east, and stopped at Church street just as Tower 2 was coming down. I heard the boom and knew if I turned my head to the right I could see it, but I couldn't bring myself to. I walked home to my apartment on the Upper East Side and I could still see the smoke. I found out the next day that 21 people from my hometown died, 6 of which I went to high school with. I will never forget that day.

I was just turning the corner of 44th and 6th and could see everyone looking downtown. I just walked into my office and called my fiance WHO WAS HEADED TO A MEETING AT WTC and could not get in touch with him and wondered what was going on. Minutes later (can't remember how many since it was all so surreal) later people started running to an office with a window facing that direction and it was right after the 2nd plane hit. Thank God, my fiance had to stop by his office first or he would not be alive today. As it was, he was WAY too close by. I will NEVER forget that day and the sheer agony I endured until I found out he was alive and ok.

Under the Pentagon on Metro just before the plane hit. Walked into my building in downtown DC, only to see the towers falling, then heard about the Pentagon, and started walking home. Passed the Pentagon, and the smoke and smell were overwhelming. Ashcroft's jet came in over me, accompanied by an F-16, and landed at National. The streets in DC were crowded, traffic snarled, drivers rushing, but a few miles outside DC things were an eery silence. Got home in time to hear media speculating about the location of the fourth plane. Sunny and blue just like today, only 10-12 degrees cooler, almost early Fall-like.

I was on my way into work in Philly (I live in Jersey) and it was one of the few mornings I didn't watch the news before leaving my apt. for the day. I got the first inkling of what happened on the train, which was filled to capacity which is unusual, and I overheard 2 guys talking about a plane hitting the WTC. I had no clue what they were talking about, for whatever reason what they were saying didn't register. When I walked into my office all my co-workers were gathered around the tv, and we watched live as the events unfolded. I remember being in shock, I remember watching the images but them still not registering. We kept hearing breaking news saying that all flights had been grounded, all bridges and tunnels to NY had been closed, etc.<BR>Every office building in Philly was evacuating, however I couldn't leave b/c I work for a newswire agency which can't just stop operating, even in an emergency. Our main bureau was in NY, and since they were forced to evacuate we had to stay and take their copy. <BR><BR>cont.

cont.<BR><BR>I've never felt so scared in my life, working in a high rise and being forced to continue working while watching the images on tv. When the first tower collapsed, I remember one of my co-workers saying, "oh my g-d, all those people", and we just stared dumbfounded at the screen. My office finally got the go ahead to evacuate at 1pm, and by the point all the bridges to Jersey were also closed. I was just thankful that I was able to meet up with my husband who worked nearby so that at least we were together. <BR><BR>I feel very uneasy about going to work tomorrow... I just hope and pray nothing happens..

So many amazing responses...

I was in my office in Paris. Just after lunch I got a CNN News alert by email saying a plane hit the WTC. It was impossible to get to the CNN web site, though. I called my brother who works for the Dept of Labor in DC and could here people in his office saying "we're shutting down!". The line went dead and it was a panic. It was also a bit surreal since all the French people around me had no idea anything had happened yet. When they found out, all sorts of people I never really knew all that well streamed into my office to see if anyone I knew had been killed. Luckily, the answer was no.

I work for a state government agency in Wisconsin. On 9/11 last year, I happened to be working in the Administration building on the 9th floor. As soon as the first plane hit, someone brought a television into the reception area. When the second plane hit the WTC, there was a collective gasp from all of us and then complete silence.<BR><BR>What I found scary was that the crashes seemed to be timed to occur at the start of the business day. When we heard about the crash in Pennsylvania, it seemed that "they" were moving West and that the Midwest was the next area that could be hit. Obviously, Chicago is a bigger target than Madison but it was still unnerving, considering that we knew the Pentagon had been hit and that other government buildings could be targets. I was especially thinking about all of the planes that were still in the air.<BR><BR>At one point that morning, an announcement was made that all state governments buildings had been locked down. We could leave the building but had to have government ID to re-enter. Just added to the surrealism of the day.

Sleeping late on my day off. My phone was ringing off the hook. Irritated, thinking it was telemarketers I didn't pick up the phone the first few times and rolled over. Then it turned just constant...I picked up the phone ready to scream at whoever was on the other end when I recognized my husband's voice and all he said was "Turn on the television." and hung up. The first tower was crumbling as I turned on the set.

Dressing at home when the first "accident" was announced; by the time I arrived at work in downtown DC, the second plane had struck and of course we knew it was no accident. Then I watched the smoke from the Pentagon from my 12th floor window. Then I heard about my friend's husband, aother friend's cousin, my financial advisor's sister - all dead. I wish they would stop the "memorial" shows - enough is enough. I can remember without having it played over and over again.

I was already at my desk at work when the first plane hit. I got off the subway at the bottom of the WTC that very morning, thinking of what a beautiful sunny day it was. Walked two blocks to my office building, things seemed so normal.<BR><BR>After the first plane hit my colleague came running in hysterically saying that a plane had hit one of the towers, and that we all had to leave NOW. We all sat around not knowing what was going on. Various theories began emerging: only a small Cessna accidentally hit the building, it was a terrorist attack with bombs on the planes, etc.<BR><BR>After a few minutes, we heard a huge explosion and the ground shook (we're on the 15th floor). The second plane had hit. We went outside to look. The second tower was in flames, there were papers flying everywhere, falling softly to our feet.<BR><BR>We came back upstairs to get our things. I emailed my parents to tell them that I was okay and was leaving. As we were going down the emergency stairs, finally an announcement came over the PA system that we were being evacuated.<BR><BR>We started walking east towards the river, and then north. There were people everywhere: walking, observing, carrying stacks of papers from their office. Everyone was in disbelief, shock, silent. <BR><BR>A couple of colleagues and I made our way to one of our apartments, where we turned on the tv. One of the buildings had collapsed. Then another.<BR>

I was getting ready for work in Southern California. Turned on the news, and heard Aaron Brown on CNN talking about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. As I was watching, the second plane hit, and I guess Aaron and I were seeing it at the same time. Aaron Brown is inextricably linked to 9/11 in my memory.

My sympathies go out to all of you in New York City. You all have endured so much and your strength is an example to all around the world. May you persevere with pride tomorrow and always, especially in light of the new threats. My heart is with you.

ttt

Being evacuated from the Sears Tower where I work.

I remember it was 9:05 when I got to Penn Station because my wife was shooting for a 9:07 Amtrak train and she rushed off trying to make it. As I was walking to the subway I saw a large semi-circle of people and at first didn't realize what they were doing, then saw that they were looking at tv's. I wondered if there was sporting event going on halfway around the world that I wasn't aware of. Then I saw the smoke coming out of the WTC and I asked the guy next to me what happened, and he said two planes had hit the WTC. I figured two Cessna's collided or he made a mistake. <BR><BR>I got on the 1/9 train, which used to run directly to the WTC, and headed for my office in Greenwich Village. The subway was stop and go. It was about 9:25 when I got off at Sheridan Sq/7th Avenue South. I'll never forget coming up to the street and immediately being in another world, seeing for the first time the hideous amount of smoke and flame. Everyone on the street was in shock. <BR><BR>I walked to my office on Hudson Street, where everyone was in shock too. A colleague came by and said "The building collapsed." I didn't know what she was talking about. I thought there must have been a water main break and some little building was sinking. Even after seeing the destruction from the street it never occurred to me the buildings could collapse. <BR><BR>I went to an office where we could see the north tower. I remember watching the antenna fall what seemed like a long way before losing it in the dust cloud. We were told we should leave, even though I felt safer in our building then on the street. A veritable stream of people flowed up Hudson Street. As we walked north a Fire Department vehicle covered in ash drove by, stopped at a gas station, and the firefighters, also covered in ash, went to get something to drink. <BR><BR>I'll never forget it. Never.

We were touring Westminster Abbey. The guide waited until the tour was finished and asked all who were Americans to come into a small chapel with her and told us. As others have said, everyone was just silent. We started back to our hotel by tube, but it stopped because of a threat at Victoria Station. We got off and walked awhile and then got on another on the other side of Victoria. We spent the evening watching events on TV. Tony Blair was superb; and the Brits are a class act. <BR><BR>My husband and I had no option but to go on with our prepaid, planned trip around GB; but our daughter, who was with us, was delayed five days in getting home. The hotel staff was wonderful to her, and I was really touched by the number of people who, just when they overheard our accents, would come and say quietly how sorry they were. <BR><BR>All the churches we visited during the following month had chapels set aside for prayer, and there were a number of places that had floral offerings and notes. The most I saw were on the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth. Very touching.