Where were you??

[BadCaller]

I remember the day like it was 20 mins ago. I was headed into the city running late, I was listening to some grateful dead just thinking it would be another day. My lady friend called and said a plane hit one of the towers. As I came over the hill I could see smoke from the first tower. Then another plane hit. As many we all pulled over that morning on RT3. There was dead silence and people were just in shock. As the towers fell all cell phones went dead and it was just a helluva morning. Fighter planes were circling the city and the noise broke the silence. That day changed my life, the way I live and how I tool around the city several times a week.

I got home late in the afternoon, finally 2 days later my friends wife called and Glenn made it out of tower 2 by the skin of his teeth. He ran down something like 60 floors. It's something we have never really spoke about. The following week I had a flag pole and light installed. I have never taken that flag down and that light has never been out during the night. What a dam shame.

[Slim]

I was working and watched pretty much after the first plane struck on the whole day on television. I was younger and relly didn't understand it in full til the next day what was really unfolding in front of me. It was a really quiet day o n the farm also,

[Sgt14]

I was at home on a rare day off when my wife called me and told me to watch the news. Shocking, just shocking. We, as a country should redouble our efforts to stamp out (with an anvil, JDAM, or whatever) this terrorism. We should, as a matter of course invoke terror in our enemies. Just a thought.

[Gary]

i was in a red oak tree on a 69kv power line trimmin itback from the line in akron , ohio ............ boss said come to the road when ur done trimmin ...... came down and listened to it on the radio............. i still get shrivers in my spine while watching it on tv ........

[freefall319]

I was home on leave (Army) visiting my family at the time. My mom came in and woke me up (we'd had a welcome home party the night before) and we sat and watched helplessly like everyone else did. I was furious, luckily I got my chance to right some wrong's over there. Needless to say my leave was cut short and my slot for RANGER school was cancled, rightfully so. Not too long after, we were on our way over sea's full of anger and pride and the ass kicking began..........

[Just Hunt]

I was home getting ready for work when the first plane struck and at work when the second plane struck

[Mallardman9]

8th grade French class! Didn't have a clue what was going on at the time. Means a whole lot more to me these days!

[fgreen04]

Okinawa. It was actually Sept 12 already when I saw it on the news channel. Middle of a nasty typhoon, sitting in my rack dumb founded by what I was seeing. 2 days later we were heading to Guam to take out a few groups causing trouble around the navel base. Not too long after, over in the heart of it bringing the fight to em

[8ceswild]

I was in my work car, just driving around doing random visits with some customers, and I happened to be driving a few blocks from my parents house. I heard it on the radio, and drove to my parents, burst through the front door and went right to the TV. My mother was yelling, "your shoes!!! Take off your shoes!" and I just turned on the TV and said....."we're under attack." My mother shut up right up, started to almost cry and we just watched helplesly as the day unfolded. It does send the shiver bug up the spine.....

[jrode237]

3rd period, English Literature class as a sophomore in highschool. Man was I young and stupid. I don't care to admit this but a buddy and myself were cracking jokes about it like it was funny (like I said, young and dumb). Coincidentally, it was also my parents 25th wedding anniversary the day it happened. Took a bit of the luster off something that should have been a very happy day in my family.

[flyfisher76544]

I was in my truck going thru the bank teller machine on Fort Hood. When I first heard it come over the radio, I thought some fool had gotten drunk and was in a crop duster or some smaller plane. On the way to the motor pool was when the radio folks said it was a fully loaded passenger plane. The base was put on full alert with armed guards and all that. Soldiers were having to pull over on the highway and walk into base due to the traffic. Shortly later...and still now....back over here again.

[BadCaller]

I tried to get into NYC today but there was massive traffic, today you can not even take a picture of the tunnel or bridge area. random trucks stopped always at the tunnel's I thnk they must take 100's of cameras away from tourests comming into the city. Now Time Square has a police station right in the heart with god only knows how many cameras. If you have never rolled into NYC it's unreal let me know if any of you make it out here.

[tim k]

I was scheduled to work at 1:00 that day and my wife was home. we sat there and watched the coverage from when it started. i remember the looks on the faces if the people watching it on location and the horror on there faces validated by there blank hollow stares.

on my way to work it was like in slow motion what was normally a aggresive commute. people were driving the speed limit or less leaving alot of room for other drivers. at that point i realized everyone felt like me deflated and in shock. what was important in days previous like being first to a parking spot or being first just didn't matter anymore.

there were more trips to the smoking area that day and others joined that never smoked. the conversation was not the normal new model, rude customer or ego driven self validating conversation. i remember that the sky was more blue than i ever seen before and not seeing airplanes flying seemed unreal.

hearing people that shared there personal stories about loved ones lost or that it was a miracle that they were alive made me feel guilty. i guess i was looking for more justification for the way i was feeling and how horriable it was for those that can put names to the victims as the stories unfolded. the next day we got our personal connection a family friend that is a NY city firefighter. he was on first shift with one of the many ladder companies in manhattan. for what ever reason he had switched with one of the other firefighters for his third shift. all of his company and the guy that switched with him was lost. bad caller might remember his story his name is darren l. he is still a firefighter still to this day.

i often think about what went through the minds of the people on the planes especially flight 93 and the bravery that was executed by the passengers. the people that had to make the choice to jump or stay in the building and burn. the film that haunts me the most was aired and sponsed by nextel. many of you have seen it and it shows in unedited format what was to be a documentary on life as a firefighter.

it angers me when the president bush bashers trash him on his in there opionon was failed policy. i couldn't think of many presidents that were faced with what he had to deal with. i feel he did a great job for what was in the best interest of the american people.

911 has forever changed america and the people of the world. it certainly made me appreciate the important things a little more. with every passing anniverisary i am reminded of these things. and the phrase god bless america will never get old and has a significant meaning rekindled on that day in september.

[SO IL fowler]

I had just came home from work and was getting ready to go to sleep. My Mom called me screaming on the phone that a plane hit one of the world trade centers and that the news was saying we are at(going) to war. Obviously that was huge but to me it was a little bit more because I knew that I was about to put my money where my mouth is. See, I had joined 3 months prior to 9/11. I have been there and back and can tell you personally that that there are a few less "Osama's" out there now haha. Cant say it was not easy, in the words of 50cent "been hit wit a few shots but I don't walk with a limp" haha. Now a year since I have been back I took part in the opening of the Wall to our Fallen Soldiers in the 2/130th IN REG opening today. The rold call was rough and almost agganising listining to your friends names called over and over and over. Many tears were shed today. I hate the loss of everyone of them but it is a small cost to keep bringing an everlovin ass kickin beat down to the scum of the arab world 1/2 way accross the world.

With that being said my heart goes out to all of the loved ones out there that lost husbands, wifes, sons and doughters that day and since. And, to all of our troops out there. Whether you be Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine GOD BLESS YOU.

The cost of freedom often is an expensive one, one that causes heartache and loss. That cost must be paid though in order to give the friends, families and everyone the most precious gift in the world...............FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dirtycletus81]

I was working at Wal-Mart. We were having a Re-Grand Opening. I was dressed like a clown in full make up, big floppy shoes, big red nose, bright red wig. I come walking to the front of the store, with a bunch of balloons in my hand, where all the managers, mayor, employees and others were standing. The store manager said lets all bow are heads for the loss of the people in New York. I asked a buddie of mine what happened and he said that a plane had hit one of the towers. Like most people I thought that some pilot had lost control of his plane. Shortly after we were informed that the 2nd tower had been hit. Now we were understanding that this was not a mistake and something bad was happening. Now I'm sure everyone has been to Wal-mart and seen the TV's everywhere. Well those TV's are hooked up to a feed from the Wal-mart HQ. They dont get outside stations. After a few hundred people asking why we didn't have the news on, the manager called the main office and asked if there was anyway that they could get a news channel broadcasted in the store. Our manager was told that all stores were in the process of having access to news stations. Shortly after that there were over a hundred TV's showing footage through out the store. With big groups of people standing around looking up at each one. Watching the footage of the planes hitting the towers, the towers falling. The worst day in American history. I like most of the Wal-mart employees spent the day talking with customers and trying to figure out what was happening and what was going to happen. I saw a few things that day. Things that I will never forget for the rest of my life. I saw strangers comforting each other. People hurting and crying over the loss of the fireman, police officers, and all the people that worked in the towers, pentagon, and the passengers on the planes, that they didn't know. Complete strangers helping each other through the worst event. You don't see that very often. I saw that when you are the big dog in the yard, every so often someone is going to try to test you. It was a big test. I think we banded together and showed that we are The United States of America and you can't divide us. We will stand and fight. Thanks to all who gave their lives that day, and to all who gave their lives taking the fight back to them and showing them why we are a FREE nation. And thanks to all who are fighting right now. DON"T FORGET WHY WE ARE USA!!!!!!!!!!!

[Duckman48]

We had just gotten on station in Prince Sultan AB Saudi Arabia. I had saluted the pilot flying an F-16 from my squadron and went up for Northern Watch patrol for the no fly zone. A mass radio transmission came through explaining the US was under attack and return to base immediatly. We were told very little about what had happened until around noon New York time. It had hit hard. We started to gather all the new yorkers in my squadron and get them a line home to check on their families. Needless to say our mission and munitions changed in less than 12 hours. We sent 12 guys home within 12 hours to be with their families. We were extended there for 2 extra months and supporting troops that were on their way.

[huntingbuddy]

I was in 7th grade waiting for the bus at the bus stop. I remember a neighbor came up and said two planes hit the twin towers and to be honest I had never heard of the twin towers. I thought it was just some small cessna type airplanes that hit the towers then I got to school and saw the footage on the tv. I remember watching the towers fall. Freaking crazy.

[pete/pmr]

I was in Samolia and did not hear about it until the 15th of Sept. when we got a message over a sat phone telling us what happened! It was a brief message and the full impact of the event did not really hit us until we were picked up and lifted out and back in the world!