Where Were You On 9/11/01?

[gamewell45 258]

I just came out of Grand Central North; I remember it was a clear blue day; and thought how nice a day it was going to be. Once i turned the corner onto madison avenue, there were a bunch of people crowded around a window at one of the banks looking at a television set. I was curious so i walked up to the crowd and looked over there shoulders and saw WTC Tower one on fire. I looked south and sure enought, it was burning like hell. I asked someone what happened and they said that they thought a commuter plane hit the building. I was like "wow, how the hell could a plane hit that building with the weather so nice and clear, but things do happen". Anyhow, since i worked in the media, i knew it was going to be a busy day, so i went up the the studios to see what was the gameplan for coverage. within 10 minutes of my arrival the second plane hit WTC tower 2 (south). At that point it became evident that it was a terrorist action against us. Because our building was on the city's terrorist "hit" list, they shut down our building at 10:30am and all of us evacuated the building and stood out on the street and watched F-16's fly overhead and National Guard troops in full battle dress driving down 6th avenue in Humvee's with M-60 Cal machine guns mounted on the top of the vehicle. When both buildings had collapsed, we watched the cloud of dust slowly work its way uptown; we were on 49th street; the cloud petered out around 42nd st. Of course you couldn't get out of NYC as the subways, trains and bridges were closed. So we sat around and waited looked at the smoke most of the day. I finally got a train out of GCT around 7:30pm.

[sr71 1]

I was in the 7th grade sitting in science class, daydreaming as usual when my principle got on the loud speakers and made an announcement saying that a terrorist attack had occurred in new york city at the world trade center, that two planes hit the towers and that they collapsed. My teacher started to cry and we spent the whole day outside, I could remember sitting outside and hearing an weary silence and felt a deep sadness even tho i didn't see what happened yet I could feel in my heart that a lot of people died.

[64FFMJK 21]

I was working security for Paris Las Vegas Casino and it I still remember that morning I had just started my shift and had gotten on my bike and was starting patrol of the parking garage and I was on the top floor of the parking garage and two F15's flew down the Las Vegas strip just above the casinos, circled the airport and escorted a 747 back to the runways after take off, then constant fighter formations all day.

There were several NYPD, FDNY and others in Las Vegas that week. I remeber them scrambeling to find ways home some by bus, some by train, some bought cars just to get back.

[RWC130 594]

September 11, 2001

I find it hard to talk about that day, including type it out

without getting choked up so here goes....

I was home asleep after just having worked a midnight shift.

I got a call on my nextel two way from a friend in the FD telling me a plane had hit the WTC.

Honestly, I didn't pay much attention thinking it was some type of accident. I put on

the news and watched live on TV the second plane hit WTC.

Now I knew this was no accident, it was a direct hit!

They played it over and over again.

I got up took a shower and sat it total shock watching the news calling some family and friends.

I then saw both WTC Twin Towers fall.

I heard all the radio traffic over 60-Control about stand-by's and it was not long

before my Peekskill FD pager went off requesting all manpower to Station 5.

I got in my car and off to the Firehouse I went.

We stood around for a while all talking about what had happened.

I remember hearing our 2nd Assistant Chief say "We need a crew of Volunteers to go down to NYC

they are Staging at 60-Control for deployment"

I volunteered to go down with several other Volunteer Firefighters and Career Firefighters.

We boarded Engine 131 and off to 4 Dana Road we went.

After waiting at 60-Control for a short time we left for the Bronx.

We stood by with numerous other Westchester County Fire Department on Bailey Avenue

at Engine 81 / Ladder 46.

I remember later that night one of the FF's at E81/L46 getting a phone call that his Brother was missing.

Our 2nd Assistant Chief drove him right down to WTC in the Peekskill FD Chief Car.

A lot of our FF's started talking about FF Sam Oitice of FDNY Ladder 4 who was a Volunteer with Peekskill FD.

We were all wondering if he was working or not. We found out later that night he was also missing. RIP SAMMY!

Late that night we returned to Yonkers Raceway to the Parking Lot.

I spent the night sleeping on the ground with my turnout coat, some how knowing what had just happened that didn't

bother me one bit. How could it? I was alive and a little cold but THOUSANDS were dead.

In the days following September 11th I did make it down to Volunteer at "The Pile" it's an experience

I will never forget for the rest of my life. I don't really like to talk about it.

The Firefighters who I went down with, We now all have a special bond.

The ride home was TOTAL SILENCE!

America as we knew it changed forever that day.

Well, that's my story......

BE SAFE!

God bless the Troops!

[JimmyPFD 11]

Accross then harbor on Staten Island working in a locked state hospital on the water. It was bizzare watching the column of dark smoke smudge across the horizon on a day that the weather was otherwise as clear and beautiful as they come.

It was crazy as the greatest tragedy of our liftime was happening on a gorgeous day

[ONEEYEDMIC 68]

I was actually working a day tour which is rare, but since I was only 5 months out of the PA that is what I had to do. Anyway, I was listening to Howard Stern when the first plane hit. I rapidly drove to HQ and saw it on the TV.

I then got sent on a call where the people thought they were going to get attacked. About noon, my CHIEF pulled me off the road and sent me because I was a MEDIC at the time and some other guys down to the staging point Near the INTREPID. I remember driving down the Saw Mill and especially the WEST SIDE HWY. There was nobody on the road. We staged and watched the smoke for hours. After that, we got moved to another location where we directed traffic. By 3a, we were at the main staging point under the Brooklyn Bridge. Not much was being done at that point because of the darkness. We went home at about 6a. I worked another Day Tour and then for the next 10 days I think we were helping with removal.

OJ verdict I was in Monte Cath Lab taking out a PT.

Challenger I was in 8th grade math class.

[weaselff 6]

I was in my junior year of college at Oneonta in a lecture hall class, I think it was Intro to Anthropolgy. I was sitting there and I remember this girl behind me started talking to her friend about a plane hitting the trade center. I wasnt really listnening and I assumed it was just a horrible accident, like a cessna or something hitting the building. I remembered reading about a B25 bomber on a training mission during WW2 hitting the Empire State Building in a fog and I assumed it was similar situation. It was an overcast day in Oneonta(big suprise) and that explanation seemed entirely plausible. After class I was walking through campus and I was hearing bits and pieces of conversations between students. I kept overhearing words like "terrorists", "collapse", "bomb", "trade center", etc. I decided I needed to find out what was going on so I went to the campus library to use the internet. I went to CNN.com which took forever to load, and when the screen finally came up, it took my breath away. I got up from the computer and went to the bathroom and paced back and forth muttering "holy s***" to myself under my breath like a crazy person. When I got back to my apartment I remember like 10 kids I didn't know in my living room that my roomate had invited in. It was a bunch of my neighbors in my apartment complex. I think it was one of those moments, excuse the cliche, where no one wanted to be alone. I remember spending the rest of the day trying to contact my parents and sisters which I remember being difficult since everyone else in the freeworld was trying to do the same thing. I didn't talk to my Father until the next day. He had went with the vollys to the mobilization on Bailey Ave. and then Yonkers Raceway.

I was a volunteer firemen at the time when I was home from school, and had always considered taking the city firefighter test. In the days and weeks following however, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. The way the men of FDNY stood together in spite of this horrible tragedy really touched me, they proved to me "it was still the Greatest job on earth!" I continued on with school and graduated but my heart wasn't really in it. I spent the next few years with the ultimated goal of becoming a NYC fireman getting my chance as and FDNY EMT in 2005 and as a Firefighter in 2007. Today I proudly serve the people of New York and the legacy of those 343 heroes.

[helicopper 1,050]

am i the only one reading this feeling old with all the replies of being in school?

No you're not, I was thinking the same thing.

[calhobs 110]

I am not an overly religious person, but when I received this email today it made me think of this post. I think its fitting to post it under this subject.

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when

you heard the news On September 11, 2001.

Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room

with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I

held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the

peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it

is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed

breakfast to their children. I held her up as she

tried to understand his words and as she realized

he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a

woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been

knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.

'Of course I will show you the way home - only

believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest

ministering to the injured and devastated souls.

I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He

heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in eve ry seat,

with every prayer. I was with the crew as they

were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the

believers there, comforting and assuring them that their

fait h has saved them.

I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, and Afghanistan.

I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.

Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew

every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me

for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.

Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the

smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take

my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.

But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You

may not know why, but I do. However, if you were

there in that explosive moment in time, would you have

reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey

for you. But someday your journey will end. And I

will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may

be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are

'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

[xfirefighter484x 234]

I was sitting in AP Chem, Senior year in HS. The hall monitors were walking around handing out notes to all the teachers, and my teacher said "Yea, I know, I already heard." Of course, I just thought it was something like a teacher's meeting scheduled or something.

Then, 4th period, I was in lunch, the principal came over the PA, and announced about the tragedies. My HS, like most others, the cafeteria was probably the loudest place on earth. The eeriest part, was you coul dhave heard a pin drop for a good 20 minutes, during, and after the principal's announcement.

From there, I went to my next class a little early, and my teacher was in his office listening to the radio, so I sat down and listened along. I asked him to give me the rundown on what was happening. I was either in shock/disbelief, but at that point, I had not known the towers were gone. I had been thinking just one got hit. Thats when he told me;

"No, they're gone. They're both gone."

And one of the other music teachers was frantic on the phone trying to call her ex husband, who worked nowhere else than in WTC Bldg. 1.

[50-65 205]

Southbound on I-295 in New Jersey. I was driving tankers at the time, picking up milk from farms.

I was supposed to go to Brooklyn with my load, as did everyday. I had heard that you couldn't get into the city. You couldn't make a cell phone call because "all circuits are busy". I couldn't get ahold of my boss so I went to Perth Amboy instead.

It wasn't until I got home some 12 hrs later that I was able to see what happened.

The next day going into Brooklyn, all I could smell was the odor of concrete dust.

[NWFDMedic 58]

I was actually working in the SUNY-Orange Extension Center in Newburgh. On my way into work, WPDH cut into their morning show to a radio report about a small plane hitting the World Trade Center. I remember thinking that a small plane would likely bounce off and cause a bit of a mess, and how stupid could a pilot be to miss the 1300 foot building, and then I went into work.

As the timing had it, class time was 9:00 at the college, so most of the students were in the building before any news of the second plane hit. The building has no cable service and you can't even get any radio stations on a little deskside radio, so basically we are cut off from the world, short of someone surfing over to a news website in their office. I went in, checked my work email, fixed a problem with a server, and then got a phone call from my captain (or assistant captain) at NWVAC. He asked me if I was available to help because the town might be in a state of emergency at some point. I asked why and he was amazed that I hadn't heard what happened. By the time the South Tower collapsed, I had left work, gone home, got a uniform, and headed up to the VAC building just to see the horror on TV. I spent the day doing whatever my captain asked me to do as lieutenant and trying to calm down the 18 year old kids with no experience that wanted to go down there to help, not realizing what they would see. (I was 26 at the time and had seen plenty and I would have had no problem doing whatever duty I was called to do, but I knew it wouldn't be the glory job that the kids were looking for.)

That night, I went to work for Sloper-Willen, my normal night shift on 83-89 in East Fishkill. I spent most of the night with the guys at IBM Emergency Control, watching television and more than anything else just not wanting to be alone. We got hourly updates on one of our coworkers who was a full-time firefighter for FDNY. I can remember all of the conflicting reports and finally the realization setting in that he was gone, despite the fact that it was some time later that he was officially declared presumed dead.

[ltmdepas3280 1]

I was on housewatch when a brother called and said that plane hit the trade center. I turned on the tv and saw the second plane hit......world changed on that day....

[jcoppola 52]

I was home nursing a 1 month old recunstructed ACL surgery. I had the surgery on August 8, 2001 and was expected to be out of work at the FD until December of that year. I called my brother (FDNY L-40 at the time) to ask him if he was aware of what was going on. He said that he had just gotten to his apartment in Brooklyn from a normally busy night tour at E37/L40 and was going to get some rest. I instructed him to turn on his TV. He used a few expletives and hung up the phone. He obviously reported for duty and I did not hear from him until late that night. Not knowing his condition was hard, and the fact that I would not be able to help in any capacity was even harder. Like everybody else, I sat glued to a TV. Keeping my folks calm during the event knowing their son was at ground zero was no easy task either. But, my family was fortunate, and my heart goes out to the families of the "343" and I never will forget those sacrifices made during the biggest and most successful rescue effort in the history of the Fire Service.

God Bless all those lost on 9/11.

JVC

[RescueKujo 130]

I was out of town for an Emergency Medical Dispatch class, and asleep in my hotel room (Pacific Daylight Time). My pager went off with an IPN alert. I thought "how bad is traffic screwed up in San Diego this morning?" and looked at the pager. I was instantly awake, thinking of the B-25 into the Empire State Building (I am not that old, but being former USAF and a history buff I know the story), but when I turned on the TV and saw the weather, all I could think was "WTF"?? As I got up and was getting ready to go to class, I saw the 2nd plane. I got an empty sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and knew the terrorists were at it again.

The day sucked in class, as no one could concentrate. 1 woman had family in both FDNY and LAFD and was losng it. It went from bad to worse when she found out her brothers who were assigned to the LAFD USAR Task Force was heading to the site. Another classmate had a sister who was a flight attendant, and the family hadn't heard from her all day.

[x134 46]

I was working for the United States Posatal Service in Rockland county village of Suffern. I was listening to KTU on my walkman when the dj said holy sh#! a plane just hit the world trade center. We turned the radio on in the office and we all listened to the coverage. Then the second plane hit, then the pentagon,then the plane went down in P.A. We still went out on our routes but they came out and got us and sent us home.. It was the nicest day and also the quietest. As I was on my route I wondered how many firefighters mail I was delivering, and how many of them were not coming home.......very sad. Lt. Andy fredricks Squad 18 was from Suffern.

It was 3 pm when I got on the thruway to come home and I hardly saw 1 car going south. Just state fire vehicles.

[Future Fireman 4]

I was in the 4th Grade.

Mike

[Guest]

I was in the 5th Grade at the Beekman Elementary School (Beekman, New York) and I remember all the teachers had been summoned out into the hallway for a moment, I'll never forget the look on the teacher's face when he came back into the room. Long story short they didn't tell us at all during the day, But i learned about it after I was picked up early from school, as well as the tons of other students whose parents picked them up early.

[FFPCogs 863]

I never will forget those sacrifices made during the biggest and most successful rescue effort in the history of the Fire Service.

God Bless all those lost on 9/11.

JVC

Joe,

Thanks for reminding me of this very simple and often overlooked fact.

We can and must NEVER forget the sacrafices made by all on that horrible day, but we must also never lose sight of the efforts of those who survived and rescued thousands from death. Their heroism, and dedication to helping others is sometimes lost in my thoughts because of the magnitude of the tradgedy suffered by the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD. To all those who survived and carried on under the crushing weight of their loss and the horror of that scene...THANK YOU.

Cogs

[mofirewifey 0]

I was sitting in class with my favorite teacher because they locked down our schools thinking that Detroit which was only 15 minutes away would be hit next. I remember the Principal coming over the speakers saying to stay in our present class for the remander of the day. Granted I was a lil excited being I was with my Favorite teacher, It was very upsetting to keep seeing the footage played over and over again. Little did I know that my best friend was not in school that day because her father was down in that area on business and she was to devistated to come to school. Upon being released from school I ran to her house to see if she was ok, only to find that THANKFULLY her fathers flight was delayed and he ended up being stuck at the airport on the ground. His flight never left. We are very lucky for that. I can honestly say that that day will remain in my head for eternity. I do not however look forward to trying to explain to my daughter what happened and why mommy and daddy get so sad on that day. Family has never meant more to me. That dreadful day really put my life into perspective. I now cherish every moment with my loved ones and can only hope that I make it home before my grand father passes away this next month. He is now the main reason I am in the medical field. I am making it a mission to try and help as many people as I possibly can in his memory.

I LOVE YOU G-PA CHARLIE AND I'LL BE HOME SOON!!!!

[PoqFFEMT 6]

I was working security for Paris Las Vegas Casino and it I still remember that morning I had just started my shift and had gotten on my bike and was starting patrol of the parking garage and I was on the top floor of the parking garage and two F15's flew down the Las Vegas strip just above the casinos, circled the airport and escorted a 747 back to the runways after take off, then constant fighter formations all day.

There were several NYPD, FDNY and others in Las Vegas that week. I remeber them scrambeling to find ways home some by bus, some by train, some bought cars just to get back.

Those were my F-15's from the 71st Fighter Squadron from Langley AFB, VA