Share your story
To raise awareness of 9/11 in younger generations, we are compiling personal anecdotes to be shared as an online collection. To help, share where you were on September 11, 2001. How did you hear about what happened, and what were you feeling at the time? Spread the story of friends or family who were lost that day, and help preserve their memory for posterity. Please include as many details as possible.
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9/11: First Person
Why should you share?
​​Oral history is a way to spread not only information, but feelings. There are many facts available about the attacks of 9/11, but facts fail to encompass the terror of that day and the personalities of those who were lost. It is important to share your own story so that not only the facts will be passed on to younger generations, but the true essence of an event that shaped today's world. But over time, details can be forgotten. By sharing your story with us here, whether you were at the World Trade Center or on the other side of the world, you will preserve a lesson for posterity. Join us in passing down history, and help the world to never forget.
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You can help by sharing your story.
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Below are the stories of others who keep the memories of 9/11 alive:
"I remember sitting in my office, filling out paperwork, when a co-worker came out of his office and said a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. I imagined it was a small two-seater plane, the kind amateur pilots sometimes fly, and assumed it was a tragic accident caused by an inexperienced pilot. More co-workers and the clients they were with started coming out of their offices. At that time, we didn’t have TVs, and the internet was nothing like it is today. I turned on the radio, and the only station I could find broadcasting was Howard Stern. I remember him telling his co-workers to go home, but he was staying to report what was happening. The only thing I remember clearly from that broadcast is the sound of his voice as he reported that the first tower had collapsed. I gasped so loudly that people ran into my office to listen. I immediately tried calling my friend who worked in the towers, but with so many people trying to use the phone lines, I couldn’t get through. I remember the day being beautiful and sunny, and for some reason, that detail has stayed with me. The next morning, as I drove to work, I was overwhelmed by all the flags hanging outside people’s homes. I had never seen so many flags before, and as I sat at a red light, I started crying."
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"I was working at home with the television on when the newscaster said there was breaking news. A plane had struck the Twin Towers. I immediately thought the pilot had a medical issue and went off course for such a tragedy to happen. Then the newscaster continued to report that a second plane hit the second Tower. I stood frozen watching the TV with tears streaming down."
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"September 11, 2001, is a day I will never forget. I was at a doctor’s office, and a nurse called the doctor to advise him that an aircraft had crashed into the World Trade Center. He (the doctor) then turned on a TV in his office, and we watched the news coverage. I was very concerned when I saw reports that it was a commercial airline because I knew that was almost impossible. As I returned to my car, I turned on the radio and heard a second aircraft struck the second tower. At that point, I knew something was wrong. When I heard about the Pentagon being hit and a plane in PA going down, I knew this was very serious. Four events like this could never occur in such a short period unless they were connected. I could not stop thinking about all these people who went to work that day and would never return home. Later I learned that three people I knew and a friend’s brother were lost when the buildings went down. I spent many years in the Middle East, and later that day, I received a call from a Minister of the Interior from a Middle Eastern country. He expressed his concern and apologized for this act. I questioned him if he knew something about this, and he replied he didn’t but was suspect of some radical Muslim groups. I returned to the Middle East for the next few years, and things were very different."
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"It started out as a normal beautiful September Day. My husband and I caught the train out of Little Silver NJ at 7 am to go to work in midtown Manhattan.
When I got to work one of my associates told me that his wife called to say there was a small plane that hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center. I thought oh no how could that happen but it was more a news story that I would find out about later- we all went about doing our work for the day. Then all of a sudden someone else’s spouse called into the office to say that another plane had hit the other tower and that it was a big plane and that the news said we were under attack!! Remember there were no sophisticated I phones like there are now. There were cell phone but nobody could text on them nor take any pictures. There wasn’t a T V in our office so a few of us went to another company in our building and crowded around their TV. No sooner than I arrived there to watch then the first Tower collapsed and I started to cry- thinking of all the people that worked in that building. I went back to my office and tried to call my parents on my cell phone and found that I couldn’t get through- (my parents happened to be living with us while my Mom went through radiation treatments nearby) I tried and tried to get my parents on the cell and the landline knowing they would be watching things unfold and I wanted them to know that my husband and I were ok! I finally called my sister in California to see if she could get a hold of my parents to tell them we were ok and not to worry- that phone call went through on the landline but that was it- no more calls went anywhere.
By this time they had closed down Broadway-and all avenues in Manhattan that went south and there was a stream of firetrucks and ambulances going south in front of our building! After a while though, all that stopped and you could stand in the middle of Broadway and see all the smoke in lower Manhattan. We then found out that they closed all tunnels and bridges. Into and out of Manhattan. They closed down the trains in and out of NY as well. There was no way to get out of Manhattan! All the people in my office( including my husband ) decided to stick together and our boss at the time knowing we could not go anywhere out of the city took us all to lunch. It was the most somber lunch that I have ever been to. After lunch ( who could eat?) We went back to our office and gathered up our things and decided to walk to a ferry - any ferry that would get us off the island. A few of our colleagues that went ahead called back to our office saying the line for the ferry was 5 hours long ! We started walking down 7th Ave towards the West side Ferry. At about 3:30 my husband and I were walking past Penn Station to get to the Ferry when we looked at each other and said let’s go down to see if the trains are running yet- One was we got on it not caring or knowing where it was going - any part of New Jersey would be ok. And guess what - it was our train - a North Jersey Coast Line train- it was pure luck. It was packed of course and I remember seeing many people caked in white ash from lower Manhattan-They had walked up the several miles to get away from the horror of downtown. When we finally got home( it stopped at every station on that line) we were thankful we made it home safely but somber and thinking about the great loss of life.We also knew in our hearts that everything was now going to change - our world, our daily life will never be the same.
That night about 9:30 pm there was a brisk load knock at our front door. We all jumped already very much on edge from the events of that day- Standing at our doorway were three uniformed people one an MP( we lived behind the back entrance of Fort Monmouth at the time and it still was an active Fort), a local Oceanport cop and the uniformed head? In charge of Fort Monmouth at that time. They were closing off our street. They asked us how many people were living at our house and how many cars we had. They gave us a sticker for each car and from then on we had to go past a check point show our id that we lived on the street and the they would let us go down our own street!! If we were expecting any visitors at all we had to go up to the check point and get them( including deliveries and workman) It was very unnerving. Although it was not said to us nor our neighbors, our street was the only water access that could go straight into Fort Monmouth and we felt they might be using our street for water access for equipment or perhaps bodies.
After all that happened on that day we were very thankful to see and be with our family and very moved by the fact that so many other people would not be with their families any more. We continue to pray for them."
"My name is Gina (Ferrugio). I was a freshman at college, 17 years old, on September 11, 2001. My roommate woke me up and told me to look at the TV. The sadness, fear and panic I felt that day never quite left me. The story of Ken is near and dear to my heart because like so many others that day, I lost a loved one too. My father, David Ferrugio, was in the North Tower. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald and was trapped on the upper floors above where the plane crashed. Sadly, I'll never truly know what happened to him during those final hours, and for me that was the hardest thing to cope with.
A lot of years have passed, but the immense grief and sorrow that followed in the days after 9/11 still finds it way to the surface as if it happened yesterday.
Today, I choose to remember my Dad's smile, his laugh, the love he had for his family and friends, and the time we did have together.
It's so important to continue to share stories about Ken and all the brave souls who lost their lives that day."
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"I was at work in a nearby building. I heard a loud noise and looked out the window. I could see the debris flying into the air. I saw on the news what had happened, although it wasn’t very clear, and quickly left my building. I ran across the Brooklyn Bridge along with many others as terror strikes the city. 9/11 should never be forgotten."
"Having grown up in Rumson, NJ, our proximity to New York City was something I took for granted. I spent my summers at the beach, and anyone from this area knows how beautiful it is on a clear day to look across the water and see the NYC skyline. As a teen I would drive up to the Twin Lights and the scenic overlook in Atlantic Highlands for another beautiful view of the skyline, especially at night with the city lights. I have great memories of taking pictures of the skyscrapers when we were on the ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty. I even had a school dance that took us on a boat ride in the harbor. Of course, the buildings that would grab our attention the most were the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center. Iconic. We all wanted to get pictures with our friends with the backdrop of the New York City skyscrapers. I would never have imagined that those pictures would be among the last pictures I took of the Twin Towers.
On September 11, 2001, I was working my first job out of graduate school as the Human Resources Manager for a law firm in the Central Business District of New Orleans, LA. It was a typical morning at work. I remember that I was getting settled into the start of my day and was also getting excited to fly to the west coast to see my husband who was in the midst of a medical school rotation out in Seattle, Washington.
I was sitting in my office on the top floor of the tallest building in New Orleans, right down the street from the Super Dome. A co-worker told me to look at the news because they had heard that a plane hit a building in New York. I quickly searched up the news on my computer thinking a small plane must have lost control. I read the news flash a couple times because it was incomprehensible that a commercial airliner crashed. When I learned that a second plane was involved, my stomach dropped and I picked up the phone to call my husband. I remember waking him up since it was 3 hours earlier for him. As we both processed feelings of shock and confusion, I got really scared. I was scared for people in New York City, knowing so many people from home commuted to work there. And I was confused because people around me at work didn’t seem to have the same reaction that I was having to the chaos that was unfolding.
I then remember feeling unsafe. Noone knew what was happening at the time, but I knew that I no longer felt safe on the top floor of the tallest building in New Orleans. Justified or not, I felt like a sitting target and expressed this to my boss at the time. I don’t think the reality of what was happening hit my co-workers as quickly as it did me. I felt responsible in some ways to tell everyone to leave. However, people were going about their business day and I knew I could not be there anymore. My boss said I should do what I felt I needed to do, acknowledging that this hit close to home. I went home, turned on the news, called my parents and felt helpless as the news of terrorism and devastation unfolded. I was later relieved to learn that Security from our building ended up telling everyone to evacuate and go home.
Planes were grounded for days, so needless to say I never made the trip out to visit my husband in Seattle. I spent the following days and weeks learning other people’s stories. My parents who were still at home in NJ would relay the devastating news of the losses our town and surrounding towns experienced. I learned stories of how people got out of the city and others who were supposed to be in one of the towers but they had an appointment that kept them from going in that day. The stories of loss and heroism were endless.
Years later we moved back to New Jersey and I once again found myself lucky enough to enjoy my summers at the beach. The skyline on those clear days is still beautiful to see, especially when the Tribute In Light shines up from the ground each September 11 in remembrance of a day I will certainly never forget, and should never be forgotten."
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11? How did you find out?
I remember it well. I was at work and someone came around and said a plane hit the world trade center. At first I’m thinking it was a small plane like a Cessna. As more information came in me and everyone one else found out it was a commercial airline.
What did you do after you learned this was happening?
Once we all learned the gravity of the situation the owners of our company set up a TV in our learning/conference center. Back then we didn’t have monitors/TV like we do now. Each department was allowed a few people at a time to go back and watch the news for a little bit and then we rotated taking turns going back to watch the news. That early afternoon management realized no one was calling the office and no-one was getting any work done so they closed the office and let everyone go home to watch the news.
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
The most vivid thing I remember is the news showing President Bush at a school talking to young students when someone, I think the secret service, whispered in his ear and him saying something to the students then left in a hurry. I also remember the news saying that the President was one Air Force One destination unknown. I know he spoke to the nation that night(I believe it was that night) saying to the nation “to whoever did this we will find you and we heard from you. Now you're going to hear from us.”
How did the events off 9/11 affect your life or worldview?
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Like many people all I did when I got home from work and watch news constantly. I also knew that the downing of the twin towers would set the world into a rescission. I knew terrorism was a real threat, but after 9/11 I knew we were more at risk m since the terrorists got confidence pulling off something this big. I don’t know if that really answered the question.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
That it was a national tragedy and that’s something every American should never forget. Many people lost their lives including many first responders.
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11? How did you find out?
On September 11, 2001, I was a Captain for the Tarpon Springs Fire Department, Florida, overseeing EMS and Fire Operations. Sara, the department’s Administrative Assistant, advised me of the news. I immediately turned on the TV. I didn’t fully understand what was happening. Moments later the Fire Chief, Harry Leonard, entered my office. We both were just shocked and just stared at the information coming in.
What did you do after you learned this was happening?
My initial thought was how many people have lost their lives and if I lost any family or friends. I later found out that my wife’s brother-in-law was in building 7 but fled prior to it collapsing. My next thought was that our entire country would come to a standstill. No access to money, gasoline, food, etc. I was thinking that it was like I needed to prepare for a hurricane with only a days warning.
The fire chief and I immediately started looking into Personal Protective Equipment for our personal so that we could stay operational. We also had to expand the scope to include our police department, city employees, and the citizens of our community. Price tag: $63,000.
As a follow-up. When I did leave work that day, I did buy food, water, gas, and took out cash.
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
So many people, buildings, vehicles covered in dust. People walking out of New York. The report of fire fighters in the building at the time of the collapses. How many people will never return home. How many families are forever changed. How our nation and the world will never be the same.
How did the events of 9/11 affect your life or worldview?
Terrorism has no boundaries. The United States, like any other country, is vulnerable. We must stay vigilant and take every precaution to protect human life.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
How senseless and evil this attack was. The United States became one. That many people just living their lives perished that day. How so many people worked around the clock trying to rescue survivors. How many rescuers died or are dying because of their heroic efforts following that day. I have a friend who owned a welding company in NY. He personally spent three weeks,18 hour shifts, at Ground Zero. He is currently dying of cancer associated with 9/11. We will never forget.
"I was sitting at my desk at work when I heard that the first plane hit the tower. My coworker's husband called her to to say something was happening in NY. I turned the radio on my desk to a news station, and pulled up CNN on the internet. Everyone just thought it was a small plane that crashed...but then we heard that a second plane hit and that they were large passenger planes.
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Our employer quickly got a TV hooked up in our training room and we all went to watch what was going on. I couldn't believe it was happening here in the USA... then the news showed the plane in the Pentagon. And then the 4th plane in PA.
They closed the office because no work was getting done anyway, and told us all to go home and be with our families, so I went back to my apartment and watched the scenes unfold with my downstairs neighbors. Turns out that my neighbor Mike had a cousin that was working in the towers when the planes hit (we later found out that his cousin died there).
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What I remember most vividly is the disbelief that this could happen on US soil...that terrorism had come to our country from outside and no one had been able to prevent it.
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I am very diligent about watching everything when I travel now. You never know if or when this will happen again, and it may not happen in my lifetime, but we all need to watch out for each other.
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I want the young people to know that, even though this tragedy happened right in our backyard, we as a country have become stronger because of it. We are resilient and we get back up and fight when someone knocks us down"
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11? How did you find out?
In 2001, I had taken a year off to travel around Europe between finishing university and starting my career as a lawyer in Australia. On September 11, 2001, I was staying on the Greek Island of Paros. It was a stunning hot Summer day and we had spent the day on a moped visiting different beaches around the island. It was like we were on another planet because we had no idea until we got back that evening. After we had dinner we were playing pool next to a large tv and it was showing the Twin Towers with a plane flying through it, then the second plane hitting, then the towers going down. It was unbelievable and surreal, a stark contrast to the calmness and serenity around us.
What did you do after you learned this was happening?
I called my family back in Australia. We did not know if it was going to be a global event and happen elsewhere in the world so it was important to know that everyone was safe. I was supposed to travel to Egypt the next week and my parents asked me to cancel the trip, which I did. Three weeks later, I ended up flying to New York to visit a friend I went to Elementary School with back when we lived in Georgia. We could see the World Trade site still smoking from the top of the Empire State Building.
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
The second plane hitting. That was when we knew it was intentional. Then the people jumping from the top of the towers. It was incredibly heartbreaking. Then people running covered in dust and debris. Finally, the firefighters who went into the towers and never came out, losing their lives trying to save others.
How did the events of 9/11 affect your life or worldview?
Everything changed after 9/11. It made us realize that terrorism could happen anywhere and or at any time. Before that, the U.S. was seen as a superpower that was untouchable. It made the world feel vulnerable. It was also the first time I really understood that people would go to extreme lengths, and even kill themselves, for their religion.
I moved to New York in 2008 and worked downtown. I lived in Battery Park City and my apartment had a view out to the World Trade construction site. I had a number of friends who lived or worked downtown and were there on the day. They lost friends and colleagues. The event broke something inside them. Their home was attacked. Twenty plus years later and they still talk about it with deep pain in their voices.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
Learning history helps us understand the present by revealing how past events shaped our world and history also fosters critical thinking, empathy, and a broader understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives. It’s important to remember that there are good and bad people of every race and religion. You cannot blame the actions of some on an entire religion.
It is also critical to treat first responders with respect. Not only did some lose their lives, those who survived suffered multiple illnesses. These people put their lives on the line every day for the people and for their country.
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11? How did you find out?
I was in my freshman year of college at Penn State. I remember being in my dorm room with my roommate and someone coming into our room to say someone had flown a plane into the WTC. Initially, terrorism wasn’t my first thought as to what happened. I thought a small plane had just made a series of mistakes and accidentally hit the building. As we turned on the TV, news reports were flooding in as to what had taken place. Even then, it wasn’t 100% clear that it was intentional. Then the second plane hit and people realized that terrorism was most likely happening.
What did you do after you learned this was happening?
Honestly, we didn’t know what to do. Things were happening so fast, it seemed, that we were mostly stunned and frozen watching the TV. I had a class that morning, and not knowing what to do, I went to class. Once we got there, the professor and teaching assistant told us that class was canceled and go be with your friends/family at this sad time.
I don’t explicitly remember calling my mom and dad, but I assume I did to check in, let them know I’m safe and to make sure they were safe.
I connected with some friends and we hung out in the quad just talking and sharing what little information we had at that point.
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
When we turned on the news, and after the 2nd plane hit, I remember watching the smoke billowing out of the towers and then it looked like the one tower moved a little. I got up to get closer to the TV and said to my friends, the building is moving, and then it started to collapse. Knowing all the people in and around the building, that were losing their lives in that instant, was gut wrenching. I remember that feeling of helplessness in that moment.
How did the events of 9/11 affect your life or worldview?
9/11 made me realize that, as proud as we are as Americans, there are some cultures that don’t appreciate the things we may take for granted. Before this event, I didn’t think much about other cultures around the world. After this event, Middle Eastern culture was talked about more and allowed me to expand my knowledge on things outside of the United States. Having lived and worked outside of the US as long as I have, has helped me work with people from all cultures and have some self awareness that not everyone thinks the US is as awesome as most of us do.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
Please do not let the actions of a few bad actors lead you to believe that all people from that region of the world are terrorists. There are bad examples of human beings from every demographic. Feeding that hate is not going to make anything better. 9/11 was a time when the US came together for a common goal and there are some great stories of people helping people. Don’t let this event, or any event, stop you from being the type of person that would extend a helping hand to a person in need.
"I worked at Princeton University at the time of the attacks. While at work our Director went through the office after his wife called him to tell us a plane hit one of the towers. Thinking at first it was a small plane, so sad and terrible. Staff began gathering in the conference room to watch the event unfold on an old TV with rabbit ears and terrible reception. We all watched in horror and disbelief asking how could this be happening in our country?
Two most vivid memories. Thinking it was such a beautiful September day as the world went silent and dark in sorrow. Commuting to work each day took me past the Princeton Junction train station (a train many commuters took into New York). To see many cars sit there and begin to be covered in dust, knowing people would not go home to their loved ones again.
To young people. The range of emotions remain to this day. Anger, fear and great pride in the men and women who put aside their own safety . Amid the sorrow, hurt and anger our flag stood tall and strong as the US and the world came together. Never forget! 🇺🇲"
How did you find out about 9/11 and where were you?
I was standing in front of RFH. I was in my senior year and my one of my best friends came up to me and he was like "they just called me into the office. My dad is in the towers and a plane just crashed into one of them, so they called me in and said that my dad's OK" and I was like "what are you talking about, how did the plane crash?" and he said "I don't know but my dad's OK". So then we went into class together, and one girl behind me was sobbing because her dad was also in the towers. We just turned on the TV. Every single room has the news on and that's just how it was for the rest of the day. We could see the smoke from our school.
It was wild. It felt so surreal. My aunt took the subway through the towers every day, so I ran into the bathroom and snuck to call my aunt but our cell phones weren't working. I think too many people were calling so everything was jammed because people were trying to call their loved ones to see if they were okay. And you couldn't get calls through
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
I think it was just the surreal mess of it all because it had impacted so many people. I lost three neighbors that day.
And it was just so deeply felt because it hit so close to home.
How did the events of 9/11 affect your worldview or like the way you think following that day?
So I would say that my worldview changed because I realized anything can change in a second. And honestly, I think we were all changed that day in perpetuity and it was scary. It was just kind of like everything can change in an instant and after 9-11 I have always felt that and I've known it.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
Be brave and still keep doing the things because you can't live in a shell right you can't hide you know we go into the city all the time and my husband commutes in every day. It was scary and memorable, but also I'm not going to be too scared to still do everything. You still need to be brave and live your life. And just know that anything can change anytime.
"I was in class and over the speaker the principal announced that there was an explosion with the towers and that a plane had crashed. And at that time my dad actually worked right over in that area in New York. So I remember I left class and then was calling my mom, and there was just chaos at the time. And then me and my siblings got together in school, and then we could go home and find out if everything was okay with my dad. For my most vivid memory, I have the image of me looking at the speaker in the class listening to the principal saying that. I know exactly what class it was. It was history, I think it was a social studies class. And then, I don't remember who my teacher was, and I remember me sitting in the class and I see the image of the speaker looking at it. This was probably in my sophomore or junior year of high school. Young people should know that tragedies happen. And why, we'll never really know, but the focus should be on taking care of the people that were harmed."
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11 and how did you find out?
I was in the fourth grade at River plaza school in Red Bank. We were in the classroom, and the teacher kind of stood there with a blank face looking at all of us. And she had tears coming down, and we thought that something had happened to the teacher, but she wouldn't say what had happened. And the next thing I remember was them pulling out students one by one. Everyone's parents were coming to pick up their children and everyone kept leaving the classroom, so I didn't know what had happened. I was sitting there, and my mom actually didn't come and pick me up, because the school said that you were safer at the school rather than being home. So I wound up staying in the classroom with a few other students whose parents let them stay. And then when I got home, that's when I found out. We had a TV in our kitchen, and then we saw the airplanes go into the buildings, and that's how we found out.
So what did you do after you learned this was happening?
I had a lot of questions. Why was this happening? What was war? Because I was only in the fourth grade. So you hear in the history books of wars in the past, but to understand it is a different story. It's like, why is this happening? How did we get here? What's happening to all those people? So I had lots of questions when it happened, and my parents sat me down and explained to me that we were under attack and that all those people had passed away, and we saw the videos on the news every single day, every single channel had it. And you just felt terrible. It was terrible, and it was scary. And then afterwards, we drove to the beach and you could see the sky filled with smoke all the way to the city.
What do you remember most vividly about 9/11?
Most vividly, I remember the airplanes going into the building and the building falling. I think that was the most traumatic part, is seeing that whole building collapse in hundreds and thousands of people being in those buildings.
How did the events of 911 affect your worldview or how you lived your life?
So after that, the country was kind of in shambles. No one wanted to go on an airplane. Any airplane that would fly low over your house, you immediately panicked, and you would think, "Is it hijacked? Is there something wrong? Are we at war? Are they here?" So, after that, I feel like the security changed everywhere. And everyone was on high guard, and kind of still today. Like Newark Airport, now, the security at the airport is insane. Even perfume bottles, everything you could think of, you can't bring with you want an airplane anymore, which you could before 9/11. And then, I guess, just safety in general. If someone knocks on your door now and you get cautious. You're like, "who's at my door?" Whereas back then, before 9/11, it was kind of like, "Oh, someone's knocking on my door, "Hey, come on in." And now it's kind of changed the way that we look at the world. We're not so trusting anymore. We're kind of more aware.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
Although it was a sad time, you know, history repeats itself, so I guess the important thing is to not let history repeat itself. War is kind of a tough one, you know. A lot of sadness, but there is a really nice memorial in New York for those people, if you haven't gone yet. It's actually really nice. It's beautiful. It's a nice tribute that they did, where they shine the lights. It's nice when it's at night and you could just see the lights beaming into the sky. And then, just be safe and just remember all those lives that were lost and those families that are still going through it. And thank all the firemen and the police officers and all the hospitals, 'cause they were packed, and they risked their lives to save all those people and a lot of firemen didn't get out, and a lot of police officers suffered and to this day, a lot of people are still suffering and they were ingesting all the fumes and the smoke and the ashes were everywhere. It was just, the whole thing was terrible. But make a donation, be thankful for what we have, and smile.
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11 and how did you find out?
When 9/11 happened, I was seven years old, and I found out on the playground after school. Every day after school, we'd always hang out, my friends and I, on the swing set or the slide. I remember our specifically next to a slide, and my friend's older brother, who was two years older than us, said, "Did you guys hear what happened? A plane hit the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center." I was seven years old, I didn't really understand what that meant. I didn't know what the World Trade Center was. So I was surprised and didn't really know what that meant at the time. I didn't really understand.
What did you do after you learned about this happen?
Not too much. I remember coming home that night, and my dad had a root canal at the time, and I remember he was downstairs in the basement, and he was watching the news. I remember watching and it kept showing the footage over and over again of the plane flying into the World Trade Center.
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
How it changed everything. How it changed national security, how it changed how we think about policing, how we think about airplane security. It drastically changed everything, and then the wars that had followed it, it completely changed how we think about it. We went from the traditional idea of war of being between, you, nations or between countries and now it was against terrorism, it was the war on terror. So now, we were in a war against non-governmental entities as opposed to it being between nations. So that was a completely new thought to what people were used to for war.
How did the events of 9/11 affect your life or worldview?
I affected my view more in the way of how we think about national security and it completely changed, policing (since I'm somebody who's involved in policing). We take every call more seriously, I would say especially suspicious packages or calls from suspicious people. I can't say that we don't think about that sometimes there could be a threat and you don't know. You know, we've had other acts of terror here in New Jersey since 9/11. So I would say that we definitely have more heightened caution to those kind of calls, to suspicious packages and how we handle those things.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
I want them to know that it's not all bad and also to remember those who did lose their lives trying to rescue others and help others. And how at the time, obviously it was a terrible thing, but it also brought us together as a country. I feel that it united us and that everyone supported our police, our firemen, because they were helping everybody that they could. I also think it's a good thing that we do have better security now, and we do think more about security checks and about who we are going on airplanes and even trains and other things. And also preparing for the future, not forgetting what happened and preparing for other acts of terror that could happen, thinking about other targets and other places in the United States that could potentially be attacked and how we handle security of that. So it doesn't happen again.
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11? How did you find out?
On that day I was living in Atlantic Highlands and at the top of my driveway I had a clear view of the bay and New York city skyline. I remember distinctly on my way to work seeing huge billows of smoke coming off the towers. I didn’t know the details until I got to the office 30 minutes later. We had the news on the TVs with constant reports on what was known at the time. I just remember how horrific is all was.
What did you do after you learned this was happening?
I contacted clients that I thought might be impacted. Lots of conversations of concern, fear, confusion.
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
Those towers billowing smoke is so vivid. I had clients who had to walk the port authority tunnels looking for structural damage, tampering or anything else of concern. I had clients who luckily made it out of the towers. Their stories left undulable impressions.
How did the events of 9/11 affect your life or worldview?
I was more impacted by the resilience of human nature, that people kept going and doing for each other. Pretty amazing!
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
The above, that at the worst times coming together is the most powerful thing we can do.
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11? How did you find out?
I was 27 years old and out on a smoke break with a coworker (thankfully I quit smoking years ago). Someone came out of the building and said “Did you hear? A plane just hit the World Trade Center”. My original thought was, this is terrible. What an accident that must have been. I assumed it was likely a small single engine plan with an amateur pilot. My imagination wasn’t capable of thinking it would be a deliberate act of terrorism.
I headed back to my desk and that was when I realized what had happened and was happening.
What did you do after you learned this was happening? I sat in shock, I honestly could not believe what was developing. When Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon I began to worry about my family as the events unfolded. My brother, was working in DC for Congressmen Martin Frost at the time. I was concerned if the Pentagon had been involved, many other government buildings might be targeted. I tried to call him several times, but my calls were not connecting, which was terribly frustrating and terrifying all at once.
Later that morning, I simply left work went home and watched the news for hours. In complete disbelief of what had happened and confused as to why it happened and who would do this.
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
I remember the way it made me feel. I remember the way people in my everyday life reacted. Everyone was either angry or numb to it all. It felt like there was no joy, laughter, and happiness anywhere to be found. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced, it almost felt like I was in a movie, because I couldn’t wrap my head around the reality of it all.
How did the events of 9/11 affect your life or worldview?
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Instantly, I felt the most patriotic I had ever felt in my life. I was mad at entire countries and regions of the world. I wanted justice and revenge. Obviously as time goes on, our perspectives change. I realized not everyone viewed the United States the way I had, at that point in my life I assumed every country was envious of life in America, I think it was the 1st time I had given thought to the subject. After living in Bermuda for 18 years and discussing life with people from all over the world, my outlook on the world has changed and refined. With all the conflict across the globe currently, I fear an attack on America may be in planning somewhere. I think without 9/11 I would not feel this way.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
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One thing for sure is how the entire country came together. Everyone was on the same team, regardless of political affiliations, religion, race, sexuality. Everyone was mourning, everyone was an American and everyone had been impacted that day. Given our current landscape of crazy soundbites, being 100% on your political team and dismissing anyone who thinks different from you, I think it should be remembered that we all did come together if only for a brief amount of time, it was amazing.
Where were you when you first heard what was happening on 9/11? How did you find out?
I was in the elevator going to my office at 160 Water Street when the first plane hit Tower 1. I could feel it when it happened. When I got to my office, I could see papers flying around my window on the 21st floor and smoke coming from Tower 1 of the WTC.
What did you do after you learned this was happening?
I called my wife to see what the news was saying happened. I called my boss to tell him I was going over to see what was happening. Then, I left my office and walked over to the WTC to get a closer look.
What do you remember most vividly about the event?
At first, how nobody seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation. Then, watching the people jumping from windows and the sounds that followed. Then, running from the collapsing buildings to get away from the dust.
How did the events of 9/11 affect your life or worldview?
It still affects my life. Being there that day is something you can never forget. Just last year a friend of mine passed away to a 9/11 related cancer from working downtown in the aftermath of the event. It has affected my worldview in that it disappoints me that some people would want to kill innocent humans all in the name of hatred.
What do you want young people to know about 9/11?
On that day, nearly 3000 people were killed. The attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11 resulted in the largest loss of life by a foreign attack on American soil. Never say Never. Never forget.
When I first heard about the terrorism attack, I was working in my office in Holmdel New Jersey. At just about 9:00 A.M., one of my staff members alerted me that a plane had hit the WTC. The company I was working for had about 1200 employees in the building, and everyone gathered around the TV's throughout the building. Everyone first thought it was a small plane, but later learned that it was a commercial jet. Smoke poured out of the first tower. Several minutes later, a second plane crashed into WTC2. Due to the close proximity to NYC a number of people knew individuals working in the tower as did I. Some had even previously worked for the company. Tears were in many people's eyes as we watched the events unfold with more attacks. It was decided to let all employees go home to their families. 9/11 had a profound impact on my life. Some neighbors died in the attacks, leaving young families. I had always felt attacks of that magnitude or war would never come on U.S. soil, but 9/11 changed everything. About 4 years after the attacks, I actually took a job a few blocks from the WTC site. Many of my new co-workers gave me more firsthand stories about that day. I think the most important thing for everyone is to never forget that day and those who lost their lives.