re: September 11

Was sitting in my car listening to the radio in a client’s parking lot waiting to make a sales call. Went in early to tell them about it and we watched it on TV. Took it like a punch in the gut but wanted to kill whoever did it.

Trivial but would be great if we could profile so normal people could bring a full sized toothpaste and shampoo onto a plane in carry-on luggage.

I was on my way to work on the interstate and heard it on the radio. we turned on a radio in the work area and listened to it all day. It was kinda unreal and took a while to really set in what was happening.

I was at work when someone mentioned an airplane hit the WTC. The only TV in our office was in my room. We tuned in after the second plane hit. I spent the whole day watching it happen.

I always thought skyscrapers were really cool and kept telling myself they’d be able to rebuild the holes. Then the building fell down. There was silence until the broadcaster said, ‘It’s gone’. I still have a hard time remembering him saying that.

I went home for lunch. My wife was still in school and opened the door. I fell into her arms crying. The only time I’ve cried since was putting my old dog to sleep.

Every radio station I listened to turned into a call in program for people to call in and talk about what they just saw. Even the DJs on the overtly liberal indie rock station were talking about God and His healing.

I’d just turned 24 and at the end of the day I realized we were at war and I could be drafted. Would I have my job if I came back, would I ever see my new wife again? The whole world changed that day.

I worked the late shift Monday night so I was asleep. My GF was calling.. I finally answered the phone and she was hysterical.. Screaming that a plane had hit a building in N.Y... I turned on the TV to see the news.. Don't remember if I saw the second plane live or if it was a replay.

Junior in HS leaving my anatomy class. A buddy of mine had checked in and was leaving the office and told me it had happened. Went to English and watched the 2nd plane hit the tower and watched it fall. Every class the rest of the day was just sitting there watching coverage of it.

I knew it was a huge deal and a lot of people had died and would be trapped for a while. I never even thought about the 20 year trip to the sandbox it would take our military on. I was a dumb teenager worried about girls and cars and stuff so it didn't really sink in just how impactful it really was until a few years later when friends started to die in Afghanistan.

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Where were you?
What did you do?
How did you take it?

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Providing a project update to the Commercial Real Estate leaders of the bank I worked for at the time. One of the project sponsors dialed in from LAX and his flight out was suspended during the update. After the update, the meeting was suspended and everyone was told to go home/leave uptown as the threat to the area was unknown at that time.

My first reaction was to leave by car and see my girlfriend (now wife) who lived out of state. Was in a state of shock and wanted to enlist. My future wife talked me out of it and I regret it to this day.

I posted my thoughts about 9/11 on 9/11/08. I pretty much feel the same, except I am saddened by the fact that a lot of folks seem to have forgotten:

re: In rememberance...Posted on 9/11/08 at 5:34 pm to dukke v

September 10, 2001 was my 50th birthday. I spent the evening with friends and we were discussing the fact that we were thrilled that our kids did not have to grow up as we did, worrying about the USSR and a possible nuclear threat; remembering the Cuban Missile Crisis; watching people being shot trying to escape from East Germany by trying to scale the Berlin Wall, etc. The Cold War was over and we had won it. Life seemed good.

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I received a telephone call from my secretary at about 7:00 am. She said that she thought that she screwed up and that I had two mediations in the District of Columbia Superior Court that morning. I asked her if this was a bad “day after 50th birthday” joke. I said that I was pretty sure that the mediations were on the 12th. She said that she would check and call me back. I hopped into the shower and when I got out she called and told me that I was correct and that they were on the 12th. I told her that I was going to wait out rush hour traffic and that I’d leave for the office around 10:00 am.

I was at the computer answering some emails (this was before I ever knew about Tiger Droppings). While at the computer, I heard on the Fox Morning Show that a plane had just hit one of the World Trade Center towers in NYC. The New Yorker in me did not even look up at the TV, I just thought, “Who is the idiot in the small plane that got too close to the WTC?” Shortly thereafter, I heard that the second tower was hit. At that point, like everyone else, I sat in horror watching the TV. Certainly, this was no accident.

About a half hour later, I heard a “BOOM”. At the time I lived a couple of miles or so from The Pentagon, as the crow flies. I went outside and saw the black smoke billowing from the direction of The Pentagon. It was so strange because it was a beautiful day. All I could hear were sirens (I had not heard so many sirens in D.C. since the Air Florida crash) and the sound of fighter jets overheard.

I tried to make some calls on my cell phone, but could not. I tried on a land line and it was still no use. I drove over to a 7-11 and used a pay phone to call some folks. I heard from my Mom that one of my sisters was supposed to have a matter in the Supreme Court in Manhattan that morning and was going to visit a friend at the WTC before her court appearance. We were both very frightened for my sister and wondered if she was OK.

I went into the 7-11 after making my calls and the rumors were running rampant. Some people were saying that the White House and Washington Monument had been hit. Some were saying that The Capitol had been blown up. I did not know whether or not any of what was being said was true.

I-395 was closed down and so I could not get into the office. I went over to Army-Navy Country Club to visit some friends. I was told that the American Airlines Flight 77 flew over the Club’s driving range at an altitude of about 250 feet on its way to The Pentagon.

At about 6:00 pm I decided that I needed to go to the office to get the files for the next day’s mediations. As I approached the 14th Street Bridge, I saw The Pentagon live for the first time that day. The smoke was still rising from the building and it was a horrible sight to see. All I could think was, “If this is what it is like here, what must it be like in Manhattan?”

As I crossed the 14th Street Bridge it was eerie not to see air traffic going up and down the Potomac. It was almost as eerie as when I saw the first jet landing at Reagan National after a few weeks of no air traffic.

When I got into D.C., I saw Humvees at each corner with manned .50 caliber machine guns. There were also armed soldiers on the streets.

After getting my files, I drove back to Alexandria and smoke was still rising from The Pentagon.

Prior to 9/11/01, the only building that I ever turned to look at in D.C. was The White House. Since 9/11, the only building that I turn to look at every time I pass it is The Pentagon. It saddens me every time I pass it and see the area that was struck.

Having grown up on Staten Island, I remember the NYC skyline before there was a WTC, and while the Towers were going up. I will never forget the day that they came down. I knew people who were killed in the Towers and the obituaries ran in the Staten Island Advance for months. A complete company of Staten Island Firefighters were killed in the collapse.

I had only been in the WTC once, for a dinner dance at the restaurant, Windows on the World (the top floor of the North Tower). Being afraid of heights, I did not like going to the windows (that went from ceiling to floor) and looking down. I cannot imagine what it took for some of those poor people to bring themselves to jump. I suppose in their minds it was better than burning to death. Nice choice.

Every time I go back to NY to visit family I tear up a bit when I see the Tower-less skyline.

Since that date, I have never prouder to be an American and a native New Yorker. I am saddened by the fact that it seems that a lot of people seem to have forgotten that there are people out there who mean us harm. We should all do anything that we can do to never forget that fact and the events of 9/11/01.

We owe a debt of gratitude that we can never repay to the men and women in our Armed Forces who are out fighting the good fight to keep us safe and to arrange a meeting with the Maker for all those who mean us harm. We also owe a debt to gratitude that we can never repay to those nameless people in our Intelligence Community who have dedicated their lives to thwarting subsequent attacks. It is not be coincidence that there has not been an attack on American shores has since 9/11/01.

9/11/01 -- Never Forget!

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9/11/01 -- Never Forget!

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yes sir, hello counselor

quote:

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Where were you?
What did you do?
How did you take it?

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Was managing a retail store, getting the morning meeting going at 8:45.

My habitually late employee #1 came in talking about planes flying into buildings. I told him he needed to stop listening to Walton and Johnson and contribute to the meeting.

Habitually late employee #2 comes in talking about the same thing. A quick visit to CNN.com verified something was up.

We got our janky TV out of the back and got it going well enough just in time to see the second plane hit and see the Pentagon reports.

Just remember the uncertainty more than anything. Was this the first attack or the last?

Also, had to make a decision on a honeymoon destination that week. Were we flying to the Bahamas? Maybe Jamaica. Driving to Disney World was the answer, because my wedding was in a month and we sure as frick weren't interested in getting on an airplane.

I was in 10th grade and ironically enough was in history class. Watched the new in my next class. The mood was odd all day.
Would’ve had football practice but was canceled and went to my buddy’s house and watched the news later that afternoon