Five Years Later
Just as your parents and I can remember where they were when they heard of Kennedys' assasination. . . . Just as your grandparents can remember the Pearl Harbor attack. . . . Now you have a day burned just as deeply into your memory.
You tenth graders were nervous fifth graders. You college frosh were cool eighth graders. It was a beautiful day around here, much like today, September 12. Clear sky. Nice breeze. Then . . . .
The world changed that day, at least our worlds changed. We were forced to open our eyes to a region of the world where, sure, there was fighting all of the time, but at least we weren't a part of it. Turns out that someone thought we were a part of it, so much that they attacked us, and our peaceful, safe, way of life, and changed the way we lived forever.
I remember the days after 9-11 living in, if not, fear, then at least apprehension. Would there be more terror attacks? If so, of what type? Could we really protect ourselves with enough duct tape and plastic to withstand a "dirty" nuclear bomb? Did we really want to get on an airplane again? Or travel to New York? Or go to any event where large groups of people congregated?
I know that my reaction to that tragedy influenced everything that I did for the following months. My eyes were glued to the television set for news, for assurance, for hope, that things were not as bad as they seemed. For the most part, as each day passed without additional tragedy, I felt a gradual sense of relief, calm, and safety living in America again.
Having seen the images in New York, having heard the many stories of bravery, I developed a keener sense of respect and admiration for firefighters, policemen, and emergency workers of all types. My brother-in-law is a Wilmington policeman, a kind man, a gentle loving father of three boys. When he's in uniform with his police radio and weapon, he's something altogether different, though. He's a defender of my city, a protector of the innocent, in pursuit of "bad guys" who would drive drunk, burglarize a home, or worse yet, commit acts of terror in our country. He and many others like him do this so that you can write responses to questions in your journal, so that I can correct errrors in dangling participles and wrong tenses,and so that we can try to return to the nicer, safer, more peaceful way of the world that we knew before September 11, 2001.
Five years later we do not forget the heroes that fell then. Hopefully, we continue to recognize the heroes that rise and work to protect us now.
posted by JTF @ 9:13 AM
38 comments
38 Comments:
The name is a little fuzzy, but I certainly remember the poor giraffe (of course, I remember you). Thanks for checking back. Feel free to offer a more collegiate perspective on things at Schoolsville.
Septemeber 11th is a day often described as horrific, tragic, and terrible. And indeed it was even though it started out perfectly normal, who knew by just 10am we would have lost so many lives in such a short time. I believe though that that event helped bring our country together, by hitting rock bottom and having this happen, we are all a lot safer. Every year that passes by after that fateful day, reminds us of how much we lost, and how much we respect those who gave their lives as firefighters, police etc. I remember that day like it happened yesterday, as you said in your blog us 10th graders were in 5th grade. Some may say "Oh 5th grade is too young to know whats really going on." I disagree, we all knew exactly what was going on. I woke up that morning sick, so i stayed home from school. I was flipping channels as most people do when they are on the couch, and past a burning building. I just figured it was another burning bulding in Philly. A little while later at about 9am, I went to the doctors, talking with her she asked my mom and I if we had heard about the World Trade Centers. It clicked that that was what I had seen. We rushed home just in time to watch in horror as the 1st building fell. I also remember for the rest of the day, every television in my house was on the news, seeing if there were any updates. Although I understood what was going on, being younger I wanted to watch something else or do something else. Not seeing the complete seriousness of the situation. I will always remember that day, and will always honor those who died on September 11th, 2001.
JR,
Thanks for the post. I agree. Fifth grade is not too young to understand and remember the gravity of situations like 9/11.
September 11, 2001 was a horrendous day for everyone throughout the country. I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was in fifth grade and had just come in from gym class when my teacher told us that she had some bad news. SHe turned on the television and we watched as the twin towers burned and shattered to the ground like a piece of glass would if it was dropped. At first i didn't understand but my teacher explained everything to us. We were sent home for the day around 10:00 that day form school. When i got home, i saw my neighbors, an older couple, kneeling on their front lawn, praying and crying at the same time. Their oldest son works and lived in New York. Within a week, they found out that he had been found breathing with third degree burns and that they had to get to New York. When they got there, he had passed. This experience changed my life. I believe, even though so many lives were taken, that we, as a country, became stronger and more aware of the dangers that are in this world today. I believe i cried for the rest of the day because i was so upset. i will remeber 9/11/2001 for the rest of my life!
September 11,2001 was an awful experience, that everyone had to go through. As you told us in class, we were only in 5th grade, but i remember what happened like it was yesterday. It started out as an ordianry day, but when i got in from science class, everything changed. Our teacher told us she had some bad news and she turned the television on. She didn't think we would understand what was going on until one of my classmates told us his uncle worked there. We were all in complete shock. She explained how tragic this was and that this was very serious. I knew what was going on but didn't realize just how serious it was. We went home early that day to be with our family. I went to my grandparents house and we all watched the news. We couldn't believe this was happening. Every year that goes by, we remember those that died for our country and recgonize how much we have lost. That day made us realize now, how much we take for granted and I think it brought everyone closer together. This year on September 11, I was on my way back to Delaware from Maine. It was about 10 at night and we were going through New York. I looked out my window and saw the Twin Tower lights coming up form ground zero. It was a very amazing thing to experience. It was very upsetting and we will never forget what happened on September 11.
September 11, 2001, was a day that was so horrendous that it probably will stay in my memory for years to come. I remember that day so clearly. It was a sunny, clear day, like you said in your blog. I had just gotten up from a game of flag football in gym class. It had been a pretty fun game, so I was smiling and talking to my friends when I came up the stairs. I was a little hyper from running around outside, but all of that changedonce I found out what was going on. I walked into my fifth grade classroom. My technology teacher and my fifth grade teacher were standing in front of the TV, which was on, and they were talking to each other. The two teachers told us that something had happened. We all sat down, and they calmly told us that the two towers had struck. Soon after, we were dismissed from school early. When my mom was talking to me about the incident on the ride home, it really hit me. I started getting emotinal, asking her if we knew anyone that had worked in the Trade Centers. When she said no, I was relieved, but I also had a sense of sadness. So many people had lost their lives. Even on a fifth grade level, I understood what had been going on.
September 11 was a tragedy, and it will remain in all Americans' hearts forever.
September 11 is a day that is very hard for me to forget. I was in fifth grade and it was a beautiful, sunny day without a cloud in the sky. It seemed like a perfect day, and no one expected what would happen. We were having snack. All of a sudden, an anouncement came over the intercom to tell teachers that there would be an early dismissal. My teacher said that we could start working on our homework. Then, peoples names were being anounced saying that their parents were there to take them home. It seemed very confusing to us because the teachers wouldn't tell us what was going on. When my name was called, I went to the main office where my grandma and my brother were waiting. We left the school and my grandma told us what had happened. I kept looking up at that perfect sky and wondered how a day so beautiful could have turned out so sad. When we got to my grandma's house, she turned on the news. We saw how many people had died and it was really upsetting. My grandma didn't want my brother to get upset, so she aske me to go watch cartoons with him in the spare bedroom. When my mom got there, she took us home, and the news was on all night. It was a very upseting day, and I don't think I will ever forget it.
Carol
This may sound strange, but I remember September 11th as the day we got our new air conditioner. Yeah, I know, what a silly way to remember such a tragic day, but my mind works in strange ways. I remember sitting in my desk munching away at my snack when the teachers turned the tv on. When I look back I wonder how I could have been so naive, but I had no idea what was going on. The image of the smoking towers meant nothing to me. I was probably thinking something along the lines of, 'Ooh, shiny building.' As they began dismissing us, I became a bit frightened. What was going on? Why were we going home? Once I got home with my mom, brother and cousins(their mom couldn't pick them up), we went into my room to watch the news. I still had no idea what was going on and contentedly munched on popcorn and stared at the screen. I couldn't help but feel a sense of insecurity, however, because of the fact that I had no idea what was happening. I mean, what kind of idiot would crash into a building? It wasn't until later that night when my parents explained everything to me that I understood, yet I didn't feel sad. Sure, it was a terrible tragady, but I've always been one to stay optimistic and not dwell on depressing things. I don't think I will forget the day we got our air conditioner... erm, the day the twin towers fell any time soon, but I will move on and try to better the world however I can to prevent something like this from happening. You never know what the power of one can do.
AZGREN
I think that I will always remember 9-11 as the day I learned to fear. As previous bloggers have mentioned it was a gorgeous day and we were in 5th grade. During class kids started leaving, but the odd thing was they didn’t know they were going to be picked up early. The ones who were leaving were ecstatic and the ones who were left (including me) were confused and upset thinking, “What do we have to do to go home?!” The teachers weren’t allowed to tell us what was going on; saying they were letting our parents tell us. As more and more kids left, more rumors started circulating through my class all of them having to do with something in New York or a plane. Eventually my mom came to take me home, I remember thinking, “Finally!” As I got in the car my mom turned to me and told me that she wanted me to remember this day forever because it will change my life. I think back now and I realize what a wise woman my mother is because that day did change my life and the lives my generation. On our way home she told me what was happening. A plane had purposefully crashed in to the 1st World Trade Center Tower, hundreds of people were dying, and the government was beginning to believe it was a terrorist attack. The rest of the day we watched the news hearing all the horrific things that are now part of the entire story. The 2nd Tower was hit, the Pentagon was hit, a plane went down in Pennsylvania, and then the Towers collapsed. I remember being in a state of shock the rest day. I just couldn’t see who would do this or why; then I started to fear. Before I had never worried for my safety from foreign attackers on American soil. I lived in the United States of America, who would attack us? I didn’t know then that some people hated the U.S. even to the point of killing innocent citizens. I realized then that because I was an American those people hated me too. Some people may think that we were too young to understand what was going on but they are seriously mistaken. September 11 changed the way my generation will be defined by. Just as our parents faced the threat of nuclear bombs, we face the treat of terrorists. I learned that day to fear but I also learned pride for my country. Pride for how in the face of chaos we as Americans discovered how we could band together and show that we will not fall. Every year when that day comes I remember what my mom told me, “Remember this day, it will change your life.” And looking back I can’t believe how right she was.
keggreen
September 11, 2001, I was only in fifth grade, but if there's anything I'd remember from that year, it would be that day. When I woke up, i didn't have the faintest idea about the World Trade Center or the Twin Towers. I'm sure most of America woke up thinking it was a day like any other, but by early morning, we were all proven wrong. Unfortunately, we watched history unfold right in front of our eyes. It was all over the news; I watched the devastation and panic as it happened. I can still remember the sound of panic in my moms voice when she was unable to contact family living in New York.
Luckily, later that night, we found that they were all alright. I personally believe that two of them are still alive only due to the grace of God. One of them worked in one of the Towers and overslept. The other only lived a few blocks away.
The way our country joined together, during a time of such distress, was truly amazing. For the first time in a while, everyone -no matter what religion or race- joined together for support. There weren't any cultural divisions we were all simply American. Therefore, while this day was a tragedy to so many people, on so many different levels, it taught us all a great lesson. It reminded us that there are things more important than social standing, job positions, and how much money a person makes. It reminded us to care for one another, to unite, and that we're all the same.
Hopefully, that's a lesson that won't be lost as time goes on. If we Americans lose sight of that, many lives will have been lost in vain. For the sake of the people who lost someone special that day, i pray it doesn't happen.
So far, your remembrances of 9-11 show a wonderful maturity of expression and understanding. Thanks for sharing.
I remember 9/11 as a tragic, scary, and horriffic day. Even though it started out as a normal day before noon we would be home afraid and there would be tousands of lives lost. We were in class and one of my classmates saw one of the twin towers on fire. He quickly returned to class and relayed his story to us. Shortly after that all classes 4th grade and up were called over to the church. We were told of the bad news and we held a short prayer service for those affected while we were there. We then returned to our classes and were watching the news, which didn't last long because someone got frightened. We were told that our parents were coming to pick us up from school so we started playing games. When I was picked up my mom explained what had happened to me and my sister I partially understood, but my sister did not and was very scared. I stayed with her and tried to keep her occupied with cartoons and games so she would not worry to much. As a 5th grader I remember being afraid for a short time after the attack that there would be others around the country. Some may wish that this terrible day be forgotten but i know that I will never forget 9/11/01.
Adam
September 11th is a very difficult subject for myself to talk about because on that day I almost lost my grandfather. September 11th is a day marked down in history for the rest of our lives. Everyone will remember coming back from a class or turning on the news, to see our twin towers in New York on fire due to terrorists attacks. Each person has a different memory of that day when I was in fifth grade. All i remember is trying to get in contact with my grandfather and not hearing from my family up there for hours. September 11th to me was a frightfull experience. The day itself when the anniversary comes around we are scared that there will be another attack which there may. The anniversary brings the country together to remember that day when terrorist boarded our planes and called thousands. The anniversary signifies that we as a country have to be ready to fight for what we believe in and our rights. As we once did in our past we must do in our future. September 11th the day itself my class was coming back from gym and our teacher Mrs. Keen tells us to sit down and be quiet and look at the tv. The whole class stared in horror as the replay was shown and the coverage continued. It was myself and a girl named Teal who just stared and started crying her mom was a on a plane leaving at the same time those planes did. My gradfather was delivering packages to the towers just minutes before the planes hit. Parents were called and we all got out of school early. In the end our country was untied as one with the words God Bless America all around. I will always remember the attacks for it touched my heart, and I still pray for the families of all those died that fateful day.
I don't think I'll ever forget 9/11/01. It is a day that will forever be described as horrific, terrifying, and sad. I was living in California at the time, so when I woke up most of the tragedy had already unfolded. I can remember my neighbor coming over. She was a New York native, so this act of terrorism really hit close to home for her. I didn't go to school at all that day. Not because it was cancelled, but because my family felt that I should just stay home that day. I played with my friend who was from New York. I was only in 5th grade at the time, so this did not mean as much as it does today. The weather that day was perfect, not a cloud in the sky. Our "fun", if you will, for the day was to look up in the sky and see if there were any airplanes because I had heard that all planes were grounded. That is about all I remeber from that day.
September 11, 2001 is a day that will always be engrained in my mind. It is a day that everyone in this country will remember for the rest of his or her life. I remember this day as if it was yesterday. The day started off wonderful; there was nice weather, with not a cloud to be seen. While my 5th grade class was working on our spelling workbooks, an announcement came on over the loudspeaker. This announcement told us that everyone in the school would be going home early that day. We suddenly became worried and wanted to know what was going on. We asked our teacher to explain to us what was going on, but he would not tell us. My school decided that it would be better for the younger students to have their parents explain to them what had happened once they got home. We all tried to guess but none of us could come close to guessing, let alone imagining what horrible event had just occurred. I rode the bus home that day and some of the older students tried to explain to me what was going on. When they told me, I did not get the full understanding of the horrific incident. When I got home from school, I found out that my dad had been in Washington D.C. near the Pentagon when the attack happened. My mom was unable to reach him by cell phone. When she finally did, she found out that when the attack happened he was underground in the subway two blocks away from the Pentagon. No trains or buses were running so he had no idea how or when he would get home. I was relived that he was alright but I was very worried about all of the people that had been working in the buildings and the people flying in the planes. After picking up her children from school, my next-door-neighbor went to the movie store to get some movies so we would be able to watch other things besides the news. I went to their house and watched the Brady Bunch for a little, this helped me get my mind off of the incident. Later that day, I went and watched the news with my mom. It was scary to think that the planes crashed into buildings in my country. I never thought that anything like this could ever happen. Even though September 11th was a horrible event in many people’s lives it has brought the country together and emphasized the importance of the word united, pertaining to the “United States of America.”
Septemeber 11th is a day with will go down in history as a tragic day. I remember the day pretty clearly. I woke up that morning not feeling well, so my mom, who worked from home at the time, decided to not make me go to school. After falling back alseep, I wake up to the television saying the world trade center that been hit by an airplane. Because I was young, I dind't completly undertsnd what was oging on at first, the only thing I had known was that my mo knew someone that work in the building. She explained to me what had happened, and just as she finished, the second plane was hit. We both were surpsised and then knew it was no accident. We both watched in horror as the bulding tumbled to the ground. We rememebed that my sister worked in building down that street from the WTC. Luckly later we had gottnen a call from her syaing that she was fine, and was on the subway when it had happened.So many people died that day. I am proud of the men and women who were brave enough to risk their life to save others. The day showed us just how peoples minds work, even thought I think we will never truly understand they way they think. Septemebr 11th, 2001 will be a day that will always have an impact on my life.
September 11th is a day with will go down in history as a tragic day. I remember the day pretty clearly. I woke up that morning not feeling well, so my mom, who worked from home at the time, decided to not make me go to school. After falling back asleep, I wake up to the television saying the world trade center that been hit by an airplane. Because I was young, I didn’t completely understand what was going on at first, the only thing I had known was that my mo knew someone that work in the building. She explained to me what had happened, and just as she finished, the second plane was hit. We both were surprised and then knew it was no accident. We both watched in horror as the building tumbled to the ground. We remembered that my sister worked in building down that street from the WTC. Luckily later we had gotten a call from her saying that she was fine, and was on the subway when it had happened. So many people died that day. I am proud of the men and women who were brave enough to risk their life to save others. The day showed us just how peoples minds work, even thought I think we will never truly understand they way they think. September 11th, 2001 will be a day that will always have an impact on my life.
I remember where I was on september 11, 2005. I was in school in the 5th grade. I didn’t become aware of what happened until after the school day ended. My friend’s mom was picking me up for carpool. I didn’t quite understand at first, I didn’t know that the situation was as serious as it was. My first reacton was just a few people died, but then I slowly came that their first estimate was around three thousand people and that number is mind-blowing. The actual number was around fifteen hundred people and that is the population of our school. I could never imagine that many people dieng for our country. I remeber being a little bit prejudice at first to most of the suspicious looking people you might see on the street, but I know that they mean no harm and were just the scapegoats for our country. I recall seeing President Bush on the TV making speeches in the search for terrorism, in the “War on Terror”. I don’t have any issues with President Bush. Some of my friends may call him a “jackass” or “liar” but I didn’t see anythgin wroung with the way he did his job, but I don’t know much about politics. September 11 changed everyones life, many avid fliers have yet to go on a plane since then. I have no problem with airline security, besides the fact that it is slow. I remember not having any emotion after the events of September 11. I think I was too immature to realize the impact of the events. I know more about it now. I know that I can tell my children and grandchildren that i was alive when this happened and it was terrible. Septmeber 11 is our modern day Pearl Habor. It started a war; it started hatred. My life has changed since September 11, it has made me love my country more, it has made me have respect for other cultures and yet I sometimes still feel prejudice against them. The terrorists who commited the acts of 9/11 meant to destroy our country and break it apart, but it only brought us closer togethor.
September 11th is a day I will never forget. It has shaped the world that I know and has changed the government down in Washington dramatically from how it was even months before the attacks. Some people blame the government by saying they knew and did not take actions to prevent it. Other Internet conspiracy theorists claim the government was behind the whole thing and set up these attacks to bring new policies into effects the people would see as unfair. I though believe that it was a bunch of religious fanatics who claim to kill for God committing mass murder. I was in fifth grade and it started out as a normal day at Our Lady of Fatima School. We went through our normal routine until English class. Mr. Madigan came into the room and announced that two jet airplanes had struck the Twin Towers. Mr. Madigan maturely explained to us what this would mean to us later and how it would change the world we live in. Kids slowly started going home as concerned parents started picking up their children from school. I went to my grandmother’s house and stayed there until dad could pick me up when work ended. I watched CNN reporting on past coverage and breaking reports. Footage was shown of the collapsing towers and office workers jumping to their untimely deaths. The Pentagon was less reported on, but was just as important. It would go on to be the saddest day in U.S. history in my opinion. This grim day showed the U.S. that it was not untouchable as it had once thought it was. Our security had not been up to par and we paid dearly for it. This day was a wake up call to “the city upon a hill,” and was the birth of a new nation. A secure nation were people lived in fear temporarily, Then, for one time we were all one united nation that cared for our brothers in their time of need and despair. Eventually, we went back to normal with more security. I was lucky enough not to lose anyone in this tragedy, but I will never forget were I was on the eleventh of September, 2001
Tuesday, September 11, 2001 was a tragic date that every American will forever remember. This was the day, which has become known as 9-1-1 or 9-11. This day has changed my perspective and thoughts of the United States and the World. I woke up thinking it would be a day like any other, but instead it was a day, which will be reported in history books, and we will tell our children. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 took place between 8:46 a.m., when the first hijacked plane was deliberately crashed into one of the world trade center buildings, and 10:30a.m., when another hijacked plane was crashed just outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The terrorists struck four times on 9-11, all involving airplane crashes. The first attack on this horrific day was on the left World Trade Center building. The second attack came sixteen minutes later at 9:02a.m. when another plane crashed into the other Twin Tower building. The third attack was on the Pentagon killing 184 people, and the last attack was outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This final attack was directed for New York City but the courageous crew and passengers managed to crash the plane without killing anyone except those on the plane. During the one hour and twelve minutes that this tragedy occurred 2,973 people were killed and 24 are listed as missing.
I never imagined that the United States could ever be attacked on our own soil. I was in the fifth grade and I can still remember the voice on the intercom announcing that we were being sent home, but I didn’t understand why. I learned at home while my Mom was watching the attacks on the television. The image was like nothing else I have ever seen The Twin towers crashing to the ground on after the other. The people of New York City were panicked and scared tying to get out of the city. At the time I didn’t realize the consequences that would come from this day such as war against terrorism, which we still fight.
This event changed our lives forever. It changed the way we think about travel. Everyone was afraid to travel by airplane or a long while. The airport security was drastically increased. People became more aware and scared to be in large groups at public locations and events for fear of terrorist attacks. This tragic event has changed the way Americans think. It has made us realize the United States is a target for foreign countries that do not respect life or the freedom we enjoy. It is scary to imagine that if by chance you were at the location of the attack any one of us could have been killed. We give tribute each year when we recall this tragic day and remember those heroes who gave their lives to rescue those in need, and those who died a senseless death at the hands of evil. Our tribute is a symbol of our patriotism and respect for the freedom we enjoy as Americans.
I remember what happened on 9/11/01 when the World trade center got hit. I was in the 5th grade at Bayard Intermediate School. Before the principal came in to tell us what happened I had gone to the bathroom and hadn't heard what had happened. So when I came back everyone was upset and some were even crying. So I took my seat an tried to ask why everyone was crying but everyone was too indisposed to tell me anything. So then the principal came over the loud speaker and told us that since the Trade Center was hit we got the rest of the day. When my dad picked me up I asked him what was going on. So he told me that one of the towers was hit. And at that time the guy on the radio said that the second tower had just been hit. I was scared when I found out that this was a terroristic attack on our country. After a while we heard that the pentagon had been hit and that the second tower had just collasped. Well thats my story hoped you liked it
On the day of September 11, 2001 I was in the fifth grade. I was at school sitting in Social Studies like any other day. All of a sudden, classmates, one by one, began getting called out of class with an “early dismissal”. I rarely had early dismissals from school so I figured I would still have to be there for the rest of the day, when I got called for an early dismissal. I had no idea what was going on. When I got to the office, I saw my mom and we left and began walking to the car. On the way, I asked her what was going on, somewhat happily since I had gotten out of school early. She began to cry and said that hijacked airplanes had hit the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon. She grabbed a hold of me and hugged me tightly and I immediately began to cry as well. We got home and immediately turned on the news. The more I watched, the more, and harder, I cried. I remember receiving and making phone calls from and to the family making sure everyone was at home safely.
Our teachers knew what was going on, but they weren’t allowed to tell us. Being that young, I eventually wanted to watch something else other than the news and I probably didn’t understand the entire situation and devastation of what had occurred that morning. I do know now, however, and when I think back to that day and when the anniversary comes back around, I stop and think of just how fortunate I am that one of my family members wasn’t there that day (though my aunt was a block away) and I have compassion for those that did lose a loved one.
September 11, as horrible a day as it was, truly showed the strength of America and the people who live here. Everyone forgot about their differences and came together as a nation. “United We Stand” are words that will live on forever and they will always reflect back to 9/11. It is a day that I will never forget; however, it is also one that I never want to have to live through again.
It would be incorrect to say that our generation was not changed by the events of September 11, 2001. Of all the shocking events that have impacted the lives of youth within the last half century, 9/11 tops the list. It was something that nobody understood when it happened. "Osama bin who?" "Afghaniwhat?" As the nation gathered around their television sets to hear the almighty word of CNN, we slowly began to comprehend what had happened.
We had been attacked.
I was sitting in math class when the annoucement came over the loud-speaker. "Pardon the interruption. There will be an early dismissal today." We all got excited. "Why do we get out early?" one student asked. "I'm not at liberty to tell you," my teacher answered somberly. Those words would stick in my head more than any others that day.
I was not informed about what had happened until after school, while waiting to get picked up. "Do you know the World Trade Center?" a teacher asked me. Of couse I do, I thought to myself. Only a few years prior I had stood at the the top of one of them, staring as far as I could see across the endless Manhattan skyline. "They're gone," she said. "Everything. Thousands of people. All gone." I was stunned. She told me about how two hi-jacked airplanes had been driven into the towers. It didn't seem possible, what she was saying. Afterall, this is America. Nothing bad ever happends in America.
September 11th changed all that.
September 11th 2006 was a day that i don't think anyone will ever forget. All of the lives it affect, all the lives that were lost, and all of the places it destroyed.
The twin towers was such a horrible place to strike. Parents had least expected it. Children came home to empty houses and taken away by people they didn't know. It was more than a horrid tragedy, but an experience of a lifetime.
I was sitting in my math class at Redding Intermediate School, listening to Mrs. Bembrook lecture us when her speech was interupted by the intercom. The voice assured us to stay calm but informed us that we had just been attacked in the United States. As I heard that , i thought to myself, "How can I be calm ?!" "They went at the twin towers," he went on. "Many lives have just been lost." As we came into school the next day, we were all told to walk out into the hallway with a paper I had breifly glimpsed at. A moment later, the intercom voice was on again and told us to start singing. We followed the teachers as the song went on. I know we sang our anthem but also another song that I do not remember.
From that day on, for about a year, I couldn' bear to have a plane go over my head. I was afraid they may come back. This time, maybe even closer to me. I'm thinking to myself, "No more lives to be lost. No more children to be alone. No more." This is one experience I can not get over and I'm sure no one else can either.
Why the wars ? Why the bombing ? The world is still not at peace and I wish it was.
September 11th 2001 is a day to remember. Let us never forget.
9-11 was a horrifying and terrifying experience for everyone in America. None of us could have imagined something like this could had ever happened. It caught us all by surprise and is a day we all will remember for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately many lives were lost during 9-11. We all can relate to each other on the subject of 9-11. I remember where I was and what I was doing during 9-11. I was in 5th grade at St. Peter’s Cathedral School. It was like any other day, I doing my class work and all of a sudden, the intercom turned on. Our principal, Sister Barbra Ann, ordered the teachers to dismiss the students as their parents arrived. She sounded very stern. I wondered what had happened as a waited for my mom to pick my sister and I up from school. I asked my mom what was going on so many times but I didn’t get a clear answer. I was not fully aware of what was going on until I got home and saw the news. I was shocked and scared at what I saw.
There is a great importance to remember the events of 9-11, not just because it was a turning point for the United States, but because it was a time when we all bonded together when there seemed to be no hope.
Mr Fiorelli, I had some typos.
Sentence 3, Had should be have.
Sentence 10, "I doing" should be "I was doing".
Sentence 17, a should be I.
Every generation will have a tragic day that they will never forget. A day whose tragic events were worse than anything else that has happened so therefore, it will be remembered. It's a sad thought to think of, but it will always be that way because there will always be something that is worse than something else; and when there isnt a day that comes to mind that was worse than 9/11, that crowns 9/11 the day to be remembered over all others in our generation. The world changes everyday. But it is the day that the world changes in a horrible way, in a way where we can all pinpoint how it changed, that makes a room go silent when it is mentioned. Anyone who was old enough to remember even if the faintest recollection of what happened on 9/11 probably feels strongly on what happened that day, I know I do. I remember being in my 5th grade science class sitting in the back of the room. An announcement came on over the intercom and we had to go back to our homeroom. I didnt know what was going on. All i remember is sitting in my seat with my jacket on and my bookbag packed to go home. Everyone's parents were called. Being in fifth grade, my mind wasn't able to comprehend what exactly was going on, and rumors from friends were equally as confusing. I knew that something had crashed into an important building having something to do with the president, and that we were being sent home to try and keep us safer from any attacks. This didn't mean much to me then. I was only worried about my moms car getting bombed while she was coming to get me from school; which was very unlikely, because there's nothing all to desirable to bomb in Delaware. Thank God. Now that I understand much more of what actually happened, it means a lot more to me. I understand that people feel strongly about their religion, but to say that I believe that the hijackers crashed our planes solely because thats what their religion called for, would be a lie. I think that it had something to do with their people's dislike for our country in itself. I simply can't believe that a religion would make someone intentionally harm someone else, even if they are of another religion. I can't even begin to imagine the pain of losing a loved one in that tragedy. It makes not only the people who died or went into the Trade Towers heroes, but also the people who continue to live without someone close to them. Some people have moved on, which is a personal preference, but some people will never move on, and being empathetic, im some ways I don't think I will ever move on either. An amazing tribute to 9/11 is the 'Heaven 9/11 Remix' by DJ Sammy. It makes me cry everytime. Besides all of our losses after the attack, the worst part was not knowing what would happen next. Many people lived even with some fear that something near to them would get attacked or that they would lose a loved one. It took a while for people to be reassured of their safety, and even now there are doubts. I think that everyone depends on policemen and firemen and every one who serves and protects our country; and because of that, we all have a greater respect for them because people have come to a realization that if our country is in need, its up to them to help us. A great movie in rememberence to this event was the 'World Trade Center'. My neighbor and I went to see this movie over the summer, it caused us both many emotions. We wouldnt go two minutes without crying. Neither of us lost a loved one in the attack, but just to imagine what it would be like was terrifying. Even to imagine knowing one of the rescue men who went in after the attacks to look for survivors was scary. September Eleventh will be a day that no American will forget, and rightfully so. But in the same respect, they will also never forget the progress that our country has made because of those attacks, which shows that we are truly a strong, unified country.
mbgreen
September 11th 2001: A day that will never be forgotten
I remember 9/11 more vivid and frightening then I could have ever imagined. I was in 5th grade in a small private school and I had just arrived in the building. I met up with a few friends and we posted our finest art work on the board. When our teacher entered the room, we all ran to our seats, so anxious to view the brand new television screen that only our homeroom had received. With just a click of the remote button, our lives would completely change forever.
On Channel 6 we viewed two large aircrafts destroy The Twin Towers as they became consumed with smoke. All I could hear next to me were the gasps, the shrieking cries and the sniffles of kids who had relatives in New York. Immediately I began to cry sympathizing for my fellow class mates. But then I began to feel angry. I asked myself “why would somebody do this, why would anyone want to kill someone?”
Word spread of the news like wildfire. All the teachers and student aids collected the students as if we were barn yard animals and rushed us out to the parking lot. My mom was teaching there at the time and was looking for me all over the school.
When we finally found each other and we were so relieved. No more then a minute later, we hoped in the car and drove home so we could be with the rest of our family. When we arrived at the house I just wanted to be left alone, I didn’t want to be in the presence of others, especially at my lowest point. I could only understand half of what was going on at the time and the mere thought of terrorism terrified me on so many levels. I didn’t know why people could be so cruel but I knew our country had to do something to protect its lowly citizens.
At that time I wasn’t thinking war, but that was the result of the terrorist attacks. I believe now, looking back, that Iraq shouldn’t have been invaded for there were no weapons of mass destruction. Afghanistan was the country that had the weapons that were to be used on the United States. But even so, I would not have agreed with an invasion of that country either. It is a shame that people can’t learn from the mistakes of others. American citizens did anything but enjoy what happened on 9/11, and I’m sure Iraqi citizens were not to happy about our attack on their country. Either way, innocent people have died in both countries or their leaders have done nothing to put an end to this world wide, global threat.
This whole situation is esspecially weird for me and my brother. Just three days prior to the dreadful assault of 9-11 Jimmy and I were visiting my aunt and uncle in New York City. On our last night, the 8th, we went to check out the World Trade Centers and to have dinner on that side of town. Oh, boy were Jim and I fascinated by the vastness of these structures, we ran all around the area laughing with glee. So, we had our dinner, no problems and cought a cab back to their apartment. Then on that awful day on the 11th of September in the year of 2001 it happened, it was pandemonium at Saint Edmond's. Teachers looking gravely into the absent eyes of their students, it would mark the only time the Academy had ever dismissed mid-day for non-weather related incidents. I sat at my desk quietly waiting for bus 11 to be called and I thought to my self, what if the terrorists planned tha attack on the eighth, what if me and James were right in the missle of the demolition. I tell you what, that was about the weirdest i have ever felt, it was almost like i was especcially connected to the incident. Once on the bus the older kids had somewhat more of an idea what was going on, I heard the people of the MidEast had something to do with it, and it turns out they were right. No matter who did it, they're bad people and people who need not bother this U.S. soil. "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die," a tribute to the FDNY and PDNY.
MD GREEEEEEN
September 11th was one of the scariest days of my life. I was in fifth grade when my principle came over the loud speaker and announced that a plane hit one of the World Trade Centers. I didn't really think anything of it until it was announced that another plane had crashed. I began to get scared. I realized that it wasn't just another accident. It was purposely done. So many thoughts and questions were racing through my head: Who would want to do this?; Do they hate us that much?; Are the planes going to keep crashing?; How many people have died?; How many families are broken apart?. I have family in Washington, D.C. and New York, and I thought one of them may have been hurt. None of them were, thank God, but other families lost loved ones. The people killed were not only the people that were in the buildings when the planes hit, but also the fire fighters that risked their lives to save people.
We were dismissed from school early that day, and when I got home I watched the news for almost two hours straight. It kept showing the video of the plane hitting the tower. The entire country was in shock. It was a horrible day that no one will forget, but I think it brought our country closer together. I am not saying it was good that it happened, because it definitely wasn't. I'm just saying some good did come from it. The overall security of our country has increased greatly. We hope to be able to stop this from ever happening again, but mostly I hope that no one will ever want to attempt it again. When driving through neighborhoods today you see many more American flags than you would have seen before September 11th, 2001. That just goes to show that our American pride has grown and we have become a closer country. Even though this happened five years ago, I feel like it was just yesterday. I will never forget what happened that day, and I hope no one does.
September 11, 2001 a day to remember. As most of my fellow classmates can say that it was probably one of the most beautiful days we have seen the fall. Sitting in class doing our usual routines when an announcement is made that there has been a terrible crash and we will be sent home immediately. Most of us were fifth graders scramble to get our stuff and wait for our parents. I remember my mom having a horrid face on and not able to say much. We headed home and turned the news on and just watch as the twin towers fell over and over again. The people crying for help, seeing their loved ones stuck in the buliding trapped and unable to get help in time. You keep asking yourself who would want to do this, what did these people ever do to them. They hate our country so much that they are even willing to kill themsleves for such a small price to them, but such a price to us that our country will remember this day forever. People say this came as such a shock to us, but in my opinion Bush and everyone knew what was going on, but did not have the guts to do anything about this till the time came and the death of all these innocent people dead could of been prevented if the authority stepped up and took act first. The people who are still hurt the most are the ones who lost their loved ones whether they were the firefighters who risked their lives for others or the people who died in the towers.I don’t think anyone could forget a day like that.
September 11th 2001 is a day that will always be remembered. It was a tragic day that shook the whole country. I remember that day very well. I was in the 5th grade when it happened. I remember it was a normal school day. I woke up and my mom took my little sister and I to school. It was still fairly early in the morning and I was totally awake yet. My teacher had assigned the class work to do while she put the attendance in and checked her emails on her computer. After five minutes or so my teacher stood up and told us all something horrible had happened in New York City. She didn’t know all the details but we all knew it was bad. We all said a prayer and afterward we sat in silence. Then our principle announced that we were all being sent home in the next half hour. We were all getting kind of scared because nothing like this had ever happened before. My mom picked us up and we went to grandparents’ house. We all sat there in front of the television for a couple of hours watching the horrors going on in New York. My grandmother and mom were both crying the entire time. We were also very scared for my Uncle who worked in New York City at the time and we weren’t sure if he was okay. It turned out that he was okay. That definitely made us feel a little better but it didn’t do much because we knew so many others weren’t as lucky as he was. September 11th was a terrible day for everyone. Many innocent people lost their lives because of terrorism. That day will always be in our hearts.
It was second peroid and my favorite class gym. To make the day even better we were playing "mat ball" everthing was going great until it my turn to kick. My teacher wisphers something to our gym teacher and her face had turned pale. My class was than told that gym would have to be cyt short for today and all of us student had the same thought, who did it and what did they do. Shortly after we got back to our class our Mrs. Howell had explain that no one did anything wrong and then held her tears and told us th event that had just happen. Most of us being fiffth graders needed a moment to understand what our teacher had said, but one girl had bursted out of the class with tears in her eyes; suddenly we all understood the importance of the situation. Five minutes later we heard the annocement over the p.a system that school had ended early. As that was said most classes you could hear a giant cheer because their teachers did not tell their students. As everyone left the school one by one fellow fifth graders would ask my classmates and I why we look so sad, but we did tell. When I got home I can remember is a lot of phone calls to family that lived in New York and every other Channel, even the children ones, was showing the events that happened a few hours ealier. 9/11 was a day that i know in 50years I know i could tell this story perfectly
September 11, 2001 was a very tragic day. At around 8:45 a.m., an American Airlines plane was hijacked by terrorists and deliberately flown into the first tower of the World Trade Center. Then, at 9:03 a.m., a second plane was hijacked and crashed into the second tower of the World Trade Centers. In panic, many people jumped to their deaths, others could not escape and met a tragic ending. Many firefighters valiantly raced into the flaming buildings in hopes to rescue the innocent people. Many of these firefighters were able to rescue countless civilians, but a great deal of these firefighters died. In all, nearly three thousand people were killed. Meanwhile, at around 9:41 a.m., another plane was hijacked and hit one of the five walls of the Pentagon. On another plane, believed to be heading toward the Capitol building or maybe even the White House, the brave passengers of the plane stood up. As the terrorists tried to hijack the plane, the passengers foiled their attempt and crashed the plane into an empty field in Pennsylvania. All of the passengers died. However, because the plane crashed in an empty field, it caused no damage to civilians or the White House.
I know that what I am about to say may seem backwards, but I think the 9/11 attacks made America stronger as a whole. After 9/11, those yellow ribbons became VERY popular. At one point, every car had at least one of those metallic ribbons on the back of their car that read, “Support our troops.” We also now had a reason to support one another. As the years went on, we stayed strong and whole. Today, five years later, we still are having prayer services and moments in silence. I think that during the time of reflection was the only time in the ten months, the WHOLE school was silent. On that day, I truly believed that America became stronger than the sum of its parts.
here is my resk of reading article
The interest in literature and reading is falling very rapidly. Today’s youth is now obsessed with video games, T.V., and sound recording devices such as MP3 players and iPods. Reading is like a portal to knowledge. It can captivate the imagination, spark emotions, and inform its reader. Some may argue that T.V. and radio can do the same thing. I believe however, that reading has a somewhat mystical effect on readers that visual and audio recordings do not.
Reading can be responsible for a drastic transformation, like in the case of Walt Whitman. He was a farmer from Brooklyn, who had written mediocre fiction. After he read Ralph Waldo Emerson, he decided to change the values that were taught to him by his mother and father. He looked up to Emerson as a second father. This reading helped him turn his whole life around. Another example of this is the case of the author himself, Mark Edmunson. He grew up in the time of extreme white/black racism. He read the autobiography of Malcolm X when he was 17 years of age. Reading it gave Edmunson the insights of racism from the black perspective. This deeply moved him and he often got in verbal fights with his white friends, and sometimes even fist fights because of his passion. I believe that if he had heard it on the radio or saw it on T.V., he may have ignored it or it could have blown over his head not leaving a lasting impact.
I really like the point that the author of the article makes about how words are powerful. He states that as time passes by, the memory of a severe injury can be forgotten, but an insult can be remembered forever.
Obviously by my summary you can infer that I agree with the fact that reading goes farther than T.V. and radio ever will. But, I also believe the companies that supply the students with material are failing miserably. If they want us to read, give us material that, after we finish, make us want to find another book to read or read about that particular author. Don’t give us “Grapes of Wrath” or “To Kill a Mocking Bird.” They are both great novels, for an audience that cares. I believe that at least eight out of ten teenagers will say they think these books are “retarded” or “they suck.” But I will also bet that if you asked those same teenagers at a later age, such as in their mid-twenties, to read those same books, they will get a deeper understanding and will be able to get more out of it. Teenagers don’t care about the dust bowl or the four hundred plus page book about an unfair trial. But as they grow, so does their experience, wisdom and understanding. Teenagers tend to be narrow-minded and focused on right here, right now. A slightly older person would be able to apply him or herself to the book, and really relate to Tom Joad or Atticus Finch.
This may be a little random, but it is a good analogy to my beliefs. Many people come up to Michael Jordan and ask, “What should I do to help my son commit himself to the game of basketball.” His response is simply, “Let them enjoy the game.” The same goes for reading. If you want young people to enjoy literature, let them develop a love for reading at an early age.
The first thing I can remember happening on September 11th is a call over the intercom in my 5th grade music class. It was the beggining of class so we had all just come in and sat down in designated spots on the pea green carpet. Whoever was talking on the intercom had asked our teacher, I can't remember her name but I do remember she was my favorite teacher at the time, to talk to her over the phone that was in the classroom. When our music teacher came back she was crying. A not very tactful kid in class blurted out, "did someone die?" Our teacher confirmed that someone had died and wouldn't tell us anymore. She took us back to our homeroom and said that our homeroom teacher would explain. But our teacher didn't tell us what happened, she took us down to lunch, which I distinctly remember as being a disgusting stir-fry taco. We pestered her with questions but she said simply that we wouldn't understand. It still makes me mad when I tihink about it, because I did understand when my mom picked me up and finally explained to me what had happenened. I understood that an awful thing had occured and I even understood what it meant for America. I also understood what it meant when every car I saw driving down any street had an america flag on it's antenna.
September 11th, 2001 is a day I will always remember, but not only for the terrorist attacks that day. It may be the standard norm to remember that day as the day when we were attacked, but that's not how I remember it. I mostly remember it as the day that my school got called in with a bomb threat. I remember that the day started off just like any other school day. Everything was going along fine until about halfway through the first period. That's when all teachers simoultaneously got a call telling them to take the students outside in the field. I remember how it was unusually warm that day, at least unusually warm for a September day. Constantly, we were asking what was happening, but the teachers wouldn't tell us, maybe because they didn't know. What I remember the most is just waiting and waiting out there, doing nothing, but standing in a straight line. Eventually, after waiting maybe an hour or two outside, we were finally allowed back in the school. Immediately when we got back to our classes we were told we were going home. Now by this point we all somehow knew that the school had had some sort of bomb threat had occured, and we hazily assumed that was the reason we were going home. But at the same time we all knew something -- something much larger had happened while we were outside. We knew whatever had happened was the reason why we were being sent home. But the school faculty was not allowed to tell us what had occured, as the principle had deemed it that our parents should be the one to break the news to us. Well, I left school at around 11:00 A.M. that day, and on the busride home it was our incompetent bus driver who had told us what had happened -- sort of. She had just told us that the two World Trade Center builds had collapsed. At my age I didn't really understand what the Twin Towers were so I didn't think it was that big of a deal. The rest of the day is kind of hazy to me. My mom cried most of the day and we stayed at home most of the day in fear. It was an especially upsetting day for my mom since it was her anniversary. But overall, more than the buildings collapsing that day, I'll always have that bomb threat as my first memory of 9/11.
The 11th of September started out much like any other day at my old school. We were all mere fifth graders who didn't exactly understand the politics of the world. My classmates and I were in the gym playing around as kids often do. However, there was a distinct difference between this day and other days when two children were called out of school. On an average day it might be customary to have one boy or girl pulled out, but two unrelated children was a peculiar happening. As time when on more children were being called out. What clearly gave away their ignorance to the situation at hand was the startled look on all of their faces when they were called up. I was one of the last students to be pulled from class. Amongst ourselves we debated what might have happened. Of course at such an impressionable age several students pondered the possibility of an alien attack after the suggestion of one boy. Although we were young some of us were able to conclude that something war-related had happened. The terroristic acts were decided upon by one particular grouping, but was still an act of war on our government. Finally, I was called out of class as well. I was happy to be out of school, but I was still curious as to what had happened. On my way home I asked my mother what caused us to all be let out of school. She had told me that the World Trade Centers were attacked. I was still a naive boy and couldn't grasp, in my mind, what exactly had happened. At home I saw on the tv the footage of the attack, but still was at a loss. I had never been to New York, but had always wanted to visit the World Trade Center. The thought that I would never get that chance to visit the World Trade Center was what most troubled me. Every anniversary of this event reminds me of how I had a dream taken from me before I even had the chance to make the decision.
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