September 11, 2001...We Will Remember. We Will Never Forget.

[TomMurry]

I had a college class at 8am that lasted until 11am. There were no cell phones allowed and we were in a building away from the main campus. About 10:00, 2 Military Police came into the room, went to the front to the professor and whispered to him. He points directly at me, the MP's ask me to come with them. They informed me in the hall that I was being recalled immediately and had 30 minutes to go home, change my clothes, make any needed phone calls and that they would be taking me to the base an hour away. I walked back into the classroom after it was explained to me what happened and had the unfortunate duty to inform 125 college students and a professor what had happened. People immediately started crying, the professor told everyone to go home. By 12:00, I was already in New York with the rest of our local unit. Something I try not to remember but will never forget.

 

[Randy Shields]

Man, Thank all of you for sharing. Thanks for the help you gave on that day and the days that followed. Thanks for sharing your stories of lost loved ones, your taking part in memorials, and just your overall thoughts and feelings here. Reading this thread brings tears to my eyes.

One thing also that really stands out for me on that day and the days that followed was the fact that after this gut-wrenching event happened, there were no Democrats or Republicans, no conservitaves or liberals, no athiests, christians, jews, muslims, agnostics, ect., ect., ect. We were all first and foremost Americans and we all felt as ONE the likes of which I've never felt that strongly before. I can honestly say that I was no prouder to be an American at that time and at the present time as well.

You know the last 9 anniverseries have come and gone with different levels of emotions and rememberances, but with this 10th anniversary it's reeeally drawn me back to that time like no other. I've just felt more emotions in the past couple of weeks and today and this evening especially than I have since this first happened and I get the feeling that many of you feel the same way.
In a way it's weird, but it almost feels like it happened recently.

Again, I really appreciate reading the postings here and I hope that many more will share your thoughts and feelings as well.

 

[Zymco]

Its incredibly sad that I try to look up converge on youtube to remember back to that day, but half of it is conspiracy theories. Anyhow I am so proud of my country and so grateful everyone that went above and beyond for their country and for the man next to them.

 

[thegreathambino]

Being among the minority younger group of collectors on this board ( almost 18 ). I was in 2nd grade when this happened. I was sent home early along w/ all of my classmates. I remember my mom upset, just drawn to the tv. Something about the news casts that I remember and watch re runs of draws me in. New York became stronger that day, RIP to all those that were lost, and thank you to those that risked their lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen. This day changed my life forever and really gave me a different outlook on life. God Bless

Avery

 

[Wes]

Thanks to all who have shared their stories. A sobering reminder of the impact that 9/11 had on so many.

 

[PujolsCollector]

I was young when this happened 6 or 7, my school had TVs. I had pretty much just got to school and I remember the principal franticly getting on the PA system telling teachers to turn on the TV systems immedietly. After that everything stopped. I had no clue what was happening I remember my teacher silent no words no emotion. I had no understanding of what had happened, I now know how bad it was. Obviously with me living in Illinois I did not lose any loved ones on that day, I did not have family who went to work there that sad sad day. All I knew was that whatever had happened changed the world, my grandma said to me the next day "You witnessed history yesterday" I had no clue what she ment then. I am sitting here watching the coverage today and just thinking of those affected. How could someone purposely take the lifes of so many people, how could someone order someone to do that, why must it happen. What gives them the right to ruin families. There are kids who have no father who have no mother because of the hands of another human being and the thoughts of another, I have this hate boiling in me right now that I can not even describe, it is one of sadness,fear,hatred,discust, and shock. In closing I would like to take this time to say thanks to the people who responded to this horrible situation, those people who lost their lifes that day in that Pensylvania field protecting the lifes of innocent Americans. Please for just today lets become one and celebrate the lifes taken by them bastards, lets cellabrate our freedom and show true patriotic love for everyone, fly our flags at half staff, sing our anthem and take pride in the country we live in.

 

[nyc3]

[youtube:310lh6b5]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnQpkOsZeOA[/youtube:310lh6b5]

 

[Pinbreaker]

Thanks for all the personal stories shared..

I was at work here in Seattle, and someone had said a plane had hit the first tower.. So I quickly put up CNN on my 2nd monitor and my group literaly watched everything and just could not believe what had just happened..

When the card in my sig became available, I didn't hesitate.. just as when I saw another one on EBAY for Shawn Green.. Yes, I probably overpaid for the Green, but these are priceless.. as everytime I look at them, it brings back strong memories..

 

[Card Magnet]

I was 14 years old and in 9th grade. I was in my government class and he put the tv on after another teacher stopped by the door and told him to flip the news channel on. It was just moments after the 2nd plane hit.

I'm about a 30 minute drive from Shanksville, PA. When the news hit of Flight 93 going down, the severity of what I was watching kind of clicked because it occurred to somewhere I had actually been before and even played against their school in junior high basketball, and they're not too different from the small town I live in.

One building in NYC (or any given city) holds more people on a daily basis than live in the town of Shanksville (population of a few hundred), so a plane going down in suck a remote location was shocking. Until it became clear why the plane went down there, it was just confusing and kind of scary.

There was soon a mass exit of students are parents came and picked their kids up. I was one of maybe 50 kids left from maybe 500 in the school. It turns out that my mother didn't even know what happened because she worked alone in an office, so she picked me up at 3:00 as I got out of school and she was on her way home from work.

 

[Card Magnet]

For those that don't visit the football section, UD had received a Marques Colston collegiate gamer that had a 9-11 tribute patch. They decided to turn it into four special edition cards to be inserted in SPA Football.

Pics and info here :
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=145356&start=0

 

[Junior Griffey]

I was in college, and woke up after everything had happened. Turned on the TV and didn't turn it off for the rest of the day. All classes were cancelled and thankfully I wasn't one of the ones who had to call family members to make sure they were ok.

 

[alexs64]

Never Forget......

Changed my Sig for 9/11.

 

[Lancemountain]

The "Where were you during the 9/11 attacks" thread>>>

I posted it here in the baseball section since it gets the most traffic, and on such a terrible day in our History, I hope to read many of your stories.

Please share with us all in detail, I think it is fascinating, not only on a historical sense, but on a personal level. Tragic events really give our memory a clear snapshot and I love reading about them.

Here's mine:

I was 26, living in Cape May, New Jersey. Anyone not familiar, it's that little tip that hangs off the end of the state. I was bar tending at night and living in a house built by my friend Jimmy. Jim owned a fishing charter, mostly deep sea tuna/mahi/marlin type runs and his other captain, Fran lived with us too. The reason this is important is that most deep sea runs are for the weekend guys...they just slaughter and take from the sea and get drunk. No concept of their needless harvest of fish, and when they get back to shore and realize that butchering a bluefin is going to cost a few hundred dollars, they usually just "tip" the crew most of the fish. That means that we, as a house, at lots and lots of fresh, line caught, 24hr old yellow and bluefin tuna. As glorious as that meat is, it does get old. Real old.

Jump to 9/10/2001. We traded a few sides of tuna with a neighbor who had a small school of scallop boats and ended up with a king's share of scallops still dripping with ocean water, stone crab claws and stripers. I got done work around 2am, and we drank Pilsner Urquells and cracked and ate those claws till 4ish.

My room was a converted sunporch off the family room and after the first plane attack, Jimmy woke me up. A tad "green around the gills", I sat down on that couch, watched the next one go and just sat dumbfounded the rest of the afternoon. How could not one, but two accidents happen? Then the PA crash. This was war and where would it end? Thankfully I have no family in lower manhatten or the Pentagon, but what a terrible feeling thinking Philly was next. My brother worked in the highest tower in Philly, it was nerve wracking. Cell phones did not work that morning.

Planes from Dover AFB screamed overhead all day. The Garden State Parkway was closed. I had to go into work that night, and anyone here who has worked as a bar tender can commiserate with me here. On a normal day, you listen to everyone's problems. Part of the gig, throw a joke, some advice, another shot of maker's......It's your job to help those looking for a chat. It was really tough having to deal with everyone's problems that day when their problem was also yours. I hated hearing these people talking about their feelings when I hadn't had enough alone time to formulate my own.


Worst day in my life, I would imagine that is the same for many here.

 

[zookerman182]

Re: The "Where were you during the 9/11 attacks" thread>>>

I was in Latin class at my high school. I didnt even know that the world trade center was but i had heard of the "twin towers" before. The rest of the day we spent watching TV in every class until school let out. I really didnt know how BIG of a deal this was at the time.

Its a day that will be remembered forever.

And its a day that should get more attention on days that arent 9/11.

 

[Lifelongfan]

Re: The "Where were you during the 9/11 attacks" thread>>>

I'll always remember it was a tuesday morning---My best friend Dale called at around 9:30am and said "are you believing this?" I said what? I worked last night (also bartending) and you just woke me up---he said turn on your t.v---and he hung up...I did not stop watching t.v for 10 days.

 

[Gwynn545]

Re: The "Where were you during the 9/11 attacks" thread>>>

At the time I was working concrete at a concrete plant making underground vaults, septic, catch basins, etc... I had to be to work at 6:00 AM.
It's about a 1/2 hour drive and I had recently been on a talk-radio kick. The radio host originally said that there was a "fire" at the Twin Towers, and they talked about the fire for a few minutes (the Towering Inferno, blah blah blah). THen it was discovered that it was a "small plane, probably a two-seater", and they "chuckled" at how bad the pilot must have been to hit the hugest skyscraper. Just as I pulled into the parking lot at 5:55, the host announces that it was indeed an "airliner" and then they became very serious. I ran into the office and said, "Guys! Turn on the TV! A 747 hit the Twin Towers!" We turned the tv on, and barely focused our senses when we watched, live, the second plane hit the Twin Towers... Four guys and three women sat in stunned silence. No one said "WHOA!" or "OH MY GOD!" It was silent for at least 15 minutes straight.
My wife called. She said that our neighbor had called her and left this message, "Turn on the TV! We are under attack!" (We saved that message for years!) I told her what I knew.
A few more people meandered into the office, but it was about only about 15 minutes later when we learned a plane also hit the Pentagon. I ran outside and gathered all of the yard workers to come inside to see this. (Vengen aqui! Venguen Aqui! for our hispanic workers) We packed the office, maybe 30 people. We all watched in horror (cliche, but no other way to describe it) the towers collapse over the next hour.
We eventually went back to work that day, but we were all pretty shaken up, thinking at how huge this was, and our idle conversations revolved around "what was going to happen next". I was home by 3:30, and we just sat glued to the TV all night literally.
The image of that second plane hitting burned into my memory...

 

[djrulz]

Re: The "Where were you during the 9/11 attacks" thread>>>

I just got done with work at 5:00 am (worked over-nights at Sam's Club). Went home (still lived with my parents), and my mom woke me up after the first plane crashed into the tower. I layed down on the couch watching the news coverage and watched as the second plane hit the other tower. That is where I was the whole day. I knew I had to go to work that night and I knew I had to get some sleep at some point to be able to function at work, but I just couldn't believe what I was seeing on TV. I ended up just staying there watching it in disbelief.

 

[Erich]

Re: The "Where were you during the 9/11 attacks" thread>>>

This whole 9/11 thing just makes me incredibly sad.

 

[srstetler]

Where I was, the streets were flooded with dazed people heading uptown, especially on Sixth Avenue. City buses drove with their doors open and people were hanging out the doors and windows to breathe air. That afternoon volunteers showed up at the NYC hospitals but the ERs were practically empty. People just walked home.

 

[markakis8]

Re: The "Where were you during the 9/11 attacks" thread>>>

I was in class @ Campbell University in NC. We had just started when our conditioning coach burst into our class and said "We are being attacked. One of the towers has been bombed. WE ARE GOING TO WAR!"

He was so excited about that last part and the way he said it has always stuck with me. We all immediately left class and back to the dorms. It seemed like an eternity but it wasn't that long b/c I got back in time to see the second plane hit and I remember feeling nauseous. It's the first time and ONLY time I've ever felt nauseous thinking about death. I cried a bit thinking about all the people in the towers above where the plane hit left to decide HOW they wanted to die - burn alive, die of smoke inhalation, or jump 100 stories to their death.

I called my mother and we were talking about it and she was scared that a draft was going to be set in place. Even though college students go last, she thought it was going to go that far. I spent the rest of the day watching the news just like the rest of us all. I remember crying as I laid in bed that night as well, thinking about all the victim's families. Everything over the next few weeks is just a blur.