Readers Respond: September 11 Memories

Responses: 55

Let's honor the victims, survivors, and all of their families, by keeping our 911 memories alive.

Share Your 911 Memories

Unbelievable Tragedy

When I heard the news from my co-workers, I denied it ... until I got home and put on my TV set. That was when I believed what had happened. May the innocent souls rest in perfect peace. Amen.

—Guest ismail yakubu

Tragic

I am a poor Indian. On the day this gruesome, brutal attack took place against the innocent people in the twin towers, helplessly I was watching the BBC live. I can never forget this dastardly act of cruel people. As long as I live I will pray for the 9/11 victims.

—Guest V.Shankar

That was Then, What About the Future?

I remember; I was at work and the radio was on. I work in a Department store in the south (the Bible Belt, as we're called). What few customers were there were in shock, along with the staff. We prayed, cried ... One year later, we lost our grand-daughter in a auto accident. 911, 2001 and 911, 2002 will forever be in the hearts and minds of our family. As the years have passed, are we still praying? Are we still crying? When 911 occurred and the circumstances were revealed, the following verse came to my heart and has dwelt there: "If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 That's where we need to start! On our knees asking God to forgive us, then we can pray for others. Let's clean our own house first. My "granny" use to say, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

—Guest Gerrie

Hard to Explain the Hurt

When I heard about it my husband and I had just made it back from an appointment with his lawyer. I came in the house, turned on the TV, and what I saw made me hurt so much, it's hard to even explain. I felt so sad about what had happen. I just started praying for all the people who lost a loved one.

—Guest bernice smith

The World Would Never Be the Same

Friends had flown in from the Netherlands that morning and we had spent the day showing them the beautiful hills around Manchester, UK. When we came back in the afternoon, our neighbour came walking up to us and said: "Isn't it terrible, what happened in New York?" We went inside and watched in horror the events of that day. We had visited New York a few times until then and still do regularly now! I remember saying: "The world will never be the same again." But in later visits we have experienced and admired the spirit of the American people. The world may never be the same again, but the spirit of the American people is as strong, if not stronger, as ever! God bless you all!

—JannekeZandbergen

Tears Always

I first got the news from the BBC World Service. Then I put my TV on and saw human suffering, first degree. It's very difficult for me as a person to share tears, but every time I see a replay of the 9/11 video clip, I share tears always.

—Guest sahrmonknumah

On a Camping Trip

My husband and I were on a camping trip up the New England coast to Nova Scotia. We walked into the campground office to check out and the TV was on. We watched in horror as the towers fell. We were in total shock the rest of the day as we listened to the broadcast on our car radio. We weren't sure if we would be able to cross into Canada, but later that day they opened the border and we spent the night in New Brunswick. The whole time we were in Canada, the people who saw our Pennsylvania license plate offered their prayers. They told us that they had lost some of their countrymen that day also. There were road signs all over the countryside expressing their support. Blood drives were set up all over the country and people in Halifax opened their homes to stranded travelers. I was very proud of our neighbors to the north. I will never forget this day. God bless America.

—Suzannewil

Traveling to Virginia

My daughter and I left Pennsylvania for Virginia that awful morning of 9/11/01 after having breakfast with a friend. We heard the news on the car radio about 15 minutes later that roads and schools were closing. So, we ended up going through the Smokey Mountains not knowing what would happen when we got out, as no radio reception was available. After what seemed like an eternity, we came across this one opening where people were hanging a huge American flag on the bridgeway. Whatever fear and loneliness we felt, seeing that flag helped. We made our way to Virginia Beach to stay before heading inland. The whole touristy town seemed like a ghost town, with very few people on the beach. Our fears came back but knowing we were safe made the difference. Our prayers go out to the families on both sides of the conflict. I had to put my daughter on a train a few days later as it was the only way I could get her home to Colorado knowing she was safer back there.

—Guest Carolyn

9/11 in Junior High

I remember I was in Junior High School, and I could see the smoke from the 3rd floor window. We were told, "there is an emergency, so you are not allowed to leave the campus for lunch today." So, we had no idea what was happening. Slowly, we heard that something had happened in the city. My brother and I walked home from school, saying we hoped that the Yankees game wasn't canceled. Then we got home, and saw the news. I think it didn't really sink in until the next day. I remember trying to get in touch with family friends who were firefighters and cops. God bless the victims and their families, our American heroes, and God bless America.

—Guest Alyssa

A Horror

I am from the east, but I felt it as if it happened near my house. I was celebrating our culture's New Year with my family during that havoc. Let's pray again for our security in the name of our Almighty God. Amen.

—Guest Mike

Absolute Horror

I was at work and we had the radio on. Everyone was glued to the radio. All our orders for the day were canceled. I worked at the Haggar Plant directly in the flight path for Love Field. It was so quiet, as they had grounded the planes. When I was able to get home the horror hit me as I turned the TV on and watched the news. To this day I cannot look up and see a plane without remembering the events of that day. God bless all those who died and their families. We will never forget that life-altering day.

—Guest Jan Brady

At First it Didn't Seem so Bad

I was watching the TV, and even while the towers were burning they looked so sturdy and strong that I was afraid for the people on the top floors, but not the others. It was such an indescribable horror to see the towers fall. I was sick; I thought the death toll was going to be about 10,000 innocent people. I just cried, and prayed. At night I stood looking at the quiet skies, thinking of all the lives forever changed, and crying and praying. Eight years later I still cannot look at the images from that day without tearing up. On that day, not only America was united, but most of the world. Let us never forget.

—Guest Cynthia

911 Memories

That day was the last day of our state Council of Catholic Women's convention. We are pretty spread out and this one was in Rock Springs, WY. I can't remember who was the speaker or too much about everything else, except, thank God, all those priests were there and we all made it home safe since we all had to travel several hundred miles and were sent home early.

—Guest Betty Tuffner

This Cannot Be Happening

September 11th, 2001 was a soul rending return to my service as a medic in Vietnam. All I could think of as the media constantly replayed those crumbling towers, was the horror of mass casualties. For weeks I replayed in my heart and mind the pain of so many people suffering and the utter futility of not being able to "do" anything to help. I did the only thing I could do, I cried and I prayed. I kept my thoughts to myself. I did not dare share the deep pain or the reality of my flashbacks to those about me.

—Guest Nethinim

A Memory Edged Deep in My Mind

It was after 10pm in our country and I had been hosting a music trivia on the net, in a chat room. People started typing that a news break had just stated that a plane had crashed into the World Trading Centre, New York. I went to watched my televisions and then I saw the other plane flying right into the other building. Then we saw the other plane that crashed. All of our family was shocked and full of sadness as we knew that lives would be lost. In Australia everyone watched how people banded together trying to rescue people who were trapped. We also read in our papers the stories of courage. They brought us to tears. May God bless you all, as the memories will live forever of the many who passed that day, as well as the bravery of everyone who challenged the call of duty to help others.

—Guest Amber Austrailia