Where were you and what were you doing on 9/11/2001?

11 Sept 2012 | US Navy Vet

[US Navy Vet]

I was working at Air Force Weather Agency providing Weather Data to Units Worldwide including Air Force 1.

[US Navy Vet]

ALWAYS REMEMBER!

[randita]

In Algonquin Park, Ontario on a canoe trip. Didn’t know anything about the attack until a German couple we met later in the day told us about it. Had no TV so didn’t really see images until we got back to the states a few days later.

[Sacajaweau]

My girlfriend called from Florida and told me to turn on the TV. My first born son lived in NYC at the time. My other son finally got ahold of him.

He still ducks when planes fly close by.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I was driving into town to get new tires on my Jeep.

[Dr. Sivana]

I was on my way to work at around 8AM, and I heard about the first plane on NPR. It still wasn’t clear if it had been an accident. I spent most of the day keeping tabs on everything as it unfolded, and feared a super-charged TSA type operation would unfold from this.

[albie]

I was a conservative radio talk show host doing the afternoon show in a medium market and was at the gym watching it live. Thought it was a private plane that hit by mistake. When the 2nd plane hit I went to work. Was on the air from 3pm - 11pm. Had beers afterwards with some of the staff and got semi hammered.

[Psalm 144]

Working on an answer to a criminal appeal the day after I was told my kid would be blind. Someone came in and told me the news. Nothing seemed real that day. I kept hoping I would just wake up from bad dreams.

[workerbee]

I was 7 mos. pregnant and off work that morning. I saw the 2nd plane crash into the tower while on the phone with my husband, asking him to come home — he was working in a government office near DC that day.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Midtown Manhattan, getting ready to do the touristy thing. Guess whose plans were dramatically altered that day . . .

[bmwcyle]

Greeting my students for a class for Operation and Maintence on large digital data libraries.

[deport]

I was about 10 minutes into my daily bike ride. A neighbor stopped me at an intersection and told me what was happening.

[verga]

I was working at a small rural school district in upstate NY. I had went to the office to get some supplies and the Principal and guidance counselors were talking about the first plane when the second plane hit. They were trying to decide if we should send the students home early. I suggested that we really didn't want these kids sitting home watching this alone if there parents were at work. I went back to my room and the announcement was made over the PA system. When they finished I asked if there were any questions. One girl named Tonya (about 16 years old) asked "When do you think we will get hit?" I told here that we were not a primary target or near any and that we were probably safe. She asked if it was okay to pray, I told her that it was always okay.

The rest of the day was a complete blur. I do remember watching it on TV and going to Church that night.

[a real Sheila]

I was working for a defense contractor on an AFB.
Heard about the first and thought it was an accident involving a small plane. Heard about the second and many of us rushed downstairs to a break room where there was a TV. The room was full of AF personnel. Saw the footage of the second plane flying into the WTC. There was not a dry eye in the room.

Life has never been the same.
All of us lost “something” that day.

[FatherofFive]

I used to work in the Trade Center. 79th fl.

I was just heading into a budget meeting. Shortest meeting ever, we just turned on the TV and watched the news all day and night.

[US Navy Vet]

AFWA is on Offutt AFB, NE. I saw AF 1 land w/ Pres Bush @ Offutt around 1400 on 9/11/01.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

I lost a good friend that day. Douglas MacMillan Cherry. It was a terrifying day I shall never forget.

[skinkinthegrass]

desk working on engineering dng/dwg..listening radio. :-\

[bgill]

I had rushed home from taking the kids to school to make a birthday cake (of all days and that’s what I should be doing now instead of on FR) so didn’t turn on the tv as I usually did. A friend called to say a plane hit the tower. I knew immediately Bin-somebody had done it. I turned the tv on to see the second plane hit. My friend was at work so didn’t have tv so we were on the phone with each other that entire day. Sadly, she died not long after but every 9/11 I remember her. Just like every year, when I turned on the tv this morning and rememberances of 9/11 came on, I remembered my friend because it was so emotional for us both.

[Tenacious 1]

Austin, TX. Was working in the office when someone mentioned that a plane hit the WTC. I didn’t move because I figured some nut had plowed his little private plane into the side which would have bounced off and fallen to the ground. When somebody mentioned the fire I finally went to our office lobby to watch the TV. Horror set in and a few minutes later we watched as the second plane hit. I called home and woke the family to tune in.

After about 15 minutes of watching someone asked, “What is the fire rating on the structure in those buildings?” Answer: 90 minutes to 120 minutes at about 1,100 degrees (Design-Build Cosntruction Firm). There was a pause as everyone started thinking the same thing. I finall said it out loud, “Those buildings are going to collapse.”

A lot of tears that day and not much work got done. Most left for the day.

[FrogMom]

I was reading FR and saw the headline that a plane had flown into the WTC. Told FrogDad to turn on the TV, and why. We watched in horror as the 2nd plane flew into the other tower.

We watched in silence for a while and then got dressed for work.

Sat for an hour in the line to get onto The Post (military base), and then were turned around and sent home as they closed the gates.

Watched TV until both towers had fallen.