For the past few days, as the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 approached, I've considered what I wanted to say here. Even as I sit down to write this, I'm still undecided. So, we have a combination of new and old.
I can remember that day so vividly in my mind. In some ways, I feel uncomfortable discussing what my day was like. I lost no friends or family. I was also in Nashville, Tennessee, many miles away from the tragedy. I hope people who did live through the horror of losing loved ones that day, those in the buildings, the emergency workers, and citizens of New York City and Washington D.C. will not think I am in any way belittling their experience by discussing mine.
I was driving to work that morning, listening to morning radio, and heard a report that a small plane had hit one of the WTC Towers. I called my then boyfriend, who was a news reporter for a small-town newspaper in one of the Nashville suburbs. I woke him up when I called, told him what I’d heard, and asked him to turn on the television. At this point, the second plane had not yet hit the WTC Tower. He was describing the scene for me when the second plane hit. His reaction gave me chills, and I can still hear his voice very clearly.
Once I arrived at work, a small Nashville law firm, three paralegals were there (we had two attorneys and 6 paralegals). They were crowded around the only computer with internet access. We were trying to find out any information we could, but there were only small amounts of information coming in. One paralegal’s daughter was at the WTC for a meeting. Of course, she was unreachable all day long. She was able to contact her mother the next day and had made it out of the building before either collapsed.
Once our boss arrived, we went to our individual offices. At that time, I shared an office with another paralegal. We turned the radio in our office to National Public Radio. This is what we listened to the entire day, hearing of the collapse, the Pentagon, and finally Flight 93. It was scary to create my own images of the things taking place. Our office was very slow. The phones, aside from our families calling, were fairly silent. I wonder now what my reactions would have been were I able to visually see what was taking place. In most situations, the visions you create in your mind from descriptions are usually worse than what actually occurs. However, in this instance, I think that’s impossible. I don’t think any of use could have fathomed what was actually taking place.
At lunch, after I had finished eating, I walked across the street to a brewery I knew would have television coverage. It was so crowded I could barely get to the bar to see the televisions. I was so shocked at what I saw. It was the first time I saw the smoke, the second plane hitting the WTC, and finally the collapse of the two towers. I was immediately in tears and there were many people in the bar (men and women) who were openly crying. At home, I watched the coverage until I went to bed that night. I had been to New York City about two years prior, and had stood at the base of the WTC. It was so hard for me, even with the images I had seen, to imagine those wondrous buildings collapsing.
Several evenings later, my then boyfriend and I watched the 9/11 documentary by filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet. It was unbelievable, and so emotional, to see what happened through the lens of their cameras. I can remember crying and jumping every time I heard the sounds of people falling. That sound, and the sound of the firefighter distress whistles are the ones that I will remember most.
January of 2008 was my first visit to New York City since the 9/11 attacks. The above photo is one I took during our visit to Ground Zero. It was a beautiful, windy day. It was such a calm and solemn place (as it should be!). My friends and I recounted our experiences on 9/11. Where we were, how we learned of the attacks and what our first images were. Each of us were in a different city. It was especially interesting to hear the experiences of my three friends from Germany and Australia who were with us that day.
I've always had a special reverence for Arlington Cemetery, especially the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It's a somber place and watching the Changing of the Guard will give me chills and bring me to tears every time. Ground Zero is no different. Sadly, 9/11 is the event (and the wars which have followed it) which defines my generation. I don't think I will ever visit Ground Zero and not be moved to tears. It deserves to remain a place of reflection, memorium, and respect.
Earlier this week, someone linked me to Internet Archive's "Understanding 9/11" web page. The site is a video library of over 3,000 hour of domestic and international television coverage of the days surrounding 9/11. It is powerful. I spent some time this week watching numerous clips. I never saw footage of that morning as it was happening. Seeing the breaking news coverage that occurred and hearing the terrified witnesses on the phone with news media was so emotional. I was apprehensive of seeing the footage of the moments after the second plane hit and the eventual fall of the towers. They are images I have seen many times over the last 10 years, but somehow, seeing it as it occurred was very real and very emotional. Although, I imagine those scenes will always be powerful to our generation, just as the images of Pearl Harbor and Oklahoma City were to other generations.
Another interesting and powerful site is from the Rutgers University Law Review. Working with the 9/11 Commission they have compiled and posted an "'audio monograph' of critical communications from the morning of 9/11, linked by narrative and graphics placing each audio clip in context." It's the story of the FAA and NORAD's response to the attacks.
The above photo is the American flag at Ground Zero. It was also taken during my trip in January 2008. After the attacks, I can remember feeling empowered because the entire country seemed to rally around each other. The partisan politics, which were constant, seemed to go by the wayside for a while. Now, partisan politics are rampant and our country seems more divided than it ever has. This beautiful flag should always remind us that we are one nation. Together together we can overcome acts of terror, recessions, and even partisan politics!
My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives, lost loved ones, and our nation as a whole. Never forget!!
*The second picture I’ve posted is one I think is beautiful, despite what occurred. It was taken by photographer Thomas Franklin of The Record.
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