General Discussion

pat_k

(11,807 posts)

107. My Sept 11 memories:

Sat Sep 13, 2025, 06:44 PM

Sep 13

I want to honor Ed Felt, a worthy soul who died 9/11/01: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220636788

A follow up:
A few months before 9/11 I played "tour guide" with some visiting friends. When we did the WTC tour, I was just as much a "tourist" as my friends. In the years I lived in NJ, I had never really given the WTC complex much thought.

It was really quite mind-blowing. Almost an entire city within the city, with more than 200,000 working at or doing business at the complex each day. Those memories were fresh in my mind when I heard the news of the first plane hitting the North Tower on my car radio as I arrived at work in Liberty Corner, NJ. All I could think was "The people. All those people. OMG."

At work, everyone was gathered around a TV someone had set up and we witnessed the second plane hit. And then the news of the hijacking of flight 93. And then confirmation that Ed had booked a last minute flight on that plane. And then the pentagon news. It all unfolded so, so fast. The order of events at the office is sort of a blur.

One of our little group of tech writers lived less than five minutes away. Her husband was still at home and called her and a little group of us headed over there with her.

We were glued to the TV as her husband filled us in on what had been reported in the few minutes before we got there. And then the shock of that first tower collapse while sitting in that living room. My mind was in this tape loop "The people. All those people..." as the horror and my image of the numbers lost expanded exponentially with the collapse.

As that horror sort of sank in we were just sort of trying to process it -- it seemed like all of us were acquainted with someone who worked or frequently did business at the WTC.

And then the news of the crash of flight 93. There were vague hopes that maybe Ed had missed the flight, but I think we knew if he had we would have heard by then. That period between the collapse of the first and second building is vague too.

But the shock of the collapse of the second building is as burned in my mind as the shock of seeing the first. And the tape loop in my head continued. "OMG. Ed. OMG. All those people. The people...."

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Where were you on 9/11? [View all] BigmanPigman Sep 10 OP

sound asleep in So Cal. didnt wake up til the "action" bit was over nt msongs Sep 10 #1

I was on San Diego BigmanPigman Sep 10 #7

Me too. I worked down there temporarily during that time so stayed in a motel during the week. Got up on 9/11 beaglelover Sep 11 #71

Same. A friend from England called me to tell me to turn on the news. chowder66 Sep 10 #19

Getting ready to leave deRien Sep 10 #2

I was in the control room of a department of energy national lab drray23 Sep 10 #3

I recently saw a video of a Bush official BigmanPigman Sep 10 #11

Wow! As soon as you said right next to one that collapsed, and walked through... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #33

At my college registrar's office to change classes, nobody at the front desk but the TV on in the next room. meadowlander Sep 10 #4

Those hospital workers waiting BigmanPigman Sep 10 #12

In the end, people either got out or they didn't. There just weren't that many in between to need all the donations. JHB Sep 11 #42

Watching the Today Show, drinking coffee, on the phone with my sister-in-law. no_hypocrisy Sep 10 #5

Wow. As someone who's spent decades going over the GWB to visit relatives...just wow! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #59

There was a semi-legit fear planes no_hypocrisy Sep 11 #75

I sure wouldn't blame people for thinking that! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #81

1 Mile away from the Pentagon montanacowboy Sep 10 #6

Working at a gas station that day berniesandersmittens Sep 10 #8

7 months pregnant with my first daughter. Dulcinea Sep 10 #9

In my classroom. Heard the news, got a tv hooked up & my students & I watched the second tower get hit ancianita Sep 10 #10

I'm still pissed off at my school district for NOT BigmanPigman Sep 10 #13

I feel you, BP. My kids were 16-17 year olds. IIRC, Chicago Public Schools shut down later that day. ancianita Sep 10 #14

Only recently "60 Minutes" aired an episode BigmanPigman Sep 10 #20

From looking up Chris O'Leary on MSNBC today, I found out the CEO of O'Leary's group is that ancianita Sep 10 #21

That's how it was here in San Antonio. LeftInTX Sep 11 #41

Understandably, especially with young kids! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #60

They banned TVs and news from our local schools that day. They didn't want a repeat of the Kennedy trauma. LeftInTX Sep 11 #40

Sounds like the "they" you refer to, do a lot of censorship. Not cool. It's up to parents what kids see, NOT govt ancianita Sep 11 #46

It was the local school districts. One of the "theys" was my husband. He was the HS principal. He ordered TV's off. LeftInTX Sep 11 #49

Red River, New Mexico czarjak Sep 10 #15

My brother phoned to tell me a plane crashed into the tower. Swede Sep 10 #16

Recommended. H2O Man Sep 10 #17

Was originally scheduled for meeting in Windows on the World unc70 Sep 10 #18

Woah electric_blue68 Sep 11 #35

It was my 2nd day of college at NYU mr715 Sep 10 #22

Wasn't south of Washington Square closed off after the attack? BigmanPigman Sep 10 #23

I was standing on Bleecker and Mercer, so a few blocks south mr715 Sep 10 #24

I know where that is! BigmanPigman Sep 10 #29

Woah! And TY for coming to visit us in support. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #36

Can't remember how quickly they did this but they only let residents, area workers, shop owners below the South side... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #37

Yeah, I have see it was stopped south of Wash. Sq BigmanPigman Sep 11 #43

I guess you can never know untill it happens, and hope that you never face something like that! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #63

Pretty sure the 14th street boundary was a week or two after the attacks RPM Sep 11 #56

South of Canal RPM Sep 11 #55

To clarify.. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #64

Woah. When I went down to look at the site either the firsst time, or when I got off x weeks later at a subway they'd... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #62

At work, in the middle of my morning routine. Xavier Breath Sep 10 #25

On a DOD facility. My job. johnnyfins Sep 10 #26

Started my day waking up listening to WXRT in Chicago. They did a great job. Two popular DJs spent the whole mucifer Sep 10 #27

I woke up listening to WBBM. boonecreek Sep 11 #31

At my job at a psychiatric hospital Chautauquas Sep 10 #28

I was in a work group meeting. boonecreek Sep 11 #30

B4 I read/reply to the thread What Art School did you go to?... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #32

I studied illustration at Parsons and The New School for academics. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #48

At work in Boston edbermac Sep 11 #34

I made audio tapes of Howard's show that day. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #70

I was at work, on Long Island, 30 miles east of the Towers. The departmental secretary started exclaiming "Oh My God".. JHB Sep 11 #38

I forgot that DU was up and running in 2001. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #72

Yes. I'd first signed up that July, and had been visiting for months following links from Bartcop JHB Sep 11 #78

That's sort of what I expected. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #80

Pruning shrubs. It was nice weather like it was today and the past few days in Texas. LeftInTX Sep 11 #39

Was living in Brooklyn, not far from it's downtown... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #44

At work, "doing the job" JustABozoOnThisBus Sep 11 #45

Beijing China Blue Full Moon Sep 11 #47

Wow, and half way around the world! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author Blue Full Moon Sep 11 #68

I had just arrived in the UK for a work trip. Happy Hoosier Sep 11 #50

In my office in the Federal Building in Denver CanonRay Sep 11 #51

Getting ready for work. Still had a TV in the bedroom at that time. maxsolomon Sep 11 #52

I was working nights for a very large hospital corporation in Dallas. markodochartaigh Sep 11 #53

Woah. Certainly could make Sense given all the Unknown Factors then. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #65

That day was a career milestone day for me... Moostache Sep 11 #54

Heading the other direction RPM Sep 11 #57

I had just gotten into my car to go to work. Aristus Sep 11 #58

I was at home watching the morning news. Mosby Sep 11 #61

At The Airport... ProfessorGAC Sep 11 #67

Just some added expetiences/thoughts... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #69

You remember details so well. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #74

Aww, thank you much! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #86

Driving into DC on I-270 ga_girl Sep 11 #73

My son was in lower Manhattan, working at the Village Voice FakeNoose Sep 11 #76

Teaching high school ...we had just got channel one JT45242 Sep 11 #77

Phew, for your brother! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #88

Just got out of x-ray and the staff was standing by the television. I thought it was training. Norrrm Sep 11 #79

Getting ready for school when my mom was watching the news sakabatou Sep 11 #82

Did they cancel school that day? BigmanPigman Sep 11 #83

No cancelation sakabatou Sep 11 #85

14th Street Bridge, Washington DC. bottomofthehill Sep 11 #84

Woah! Scary stuff! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #87

It was scary, the smoke from the Pentagon was one thing bottomofthehill Sep 12 #89

Oh, wow! Had not heard about the car bombs! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #91

That was the crazy part. There were no car bombs bottomofthehill Sep 12 #92

Clarifying - I hadn't heard later on about car bomb rumors. electric_blue68 Sep 12 #93

I worked In a building near Baltimore. Three of us were there, processing for a three-week deployment to Southeast Asia. 24601 Sep 12 #90

I was working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher that day near Whiteman AFB xmas74 Sep 12 #94

I don't blame you! BigmanPigman Sep 12 #95

Base was locked down, xmas74 Sep 13 #104

I've listened to 6 hours of the audio BigmanPigman Sep 13 #105

Woah, that Documentary was amazing, intense! Ty. electric_blue68 Sep 12 #96

I "borrowed" a VHS tape of this from BigmanPigman Sep 13 #97

I'm glad you shared it here.... electric_blue68 Sep 13 #98

I have 2 "I LOVE NY" bumper stickers. BigmanPigman Sep 13 #99

Yep, I do know which one. electric_blue68 Sep 13 #100

I was at work, on the gas distribution crew. Americanme Sep 13 #101

Getting ready to drive on a run to northern Indiana. Emile Sep 13 #102

I was in Manhattan PJMcK Sep 13 #103

I'm angry, too. BigmanPigman Sep 13 #106

My Sept 11 memories: pat_k Sep 13 #107

The calls from passengers on the various flights BigmanPigman Sep 13 #108