Where were you 11 yrs ago today 9-11

11 years ago I was at the tail end of a 24 hour shift at the fire department. We were doing our turnover when someone saw a flash of the footage on the news. We stayed on shift, our replacement shift stayed, and our third shift came in. The region I lived in had more than 20 military bases, and is only a few hours from DC.

5 hours later, one of our shifts was on it's way to DC, another to New York, and a third stayed on duty at our station, with support of volunteers for days. Our families were very supportive, coming to visit at the station, the families of those of us that left town came and just waited at the station.

Many of the firefighters and paramedics in New York were friends of mine, we'd met at conferences and stayed in touch. My then (I'm divorced now) father in law was working at the Pentagon, said he didn't even feel it from the side of the building he works on.

3 years later, during my divorce, I learned that my son, who was four at the time of the attacks was deeply touched by the events. After my move, I went in for an interview with the fire department in a new city, ready to start my new life... My son told me that if an airplane crashed into a building, I shouldn't go in. It hit me then that it's one thing for a 2 parent family to have a paramedic in the mix, its another thing all together to be a paramedic and a single parent. Thus ended my career in emergency medical services, and the beginnings of my work in education.

I live in London UK and when the first plane hit I was just entering my office block from my lunchbreak when I saw 100's people crowded around the TV screens, I said what has happened? they told me one plane at hit the towers. As I stood there watching the second plane hit, we were frozen to the spot with tears falling down our eyes, our mangers let us all go home, it was a sad sad day.

i was in social studys class in eight grade and mrs. pawlak had recieve a phone call and then turned the tv on and it was all over the tv right after the secound plane had hit the secound tower

I was sitting at my computer, playing WoW in Conway, Arkansas. All of a sudden, Trade Channel went wild with people talking about an airplane hitting one of the WTC towers. I couldn't believe it and of course, thought it was a terrible accident. I left the game and went to turn on my TV, just in time to see the second plane hit. It wasn't an accident anymore. I, along with everyone I knew, stayed glued to the TV for quite some time.

I was in shock and really didn't ever think about this type of thing happening on American land, before that day. Now I know it can. I'll never forget it. I hope nobody does.

I was just entering 9th and went to visit some friends over at the middle school a block away. Suddenly, my friend's dad (who is a cop) drove up and pick her up, saying there had been an attack and she was coming home from school. We were all so confused. I didn't know know what the Twin Towers were. My chemistry teacher actually spent the entire class period talking about what this meant for us and our country and it was such an eye opener.

I was 25 years old and was working at a mail-in pharmacy here in Ohio.... I had taken my daughter to pre-school that morning and had arrived at work at 9am... As soon as I sat down at my desk, my buddy came over and told me to turn on 700WLW (AM station)... I turned it on, and there it was... the horror.... They wouldn't let us leave. I remember getting home from work and grabbing my 4-year-old daughter and hugging her tightly. We sat glued to the tv the entire night... terrified.

Now, 11 years later, I am married to a man who served our community as a firefighter... this day is so hard for him because so many of his brothers lost their lives... so many innocent people died that day, whether they were millitary, police, firefighters, or civilians. My husband and I always use this day as a way to honor the heroes and remember those who were lost...

Never forget.

I was in hawaii serving in the Army as a MP... Woke up to a siren!! Turned on the TV and next thing i knew we were being alerted 24 hour security No one comes on base and noone leaves!!

In work in Boston, in shock having learned that my 2 cousins were on the first plane

I was 20 and in my second year of college, in my first morning class. By the time class was over, both planes had already hit. I had tickets to some WWF wrestling thing that night and my mom left a frantic voicemessage telling me not to go since she wasn't sure what this country was coming to. I still didn't know what had happened at this point until I walked into my next class and my friend told me a plane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers. My response, "wow! what an idiot! how can you not see the towers??"
A few minutes later, class was dismissed. I remember going home and just crying and watching CNN for the rest of the day. That evening, my boyfriend and I ate dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant. It was crowded as usual, but you could hear a pin drop. There was no Spanish music, no talking, laughing and carrying on like normal, just everyone watching the TVs in the restaurant. Right then and there, I realized nothing would ever be the same again.