Where Were You When You Heard

[Shooter45]

From our Archives.

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=2194

[cycloneman]

i cant access this page.

[SouthernMoss]

Hang tight. We're working on it.

[SouthernMoss]

Try it now.

[Mosin_Nagant_Fan]

In high school, in my computer class. We pretty much where just typing and watching. I was a senior, at the time.

[cycloneman]

I was in New Orleans driving to an estimate. My mother called me and told me to get out of the city and head back home. She told me what happened and at first i thought it was the bld in New Orleans. I didn't understand how bad it was till i got in front of a tv. I remember her saying to look out for planes flying low. I thought she had lost it for a min.

[SouthernMoss]

I was at work. Someone's spouse or friend called with the news. I tried to find information on the internet, but all the news sites were bogged down. Finally a friend emailed me to say he was able to get information from the Washington Post site, and I spent the rest of the day glued to that site.

When I got home and saw the images on the TV, I was even more horrified. So many lives wasted. I would see the images of the planes crashing into the buildings and think of so many lives instantly gone. I would look at the burning towers and think of all the terrified people inside, people who were just a few minutes away from having their lives snuffed out prematurely. When I would watch the towers falling, I could see in my mind a death count spinning upwards.

I keep those images fresh in my mind.

[PharmrJohn]

I was recovering from surgery, sitting in my living room. Called my wife, she was driving my son somewhere. She told me a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I told her it had to be a joke. There was just no way. It was a radio thing.....reminiscent of War of the Worlds.

Then hung up and turned on the TV.

Couldn't believe it. Called a friend of mine. During our talk the second plane hit. She asked me what I was going to do. I told her, "Nothing, I guess I'll sit here and watch the towers fall.". It was my attempt at making light of something that I had NO business making light of. But that is what I do with everything, no matter how horrific. It is my defense mechanism.

I got off the phone.

Then the first tower fell.

My mouth wide open with disbelief, I started to cry. What I had said turned out to be horribly prophetic.

Then the second tower fell.

I turned off the TV and sat there.

I remember that day and every part about it. Partly because of what happened but mostly because of the statement I made above. I still feel guilty about it.

[gdmoody]

I worked, and still do, second shift so I was still in bed. When I got up, my wife was watching it on TV and I thought it was a movie of some kind. When I realized it wasn't, I was glued to the TV until it was time for work again.

Another thing I vividly remember about that day was the comment my supervisor (at the time) made about the attack. I was sitting outside at a little break area waiting for clock in time. The supervisor was coming toward the door from his car. There were two or three of us sitting there discussing the attack, some one asked him what his thoughts were. His answer was one word, "SO". That answer has stuck in my mind for nine years. Any type of respect I might have had for him, as a supervisor or as an American, disappeared at that moment.

[johnlives4christ]

i was at work, i was listening to the radio ear phones and heard it on a news update. i went into the office and turned on the tv and we all stood there just watching the news..... i remember seeing the second plane hit live. i remember crying for my country and being angry.

[dons2346]

We were in Junction City,OR picking up a new motorhome. Turned on the TV to see the tower smoking. We thought they were showing past footage of when the bomb went off underground some years ago. We watched, with the talking heads telling us what we were seeing (burning buildings) It was 30 minutes later before they told us that it was live footage and it had just happened.

[PharmrJohn]

Originally Posted by gdmoody

.......There were two or three of us sitting there discussing the attack, some one asked him what his thoughts were. His answer was one word, "SO". That answer has stuck in my mind for nine years. Any type of respect I might have had for him, as a supervisor or as an American, disappeared at that moment.

Seriously?

[Zane71464]

I was off work for three days and got up that morning and it came on the TV, and I thought at first it wasnt real or maybe something they were showing that was in the past.
As I watched as the 2nd plan hit, I was in disbelief and got on the phone and called everyone that I could think to call and told them to turn the radio on or their TV.
When I relized that this was actually happening, couldnt do anything but stand and cry for the people and the city this was happening to as it unfolded befoe my very eye's, and called more people. Could not believe this was happening in the United Sates.
I called some local fire fighters and asked if they new of any stations that where going to be headed that way and if they knew of any, I wanted to go and help.
Some where going out of PA. and tried calling there and couldnt get through to anyone there as some there was already headed that way.
After they said there would/might be new targets, we have a Urainum enrichment plant down this way and we all figured that would be a target. I got a few of my guns and ammo out and began loading up not knowing what was going to transpire out of everything that was happening.
Stayed glued to the telivision and CNN.

[gdmoody]

Originally Posted by PharmrJohn

Seriously?

Absolutely serious!!

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by gdmoody

Absolutely serious!!

I COULD NOT imagine that!!!

[gdmoody]

The exact reason that I have not been able to forget that one word. Every time the thought of 9/11 crosses my mind, that one word crosses right behind it. It makes me sick to think that a person (an American) could be so callus about an attack on the US.

[hkruss]

Some thoughts I have about 9/11

I find that even nine years later,I can only watch a few seconds of footage of that day before I am overwhelmed with so much emotion that I can't bear to watch anymore.
Emotions of grief and utter rage that this could happen. Nine years later, the emotional response is the same.

That day, I was working like most of you. Making a delivery to an account, someone told us about the first tower being hit. A few of us went to the managers office where he had a t.v. on. We watched thinking at first it was a tragic airliner accident. Then the second tower was hit. Part of me knew then that it was a terrorist act, but it still took a while to accept it as such. I simply could not believe what I was seeing.
Then word of the hit on the Pentagon. Then word of the aircraft going down in Shanksville. I remember thinking, "how many more aircraft are they in control of"?
I felt fear. Then I felt rage. I wanted payback. I wanted revenge. I felt hate for those who would do something like this in the name of God.
Nine years later, those feelings have not changed.

Then the aftermath.
It seemed most Americans shared my feelings. Remember how so many cars had the American flag mounted on them? For a while, we as a country, were united. For a while it showed that, despite our differences, we were Americans first and foremost. Politics and ideology were put aside for a while.
Now, nine years later, you don't see too many flags still flying on cars. I guess we are in the end stage of dealing with grief. The acceptance stage. The Event happened, the Nation grieved, then we moved on with our lives. Well, maybe for most, but not for me and I'm sure most of you. Yes, we here moved on with our lives, but that fire of patriotism and love of country still burns in us. That is one more reason I love TFF. I know I am surrounded by like minded people who care about our country. I just wish the rest of America would remember that fire that burned in them for a while.

How telling is it that nine years later, there will probably be a mosque built in the footprint of the Trade Center Towers before a Memorial to the victims is built? Let alone the proposed Freedom Tower.That is an abomination and a disgrace to the victims and their families. It is an insult to our country. That our leaders would allow it is unforgivable!!!

This is a day of Remembrance. Let's honor those we lost that horrific day. Nine years ago.


NEVER FORGET!!!

.

[Zane71464]

AMEN to that brother!

[CampingJosh]

In the State of Indiana, all high school students must pass a standardized test called the ISTEP in order to qualify for graduation. Because it's for everyone statewide, the various sections of the test are all given at exactly the same time in every school, and I was taking that test that morning. The exam started a few minutes before the attacks began, and my entire high school class was taking tests for the next three hours.

Even after we were released, no one told us. I found out in the hallway on my way to the lunch room. The rest of the day, we went from class to class as we were supposed to do, but we just watched the TV in every class. Soccer practice was cancelled that evening. The drive home was silent. Somber.

[Bobitis]

I was listening to the radio while getting ready for work. They said a plane had hit the tower but couldn't confirm if it was a Cessna or what.

I thought maybe some guy got in trouble and lost control. I mean stuff happens, right?

All the way to work listening to nothing of substance...

When I got to the office, the manager brought out a TV and turned on the news. I was horrified by what I saw. When the towers came down, it finally sunk in. I honestly don't remember if I ever got a call that day, and I usually get 40+.

Always remember - Never forget.

[hogger129]

I was in my study hall watching in on TV. Didn't really think it was real at first.

[Bobitis]

Here's an eyewitness account of the day by a local weekend radio host that lives just down the road from me.

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=228&sid=86883

Sorry, but I can't find the audio anywhere on the www. I did hear it at one point many years ago. It was horrifying. It's amazing they lived throught this.
Given this days political climate, I'd be suprised if the vidoe and audio aren't locked up tighter than the JFK files.

[EddieS1967]

Originally Posted by hkruss

Some thoughts I have about 9/11

I find that even nine years later,I can only watch a few seconds of footage of that day before I am overwhelmed with so much emotion that I can't bear to watch anymore.
Emotions of grief and utter rage that this could happen. Nine years later, the emotional response is the same.

That day, I was working like most of you. Making a delivery to an account, someone told us about the first tower being hit. A few of us went to the managers office where he had a t.v. on. We watched thinking at first it was a tragic airliner accident. Then the second tower was hit. Part of me knew then that it was a terrorist act, but it still took a while to accept it as such. I simply could not believe what I was seeing.
Then word of the hit on the Pentagon. Then word of the aircraft going down in Shanksville. I remember thinking, "how many more aircraft are they in control of"?
I felt fear. Then I felt rage. I wanted payback. I wanted revenge. I felt hate for those who would do something like this in the name of God.
Nine years later, those feelings have not changed.

Then the aftermath.
It seemed most Americans shared my feelings. Remember how so many cars had the American flag mounted on them? For a while, we as a country, were united. For a while it showed that, despite our differences, we were Americans first and foremost. Politics and ideology were put aside for a while.
Now, nine years later, you don't see too many flags still flying on cars. I guess we are in the end stage of dealing with grief. The acceptance stage. The Event happened, the Nation grieved, then we moved on with our lives. Well, maybe for most, but not for me and I'm sure most of you. Yes, we here moved on with our lives, but that fire of patriotism and love of country still burns in us. That is one more reason I love TFF. I know I am surrounded by like minded people who care about our country. I just wish the rest of America would remember that fire that burned in them for a while.

How telling is it that nine years later, there will probably be a mosque built in the footprint of the Trade Center Towers before a Memorial to the victims is built? Let alone the proposed Freedom Tower.That is an abomination and a disgrace to the victims and their families. It is an insult to our country. That our leaders would allow it is unforgivable!!!

This is a day of Remembrance. Let's honor those we lost that horrific day. Nine years ago.


NEVER FORGET!!!

.

That pretty much sums it up, Perfectly!!!

[flintlock]

I was at work. When we heard the radio report that the first tower had been hit, we thought it was a stupid media joke. Then as more reports came in maybe a horrible accident. Then the second plane hit, and in a business that did a lot of defense contract work, a lot of people began to feel that this was an attack. I will never forget 9/11/01, none of us better ever forget it.

[ghrit]

Also at work, had just come in from the field doing some concrete testing and sat down to write it up. Someone called our secretary, and she switched on the office tube. I don't think a lick of work was done the rest of the day. I know my report was never completed; it was picked up in an audit months later.