"Where were you on 9/11?" as remembered by those in Alabama that day.
Selma resident Stephen remembers what it was like growing up in a very religious family on September 11th.
1. Where was I on September 11th, 2001? I was in 11th grade creative writing, we were discussing The Grapes of Wrath. There was a knock on the door and my teacher went out to speak with someone and when she came back in she told us the news.
We learned that the world had changed.
She told us that there had been attacks in Washington and New York. We were all speculating as to what might have happened. For my own part I was seriously worried that something supernatural might have happened, not just some earthly war. I had been raised in a church with a heavy focus on the end of time and the tribulation and the rapture. I wondered if maybe when I got home that my parents weren't going to be there, that I was going to have to face the world alone. But as it happened, once I survived the dark pall of that day and got home - I found my parents were there and we ate hot dogs together and we watched the news.
We began to process this new world together.
- Stephen
We learned that the world had changed.
She told us that there had been attacks in Washington and New York. We were all speculating as to what might have happened. For my own part I was seriously worried that something supernatural might have happened, not just some earthly war. I had been raised in a church with a heavy focus on the end of time and the tribulation and the rapture. I wondered if maybe when I got home that my parents weren't going to be there, that I was going to have to face the world alone. But as it happened, once I survived the dark pall of that day and got home - I found my parents were there and we ate hot dogs together and we watched the news.
We began to process this new world together.
- Stephen
Written Stories
2. "I was a Junior at Auburn. Just happened that I didn't have classes on Tuesday.
I woke up at about 9 am to the landline voicemail, it was my mom's voice telling me that I needed to get to a TV.
I walked up to the front of my fraternity house and saw the big screen TV on CNN. I can remember that I was confused because I thought there were two world trade center towers (by that point, one had already collapsed).
Myself and all of our fraternity sat together. I remember one brother's grandmother called him to say not to worry this has happened before at Pearl Harbor, and we got them back. I still laugh about that because it put the moment into perspective.
That night, we all sat around watching the news and eating together when one of our friends, a PFC Marine Reservist at the time, got the phone call to expect to be mobilized. That really made me realize the reality of our world changed. He is now a Major maybe a Lt. Colonel Marine by now.
I remember how some of us were in shock, others angry, and one of the guys didn't even care. He couldn't understand why we would care about people in NY. He later apologized and said he was in shock, but looking back I think living in AL and being college kids it was like a far away land. Sad to say, It was such a big moment and my mother's voice is locked into my memory from that day on the voicemail. She passed away five years ago and I every September get to hear her voice as I remember."
- W. D. E.
I woke up at about 9 am to the landline voicemail, it was my mom's voice telling me that I needed to get to a TV.
I walked up to the front of my fraternity house and saw the big screen TV on CNN. I can remember that I was confused because I thought there were two world trade center towers (by that point, one had already collapsed).
Myself and all of our fraternity sat together. I remember one brother's grandmother called him to say not to worry this has happened before at Pearl Harbor, and we got them back. I still laugh about that because it put the moment into perspective.
That night, we all sat around watching the news and eating together when one of our friends, a PFC Marine Reservist at the time, got the phone call to expect to be mobilized. That really made me realize the reality of our world changed. He is now a Major maybe a Lt. Colonel Marine by now.
I remember how some of us were in shock, others angry, and one of the guys didn't even care. He couldn't understand why we would care about people in NY. He later apologized and said he was in shock, but looking back I think living in AL and being college kids it was like a far away land. Sad to say, It was such a big moment and my mother's voice is locked into my memory from that day on the voicemail. She passed away five years ago and I every September get to hear her voice as I remember."
- W. D. E.
3. "I was a sophomore at Auburn, and my first class that day was at like 1:00 p.m, so I enjoyed sleeping in. Usually when I wake up the first thing I do is check my email. That morning my box was full with messages on the fraternity mailing list, with things like 'Pray, a lot of people are dying today.'
Stayed glued to the TV the rest of the day. News coverage was on every channel, even Discovery. Class was cancelled. My dad called at one point and had me go and fill the car up in case I needed to come home. The lines were already long. That evening I was in the SGA office in Foy folding thousands of little yellow ribbons for a very hastily organized memorial service on Samford lawn a few days later. We listened to Bush’s speech on the radio while doing it. Pictures. I’m the guy in the gray shirt and backwards cap." - P. R. |
4. "I was sitting at home with my daughter, who had just turned one. The previous Friday, my ex-husband was sentenced to a pretty lengthy prison term (he's still there), and I had gotten the notice that my divorce was finalized on the same day. I was only 23, sitting at home thinking about my life and how it had gotten all f***ed up and just generally feeling sorry for myself. I remember watching the news that morning, and immediately feeling guilty that I was being so melodramatic.
I just kept saying, 'And I thought I had it bad.'"
-A. C.
I just kept saying, 'And I thought I had it bad.'"
-A. C.
5. "I was in the fifth grade and that morning I wasn't feeling well so I stayed home with my Mom until around 10 a.m. She got a call from her sister whose flight from DC to LA had just been diverted to Houston.
When my mother drove me to school, she told me that I would hear about something terrible that happened in New York City. They would be talking about it at school, and that everything would be okay. I asked what happened, and she said some very evil people had killed a lot of people while they were at work in New York City.
When I got to school I tried to log onto America Online. The servers were overwhelmed by people trying to get information on the attacks. Our estimated time until an available connection was over six hours.
I don't particularly remember what school was like that day, I think we just ended up playing in the gym all day and doing art projects. Things that took our minds off things."
- Anonymous
When my mother drove me to school, she told me that I would hear about something terrible that happened in New York City. They would be talking about it at school, and that everything would be okay. I asked what happened, and she said some very evil people had killed a lot of people while they were at work in New York City.
When I got to school I tried to log onto America Online. The servers were overwhelmed by people trying to get information on the attacks. Our estimated time until an available connection was over six hours.
I don't particularly remember what school was like that day, I think we just ended up playing in the gym all day and doing art projects. Things that took our minds off things."
- Anonymous
6. "6th grade at St. Paul's. 3rd Floor main building. A history teacher opened the door and told our English teacher to turn on the news, something bad was going on (the first plane had hit). After that we watched the entire day's news up until the end of school. When the second plane hit, I vividly remember turning to my friend and murmuring,
'Someone's going to pay for this. We're at war, right now.'"
- G. F.
'Someone's going to pay for this. We're at war, right now.'"
- G. F.
7. "6th grade at school, in history class. I was the first in the room when my teacher had the news on. Kids started filtering in, so she turned it off and tried to get class going. After the second plane hit is when she turned it off. She sent a kid to the next room for a stapler. He comes back white as a sheet and said,
'One of the towers just fell.,
Needless to say we watched everything unfold on TV after that. Every class we watched it until the school announced a noon dismissal, a half day. It was unusual circumstances. My dad picked me up in his BMW, he is a retired history teacher, so he wasn’t one to have a loss for words on a global event such as this, but the ride was pretty quiet."
- M. S.
'One of the towers just fell.,
Needless to say we watched everything unfold on TV after that. Every class we watched it until the school announced a noon dismissal, a half day. It was unusual circumstances. My dad picked me up in his BMW, he is a retired history teacher, so he wasn’t one to have a loss for words on a global event such as this, but the ride was pretty quiet."
- M. S.
Independence Day "News Broadcast" aired to promote the film.
|
8. "I was in high school, in science class. The teacher had given us our assignment and put on some music (she was a big Eagles fan) for us to work to. The class troublemaker returned from the principal's office and said that the US is under attack. Nobody reacted, thinking he was lying. He said he was serious, that the Pentagon had been blown up. Again, nobody thought he was serious and the teacher told him to sit down. I remember him then going into a fit saying he promised he was telling the truth and that they were attacking New York, and turned on the TV.
I thought it was a hoax at first, because I remembered vividly the 'news broadcast' ad for the movie Independence Day that featured the destruction of DC. The teacher and most of my classmates just watched the events unfold, aghast at what was happening. |
Our assignment was cancelled, the bell rang, and we were dismissed for the next class which was English for me. The teacher there didn't have the TV on, said she refused to watch it. Our assignment for the day in that class was to write - either our feelings/thoughts on the event itself, or words of encouragement for those affected. I can't remember which once I chose.
- R. C.
- R. C.
9. "I was in undergrad for engineering and had a 9:05 fluids class. I got up that morning and I never EVER turn on the TV, but for no good reason I put on the Today Show. I was eating cereal and just listening to whatever when they stopped to report an airplane crash. They went to live footage, talked about how large the plane might have been, and then we all saw the second plane hit live. My friend called me on the phone and asked if I saw what was happening. We talked for a bit. I watched both towers fall live.
Eventually I drove to school. I listened to the morning radio talk about everything unfolding. I remember traffic was noticeably driving slower that morning while everyone was listening intently to the radio. I got to campus and sat on just some guys tailgate for a good bit while we listened to the radio. At one point he said,
'We’re going to war.'
I eventually got up and went to class — very late. The class was proceeding as normal and I stopped at the door and looked around, distracting the teacher and causing a scene. I said,
'Is anyone aware that hijackers have just flown planes into the Word Trade Center and the Pentagon killing thousands?'
Everyone looked at me like I had two heads, and eventually the teacher said I should just sit down so we can continue with class. I sat down and didn’t even get out my notebook.
For the rest of the month I did nothing extracurricular except for watching the news. I talked to an Army recruiter at one point. Eventually, I decided the best thing for me to do was to complete my engineering degree and serve my country as a DOD contractor. I’ve been working in industry since 2004 for MDA, Navy, and Army projects."
- P. N.
Eventually I drove to school. I listened to the morning radio talk about everything unfolding. I remember traffic was noticeably driving slower that morning while everyone was listening intently to the radio. I got to campus and sat on just some guys tailgate for a good bit while we listened to the radio. At one point he said,
'We’re going to war.'
I eventually got up and went to class — very late. The class was proceeding as normal and I stopped at the door and looked around, distracting the teacher and causing a scene. I said,
'Is anyone aware that hijackers have just flown planes into the Word Trade Center and the Pentagon killing thousands?'
Everyone looked at me like I had two heads, and eventually the teacher said I should just sit down so we can continue with class. I sat down and didn’t even get out my notebook.
For the rest of the month I did nothing extracurricular except for watching the news. I talked to an Army recruiter at one point. Eventually, I decided the best thing for me to do was to complete my engineering degree and serve my country as a DOD contractor. I’ve been working in industry since 2004 for MDA, Navy, and Army projects."
- P. N.
10. "It started off just like any normal day for me, I was a college student at the time, majoring in Radio/TV Journalism.
I was in line at McDonald’s grabbing some breakfast when I heard the news of the first plane hitting the tower on the radio, like many people that day, I thought it was just a 'normal' plane hitting the building due to low clouds or fog.
I walk into class with my instructor just turning on the TV at the moment the 2nd plane hit, I remember an eerie chill come over me thinking this can’t be real.
An hour later I watched the world come to a standstill as the towers fell.
As soon as classes were cancelled for the rest of the day I hurried home, passing the Air Force base near my home which had gone on alert, streets were blocked for miles around the base.
I felt scared, not knowing what would happen next."
- Jason Davenport
I was in line at McDonald’s grabbing some breakfast when I heard the news of the first plane hitting the tower on the radio, like many people that day, I thought it was just a 'normal' plane hitting the building due to low clouds or fog.
I walk into class with my instructor just turning on the TV at the moment the 2nd plane hit, I remember an eerie chill come over me thinking this can’t be real.
An hour later I watched the world come to a standstill as the towers fell.
As soon as classes were cancelled for the rest of the day I hurried home, passing the Air Force base near my home which had gone on alert, streets were blocked for miles around the base.
I felt scared, not knowing what would happen next."
- Jason Davenport
11. "I was asleep at my brother's apartment, and he had set up a alarm tied to a radio so the story of the attack filtered into my dreams. Right before I woke up I was using rocket skates to race through downtown New York City and help cat faced aliens get to their mother-ship. The building they had crashed into collapsed."
- C.H.
- C.H.
12. "I had moved in with my dad after his second divorce and gotten off work about 1 am the night before. My dad came into my room and said, 'Bad things have happened today.'
I immediately started looking around for my dog. I assumed the worst possible thing that could have happened was that he let her out and she'd gotten out into the busy street and been hit by a car. Of course I was wrong.
I made it to the TV in time to see the second tower get hit.
Those were strange times. In the months following we (some of the nation) were concerned about possible chemical attacks. People were stocking up on plastic and tape so they could seal up their houses as well as things like rice and water."
- A. F.
I immediately started looking around for my dog. I assumed the worst possible thing that could have happened was that he let her out and she'd gotten out into the busy street and been hit by a car. Of course I was wrong.
I made it to the TV in time to see the second tower get hit.
Those were strange times. In the months following we (some of the nation) were concerned about possible chemical attacks. People were stocking up on plastic and tape so they could seal up their houses as well as things like rice and water."
- A. F.
13. "I was a 5th grader at my grandparent's house in Birmingham, faking sick on 9/11.
My mom had dropped me off around 7 am that morning on her way to work. I went to the sitting room and started watching cartoons, enjoying the fact that I wasn't in school. A little while later, my grandfather came into the sitting room and told me to come to the living room. I was, honestly, not thrilled that my cartoon watching was being interrupted, especially when what he wanted to show me was a news station.
To be frank, I had no idea what the World Trade Center was. Being a 10-year-old in Alabama, I had never had a cause to. So while we watched news coverage from the first plane hitting he tried to explain it to me. How a plane accidentally hit the tower and why that was a big deal, how many people work there, where this is, etc. I itched to ditch the newscast and go back to my shows. Then, as we stood in front of their living room TV together watching live news footage, the second plane hit. As we kept watching throughout the morning, more reports came in from the Pentagon and somewhere in Pennsylvania I had never heard of. I stayed with him watching because, even though I didn't understand what was happening, I understood that he was suddenly very upset.
I wouldn't have seen that had I not been faking sick that day or if my grandpa hadn't dragged me from the comfy couch because he felt this was important, even though he, like many, initially thought it was a tragic accident. Even now, I can't decide whether I am grateful for seeing parts of this historic event unfold live instead of through repeated clips later like my classmates. It's something I won't forget, even if the true gravity of it didn't hit me until a little later in life.
When I went back to school the next day, other kids talked about how news coverage showed on the classroom TVs the whole day and how some parents checked their kids out of school and how not much else was done that day. Curriculum shifted for a while to teach us about what happened and why it was important and what it meant. When we talked about that day occasionally throughout the years, most kids just remembered being in school unaware that anything was happening at all until it was all over for the most part.
But, for me, I remember standing in front of a television watching a plane hit one tower while the other was already on fire. Watching news cut to the Pentagon, to a far away field, to the towers collapsing. I remember seeing my grandfather upset and not truly comprehending why these events that were happening so far away were affecting him so much.
I remember wanting to watch cartoons."
- Claire Mathis
My mom had dropped me off around 7 am that morning on her way to work. I went to the sitting room and started watching cartoons, enjoying the fact that I wasn't in school. A little while later, my grandfather came into the sitting room and told me to come to the living room. I was, honestly, not thrilled that my cartoon watching was being interrupted, especially when what he wanted to show me was a news station.
To be frank, I had no idea what the World Trade Center was. Being a 10-year-old in Alabama, I had never had a cause to. So while we watched news coverage from the first plane hitting he tried to explain it to me. How a plane accidentally hit the tower and why that was a big deal, how many people work there, where this is, etc. I itched to ditch the newscast and go back to my shows. Then, as we stood in front of their living room TV together watching live news footage, the second plane hit. As we kept watching throughout the morning, more reports came in from the Pentagon and somewhere in Pennsylvania I had never heard of. I stayed with him watching because, even though I didn't understand what was happening, I understood that he was suddenly very upset.
I wouldn't have seen that had I not been faking sick that day or if my grandpa hadn't dragged me from the comfy couch because he felt this was important, even though he, like many, initially thought it was a tragic accident. Even now, I can't decide whether I am grateful for seeing parts of this historic event unfold live instead of through repeated clips later like my classmates. It's something I won't forget, even if the true gravity of it didn't hit me until a little later in life.
When I went back to school the next day, other kids talked about how news coverage showed on the classroom TVs the whole day and how some parents checked their kids out of school and how not much else was done that day. Curriculum shifted for a while to teach us about what happened and why it was important and what it meant. When we talked about that day occasionally throughout the years, most kids just remembered being in school unaware that anything was happening at all until it was all over for the most part.
But, for me, I remember standing in front of a television watching a plane hit one tower while the other was already on fire. Watching news cut to the Pentagon, to a far away field, to the towers collapsing. I remember seeing my grandfather upset and not truly comprehending why these events that were happening so far away were affecting him so much.
I remember wanting to watch cartoons."
- Claire Mathis
14. "I went to Jacksonville State University, studying in the Elementary Education program. We knew something was wrong while we were in class. I knew the Dean of the department and her staff so I went in the office of the Education Building to find out what was happening... and watched it all happen on TV.
I was shocked and afraid. JSU is near the Army depot in Anniston, AL where they stored chemicals weapons. If they attacked there, it could poison the entire town!
It was very frightening and took me back to being a little kid, watching the Challenger with my mom."
- C. K.
I was shocked and afraid. JSU is near the Army depot in Anniston, AL where they stored chemicals weapons. If they attacked there, it could poison the entire town!
It was very frightening and took me back to being a little kid, watching the Challenger with my mom."
- C. K.
Beethoven, as he appeared in Time Squad (2001)
(Cartoon Network) |
15. "I was in the second grade, a few months shy of my eighth birthday. My memories of the morning of 9/11 itself are fuzzy, but tiny details from the days following stay vivid in my mind.
It wasn't until the afternoon of Sept. 12 that I saw the footage. My mom took us to GNC after school to pick up some soybeans for my grandpa, and there it was broadcasting on every TV in the K-Mart electronics department next door. We made patriotic banners in art class. That Friday evening Sept. 14, my brother and I stayed at our grandparents' house. For much of the visit, we watched cartoons in the back bedroom. One of my favorite shows at that time was Cartoon Network's Time Squad, in which time travelers go back in time to fix historical inaccuracies. That night's new episode featured Ludwig van Beethoven giving up his music career for pro-wrestling. Coincidentally, a few nights later, Beethoven reappeared on TV when my dad and I watched the performance of his Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy) at the final night of the BBC Proms on PBS. Today, I associate Beethoven with 9/11, though not necessarily in a bad way. At seven, I learned that while there Bin Ladens who make history by destroying, there are still Beethovens who instead earn fame by creating and make the world a more beautiful place." - Brenna T. |
16. "I returned home after dropping the kids off at school. There's not much to it other than simply watching the TV all day in helpless fury and drinking. My neighbor, with whom I only had a passing acquaintance, came over with a six pack. We made Bloody Marys, then moved on to beer. I didn't get completely blotto, but I felt like it.
At one point, right after the first tower fell, one of the priests from my church called about something unrelated, and then asked what I thought of what was happening.
'Oh, I think there's going to be a war.'
'I hope not.'
"The only question is how big it'll be."
- Anonymous
At one point, right after the first tower fell, one of the priests from my church called about something unrelated, and then asked what I thought of what was happening.
'Oh, I think there's going to be a war.'
'I hope not.'
"The only question is how big it'll be."
- Anonymous
17. "I was working at UAB when my best friend from a different department called me.
'A plane crashed into the World Trade Center!'
I went to the conference room and we watched it live as the second plane crashed. The shock and sadness we shared together that day will be forever imprinted in my brain much like when I saw the Challenger explosion."
- A. M.
'A plane crashed into the World Trade Center!'
I went to the conference room and we watched it live as the second plane crashed. The shock and sadness we shared together that day will be forever imprinted in my brain much like when I saw the Challenger explosion."
- A. M.
18. "I was in first grade, walking past the front office where I saw all of the teachers and administrators crowded around a TV. My mother came and picked me up after that. I remember her pacing around the living room on the phone the whole day. It turns out my grandparents were on a plane bound for Philadelphia and Mom was calling all of our relatives for information. Luckily they were diverted to Ohio.
One of my best friends lost his uncle and I even remember as a child how big of an impact that day was."
- T. T.
One of my best friends lost his uncle and I even remember as a child how big of an impact that day was."
- T. T.
19. "I was 22 and leaving for work when I saw that the first tower had been struck. I initially thought it was an accident until I got in my car and turned on the radio.
Nobody knew if there'd be more planes and where they would hit, so a lot of places that had any significance at all were going through the same all through the country. My boyfriend worked at a communications hub in Raleigh, and they were evacuating.
I worked for a 24-hour call center taking calls for Verizon DSL support. The call floor itself had televisions hanging up which could be viewed from any location. All of them were tuned to various news channels.
Because we were a call center for Verizon, calls were coming in from people trying to reach their relatives and from those who'd mistaken us for the cell phone division. I think I took exactly two calls for DSL issues. It was back-to-back calls from someone screaming or crying or both and needing to get in touch with someone else. Some of them had been in the towers. The phones were jammed up in any case and I had to tell person after person that there was nothing I could do."
- Jenn
Nobody knew if there'd be more planes and where they would hit, so a lot of places that had any significance at all were going through the same all through the country. My boyfriend worked at a communications hub in Raleigh, and they were evacuating.
I worked for a 24-hour call center taking calls for Verizon DSL support. The call floor itself had televisions hanging up which could be viewed from any location. All of them were tuned to various news channels.
Because we were a call center for Verizon, calls were coming in from people trying to reach their relatives and from those who'd mistaken us for the cell phone division. I think I took exactly two calls for DSL issues. It was back-to-back calls from someone screaming or crying or both and needing to get in touch with someone else. Some of them had been in the towers. The phones were jammed up in any case and I had to tell person after person that there was nothing I could do."
- Jenn
20. "I was in a job alone until lunch with no internet and wasn’t hip to NPR at the time. So until my eleven o’clock lunch, almost all my info was from damn old "Beaner & Ken Show" on 1077 the X."
- Johnathan Purvis
- Johnathan Purvis
21. "I was at work on my 2nd day of a new job. Some lady from the Tennessee office called my phone and said,
'Just run in your boss’s office and turn on the TV.'
I turned it on just in time to see the 2nd plane hit. We didn’t know what to think.
'Oh what a terrible accident!' then 'Wait, how would it be an accident for two planes to do that?'
Everyone was in disbelief."
- D. C.
'Just run in your boss’s office and turn on the TV.'
I turned it on just in time to see the 2nd plane hit. We didn’t know what to think.
'Oh what a terrible accident!' then 'Wait, how would it be an accident for two planes to do that?'
Everyone was in disbelief."
- D. C.
22. "I was a 6th grader in a small Christian school in Alabama, there were maybe ten people in my class. I remember our teacher turning the TV on and pacing around the room, on her phone freaking out because her brother was in the Navy. I can't remember if I saw the second plane hit, but I remember being slightly excited that something 'different' was happening and we didn't have to do work. I was a dumb kid.
I went home and drew an American flag onto a blank piece of poster board using crayons.
I don't know why I thought that would help."
- C. T.
I went home and drew an American flag onto a blank piece of poster board using crayons.
I don't know why I thought that would help."
- C. T.
23. "Had court in Judge Wilson's courtroom in Tuscaloosa. I contemplated going to a payphone, calling the courthouse, and saying there a bomb was in the Tuscaloosa courthouse to postpone my sentencing hearing. I Figured nobody would believe Tuscaloosa County courthouse was a strategic terrorist target.
Went to court that day and got sentenced to four years in prison."
- Anonymous
Went to court that day and got sentenced to four years in prison."
- Anonymous
24. "I was in a 4th grader in Birmingham, sitting at my desk group. They wheeled in one of those box TVs and had it on in our classroom.
The entire class of kids were in shocked silence as the image came on. We all saw the towers burn."
- H. C.
The entire class of kids were in shocked silence as the image came on. We all saw the towers burn."
- H. C.