SOUTH DAKOTA
"Where were you on 9/11?" as remembered by those in South Dakota that day.
A Sioux Falls resident remembers the contrast between September 10th's news that Michael Jordan was returning to basketball with the news of the following day.
1. "I was in the 7th grade, left for school that morning and waited at the corner for the school bus to take us. Kids were talking about about how a plane had crashed in New York City, but at the time it seemed like some sort of terrible accident.
Before the school day began we would have a 15 minute period in 'home room.' It was then that things became clearer as to what was happening. In my first period we watched in horror as the news became more and more grim.
Before the school day began we would have a 15 minute period in 'home room.' It was then that things became clearer as to what was happening. In my first period we watched in horror as the news became more and more grim.
Another plane into the towers. - A plane into the pentagon.
My teacher pulled down the map and tried to explain which countries could’ve been the cause of all this. The day went on like this, the bell would ring and we’d shuffle on to our next class and watch more of the news. Eventually over the lunch hour it was decided we should try to go back to a normal day as possible.
I had made plans the previous day to hang out with a friend and told him I didn’t think I should hang out. I went home and watched the news with my family, afraid and unsure of what would happen next. It’s burned in my memory, but in an odd way, so is the night before.
I was laying in bed watching TV, the big news was that Michael Jordan was reportedly coming out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards. That was the last day of my childhood; after 9/11, no one old enough to understand it was a child anymore."
- S. G.
My teacher pulled down the map and tried to explain which countries could’ve been the cause of all this. The day went on like this, the bell would ring and we’d shuffle on to our next class and watch more of the news. Eventually over the lunch hour it was decided we should try to go back to a normal day as possible.
I had made plans the previous day to hang out with a friend and told him I didn’t think I should hang out. I went home and watched the news with my family, afraid and unsure of what would happen next. It’s burned in my memory, but in an odd way, so is the night before.
I was laying in bed watching TV, the big news was that Michael Jordan was reportedly coming out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards. That was the last day of my childhood; after 9/11, no one old enough to understand it was a child anymore."
- S. G.
Written Stories
2. "I was watching it on TV in high school, I think one tower had fallen already before they turned on the TV, After the second tower fell I was the first one to speak in my classic room, In shock I said the first thing that popped in my head,
'So, Does this make the Empire State building the tallest building in New York now?'
God that pissed off my teacher and she snaps,
'That not funny!'
All I could do was shrug and go,
'I'm asking a serious question.'"
-R. D.
'So, Does this make the Empire State building the tallest building in New York now?'
God that pissed off my teacher and she snaps,
'That not funny!'
All I could do was shrug and go,
'I'm asking a serious question.'"
-R. D.
3. "I was home 'sick' from middle school that day, playing Neopets when the internet forum I was reading suddenly got flooded with posts reading,
'Uh, what is happening in New York?'
I flipped on the TV and the rest is history."
- B. P.
'Uh, what is happening in New York?'
I flipped on the TV and the rest is history."
- B. P.
4. "I was a sophomore in high school at the time and walking into my first class of the day and it was on the TV. My family and I had visited NYC and gone to the top of the Trade Center just three weeks prior so it seemed more personal to me than other classmates.
I had nightmares of being stuck on top of the building as it burned for a while."
- F. R.
I had nightmares of being stuck on top of the building as it burned for a while."
- F. R.
5. "I was in high school and my friends were how I initially heard. Our first period teacher turned on the radio and we heard reports of an explosion at the Pentagon.
I remember locally the Rushmore mall was closed and so was Mount Rushmore. We heard the Mall of America was closed as well. Nobody knew exactly what was happening, but we all knew we were under attack.
In study hall we listened as the first tower fell. I wasn't sure I heard it right and asked,
'Did they just say one of them collapsed?'
Someone else confirmed and I said, 'oh f*ck.'
Spanish class had a TV and I watched live as the second tower collapsed.
'Oh no, oh no, there goes the other one.'
The rest of the day there was a lot of talk about war and joining the military, I think we all knew that's what was coming. We weren't sure who we needed to fight yet, but it kinda felt like we had this collective attitude of
'We're gonna find whoever did this and lay a beating down.'"
- R. K.
I remember locally the Rushmore mall was closed and so was Mount Rushmore. We heard the Mall of America was closed as well. Nobody knew exactly what was happening, but we all knew we were under attack.
In study hall we listened as the first tower fell. I wasn't sure I heard it right and asked,
'Did they just say one of them collapsed?'
Someone else confirmed and I said, 'oh f*ck.'
Spanish class had a TV and I watched live as the second tower collapsed.
'Oh no, oh no, there goes the other one.'
The rest of the day there was a lot of talk about war and joining the military, I think we all knew that's what was coming. We weren't sure who we needed to fight yet, but it kinda felt like we had this collective attitude of
'We're gonna find whoever did this and lay a beating down.'"
- R. K.
6. "I was dropping my kids at daycare when the caregiver told me a plane had crashed into a building in NYC. By the time I got to work the second plane had hit, and everyone was gathered around watching a small TV on the sales counter.
Some customers watched with us in silence and horror as the first tower fell and then the second tower. Folks were stranded at hotels downtown because of all flights had being grounded, these travelers were grateful to have a place to hang out instead of being alone in their hotel rooms over the coming days.
Knowing this meant war. It felt like time had stopped."
- P. G.
Some customers watched with us in silence and horror as the first tower fell and then the second tower. Folks were stranded at hotels downtown because of all flights had being grounded, these travelers were grateful to have a place to hang out instead of being alone in their hotel rooms over the coming days.
Knowing this meant war. It felt like time had stopped."
- P. G.
7. "I was a 2nd grader living on an Air Force Base. When school told us to go home, all of us had our backpacks checked before getting on the bus and returning to the base was in lock down.
Everyone seemed so scared. Being so young and having military personal checking you and your peers' backpacks is a surreal experience.
- T. F.
Everyone seemed so scared. Being so young and having military personal checking you and your peers' backpacks is a surreal experience.
- T. F.