TENNESSEE
"Where were you on 9/11?" as remembered by those in Tennessee that day.
Tennessee resident Mary reflects on her memory of September 11th and how the severity of the attacks didn't set in for her while she was at work in Nashville.
1. "On 9/11, I remember very well where I was at - I was working in Nashville, Tennessee as a claims adjuster. I had heard on the radio the breaking news of the Twin Towers being bombed. I went into work and sat down at my desk, my main intent was to do my job that day. My co-workers were gathered around the desk next to me, commenting about what was happening and listening to the radio playing very loud. They were all very upset and I was still intent to do my job because I either did not think it was possible that this was happening or I didn't realize the severity of it. I went ahead with my job and rudely asked them to be quiet while I finished my recorded statement. It was later when I was off the phone and I heard the news that I realized how horrible this situation was.
That night when I was home with my family, we prayed. We were concerned that this was not over"
- Mary
That night when I was home with my family, we prayed. We were concerned that this was not over"
- Mary
Written Stories
2. "I was in boy scouts . The weekend before we went camping and my friends and I made a fort using poison ivy, so we were all out of school on 9/11.
I was watched the news that morning and was aware of what was going on, but didn't really have a grasp of it. I talked with all my family on the phone, save my mother. She sped over to our school and picked my sister up and upon learning I wasn't there assumed the worst and called county, state, and local police. In her panic, she had forgotten I was home.
I was outside throwing football to myself, like a normal kid would do in the midst of a tragedy, and all these cops rolled up in our driveway, followed by mom. They all take turns asking me why I wasn't at school, I point to the obvious poison ivy on my body. That's about it really. I don't remember much about the day other than crying when I realized how many people died and getting pizza later."
- D. C. G.
I was watched the news that morning and was aware of what was going on, but didn't really have a grasp of it. I talked with all my family on the phone, save my mother. She sped over to our school and picked my sister up and upon learning I wasn't there assumed the worst and called county, state, and local police. In her panic, she had forgotten I was home.
I was outside throwing football to myself, like a normal kid would do in the midst of a tragedy, and all these cops rolled up in our driveway, followed by mom. They all take turns asking me why I wasn't at school, I point to the obvious poison ivy on my body. That's about it really. I don't remember much about the day other than crying when I realized how many people died and getting pizza later."
- D. C. G.
3. "I remember sitting in class in 8th grade. Around 9 a.m. calls start coming into each classroom, and I remember the teacher turning the TV on.
We watched the news play the 2nd plane hitting over and over and as an 8th grader it didn't hit me that our country was under attack, that this was an act of terrorism against our country.
I will never forget watching the towers crumble down. All of our eyes were glued to the screens.
My mother called, and asked if I wanted to be pulled out of class. I told her I was fine and I'd continue on with my day. Some other kids parents were being pulled out of class by their parents, since our school was fairly close to a nuclear plant. You could see how it was affecting the teachers. Some were sobbing, and just gave up on lessons for the day.
I watched it in every class but French Class."
- Bab W.
We watched the news play the 2nd plane hitting over and over and as an 8th grader it didn't hit me that our country was under attack, that this was an act of terrorism against our country.
I will never forget watching the towers crumble down. All of our eyes were glued to the screens.
My mother called, and asked if I wanted to be pulled out of class. I told her I was fine and I'd continue on with my day. Some other kids parents were being pulled out of class by their parents, since our school was fairly close to a nuclear plant. You could see how it was affecting the teachers. Some were sobbing, and just gave up on lessons for the day.
I watched it in every class but French Class."
- Bab W.
4. "I was living in Memphis. Had court that morning. Got a speeding ticket going 36 in a 35. Yeah.
So I get to the judge who looks at my ticket and says 'Seriously?' She tears up the ticket and I'm out no fine.
About the time I get out of the court room people are starting at TVs in the foyer. The first plane had hit. Wow. That's kinda nuts.
I get to my car, head home, have some breakfast, and throw on the TV to enjoy some time before I go to work.
Every channel is showing the first tower on fire.
That's when the second plane hit. The cigarette dropped from my mouth, I immediately got up and grabbed a bottle of Jack and sat back down. I called my boss and before I could say a word he said, 'No I'm not coming in either.'
After a few hours I sobered and did go in, just soldered mic cables and listened to the radio, trying to process what had just happened."
- Anonymous
So I get to the judge who looks at my ticket and says 'Seriously?' She tears up the ticket and I'm out no fine.
About the time I get out of the court room people are starting at TVs in the foyer. The first plane had hit. Wow. That's kinda nuts.
I get to my car, head home, have some breakfast, and throw on the TV to enjoy some time before I go to work.
Every channel is showing the first tower on fire.
That's when the second plane hit. The cigarette dropped from my mouth, I immediately got up and grabbed a bottle of Jack and sat back down. I called my boss and before I could say a word he said, 'No I'm not coming in either.'
After a few hours I sobered and did go in, just soldered mic cables and listened to the radio, trying to process what had just happened."
- Anonymous
5. "I was in 2nd grade. I remember hearing the principal coming over the intercom to tell the teachers to turn on the TV. My teacher turned it on and started crying.
They moved all of us in the hallway and had us sit down along the walls."
- C. P.
They moved all of us in the hallway and had us sit down along the walls."
- C. P.
6. "I was in first period freshman English. They called every single teacher into the office for an announcement.
My normally very stoic English teacher came back into the room crying.
I had a guy in my class whose dad was still in New York, and I just remember him running into the hall trying to call them but all circuits were busy.
It's the only time in the history of the high school that they canceled all practices and sent every single student home.
No exceptions."
- S. E.
My normally very stoic English teacher came back into the room crying.
I had a guy in my class whose dad was still in New York, and I just remember him running into the hall trying to call them but all circuits were busy.
It's the only time in the history of the high school that they canceled all practices and sent every single student home.
No exceptions."
- S. E.
7. "I was at work, sorting out travel arrangements for my boss who was trying to get back to town from a meeting. He was supposed to fly to NY but kept changing his mind about stuff - I forget what exactly was going on - but he called me frantic while I was on hold with a travel agent. Everything was just starting to roll in on the news and he was afraid of even getting near the airport. I was still the new girl at the office and I actually thought he was messing with me at first. Then I started hearing people talking and shouting from other cubicles and it just made my blood run cold - if I had changed his flight or if he had ignored me and made arrangements himself, he could have been in the air that morning."
- W.B.
- W.B.
8. "On 9/11 I was in the 4th grade. As a child, I attended a small, private, interdenominational (read Baptist) Christian school. Although the attacks happened in the morning, word didn't reach us students until the afternoon. I'm not sure if the faculty kept things moving normally as to not alarm anyone, or if they also didn't find out until much later in the day. I'm inclined to believe the latter, since their response that afternoon was bad and pretty funny in hindsight.
They started by locking the school down and had each class stay locked in their respective rooms. When asked what was going on, the teacher's only response was,
'There's been a bombing.'
This was obviously confusing and terrifying for a group of 9 year-olds since many of us thought that another school in the area had been blown up and we might be next. We stayed locked down for the remainder of the day until everyone's parents could come pick them up, which is when most of us found out what really happened.
Looking back on the whole situation, I never really got to process what had happened since we were misled about what occurred. The whole time during lock-down many of us were scared, but we were mostly confused and trying to understand why someone would blow up a nearby school. In a way, I feel like I was robbed of sharing in a collective experience. Our faculty could have handled the situation much better. However, I'll always find it humorous that those running our school felt the need to lock it down, like we were the most important people in the nation and a school with less than 400 students and faculty would be the logical next target for a terrorist attack. Also, that staying locked in our rooms would somehow spare us when those terrorists flew a plane into our school."
- Andrew Eagar
They started by locking the school down and had each class stay locked in their respective rooms. When asked what was going on, the teacher's only response was,
'There's been a bombing.'
This was obviously confusing and terrifying for a group of 9 year-olds since many of us thought that another school in the area had been blown up and we might be next. We stayed locked down for the remainder of the day until everyone's parents could come pick them up, which is when most of us found out what really happened.
Looking back on the whole situation, I never really got to process what had happened since we were misled about what occurred. The whole time during lock-down many of us were scared, but we were mostly confused and trying to understand why someone would blow up a nearby school. In a way, I feel like I was robbed of sharing in a collective experience. Our faculty could have handled the situation much better. However, I'll always find it humorous that those running our school felt the need to lock it down, like we were the most important people in the nation and a school with less than 400 students and faculty would be the logical next target for a terrorist attack. Also, that staying locked in our rooms would somehow spare us when those terrorists flew a plane into our school."
- Andrew Eagar
9. "I was a junior in high school at Northeast High School in Clarksville. At around 9 am, we were rushed into our classes by an announcement and went into lock down and Ft. Campbell went into full alter. I was in theatre class when the teacher turned on the TV.
We could only sit in cry.
A friend of mine was called to the office later that day and she came back crying. She had said goodbye to her dad because he was being sent out immediately.
It was the reason I enlisted after we graduated."
- S. B.
We could only sit in cry.
A friend of mine was called to the office later that day and she came back crying. She had said goodbye to her dad because he was being sent out immediately.
It was the reason I enlisted after we graduated."
- S. B.
10. "I was in 1st grade. I remember being let out of school early and coming home to my parents watching the footage in our 'game room' which had one of those big box TVs. I didn’t think what I was seeing was real and I am happy I spent that time with my parents.
We later became targets at airports when we traveled. My mom is white but my dad, myself, and my sibling look more middle eastern. Being that young during 9/11, I really remember the post-9/11 world and it’s impact more than the actual day."
- S. P.
We later became targets at airports when we traveled. My mom is white but my dad, myself, and my sibling look more middle eastern. Being that young during 9/11, I really remember the post-9/11 world and it’s impact more than the actual day."
- S. P.
11. "I just got home from a night shift at work and was trying to sleep when my wife woke me up to come see the TV after the first plane hit.
I went downstairs and sat on the couch where we watched the second one hit live.
From past employment, I knew what it meant instantly and actually started trembling as my wife was asking what was going on. I dreaded explaining it to her.
Everyone was on edge everywhere i went that day. I remember standing outside at 7 pm at work where there is a major southern air traffic corridor high above us and seeing nothing..."
- T. S.
I went downstairs and sat on the couch where we watched the second one hit live.
From past employment, I knew what it meant instantly and actually started trembling as my wife was asking what was going on. I dreaded explaining it to her.
Everyone was on edge everywhere i went that day. I remember standing outside at 7 pm at work where there is a major southern air traffic corridor high above us and seeing nothing..."
- T. S.
12. "I was 11 years-old, at school and walking into the hall after my English class. Teachers were suddenly running frantic from classroom to classroom, some crying and freaking out. My next class was history and the teacher had the TV on the news. I distinctly remember one of my classmates going,
‘Oh is it movie day?’
My history teacher explained to us that it wasn’t a movie and that it was real. Everyone in my class was sitting there watching the news when the second plane hit the tower. You heard everyone in our and in the other classes yelling, screaming, or gasping. It didn’t really sink in for me at the time because of how young I was, but I understood how horrific it was as we watched the towers collapse shortly after."
- K. S.
‘Oh is it movie day?’
My history teacher explained to us that it wasn’t a movie and that it was real. Everyone in my class was sitting there watching the news when the second plane hit the tower. You heard everyone in our and in the other classes yelling, screaming, or gasping. It didn’t really sink in for me at the time because of how young I was, but I understood how horrific it was as we watched the towers collapse shortly after."
- K. S.
13. "I was waking up and getting ready for work when the TV was flooded with all the feeds. I remember driving into work and seeing all the planes line up for landing at Nashville airport. The sky was eerily empty except for those few planes lining up to land.
The small stretch of highway I drove (65N) to get to work at jewelry store in the mall was surprisingly clear of any real traffic.
When I got into work, the entire mall was a ghost without any customers. We ended up closing the store an hour later as did the rest of the mall.
What had most of my attention that morning was that I knew my parents were in NYC. I was frantic all morning trying to get in touch with them.
When I was finally able to get them on the phone, it was my mother letting me know they were both ok. They had been right in the thick of everything, I could hear my father in the background yelling at firefighters, police, and all the people on the street offering to help in any way he could. He wasn't going to take no for an answer or just get out of the city without doing something to help.
Hearing all the sounds of the people in the background crying, the sirens, and the police/firefighters talking to my dad as he was trying to help in any way he could has stuck with me forever. It really hit me pretty hard but I know my dad would go through hell to help strangers in that kind of situation. I would've done nothing less either.
Always tried to model my actions in life after him, he's my hero."
- Bobby Fuller
The small stretch of highway I drove (65N) to get to work at jewelry store in the mall was surprisingly clear of any real traffic.
When I got into work, the entire mall was a ghost without any customers. We ended up closing the store an hour later as did the rest of the mall.
What had most of my attention that morning was that I knew my parents were in NYC. I was frantic all morning trying to get in touch with them.
When I was finally able to get them on the phone, it was my mother letting me know they were both ok. They had been right in the thick of everything, I could hear my father in the background yelling at firefighters, police, and all the people on the street offering to help in any way he could. He wasn't going to take no for an answer or just get out of the city without doing something to help.
Hearing all the sounds of the people in the background crying, the sirens, and the police/firefighters talking to my dad as he was trying to help in any way he could has stuck with me forever. It really hit me pretty hard but I know my dad would go through hell to help strangers in that kind of situation. I would've done nothing less either.
Always tried to model my actions in life after him, he's my hero."
- Bobby Fuller
14. "I was nine years old and in fourth grade at Malesus Elementary School. I remember another fourth grade teacher interrupting our lesson, by cracking open the classroom door, and motioning our teacher outside. All of the students were curious, so we began to chat amongst ourselves. After a minute or two, all of the teachers from our hallway walked into the room one by one. Apparently my classroom was the only one that had a functioning TV mounted on the wall. After the teachers struggled a bit with the antenna, the static cleared to show smoke billowing from the towers. I don't remember seeing the buildings collapse, but I do remember my teachers discussing the possibility of it being an attack.
As a child I knew I should feel sad for what happened, but it felt so distant to me."
- Stephanie Summers
As a child I knew I should feel sad for what happened, but it felt so distant to me."
- Stephanie Summers
15. "I was 16 years old and in the car with my parents on the way to see a spinal surgeon. As we were getting close to Vanderbilt, we heard on the radio that a plane had hit a building in New York. We parked, checked in, and then sat down in an eerily silent waiting room. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the small TV in the room. This was the first time my parents and I saw that the WTC had been hit by a commercial airliner and not some building on the outskirts hit by a small craft like a Cessna.
We all sat there in that waiting room and watched the second plane hit. Everyone gasped, shouted, and some started crying in this moment. What felt like seconds later, I was called back and told that I would need a second, (sports) career ending back surgery. My dreams were to play college ball and go on to become a coach. That wasn’t happening now but who can really care after watching what just happened?! My parents still had to work that day so I was just dropped off at school after that entire life altering morning. I spent the rest of the day in a classroom watching the rest unfold on the news with my classmates.
We will never forget."
- Hunter
We all sat there in that waiting room and watched the second plane hit. Everyone gasped, shouted, and some started crying in this moment. What felt like seconds later, I was called back and told that I would need a second, (sports) career ending back surgery. My dreams were to play college ball and go on to become a coach. That wasn’t happening now but who can really care after watching what just happened?! My parents still had to work that day so I was just dropped off at school after that entire life altering morning. I spent the rest of the day in a classroom watching the rest unfold on the news with my classmates.
We will never forget."
- Hunter
16. "I was in an elementary school classroom, watching my teacher cry as the principal did an announcement over the intercom. She turned on the classroom TV just as the second plane crashed into the tower. Soon after, parents came rushing to pick up their kids.
I was just 6 years old and can clear as day still see that old box TV we watched it on."
- Anonymous
I was just 6 years old and can clear as day still see that old box TV we watched it on."
- Anonymous
17. "Junior in high school, but my glasses were broken so I couldn't see anything! The classroom TVs were a blur, I could only hear what was happening. I'll always remember how unusual it was not to hear the sound of planes that day."
- Mike Clark
- Mike Clark
18. "I moved from Michigan to Knoxville, TN on August 31, 2001. I was on the verge of my 24th birthday and had never lived more than 20 miles from my mom. That morning, my roommate and I went to an interview/training for a potential security guard job. There were three of us sitting in a room watching training videos when I heard a telephone ring in the lobby. A few seconds later, the receptionist came running into the room and asked,
' Is it okay if I pause the video and turn the news.'
We were confused and agreed to turn the news on. The first image to appear on the screen was of the North Tower in smoke. Within seconds, we watched helplessly as a plane came from the left side of the screen and straight into the the South Tower.
There was absolutely silence.
I don't think any of us even took a breath as we watched the the tower engulf the plane. Just as quickly as the silence stated, it ended. Landlines in the building were ringing, cell phones were ringing, someone was screaming, someone, probably me included was swearing; it was absolute chaos. The receptionist left the room to answer the inundation of calls. A moment later, I heard her say,
'Omg! Are you sure?!'
And she come rushing back into the room to inform us that they had shut Oakridge down due to a threat. I had no idea what that was or why everyone was freaking out so I asked.
'What's Oakridge?'
The entire office staff looked at me like I had three eyeballs. I later found out that Oakridge was the nuclear power plant 30 miles southeast."
- Lisa Toothman
' Is it okay if I pause the video and turn the news.'
We were confused and agreed to turn the news on. The first image to appear on the screen was of the North Tower in smoke. Within seconds, we watched helplessly as a plane came from the left side of the screen and straight into the the South Tower.
There was absolutely silence.
I don't think any of us even took a breath as we watched the the tower engulf the plane. Just as quickly as the silence stated, it ended. Landlines in the building were ringing, cell phones were ringing, someone was screaming, someone, probably me included was swearing; it was absolute chaos. The receptionist left the room to answer the inundation of calls. A moment later, I heard her say,
'Omg! Are you sure?!'
And she come rushing back into the room to inform us that they had shut Oakridge down due to a threat. I had no idea what that was or why everyone was freaking out so I asked.
'What's Oakridge?'
The entire office staff looked at me like I had three eyeballs. I later found out that Oakridge was the nuclear power plant 30 miles southeast."
- Lisa Toothman