Pulse Readers Remember…

It is that time of year where the documentaries resurface and the stories are told of remembering where we were on that fateful September morning.

The morning when at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, 2,753 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were intentionally crashed into the north and south towers.

Of those who perished during the initial attacks and the subsequent collapses of the towers, 343 were New York City firefighters, another 23 were New York City police officers and 37 others were officers at the Port Authority.

The victims ranged in age from two to 85 years. Approximately 75-80 percent of the victims are men.

At the Pentagon in Washington, 184 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the building.

Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 40 passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 93 die when the plane crashes into a field. It is believed that the hijackers crashed the plane in that location, rather than their unknown target, after the passengers and crew attempted to retake control of the flight deck.

PULSE READERS REMEMBER where they were when they heard the news:

Stacy Smith-Frost Babysitting my niece when the phone call came in that I had to turn my tv on. I turned the tv on to see the first tower go down! I just sank into the couch!

Missy Self  Going to work at Bost hand in Hand on 74th st. I heard it on the radio as I was going underneath the overpass on Pheonix Ave. It was a crazy feeling walking into the day care. We were told to stay calm. It was hard to do.

Catelin Maye Watkins  Third grade class room. Mrs dees, I’ve never heard that school so quiet and silent.. we all wrote an essay on what america ment to us, and what it means to be an America. Ill never forget coming home to see those twin towers fall on television and all I could do was cry. I could not believe someone would do such an act, and in that moment I literally felt a piece of myself break inside. It made me realize at such a young age what lengths hatred will take people, and make them do. It was a horrible event that will never be forgotten and will always mark our history. Everyone involved and effected by this tragedy was and still is in my prayers.

Sherry Parker Hughes  In a Freightliner truck west of Phoenix when my daughter called with the news. Remember we were thankfully, close enough to Phoenix to get a tv signal. It was interesting and still somewhat surreal being out on the road. American flags were flying from almost every truck out there. Some were not, of course, because they are owned and operated by foreign entities. Pro-American sentiment was the talk of the day in every truck stop and we seemed to pull together as a nation unlike anything I’d ever seen in my lifetime.

Joy Elizabeth Cogburn  At home and my sister called to tell me. All I felt was fear because my son was in the army and I just knew whatever happened , it would not be good. Thankfully my son came home safe and is still serving in the military.

Barbara Harrison Golden  At home. My daughter called and asked if my tv was on and it wasn’t. She started telling me what was going on. I just didn’t believe her, I guess, so I turned the set on and the second plane was hitting the tower. I thought I had to be dreaming. Could not believe that was actually happening..

Martha Grunwald Koelemay  At home, sleeping after a night shift at the hospital. My mom called and woke me up, told me to turn on the TV. Needless to say, I didn’t get back to sleep, watched in horror and outrage with the rest of the country.

Leslie Sims Reed  Cooking breakfast at the lake when it came on the news.

Justin Isurdad   wondering how building 7 fell when no plane or fire touched it

Felicia Huff   High school!

Brandie Jo Alexander  In my 7th grade English class in Owosso, Michigan.

Penny Banks  At home watching it all on CNN & waiting for a call from my son who was stuck at the Phoenix airport after they grounded all planes.

Diane Crain Simmons Getting ready for work watching Good Morning America. Charlie Gibson thought it was some sort of a joke (didn’t we all) for a few seconds!

Jessica Austin Hospital grandma had a wreck.

Carmie Lance At work at the hospital. ..

Kryn Hamelink Freshman homeroom in South Haven, MI.. I even remember where I was sitting and etc.

Susie Montgomery Working at Union Bank

Chris Henderson Didn’t know about it till five days after it happen I was in the woods camping

Helga Jordan I was at work..New it had happened but want able to see anything until later that night and I remember being stunned and scared and I stayed scared for weeks thinking that if they could do that they could do anything even drop a bomb on us…it took me along time not to be afraid..

Cheryl Vaughn Just brought home my baby girl from the nicu the day it happened. Also my great nephew was born right after it happened..

Josh Mclellan On leave about to report to fort hood Texas. Tried to get on post that morning but the lines of traffic was unreal.

Luann Barton Nogle I was in the break room at Wal-Mart. when it happened and it came on the tv. Everyone was in shock. Then, before we knew it, another plane hit. It was horrible!

Feel free to post your comments below as your remember where you were when the world stopped turning that crisp September morning.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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