Never Forget · 6:20am Sep 11th, 2020

My Fellow Americans will know without my even needing to say what.

I remember it very clearly. I lived only 30 minutes north of NYC. I was in my 6th grade math class when the first plane hit. There was an announcement on the loudspeaker, and everyone went silent. For about a minute. Then there were murmurs, then gasps, then cries.

"My [family member] works there!"

Two of my classmates were excused to go to the principal's office to use the phone so they could call home and see if their family member was okay (for you young'uns, this was a time before every elementary schooler had a cell phone). Our teacher was smart enough to know that he wouldn't be getting any more teaching done.

About five minutes later I froze, realizing that I had no idea where my father was. That very day he had just started a new job at—I s*** you not—jetBlue Airways. I had no idea where his office was. I raised my hand and told the teacher, and he immediately let me go to the office.

As I walked in, I saw a fifth-grade girl standing off to the side and crying, a woman kneeling beside her stroking her hair, with a tissue in the opposite hand. There was a line of students waiting to use the phone.

When it was my turn, I dialed my house number and my mother picked up the phone with a... more solid tone than usual in her voice. First thing out of my mouth: "Mom, where's Dad?" Imagine my relief when she said, "Don't worry, that's not where his office is." I spent the rest of the day at ease, but still as shaken as everyone else (if that makes sense).

When my father got home that night, he told us something creepy: while his office wasn't close to the Towers, he watched the crash happen right through his window. I can't imagine how traumatized he was from that. I don't remember if I asked.

My family didn't lose any members that day, but some of my friends and classmates weren't so lucky. A good friend of mine lost an uncle, and I'm sure at least one of my classmates lost a parent. It's a day America will always remember. And that's why we say:

Never forget.

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Reese

Reese #1 · Sep 11th, 2020 · 2 · ·

It was a lot more distant for me, being states away and out in a rural area besides (so not even in another large city and maybe worried about an attack there); there was certainly no concern that any students' family members had commuted into NYC (and if there were any on trips, I didn't hear about it). The memories are less distinct; the impact was big (though as I recall, being ten, I didn't fully get that at first), but not, for me or, as far as I know, the kids around me, personal, and of course no one then knew just what'd result from the attacks. As I recall, our teachers didn't try and get any more teaching done that day either, though. I'm guessing my experience was a lot more typical for those who were around that age at the time, distant from the events and not fully understanding, but even if my memories are less sharp, they're there.
I'm glad your family only had such a close call, and I'm sorry for those who didn't get even that distance.

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