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Every once in a while an event puts everything in perspective. Something occurs that's so overwhelming that it changes your life forever. On 9-11-01- ten years ago today- 3,000 American citizens died in a senseless act of terrorism. We took a moment as a nation today to remember those lost. It's a day we will never forget, ranking with the Pearl Harbor attack as the worst disasters ever in US history.

Personally, I can't remember what I did last night or the day before, or even this morning, but I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing and what I was thinking. I'd like to here from everyone else. Where were you?

I was my car going to a massage job at a communications equipment company in Genoa, IL. I had just pulled into the parking lot while listening to WGN radio. They were talking about the first plane hit; the second hadn't hit. Just before I turned the car off, the news came in that a second plane had hit the other tower. I sat there listening for about 10 minutes, thinking to myself that it wasn't just an accident. By the time I got inside the company had set up a large screen TV in their breakroom and there were about 40 people watching the coverage. No one talked. A couple people were crying. I was watching when the first of the towers fell. I felt sick. At that point I called my buddy, who was a paramedic. He was on standby thanks to a statewide alert for EMS personnel. I told him to let me know if he had to go anywhere because I was going too. I can still see the towers collapsing in my mind. I never will forget it.

I Was a little kid, in my living room, watching Transformers, then my Uncle switched it over to the news, and I didn't understand the importance of what was going on. I was old enough to know it was a bad thing, yet for some reason, it didn't register! I felt so dumb in coming years. everyone was talking about it, and I wore this attitude like I didn't even care. I care now of course, But back then, I was a kid, in my own little world, and I didn't quite understand how it was more imortant....

I remember most of that days as well.

I woke up at 8:30 to go to my 9:15 class at Kent State University. I was a freshman in college. My grandma was in her room watching TV and she told me what had happened up to that point. I believe it was only the first plan that had crashed into the WTC. I still got ready for class, and when I got there they told me it was canceled due to the events. On the way back to my car someone told me the second plane hit and the first tower had collapsed. By the time I got home, the second tower had also collapsed. It was just surreal. With the day free from school, I decided to run some errands. I went to get the oil changed on my grandma's car, and the guy at the garage told me something I will always remember. It wasn't PC, but it was to the point: "Those g**damn towelheads got us." I just shook my head. Then another one of them told me a joke. Funny or not, you decide. At the time, I nervously laughed. But it's something I will also not forget.

"A cowboy, an Indian and a Muslim are standing around talking. The Indian says 'Once we were many, now we're few.' The Muslim says 'Once we were few, now we're many.' The cowboy looks at him and says 'That's because we haven't played Cowboys and Muslims yet.'"

Anyway, after leaving there and getting some groceries, I went home and watched the events unfold on the news. I spent the later part of the day with my then-girlfriend, whose father was a firefighter at the time. We couldn't believe the death and destruction caused that day, and even now it has lasting effects. I can truly say my life has never been the same since. This must have been how people felt back in the 40s after Pearl Harbor. When I think of my life and my adulthood (I turned 19 2 weeks before) I can't help but imagine how different it would be if it hadn't been for the events of that day.

Unfortunately, in some measure the terrorists succeeded in their mission of altering everyday American life. With the atrocious response of the Bush administration the foreign and domestic situation of the United States is very bleak. It's a hard road ahead, and so far no capable leader(s) have stepped up. None.

I do remember the brave firefighters and police officers from New York City who helped save lives that day. May their memories live forever as heroes.

I remember getting up in the morning and watching Transformers on Fox Kids. I even remember the episode. It was the RID episode where Skids couldn't control his need to race.

My mom came into the room 15 minutes into the show saying we need to switch it to the news. I saw the WTC and next thing I knew, a plane crashed followed by another one. Then about 10 minutes before I had to leave for school, the towers fell.

I was in the 6th grade when that happened. Now I'm 21 and a sophomore at college.

I was at work listening to Howard Stern live on the internet.. Their news actually came faster than the local stations.. It was surreal listening to the events unfold then watching everything on tv..

I was in the 4th grade at the time, in math class. I remember the teacher and I think she taught math. Anyway, we all sat down and she explained the situation to us. I can't remember anything she said, so I don't know how sugarcoated it was. I could tell everyone's parents were getting worried because the kids in my class were getting called out of school early one-by-one. Eventually I got dismissed early and went back with my mom to the apartment we used to live in. The front lobby of that school was pretty packed.

I saw the towers on the news and all the smoke coming from them and I was terrified. I saw a guy walking outside that day. It looked to me like he was holding something black and I was honestly worried it was a bomb. Needless to say, it wasn't. I kept worrying that whole day that the terrorists were going to bomb our apartment complex.

It should be noted that I suffered quite heavily from anxiety disorder back then. I was scared of a lot of things.

I feel bad because I didn't even know about Flight 93 until maybe a year or two ago. I don't think enough has been done to honor the memories of the heroes on that flight who saved the lives of so many other Americans.

I remember I was having a nightmare before my mother got me up saying a plane hit the World Trade Center. I raced downstairs just in time to see the second plane hit. I think I screamed, because I just have this image of myself watching this and screaming "NOOO!" My dad was there in his undies and he was swearing a lot, more than I've ever heard from him before. We watched and watched, and Mom took a shower with me relaying updates to her. Some Jehovah's Witnesses came over to spread their word and Dad cussed them out. I don't remember what we had for lunch. Then Dad had to go to work and my brother came home from school. He told me his teacher had been crying in class and that reminded me of when Mom told me her memories from when JFK was shot. Then we went to Ace Hardware to get something or other, just to get out. I got a little glass bird, a green one. My brother got a blue glass elephant. I can't remember what we had for dinner, but I remember that I took a shower and I cried.

Treetop Maximus wrote:I feel bad because I didn't even know about Flight 93 until maybe a year or two ago. I don't think enough has been done to honor the memories of the heroes on that flight who saved the lives of so many other Americans.

I agree with this. Former President Clinton recently spoke and said that he had found out that the memorial for United Flight 93 was significantly short of money. Then he dropped a bombshell, saying that he and current House Speaker John Boehnner were going to be hosting a co-fundraiser in an attempt to raise money for the memorial. I agree: the actions of the folks of Flight 93 saved a ton of lives and they should be remembered as every bit the heroes as the first responders and firefighters in New York. I highly recommend donating to this cause if possible.

Quick personal note: a thank you to everyone for sharing your memories. This truly is something we should never forget and sharing like this is a good way to remember and build comaraderie. I'm curious to hear from some of our outside-the-US Transfans. What was your perspective as the events on that day unfolded?

Is there an official website for donations? I couldn't find much info.

Treetop Maximus wrote:Is there an official website for donations? I couldn't find much info.

I'll keep looking. If I find anything, I'll be sure and post it here.