Community Voices Remember 9/11

I was a junior in high school on Sept. 11, 2001. While getting ready for school, I heard the television. It was louder than usual. Something didn't seem right. Before seeing anything on the news I had a bad feeling. I walked out to the living to find my mom watching the news, her face was white.

A plane had hit the first tower. Still thinking it was some sort of terrible accident, I continued my morning routine—my heart aching for those lost. Then the second plane hit. Nothing felt right anymore. The rest of the day nothing was right. School wasn't school. It was a terrible waiting room. The only lesson of the day was a first hand glimpse of a moment that changed our history.

Before leaving for school, my dad took a photo of the sunrise at our home. The sky in Tehachapi, Ca—3,000 miles from New York—was stained red. Usually, we would have marveled at its beauty. But that day, nothing was right. See the photo above.

—Julianna Crisalli

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Right after the summer of 2001, when airport security was somewhat lax and threats didn't seem as credible, I flew from Des Moines, Iowa to Kuwait on Sept. 5, 2001. What happened six days later is still burned into my mind—the fear, the horror and the emotions that stirred in my mind.

I just began my junior year in high school. Kuwait is seven hours ahead of New York and my day was pretty normal until I arrived home around 2:30 p.m. I sat down at my computer, my news site wouldn't load. Then I heard my brother yell across from his room "The World Trade Center in New York has been hit!" At that time, I never took any threats against our country seriously and just dismissed it as a prank.

It wasn't and when I reloaded my browser again what I saw nearly brought me to tears. I had to turn on the television to see if it was genuinely true. It was. The North Tower was hit and I watched in shock as the footage from the helicopter hovering kept streaming in. Then the second plane hit the South Tower and I thought one thing. "This isn't an accident anymore. Someone is definitely behind this."

While I am a dual citizen of the United States and Kuwait and born to parents from both countries, that day I was 100 percent American. My surge of patriotism at that time wasn't a very popular thing amongst some of my fellow classmates now living in the Middle East.

I was furious at the attacks and I knew that the next day at school would be a disaster. I skipped it, in order to preserve some of my friendships. Ours views on politics varied wildly and debates could get very heated. In hindsight, it was for the best.

Now, 10 years and two wars later, I still remember that day like yesterday. The irony? My younger brother was a junior earlier this year when Bin-Laden was killed.

Stand vigilant and resilient, America, and never forget those who were lost on 9/11.

—Jamal Al-Sarraf 

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On the morning of Sept. 11, 2011, I was sitting on the couch in the family room with my daughter, Sarah, watching one of her television shows.

My husband, Ross, walked out of his upstairs office and stood on the landing looking down at us.  He told me what happened.  We were stunned.

I thought of the day before when Sarah and I met several other moms and their kids at the University of California, Irvine campus.  We took the kids to a shady area where they had fun running up and down the hills.  Afterward, we all ate lunch at the outdoor mall next to UCI. 

Yesterday, life was so innocent. Now it wasn’t anymore.

Not knowing what other horrible things might happen, Ross went to the ATM and got cash.  Then he went to the grocery store and stocked up on food.

9/11 made me realize how short life is and how we can’t take it for granted.  That led me to get in touch with a family member that I hadn’t spoken to for years.  As a result, I gained something positive from that horrible tragedy.

—Suzanne Chun

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I remember it like it was yesterday. I was upstairs in my bedroom getting ready for a sales meeting and had the news on. I saw the horrific photos of the Twin Towers. At that point, it was only speculation as to what had happened.  I was paralyzed by the vision of what was going on there, and just glued myself to the television. I couldn't leave the house.

I was so angry that they could do this to us here on our soil and still get upset every time I see the videos of all the people who died and lost their loved ones, especially knowing what satisfaction it gave them to see this on world news. I had traveled to London the year before and really didn't want to travel by air for quite awhile. I finally got over my fear many years later and feel comfort in knowing that people on planes today will react if something like this happens.

My world has been forever changed by the events of 9/11 and I don't think anyone really feels the same as we did prior to that day. It drew a line in the sand, and yes I fly my flag proud to be an American way more than I ever did before. 

—Theresa Vinciguerra

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Read more from those touched by 9/11— Touched By Terror: Patch Remembers 9/11 in 911 Snapshots