During my senior year of high school, I took a class entitled Facing History in Yourself. This was a deep and (often) heartbreaking look at that atrocities that have occurred throughout history. While we looked at many events, we spent a substantial amount of time on the events surrounding the holocaust. It was such an eye opening experience for me. So young and innocent, yet I was forever changed through the stories of others.
Whenever I think of the events of 9/11, I wonder how we will translate the stories from that day and how they will be taught to future generations. I think about groups of kids sitting in hard plastic desks watching actual video footage of the Twin Towers collapse, of the smoke billowing through the sku and the masses of people running, crying, screaming. I wonder how they will encounter this bit of history, when the people of the time have long passed.
Everyone has a story. Everyone remembers that place. That radio DJ. That newscaster. That moment when you heard.
What is your story?
Several years ago I wrote a post about September 11th, I don’t want to repeat it here but I do welcome you to post a link to your blog or if you don’t have one, then just share your story in the comments.
I truly believe that it is through the telling of our stories that we will never forget.
Always Remember, Never Forget
I was in college at my internship as a student teacher. We didn’t tell the children what was going on. In fact, I didn’t know enough myself. But I remember listening to the radio on my way home and scared for my brother. He worked in NYC. Thankfully, he was safe. But his life was forever changed. Though I didn’t lose him physically, mentally he will never be the same.
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Yes, I had several friends who worked in NY and saw some horrific and unspeakable things. Many of which they still find too traumatic to share. Prayers for your brother, that he may be healed from his experience.
I was in High School. I heard about it in the hallway right before my math class. I wasn’t really paying attention to the person who told me. I did a double take and said wait what did you just say??? After school we headed home and sat watching the footage on the news with a loss for words amongst us. A father of a kid from our school was on one of the planes. I didn’t know him well but he was a friend of a friend. His funeral had an unreal turn out with tons of people there to show love and support
Thank you for sharing.
I was in 8th grade I believe… We live in WA so we were getting ready for school when the second plane hit the tower and I remember seeing it on TV before heading off to school. I asked my mom, “Is that an accident? How could they do it twice??” My naive and innocent heart couldn’t have imagined it was on purpose! My mom said, “I don’t think it was an accident honey”. I didn’t really understand.
I went to kind of a “ghetto” school and so when I got there the school was already in lock down because of a drug raid at a trailer park across the street. I thought it was related and it freaked me out until the teachers told us otherwise.
It wasn’t until much later did I understand what really happened. But what I remember most was the almost instant patriotism around the country. It was like overnight Americans were proud to be Americans again. Every house on my block garnished the American flag. I kind of miss that. And it sucks that its only been 13 years and there is no patriotism anymore.
I am in a very rural/country area and I still see significant acts of patriotism. I wonder if the more urban areas are different.
I was in college in Florida. I was getting ready to leave my dorm room to head to chapel when my roommate received a call from one of her parents (I believe) so I had an inkling of what had happened. However, it wasn’t until chapel began that I truly found out what happened. One of our deans got up and addressed the whole student body and they showed a video clip of the planes hitting the towers. Shock doesn’t even begin to describe the feelings that overwhelmed the student body. I can’t remember what I first thought, but I do remember bawling my eyes out for our country and for all the people who lost friends and family that morning. I may not remember what I thought at the time, but I will never forget how our country came together in the days that followed.