I was on patrole as a armed security guard at a race track in KY. It came over the radio that a plane hit one of the trade centers. I didn't think much about it thinking that it was likely a small plane. A little while later it came across that a second plane had crashed and that they were not small planes. For the rest of the day we were on full alert. It was a long day for all of us. GOD BLESS.
It was my 10th grade year, and I was on the Flag team. Everything in my life was going pretty well. I was an average student, had great friends that I would not trade for anything, loved my school and teachers, and had just gotten a car. The world outside of Florence, MS seemed to be a far off place that I neither cared to know anything about nor wanted to visit. I never watched the news, didn't care for a newspaper, and turned the channel anytime news came on the radio. That early September morning was like every one before it. I got up, went to school and hung out with my friends, joking and playing around before first period. I had forgotten my english book at school the day before, so I was thinking that my english teacher was going to reem me when I didn't turn in my homework. When the bell rang, we all piled into the class room like the mindless drones we seemed to become while bored in class. Mr. Corry came into class unlike his usual self; he acted bothered. He was usually a happy and chipper person that early. He immediately turned on the tv and switched the channel. When the signal connected with Channel 12 News, a picture of the twin towers (with one billowing smoke) was plastered on the tv. By this time everyone had taken their seats, and directed their attention to what Mr. Corry was watching. Over the next hour, the class (usually off in their own conversations when Mr. Corry wasn't teaching) watched intently as the second plane flew into the second tower and as the reporter tried to hold their composure as our nation was being attacked. After the second tower was hit, I laid my head on my desk and just started to cry. The United States was about to change.
I was in Bradenton, FL. 1st grade. My mom was at a doctors appointment with my baby brother. As she went out she saw the presidents limos driving by & the streets blocked off. My mom later came to my scool & took me to the main office to leave. In the main office I looked up at the TV & I saw a tower on fire. I was asking her why I was being taken out of school. She told me that my daddy might be pulled back, consideing he had just retired from the USMC 3 years earlier. The next day at school, I remember this one kid playig with blocks, in the after school program. He was making towers and knocking them down. Eventually, other kds started playing with him. I didn't though, still to this day I don't know why. I had realized wat had happend that day, but didn't know anything about it. I just knew all middle-easterns were bad & that they were terrorists. I have since learned that they aren't. And it was Islamic Extremists. I get pretty pissed off when people call all muslims, middle-easterns, etc. ragheads, terrorists, & all of tese derogatory terms. Sure I won't trust them, fully, but it's not right to be saying such things of an enitre race/ethinicity of people.
I was driving to PM a cell site when I heard a plane went into the tower and thought dang some idiot small plane pilot really screwed up. I went into the site to do the PM and got a call from a co-worker asking if I knew about it, I said yeah and told him I figured some idiot... He said no another big plane went into the other tower and I go oh F#$% and left the site to listen to the radio. I drove home banging my fist on the steering wheel all the way, I wanted those responsible DEAD and not captured!
Just having moved to Ft. Riley, KS and was takin g my kids to school. Thought the guys on the radio were making a joke, not so much. It will never leave my mind. Thank you all for your service.
