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It was the 5th day of my first year teaching.

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I was going to school at Stony Brook at the time. My brother and I went there together- and I was in the computer lab when I found out.

I found my brother- who didn't believe me- and then proceeded to tell me he couldn't leave to go home because he had a test that afternoon. He kept fighting me on it- but I kept trying to tell him that his test was going to be cancelled.

Driving the hour home was really weird. We couldn't get in touch with my mom. The machine at her office said that they were closed "due to the national tragedy."

Very sad day- and still very raw.

I will never forget where I was or what I was doing. I will never forget those who sacrificed it all 7 years ago today.

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i was at home, i was on the computer and someone IM'd me on aol to turn on the tv and put the news on.

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Driving to work on the Wantagh Parkway. Heard the whole thing unfold on Howard Stern.

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Here's my story.

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I was at work w/ no tv. Someone came in late and said a plane hit a tower and we thought it was an accident. our internet, radio and phones got cut off so we had no access to anything from the office. Everyone took turns on cells calling loved ones. I never actually saw it all happen...just pics after

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In the city.

On the #1 subway going downtown to a job site.

Getting off that stopped subway and making my way back to my office at 42nd and 3rd.

That day in the office

Sitting on a train from Penn once it was re-opened and sharing a two-seater with a man covered in ashes

Getting home to my then FH....

Find out all the people we knew that didn't make it out alive

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I was living in a different State at work. It was 9am and someone screamed in our office that a planed crashed in the 1st tower. We all though it was a small private plane but WTH had happened?

We all ran to one of the conference room and we were all in shock from what we saw. Not at all what we expected.

Other people ran to the conference room realizing the scope of the "accident".

We had not idea it was not an accident.

We watched and screamed as a we watched live the other plane crashed in the 2nd towel. We all looked at each other and could not speak. The sad reality was unfolding live on TV in front of our eyes.

Later there was a journalist on TV (on the phone) in the Pentagon talking about the step up security there. Then there was a huge sound in the background and he said they had been hit. Then nothing! He was gone! I remember switching channels to find out what had happened. We only heard "officialy" what had happened 20 minutes later.

Then the towers fell. At this point, I was still watching TV. I did not go back to my desk until hours later.

I was in total disbelief. We tried to call our friends in the Corporate office on LI. All communication was gone! Some had family in NY. Nobody knew what was going on.

It was a day I could never forget. I feeling of total disbelief is still with me. Like watching a bad movie in slow motion.

DH was working on Brooklyn (by the water) and watching it unfold with his own eyes.

I think everyone remembers how they even felt at the time and what they were doing.

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18th street and 6th avenue, on the corner looking down 6th ave at the towers getting hit and collapsing.

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When the first plane hit, I was getting off the PATH train at the WTC station.

I remember seeing all of the PAPD cops running up the escalator railings and knew instantly something was wrong.

I looked at the huge hole in building 1, asked someone what happened and was told a helicopter hit the building so I continued on to work - 2 blocks away since I had no cell service and didn't want to be alone.

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I was at work in the South Tower (2 World Trade Center-just started working for Morgan Stanley in July).

We started evacuting at 9:15am and walked down from the 67th floor.......

I got down at 9:51am and the tower collapsed at 9:59am....will never forget it....

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I was still in college at the time and working in retail.

I had to work in the morning then go to school. I heard about the first plane from my boss when I was at work.

I went home from work and watch it all on TV. Never went to class. I sat with my friends for a while and then went over the DHs (then BF) and spent the night with him. His parents were away in Vegas.

My parents were away in Niagara Falls and I couldn't get in contact with them all day. They had come over to NY to visit my mom's old College and couldn't get back over the border into Canada to their hotel room.

I finally got in touch with them about 8 pm that night. They were supposed to fly home but instead drove a rent a car.

I remember the streets of LI being so empty that day.

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I was in midtown

DH was in Brooklyn and in traffic...saw the first plane hit the tower and couldn't believe what he was seeing

He called me to tell me that something was wrong

We didn't know at that moment it was an attack

The streets were mobbed...we saw emergency vehicles racing back and forth...I watched a ticker with the news and finally understood

I made it to a friends appt further uptown and finally got back in touch with DH - he begged me to walk the bridge but I was afraid to but I did in fear that something would happen to it and we were all exposed

I cried when I realized DH's cousin was stationed in Tribeca as I walked - I had a cop welcome me home and that made me cry more and I'll never forget his face or his voice

I will never forget in the confusion to get onto Queens Blvd (I'm a LI girl) that DH grabbed me from the crowd and I could see the exhaustion on his face from trying to find me.

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I was on the LIRR pulling out of jamaica and saw the smoke from the first tower. The train was so silent. The man next to me said "Looks like a small fire" We turned a corner. The towers came into view. I said to the man "that's a hole in the building and a fire".

Walked to the rehearsal of a show I was just about to go out on tour with. 54th street. Nola Studios. People were lined up for auditions, like nothing was unusual except people were lined up to use the pay phones. Cell phones were dead. The pentagon has been hit. Then the second tower.

We start rehearsal. The pianist has a small tv. Gasps. The first tower just fell. We heard a rumbling a few moments later. Evacuate the building. Walk three miles with 2 other actors to one of their apt's. Try to give blood but tuned away. Stop and listen to car radios. I remember sobbing.

Waiting at a light. A shortish dark haired man makes a joke about something. I don't remember but it made me smile. He smiles back and continues walking. Friend looks at me and says, "That was Jon Stewart." Surreal.

We sit in her courtyard. Eating ice cream and drinking beers. Watching fighter jets fly over head. The city is so quiet except for these planes. So loud.....

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i was working at Modell's
and my husband was there at the world trade center ...

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I was at work in queens..my now dh then fh was at school by wtc....I just got one call.......OMG THERE IS A HOLE IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS.......and then I could not call anyone....thank god he was OK...

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I was heading to my second day of grad school at Pace University, in lower Manhattan.

I got on the SI ferry and saw that the first tower had been hit. I was talking to other people on the ferry, and we all assumed it was just a small plane.

Then I watched an airplane fly across the water. I said to myself, "That has to be a rescue plane, it has to be a rescue plane."

It wasn't a rescue plane. I watched it hit the towers, saw the fireball, then heard the BOOM 10 seconds later.

I called my dad. He told me to come home. The ferry hadn't left yet, so I got off and got on the SI train. While sitting there waiting for it to leave, I saw my BIL walking by. I pounded on the window so that he would see me. He had just taken the last ferry back from Manhattan after the second plane flew over his head while he walked through Battery Park.

While on the train, a girl with a radio told us that the first tower had collapsed. In my mind, everyone was out of there...my mind couldn't comprehend what was going on.

I got off the train with my BIL and we stopped at his insurance agent's office. They told us the pentagon was hit. The secretary looked at me and said that it looked like I was going to pass out. She got me a chair and water...

BIL drove me home.

Somewhere in there, I finally got in touch with DH, who was frantic, as Pace is two blocks from WTC.

I will never, ever forget the details of that day....

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I was in the Trade Center that morning for about 45 minutes, taking some 'me' time to just sit and read (my dad had dropped me off really early at the subway that morning b/c we were living in Queens at the time, near where my dad works, and my (then BF now) DH was working on Long Island that day so he couldn't drop me off for my 'normal time'.
I got into the WTC early, and went to Borders to sit and read. I bought a book and left. Then I started up the escalator, then went back down to get some breakfast, but then changed my mind and went back up to head to my office in the World Financial Center. To this day I'm sure it was my grandma who died when I was 7 pushing me out- I remember it so well.
I walked across the bridge and into my building- and when I got in the elevator and started up to my floor the whole building shook. I got out and a coworker who I knew, but not well, was running at us crying and pushing us all back in the elevator, which was still going up, not down to the lobby. I remember her panic as she told me she watched a plane hit the WTC and that we all had to get out now. I remember a banker coming by and telling us we had meetings to go to and to get to work, and I remember telling him that my dad had made me promise when I took this job that if anything ever didn't feel 'right' to just get out of the building and that if it meant being fired this was something I had to do. I remember getting out of the elevator and waiting for one that was going down (I was 29 floors up and wasn't thinking about needing to take the stairs).
When I finally got outside I remember seeing hundreds of people just staring up at the building and I remember pieces of paper coming down like confetti. I remember looking up and seeing people jumping out of the building, and I remember just falling back onto the seat b/c it was all too much for my brain to absorb at once.
By that point I put my bag down and I actually had my camera with me, but I didn't know if it was appropriate to take photos. I finally started to take a couple of pictures b/c I couldn't believe what was happening and then I heard it... that awful and terrifying noise of the 2nd plane, a sound I will never forget. Then I saw it hit and at that point just grabbed my bag and started running for my life.
About 12 (or more- who knows how many) blocks away I bumped into 2 women who worked in my building but I wasn't in their group. I had covered for someone in their group the week before and helped the one out with a lot of work... which thrilled her. She took me home with her, and allowed me to call my family so my dad could come pick me up. We walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and I remember stopping to take more pictures.... I still have them, but can't bring myself to look at them often.
My cell phone didn't work and I couldn't get through to anyone- so once we got into Brooklyn aways I found a payphone with less than 10 people on it, so I told them I HAD to stop and call my mom. They waited for me and I still can't talk about the moment on the phone with my mom without breaking into hysterics. I remember her just screaming and crying, and that nothing I could say could calm her. She thought I might've been dead and said people were calling her all morning and everyone was panicking.
I finally made it to this woman's house and she gave me mangos, which I had never had before, and will probably never have again. I remember her letting me use her phone and calling my (now) FIL to tell him I was ok and that my dad was coming to get me. I remember him crying on the phone also. I wasn't able to get through to my DH until much later in the day b/c he's freelance and his cell phone wasn't working either. Once I got back to Queens I was able to see him and my DB and SIL. We all just fell on the floor holding eachother and crying. We drove out to where I live now that night to see my mom and DH and I stayed with my parents for days. This day always makes everything feel like it happened yesterday.
God Bless America today and always. May all of those who lost their lives rest in peace and never be forgotten. For all of those who are fighting for our country as well as those who do their part to keep our country safe, God Bless You All.

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I was sleeping at the time of the first plane hitting the first tower. My sister woke me up and told me what was happening.

I was a recruit in the Police Academy at the time and was to report to into the city along with all the other recruits to help with the rescue efforts.

It took so long to get to the city that day. Eventually we were sent out to help at different parts of the city.

I remember the smoke and dust being so thick. And getting so dirty, so fast...

I remember walking down to ground zero to help in the "rescue" and feeling numb.

I remember seeing grown men breaking down before my eyes when their search was failing.

I remember the Missing flyers on the bus stops and subways of the friends and family members lost. I remember the pictures doubling and tripling everyday.

I remember getting applauded when walking out of a subway after responding to a call for help and being Thanked for doing my job and for being their to help.

I remember the kind acts that the citizens of New York did for us. And the warmth we felt as a city.

I remember to much to forget.

To All of the Police Officers and Firemen lost that day, You are ALL in my prayers forever.

To everyone who lost a loved one...I'm sorry...

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I ended up on 14th Street. Took the subway from Penn, on my way downtown to see a client. Then the train stopped at 14th street, told us all there was an emergency and to get off the subway. Then, walked up the stairs and EVERYONE was screaming, crying, in shock. I looked up and saw the 1st tower on fire, as a stranger was explaining to me that they think a small plane it the tower, I saw the second plane fly overhead and go into tower 2. I freaked out. I stood there. Someone there said " I am a small craft pilot and we are trained to go into the river if we care having problems. that plane MEANT to hit the tower. Then, I knew. I knew this was NO mistake.

I walked to Penn, I saw my neighbor and I was a wreck. he was a fireman in Port Washington, was in the 93 bombing (b/c he worked there). I ran to him, asked him to help me get home, that I did not know if Rob was OK. He was like "I really have to get down there to help" and I begged him to stay with me and he said just until we can get in touch with Rob, but I have to help down there. The, 15 minutes later, we saw the towers come down from the front of Penn Station. Rob called my cell on the direct connect 5 minutes after that. My friend Denis was a mess, I told him to go home with me and come home to his wife tonight. He helped there everyday after 9/11 with the recovery.

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In the car on the way to register my sister for school, the fear of what we heard on the radio literally had people pulling off to the side of the LIE to just listen in awe.

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Posted by MrsMessina

I was in the Trade Center that morning for about 45 minutes, taking some 'me' time to just sit and read (my dad had dropped me off really early at the subway that morning b/c we were living in Queens at the time, near where my dad works, and my (then BF now) DH was working on Long Island that day so he couldn't drop me off for my 'normal time'.
I got into the WTC early, and went to Borders to sit and read. I bought a book and left. Then I started up the escalator, then went back down to get some breakfast, but then changed my mind and went back up to head to my office in the World Financial Center. To this day I'm sure it was my grandma who died when I was 7 pushing me out- I remember it so well.
I walked across the bridge and into my building- and when I got in the elevator and started up to my floor the whole building shook. I got out and a coworker who I knew, but not well, was running at us crying and pushing us all back in the elevator, which was still going up, not down to the lobby. I remember her panic as she told me she watched a plane hit the WTC and that we all had to get out now. I remember a banker coming by and telling us we had meetings to go to and to get to work, and I remember telling him that my dad had made me promise when I took this job that if anything ever didn't feel 'right' to just get out of the building and that if it meant being fired this was something I had to do. I remember getting out of the elevator and waiting for one that was going down (I was 29 floors up and wasn't thinking about needing to take the stairs).
When I finally got outside I remember seeing hundreds of people just staring up at the building and I remember pieces of paper coming down like confetti. I remember looking up and seeing people jumping out of the building, and I remember just falling back onto the seat b/c it was all too much for my brain to absorb at once.
By that point I put my bag down and I actually had my camera with me, but I didn't know if it was appropriate to take photos. I finally started to take a couple of pictures b/c I couldn't believe what was happening and then I heard it... that awful and terrifying noise of the 2nd plane, a sound I will never forget. Then I saw it hit and at that point just grabbed my bag and started running for my life.
About 12 (or more- who knows how many) blocks away I bumped into 2 women who worked in my building but I wasn't in their group. I had covered for someone in their group the week before and helped the one out with a lot of work... which thrilled her. She took me home with her, and allowed me to call my family so my dad could come pick me up. We walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and I remember stopping to take more pictures.... I still have them, but can't bring myself to look at them often.
My cell phone didn't work and I couldn't get through to anyone- so once we got into Brooklyn aways I found a payphone with less than 10 people on it, so I told them I HAD to stop and call my mom. They waited for me and I still can't talk about the moment on the phone with my mom without breaking into hysterics. I remember her just screaming and crying, and that nothing I could say could calm her. She thought I might've been dead and said people were calling her all morning and everyone was panicking.
I finally made it to this woman's house and she gave me mangos, which I had never had before, and will probably never have again. I remember her letting me use her phone and calling my (now) FIL to tell him I was ok and that my dad was coming to get me. I remember him crying on the phone also. I wasn't able to get through to my DH until much later in the day b/c he's freelance and his cell phone wasn't working either. Once I got back to Queens I was able to see him and my DB and SIL. We all just fell on the floor holding eachother and crying. We drove out to where I live now that night to see my mom and DH and I stayed with my parents for days. This day always makes everything feel like it happened yesterday.
God Bless America today and always. May all of those who lost their lives rest in peace and never be forgotten. For all of those who are fighting for our country as well as those who do their part to keep our country safe, God Bless You All.

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I was on Rt. 3 near the Meadowlands (I live in NJ), every car on the road was stopped and everyone was out of their cars watching it all unfold. An image I will never ever forget as long as I live.