September 11, 2001.
September 11th, 2001 Age: 9. Grade: 4th. Washingtonville, NY
"Ms. Hock why are we being sent home early?" "Because a plane crashed in the city and we want to make sure if one crashes up here you all will be ok." "What building?! My Daddy works in the city!" "So does my Mom and Aunt!" "My grandparents live there too!" ---- "Hey look over in the distance there is a ton of smoke! Is that a fire?! Is that from the city?!" "Yes it is, hurry everyone please get on the buses to take you home!" ---- "Is this your Mom?" "Yes! Mom the teachers had to walk us all home off the bus! What happened?!" "Ma'am you have to sign her off here." "Mom what's going on?" "We are going to Eddie and Michael's house to watch the news." "What happened?" "Something really bad happened in the city." ---- "It has been about two hours since the collapse of the North Tower and as the story develops with the tragedy in New York City Washington D.C and in Pennsylvania, it is becoming more clear that this has truly been an act of terrorism. We stand by as the Present is about to make a statement." "Hey Mom what does 'terrorism' mean?" "Something really bad Michael... it means people purposely hurt and scare other people." "Why would they do that?" "Because the world is a really messed up place." ---- "...the city is calling for all local fire fighters from the surrounding counties to come and aid in the rescue efforts to find those still trapped in the buildings." "Ian's dad is going down with some of the other firefighters to help." "I heard Ian say that his Dad told his Mom they fully expect to find more dead people than they do alive people." ---- "School is closed for the new few days, you will go back next week." ---- "My Mom works in the Twin Towers but she was sick and didn't go to work that day!" "Yeah my best friend's Dad was late to work because she missed the bus to school and he had to take her, he was suppose to be there at 8 but was on the bridge when the plane hit the first tower!" "My aunt and cousin worked in the other building and left before it was hit! That's so crazy!" ---- "My uncle was on one of the top floors. He didn't make it." ---- "Hey I haven't seen Amanda since school started again where is she?" "Her Dad died in the towers." ---- I will never forget.
