Your Stories: September 11, 2001

LevittownNow.com asked readers to share their memories on September 11, 2001.

Here’s are the stories our readers shared:

I was a freshman at BCTHS when it happened. They were working on the cable that day so we had no TV except in a few classrooms, and the Internet was a little bogged down. I was upstairs in biology class when a student from one of the automotive shops downstairs comes in and yells “Someone just crashed their plane into the World Trade Center.” Apparently the student downstairs had access to a radio and was getting the word out. Next class period rolled around, and the hallways were a buzz with the news that some other planes might of gotten hijacked and rumors of a war were bouncing back and forth. About 75% of the school didn’t have access to the media, so when the next class period came, everyone was scrambling to find their friends or teachers they knew who had a working TV or computer. It’s amazing how if this happened today, everyone with a smart phone would be getting that information in a heartbeat.

After about 2 hours and no official word from the principal, I went into the guidance center and called my dad, who was just about to go get my mom from work at the Fairless Hills Walmart. Just as I was waiting in the office, our principal finally made an announcement on it.

We drove to the Walmart and waited for my mom in the electronics department, every TV focusing on the towers as one by one they fell to the ground. Everyone, customers, managers, cashiers, all huddled around the TVs. Some people were crying, others frozen, and the occasional old man comment along the lines of “Those damn commies!” we’re mumbled.

Coming home that day brought some chills, trying to get onto AOL was impossible. I was worried about my uncle who was traveling that day and my Instant Message buddies who lived in the area. Thankfully everyone was safe, but getting the news that they were took days. Way before social media and high speed wi-fi, dial up was the only way to go. And with every server busy and every phone line clogged with worried people trying to reunite with family, the simplest things we do today by sharing a status or an email meant a battle of patience.

Submitted by Amanda Ranochak

I was only ten years old on 9/11 but I will never forget this day and getting the news while sitting in my fifth grade math class of what had just happened in New York. It didn’t fully register to me exactly what happened, I didn’t know what “terrorists” were or why we weren’t allowed outside for recess but I did know that whatever happened was really scary for me.

After watching a lot of students being pulled from school by parents throughout the day, it was time to walk home after school let out. I will never lose the visual image of my mom standing in our driveway with tears steaming down her face and waiting for my brother and I to walk up our driveway to give us a big hug. It was strange for her to be home from work this early but she explained to us what had happened in a way that we could better understand and comforted us. She then gave us the news that our great aunt, Aunt Sandy works in one of those buildings. We were in shock. Inside, my dad (who is my Aunt Sandy’s nephew) had locked himself in his bedroom, laying in bed and very upset over the events of the day and dealing with the fact that his aunt more than likely did not make it out of the tower alive. It was unusual to see my father upset and I don’t remember ever seeing him like this before.

My family lost a great woman that day. Sandra Wright of Langhorne, PA passed in The South Tower of The World Trade Center, the second building hit. A grandmother, a mother, an aunt, a sister, and so much more. Being as young as I was, I did not have many memories with her but as the years pass, I am told more and more stories from family members of what a great woman she was. She is missed every day and I am glad to have the memories I do with my great aunt.

Submitted by Cory Wilson

My name is Jessica and I’m 27 years old.

I’m originally from Germany and moved to the States

at the age of 19. At the time of the attack on the Twin Towers I was 13 years old and I just came home from school. It was 3 pm in Germany when I turned on the tv and the horrifying pictures of the World Trade Center were displayed. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The first thing I did was call my friend and said “Are you seeing this?”. I was very upset, thinking about the people who are in the towers. How many lost their lives and others leaving the towers to save their lives. My friend and I were on the phone for a couple hours just exchanging thoughts while we were both following the same images on TV. It was truly unbelievable!

My parents and I were glued to the tv until very late that day.

The next morning I got on the school bus, it was quieter than usual. I headed to class, no one was really saying anything. No laughing in the hallways, nothing. It was so eerie. We were all sitting waiting for our class to start and my teacher came in and walked to the front of the class. She was definitely struggling for words and didn’t know what to say to us. Eventually we just started talking about what happened the previous day in New York. That day we didn’t get much done in any class.

The year prior to 9/11 my sister was in the United States as an AuPair and when she came back she told me everything about it. She loved New York and the people! Ever since she came back from her experience in March 2001, I have been wanting to be an AuPair in the United States. So once I was old enough I made my dream come true and came here in October 2006. The first thing I did was visit New York. And just like my sister, I fell in love with the city.

I’m very fortunate to still be here and live not too far from New York.

Every year when the anniversary comes around I think about what I did that day. I don’t think anybody will ever forget what they did the day the World Trade Center was attacked.

Submitted by Jessica

I was on vacation with family in Florida. We were at Epcot about to go on the Aerosmith roller coaster. A security guard approached us saying “we had to evacuate immediately.” People were running all over the place screaming, crying and in pure panic. Everything you could think of that day was shut down. Very scary and a tragic day to remember.

Submitted by Joelleena

My husband and I arrived at St. Mary Hospital to give birth to my 2nd child when I was just getting ready to be taken to the OR for a C-Section when the 1st plane crashed through the tower. My OB’s parents lived in NYC and was naturally concerned for their safety and not focused; all cell phone communication was down and she was having trouble reaching them. My daughter’s delivery was delayed as long as possible; next thing I remember was watching the 2nd crash as the Nurses in pre-op brought a TV in the room to occupy us. In the midst of all this tragedy, my daughter was finally born shortly before noon. A day to never be forgotten but one we worried she, as well as all of us always felt so guilty about celebrating, while others mourned their losses. I believe that’s why my daughter has such a HUGE heart and LOVES everyone. She was blessed with their departing souls. My heart go out to all the families effected by this tragedy.

Submitted by Shannon Bidlingmaier

I remember being in middle school and being in the lunch room and my neighbor took me out of school because we didn’t know if more attacks were going to happen. I just remember watching the mess all day long and for months after. Every time a plane would go by, no one knew if it was going to be another attack. As odd as it might sound, I had a dream the night before about a plane crashing into a building. To this day, if a plane that goes by, if its too low, it always gets me wondering.

Submitted by Melissa Trotta

I was late for school and my step mom was driving me. We heard it on the radio and honestly I thought it was a really bad radio prank at first. Until I got to school. I walked into 1st period and everyone was staring at the tv crying. And all of junior firefighters pagers were going off. I remember going home that night to my parents ( both firefighters) , all they wanted to do was go up there and help. I remember some of their sister squads sent people up. Until that day I had never seen either if my parents cry. Watching them want to help and knowing they couldn’t because people from each squad had to stay behind. It was in those moments I truly understood how bad it was.

Submitted by Brittney Taylor

I dropped my husband off at the train station in Trenton to go to New York. When I came home I went straight out to the pool. When I came in there were tons of messages on my cell and answering machine. ….From everyone We knew. ..Then I turned on the Tv and just sank to my knees. I couldn’t get a hold of him because there was no cell service. I watched the Tv for a few hours..and after a while I saw him walk by a news camera..So relieved..He was able to get the ferry to New Jersey and train home from there. No comparison to those that lost love ones.

Submitted by Brenda Hatch

I was In my 8th grade history class. Our teacher was directed to turn of the TV that was in our room.he instructed us to sit quietly, closed the classroom blinds,and turned on our local news. He said this is history and the fallout can directly effect us. Kids were called to the office that families were involved , many kids were there. Many did not know if their parents were alive, most of the families in our town commuted to NY for work. My aunt was frantic looking for her long term boyfriend who was a police officer and almost stuck in the second building due to lack of communication, he gifted my brother wih his NYPD hat covered in white powder.

Submitted by Jtothe Oyce

I was in middle school at Charles Bohem and the class I was in was gym class. We were in middle jogging the track and all we know our teaches were telling us to come and quickly and put us on lock down. Than the principal got on loud speaker started to about what happen. My thoughts and prayers go out to the girl who lost her dad because he was one of the person flying one of the planes who hit the towers.

Submitted by Jessica Chobert