So, anybody remember where they were???

[scottpA_GS]

I was a first responder to the FLT93 crash site

I was @ the Johnstown, PA Airport at my job back then as a Security Police officer for the USAF RES. I had been at work for about 3 hours that day working security for the DOD operated Tower at JST Airport. Flight 93 passed directly over our airport (I even saw it) seemed as though I could have reached out and touched it! It was rare to see such a large aircraft soo close to the ground in our airspace (about 1600ft off the ground). While I was in the tower FLT93 was told to land there @ (JST) by Cleveland AT Control,  our tower got no response from the aircraft and after numerous attempts to contact FLT93 Cobra Choppers had been scrambled from the Marine RES unit there. The Airport and everything surrounding 5 mile radius was shut down to a dead stop expecting that they would get the aircraft to land there. Myself and my 2 co-workers jumped in the Humvee and waited at the end of the runway prepared to follow orders direct from the pentagon should the aircraft land.

About 5 mins after the plane passed our airport myself and 2 other SP's got the call that a plane was down and to secure the crash site in Somerset county just 15 mins from my home. We boarded a Marine chopper and landed in Shanksville, PA only 15 mins after flight 93 went down. Myself and my 2 co-workers (SP's) along with about 15 Marines and Army reservists where
some of the first people on site. There was only one fire truck and 2 state police officers there when we landed.  I spent 4 days at the FLT93 crash site working 18-24hr days sleeping in/on Marine Humvees keeping the press and onlookers out of the way of the recovery effort. I also assisted in the recovery clearing and recovering debris. It was HORRIBLE!

I haven't talked about it much until now. I really don't like the memories I have of that day. the sights, smells and sounds of that crash site are with me every day. The day I left the crash site was my last day of active duty reserve. After seeing the chaos and damage first hand I really hate to re-live it every year.

[frankieG]

at work at the navy recruiting center in cornado cali

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Freshman American History class...

[DrtRydr23]

Walking into the student union during my junior year at K-State.  It was on one of the big screen Tvs in a lounge area, and on every other tv in the place.  I started watching right before the second tower got hit.  Crazy day.

[vtlion]

Teaching a chemistry class in Willard Hall at Penn State.  Someone said just before class that they thought they heard about a plane hitting a building in New York.  I pictured some nut-job in a single engine plane or something like that.  Finished the class and went to the HUB to see an ocean of people in front of the big TV.  That's when I knew it was something bigger.

[yamahonkawazuki]

was at my apartment in phoenix, rolled over at around 6a flipped tv on, heard first tehn was like wtf kinda tv show at 6am is this ( then isaw), our president oramac has done well handling it, given the circumstances. our military is doing the best they can ( and always will). not going to say im satisfied, but were doin the best we can atm. although the racism in phoenix was rather intense ( on both sides) targeting anything that looked indoian or middle eastern

[MrDan]

I can remember looking up as we walked across our parking lots at the crystal clear blue sky.  I can't recall ever seeing a sky as beautiful as I had that day.  Then I realized why:  no con trails, no lines of snow-white vapor criss-crossing the blue, no distant passenger jets catching the sunlight.  No subtle rumble from far away aircraft.  Nothing.  Just blue sky.

That reminds me ... do you remember the first time you saw a plane flying again?  I was at work walking the lot with some customers.  All of a sudden we heard a strange sound - looked up to see a plane flying overhead on it's way to BWI ... and right over the NSA/Ft Meade.  We just stood there until it was out of sight ... surreal.

[oramac]

No, I don't remember the first flight after the grounding.  However, every time I see an unusually low flying plane, I still wonder...

[yamahonkawazuki]

and shortly thereafter when we were ramping up for afghanistan, ( long before iraq) i worked bank security directly underneath teh flightline for sky harbor airport in phoenix. scared teh f**k  out of me, cause we had b52 after b52 flyin as low as 200ft above ground. THAT brought chills to my spine ( i was at 48st&washington)

[skiggitty]

I was on my way in to work... listening to primus CD and had no idea until I got close to the main gate of Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Base, California.  The interstate was backed up and it was highly unusual.  When I got closer someone next to me in the line of cars waiting to get on base told me what had happened.  We spent quite some time just to get on base due to the car by car search and inspection.  I spent the rest of the day with my unit watching footage on TV.