[CaptainRich]

Remarkable, Scott. Thank you for sharing that with us. All the best to you and your family.

[SDRAWKCAB-SDRAWROF]

I remember I was in a maths class at school, listening to the radio and practically every station switched to news bulletins.
Then when I got home my mum was watching something and I honestly thought it was a film. Then I realised it wasn't.

[startover22]

Yes, scott there are many things I will never know that came out of September 11th, glad to hear your side... before and after. Hugs to you sweet.

[Greg Quinn]

Wow Scott... I just read that story and I'm really glad you went to see your daughter. What did you say to the principle after that silliness?

[Tuscany]

I was student teaching in a small community near the PA NY border. I remember that one of my students came in and told me to turn on the TV. The rest of the day we were glued to it. I remember too when I found out that a boy that I had ridden horses with for years had died. Being at ground zero in the years since is almost surreal.

There is a family in my home town whose oldest son died in 9/11. 3 or 4 weeks ago they lost their youngest son in a tragic car accident... I can't imagine burying two children each before 25 years old. Today is so tough on so many...

Oh Scott, I am sitting here crying for you. I can't imagine living through that day, and then reliving it every day since then. Such an experience is heartbreaking. Thank God you made it, but the insensitivity is uncalled for!

[ScottGem]

Wow Scott... I just read that story and I'm really glad you went to see your daughter. What did you say to the principle after that silliness?

I was so floored that she would think anyone would fabricate something like that, that I just said something like, "well I was there".

My dtr decided to stay in school so later that day when we both came to pick her up, I sought out the AP and showed her one of my business cards with the WTC address to prove to her I worked there. Her reaction was that we weren't supposed to be in the school building after classes ended. What has always bugged me about this was the total insensitivity of someone who is supposed to be an educator.

[Greg Quinn]

Absolutely! This person did this in front of your daughter. You have a few strengths I may not possess Scott... I would have right snapped. LOL

[startover22]

Absolutely! This person did this in front of your daughter. You have a few strengths I may not possess Scott.... I would have right snapped. LOL

Me too. Me too. You are a treasure Scott...

[shatteredsoul]

Scott, some people have an awareness of others and a sense of compassion and some don't. Apparently this woman is more than insensitive, she is mean spirited and cruel. I don't know how anyone could have this kind of response when this magnititude of a tragedy had occurred. Thank God that you are the better person and you didn't stoop to her level. She has to look in the mirror everyday and face who she is. What happened to you was a mixture of fate and luck, and you are forever entertwined with everything that occurred and continues to take place because of that day. I am thankful that people like you are willing to open our eyes to how we should not only remember, but how treat those that are still here with the kindness and respect that they deserve. THis means you too! We do appreciate your willingness to open up about something so painful.

[ScottGem]

Thanks Soul,
I've been somewhat hesitant about raising this issue because I understand and appreciate the greater loss of others. It just gets a little thick this time of year. I was watching Oliver Stone's WTC film (with Nicholas Cage) Saturday night. I was impressed how accurate and even understated the film was. It was kind of creepy watching people walk through the concourse in bewilderment because it was EXACTLY like that.

But then, during the credits, there was a dedication to the people who fought and died that day, with nothing about those who lived through it. Kind of put a damper on what was otherwise a very good film for me.

[shatteredsoul]

This post has made me realize how much we don't know or understand, with so many silent victims like yourself. Your insight has shown me that I too, did not consider ( to the extent that I should have), all of those that lived through that nightmare and live with it daily. Like you. YOu are meant to be a teacher and a guide for us, that is maybe part of why you lived through it. The wool is no longer over my eyes, and I promise not to be so ignorant. I want you to know that I dedicate this post to all of those who died, lost, and SURVIVED this day and it has made it that much more important to me to be more understanding and aware of your perspective. Maybe you should write a book one day about all of this, I know in this post you have already changed me. Your words are a gift and I thank you for that. God Bless you and your family.

[GlindaofOz]

While it is certainly sad that people lost their lives on that day and that people lost so many loved ones it is often forgotten that people did survive. I cannot imagine what it is like for you Scott and others who were able to get out of the towers. I imagine there is a huge amount of guilt, relief, despair, pain, every emotion that fills you and haunts you. Also the thoughts of why did I get to survive. I always imagined that it was difficult for those who survived. Thank you for sharing your story. You should talk about it it's a very important part of our history as well as your own

[sGt HarDKorE]

I was in school and everyone and thing seemed to slow down. Teachers stopped teaching and were in the office watching the TV. I snuck into the office and saw it for a minute or 2 before I was kicked out. Then the school was shut down and everyone went home. My step mom came to pick me up and I tried asking her what's going on but she wouldn't tell me, we just listened to it on the radio. She was crying and then we met my dad and we just sat there (Me still being clueless.) That all I can remember aside from daily silences for the dead and the news.

What I hate now is how everyone has forgotten about it. My teacher once said that Bin laden under estimated the shallowness of Americans. He pointed out that Americans worry more about how Paris Hilton is in jail.

I was only in like 4th grade or something but since then I have felt a different feeling for the Country. My brother went to iraq, everyone was pratiotic and working together to help each other. Now it seems like everyone is back to normal which is fine, but I'm the only one I know who believes in the country so much. I have an american flag on my wall, the military symbols on my wall, a marine bumper sticker on my window, pictures of military people working together on my wall, and more. So many people take things for granted. Imagine living in North Korea, starving, slowly dying from pain, being controlled by one man and having no freedom.

I would give my life if I had to, my life is not any more important than a Iraqi's or anyone else's. We are all people of one race.

As americans we feel that we are better than others and we get angry when we lose a couple hundred soldiers when Iraq is losing millions of people. If everyone just worked together things would be easier.

And I know someone is going to say this war is a bad idea and that is fine, but why stop supporting the troops? Th troops didn't decide to go to war, the President did. The least you can do is help them out, don't punish them for your opinions. I don't believe in the war 100% but I would still go and fight because I want to protect what we worked for and my family.

If I can protect one persons life then it is a success to me, and maybe the U.S. is not in iraq for the best reason, (Some say oil, maybe its true?) but the troops are there for you and I. And I hate it so much when my friends say they have no sympathy for the troops because they volunteered. They say they weren't forced and want to take the easy way. Well if I join I'm not going to do it because it's the easy way, I'm going to do it to protect some of these morons who are sheltered from everything.

Anyway there is my speech, Happy Patriot Day!

[ScottGem]

First, 9/11 has hardly been forgotten.

Second, The troops are being supported. In my opinion the best way to support them is to bring them home safely.

Third, Why should anyone have to give up their life for a stranger?

[Emland]

I thought September 11, 2001, was going to be a great day. It was a beautiful, cloudless day and my daughter's umbilical had fallen off and I was preparing her first tub bath.

A little later on, my husband called, told me to lock the doors and turn on the TV - World War III had started. He worked at the Joint Systems Command nearby at the time.

I sat and watched in horror with my mother and held my baby close to me. We just sat and stared for most of the day in disbelief. I had the most overwhelming horrible feeling later that afternoon when CNN started showing photos of the hijackers. I recognized one of them as a customer and nearly collasped. I called my boss and got the "are you absolutely sure??!!" routine. The next morning I had two armed FBI agents at my door. There was little I could tell them that they didn't already know, but offered all I had willingly. This experience influenced me to join the TSA when they were looking for screeners.

This day always makes me emotional and I walk around with an upset stomach.

[GlindaofOz]

Oh my Emland! I cannot even imagine. You worked with one of them? How creepy. Someone you see everyday.

[Emland]

No, I didn't work with him. He was a customer.

[CaptainRich]

First, 9/11 has hardly been forgotten.

Second, The troops are being supported. IMHO the best way to support them is to bring them home safely.

Third, Why should anyone have to give up their life for a stranger?

9/11 is not forgotten and the troops will come home, all in due time.

And strangers risk their lives for us everyday. They patrol our streets and rush into burning building and fiery car crashes every time we call. Not stopping to see "who's here..."

[sGt HarDKorE]

First, 9/11 has hardly been forgotten.

Second, The troops are being supported. IMHO the best way to support them is to bring them home safely.

Third, Why should anyone have to give up their life for a stranger?

On the radio today, the biggest news was Brittany Spears coming out of a limo with no underwear on. The 9/11 thing was about 5 seconds if that.

People use to say thank you to marines when they saw them but now it is no big deal to most.

Maybe not where you are, but no one has spoken about 9/11 since today.

And 9/11 seemed to kind of drift away. I remember watching the news every day since 9/11 and after a week, 9/11 was hardly spoken about. Only on the few occasions of when osama sent videos out.

[GlindaofOz]

I think that there is also a larger issue at play which is people not being connected to the world around them nor understanding the sacrifices that those in the military make everyday for us back here.

I have to say that people do still respect the military. I was at the post office about a month ago and young man at the counter was shipping a package to Iraq. The postal worker asked if someone he knew was overseas and he said no that he was shipping things to himself since he was going back in a few days. You saw everyone in the line look at that young man who pride. The man next to him shook his hand and as he walked out everyone thanked him for what he was doing. I thought it was an amazing show of support