I reconstructed a tower using the same blocks my son and his friend used on September 11, 2001, to duplicate what they saw on television. These are also the same airplanes they flew into the tower. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
THEY REPEATED THE ACTION: Build the towers. Fly the planes. Smash the towers. Build. Fly. Smash.
A dozen years ago today my then seven-year-old son, Caleb, not feeling well and home from school, played with his friend Sam.
I have never forgotten that scene unfolding on my living room floor. Two boys imitating what they saw on television. Me, shocked, unable to turn off the TV and shield them from the horrors of an attack on America.
What do you remember, from a personal perspective, of that day 12 years ago when so many innocent people lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on our country? What were you thinking? How did you feel?
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
It is a day that no American will forget. I was at the warehouse with “the guys” getting matboard samples ready to ship and had the radio on when the news broke. We all piled into my van in the parking lot to watch the tv in horror. Chris was traveling making sales calls so it was me and Bubba (yep), Mark and Quentin watching in horror. It was very hard to get back to work that day. I just wanted to grab the boys from their schools and go home but calls from the schools assured me they were both safe and sound where they were at so I tried to work but did not do much but listen to the news the rest of that horrible day. Chris and Micah and I are going to go to the memorial on our October trip to see Micah. I had better take a box of kleenex—-I imagine I will be weeping.
Thanks for sharing your reaction to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. I expect none of us will ever forget where we were, how we felt. And, yes, a box of Kleenex certainly should accompany you to the memorial.
And waterproof mascara. I know myself. While I want to see it I know it will be very difficult.
I expect many people feel that way. Be sure to share the story of your visit with us.
I can remember listening to the start of it on the KQ morning show when it was being reported as a small plane crashing into it. First thought was, someone flying must have had a medical emergency to have crashed into such a large building. When I heard it was a jet, then my reaction was terrorism and then the anger set in. Anger then turned to sadness/concern for those that were just going through their daily routine, same as I was. The rest of the day at work and then at home was spent in total disbelief at what I was witnessing. It still feels like a bad movie and is hard as heck to watch. I still watch the documentaries on NatGeo and History Channel and think we all should so we don’t forget how it feels. Now I know how my Grandparents must have felt when they heard about Pearl Harbor.
It’s interesting that you should mention the KQ morning show as my husband listens to that and called me this a.m. to hear the replay of that 9/11 show. I heard only a portion of it.
I think you’re correct in that now we know how our grandparents/parents felt about Pearl Harbor. I remember my mom saying she had no concept of where Pearl Harbor was located and thought it was nearby. She was only a child then and could not possibly understand.
I was at work and the TV in the break room reminded me of a Die Hard movie because it did not seem REAL to me what I was seeing and watching take place! I remember calling family and friends to check up and say a quick I love you. I thought about the attack on Pearl Harbor and thought I would never see a terrorist attack in my lifetime in the U.S. I had a family member (war veteran) take their life on the 1 yr anniversary of 9/11, so this day is always in the back of my mind and in my thoughts because of that tragic event. Be Blessed and Lets Say a Prayer today to those who are lost and to those that serve our country to keep us safe and sound!!!
A double difficult day for you, Renee. I am so sorry about the loss of your family member. Your last few sentences are worthy of remembering today. Thank you for sharing your personal thoughts and experiences.
Wow, such a vivid memory. Turns out that was the day that we got cable TV for the first time ever – just in time to watch the horror unfolding. I was teaching then, and my students are the ones who told me about the planes – it had all happened since I’d left home. I blogged about it last year, I think, so I’ll spare you the details…which I’ll never forget.
I doubt any of us will ever forget. Where we were. How we felt.
I was sitting in my family room folding towels watching the “Today show”. At first it’s disbelief, then it gets real. I remember calling Rick at work and telling him he needs to come home and see this (he was still unaware). He did, and we watched in silence. It changed our world forever, still saddens me when I am reminded of this horrific day… a senseless act of evil!
Jackie, thanks for sharing your memories of that horrible day 12 years ago when our world, as we thought of it, forever changed.
We had been out for dinner and came home to watch a documentary on TV. While we were watching a message flashed across the screen saying a plane had crashed into the World Trade Centre. We switched channels and watched the horror of it all unfold. We couldn’t move from the TV and stayed there until about 4am. Absolutely horrific and so tragic for all those innocent people just going about their everyday lives. War is bad enough but when there’s an attack on innocent civilians, well that’s just a whole new level of evil xx
Thank you for sharing your remembrances of 9/11, Charlie. Yes, these attackes marked an entire new level of “evil,” as you say.