I was in Dallas at a conference on that day. I ended up being stranded there for a few extra days due to the grounding of all flights . We were staying at a hotel right next to the main terminal at Dallas International airport. My room looked out on one of the main plane terminal areas. I was hoping that none of the grounded planes blew up!

They announced what had happened right before the daily keynote speaker. Then right after the speech, announced the other tower was hit and they had collapsed. It was just horrible watching on television what those people had to endure.

God Bless America .....

--Defiant^Stallion

I was working when I first heard about the terrorist attacks; it was 1am and we had the TV on during a break. My initial reaction was one of disbelief follwed by concern about the safety of my ex-wife who had returned to the states 5 months earlier.

--`zeppelin^

I was in the channel...laughing and having fun when somone came in and said....an aeroplane had crashed in NY...there were a few comments of ... oh no etc...and then someone else said OMG a plane hit the world trade centre...they were saying turn on your TV's... I thought they were kidding at first and then it was there in front of me on the TV...I could not move..I called out to steve to get up and together we watched it unfold...I cried quietly unable to believe what I was seeing.......I still cant watch without crying...

They shall not grow old

as there who are left behind grow old

but at the going down of the sun

and in the morning

we will remember them

--abby^^

I will never forget that morning... standing stunned in front of the TV as the first report came in of the first crash...then the second....and what all followed. The whole day was a complete daze, I couldn't stay away from the TV; horrified yet drawn to what may happen next. It sickens me what some people will do in the name of "nationalism" or whatever other ism one is consumed by. What a lovely day it would be if, for one day, everyone could put aside all their little isms and just be at peace with each other..... just ONE day.  My prayers go out to NYC and ALL the survivors...for healing ... every last one of us, because, WE all have been affected.

--Karinia

Hello from Australia.......A year has past since the tragic day of September 11th...It affected us all in so many way....I live in Australia..and count myself blessed but watching Septemeber 11th unfold has really brought it home to us all here in Australia and all over the world....Believe me when I tell you as you shed your tears so do we with YOU...as you mourn your losses so do we with YOU..and as you find your strength to carry on, feel us sending ours strength to you to help...You are not alone in your struggle to build your world back up the world is behind you...Lets all pray for a peaceful world to give to our kids...God Bless you all

--Jeanie

Vancouver, BC Canada

My alarm goes off at 5:30 am, time for me to get up for work....I realize I have a doctor's appoitment that morning, I didn't have to get up......But since I always have to watch the morning news, I turned on the television.....I was slowly trying to wake up, I may have dozed off and on during the news....Around 5:50 am they announced something about a plane hiting a building, half asleep, I didnt pay much attention....The newscast broke for a commercial and came back with more details.....I sat up in bed, watching the news, seeing this gaping hole in the first tower.....The news reported they couldnt understand how a plane could hit this building as it was a clear day and couldnt understand why this plane hit this building.....It was not suspected of terrorism at first......As i watch this gaping hole, smoke filing the sky, the second plane hit.....I was stunned.....And minutes later they reported the third plane hiting the Pentagon......I was in shock......Why was this happening? .... The news broke out that they suspected terrorism and all airports were ordered shut down.....I watch in horror this disaster happening before my eyes....Around 7:00 am, I got the children up for school, they watched in horror what I was watching....I didn't want to send them to school, I didn't want to go to my doctor's appt, nor go to work afterwards...My children were scarred as I was.....I reassured them they were safe, but I didnt know myself if we were.....I drove them to school and then I went to my doctor's appointment, but as soon as my appoitment was over, I rushed back home to watch in horror the two buildings collapsing.....I thought of all the lives that were in that building, the ones in the Pentagon.....And the ones in the 4th plane that crashed in Pensylvania......I finally went to work, all my co-workers were talking about it, we had a TV on in the boardroom and we all took turns going to watch it......Working for a newspaper, they put out a "Special Edition" out for publication that evening and were on the streets handing it out to workers going home from work.....It was very difficult to concentrate at work, all I wanted to do is be home with my children, to reassure them, that they were safe.....We talked about it, they asked questions, why and how this could have happened? I had no answers, as I ask the same questions....I went looking for answers, watching CNN for days and weeks afterwards, watching the news, listening to the politicians....I even went into a channel called "politics" searching for answers......Listening to other people's comments about what happened and why, today, still I am confused....One thing I learned from this tragedy, how everyone pulls together, how patriotic my American friends are, and the love and strenght they have shown in such a devastating tragedy.....My heart and prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones, the heroic firemans and policeman who lost their lives saving others.....My respect for policeman and fireman has changed since......"God Bless America".....

--Lady^Lizza

I wish I had the right words to say for the people who are still suffering, who are still afraid of what may come, who are still grieving their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends and others who was dear to us, for the people who are still angry.

But I don´t.

I pray to God to bless the souls of the people who got killed.

I pray to God to bless the people who lost someone they loved.

Revenge won´t make us feel better; we can´t bring the dead back, no matter how many lifes we take instead.

Peace!

-- svunta

I remember sitting on my couch watching as it took place wishing I could hug my kids, thats all I could think of.  I have so much respect for the Policemen, Firefighters, EMS and our Military that put their lives on the line so our lives will be safe. Lets us never forget what happened on that day and keep Love and Warmth in our Hearts.  May God Watch Over Us And Keep Us Safe In His Arms.

--{SilkyLady}

I had just returned from dropping my daughter at school, came in the channel and was told immediatly to turn the TV on.  I called my husband and told him to come home, I needed to be close to my family.  We watched the aftermath , crying, unable to do anything more than just hug each other tight, wondering fearfully what was going to happen in the days and months to come.  Everyday things that we take for granted are put to the test when something like this happens.  Our family, our friends, even strangers on the street are seen in a new light and appreciated so much more after a tragedy like this.  Americans have come together on a grand scale, and I can't begin to tell you how proud I am to be one of them.

America The Beautiful

Oh beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain. America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

Oh beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress. A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness. America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law.

Oh beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine

Oh beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years. Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears. America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

--Vel

I remember that morning, I was getting morgan ready for school and Iwas watching a "movie" or what Ithought was a movie, as time went by I realized it wasn't a movie, but that it was real..I so wished that I was wrong....

--TemptedWoman

A year later...i sit here and look outside with a big lump in my throat and pray that nothing is going to happen tomorrow on September 11th....i too was in channel when somebody gave the news and said to turn on the tv....and in disbelief we did...and together we watched the tragedy of 9/11 unfold....even still after one year i get tears at the thought of how this has had an affect on our world....i can't watch it anymore on tv because plain and simply i am afraid....afraid that somebody could take away the people i love and cherish without a second thought....and how sad i would be if any of my family and friends were not here to be scared with me....if i had to give advice about this i would tell you to hug your family and friends and make peace with any enemies because we never know when it's going to be too late to fill our heart with love.....

--charles2

This week, one year ago, we all found ourselves in confusion, anger and disbelieve. Now, one year later, the disbelieve and confusion faded but the anger and pain remains throughout the world.

Especially this week, my prayers go to all victims, their families, next of kin and friends, i hope that you will find the peace that you need to mourn your lost ones and move on with your lifes.

Finally i hope that we will have a peaceful day, a day for remembering and a day to look forward into this, the new world that from the Spetember 11th 2001 never will be the same...

--Yzeman

I wanted to send my thoughts and prayers to all Americans, non-Americans and every peace loving individual on this planet. It doesn't matter our creed, the nation as I know it .. We all watched in complete disbelief, fear and anger on September 11th 2001. I personally was at work with my jaw on the floor completely horrified. I watched helplessly as so many of our fellow brothers and sisters lost their lives. Wanting to hold my kids, my husband, my family. This destruction that was upon us. Wondering and asking WHY? What had America done that our innocent people deserved to be slaughtered. Still a year later I do not fully understand. I watched my boss Kevin, as he fell to the ground crying in horror when the Towers collapsed. You see his brother was at Ground Zero when this all happened. There helping without regard to his own life. To this point there was hope that he was still alive. There was nothing we could do. We all watched and cried. It felt as if the whole world was crying with us and still are as we embrace this anniversary. It will never go away. My thoughts and prayers to all who have made it through this past year. To all who have been brave and strong to go on. We are proud to be American's where at least we know we're free .. GOD BLESS US ALL!

I found this poem floating in the ashes of that dreadful day and the words can only say ...

POWERFUL TWO THOUSAND ONE, NINE ELEVEN (2001-911)

Two thousand one, nine eleven

Three thousand plus arrive in heaven

As they pass through the gate,

Thousands more appear in wait

A bearded man with stovepipe hat

Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat"

They settle down in seats of clouds

A man named Martin shouts out proud

"I have a dream!" and once he did

The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives."

Groups of soldiers in blue and gray

Others in khaki, and green then say

"We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine"

The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain."

From a man on sticks one could hear

"The only thing we have to fear.

The Newcomer said, "We know the rest, trust us sir, we've passed

that test."

"Courage doesn't hide in caves

You can't bury freedom, in a grave,"

The Newcomers had heard this voice before

A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannis port shores

A silence fell within the mist

Somehow the Newcomer knew that this

Meant time had come for her to say

What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day

"Back on Earth, we wrote reports,

Watched our children play in sports

Worked our gardens, sang our songs

Went to church and clipped coupons

We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought

Unlike you, great we're not"

The tall man in the stovepipe hat

Stood and said, "Don't talk like that!

Look at your country, look and see

You died for freedom, just like me"

Then, before them all appeared a scene

Of rubbled streets and twisted beams

Death, destruction, smoke and dust

And people working just 'cause they must

Hauling ash, lifting stones,

Knee deep in hell, but not alone

"Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman

Side by side helping their fellow man!"

So said Martin, as he watched the scene

"Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."

Down below three firemen raised

The colors high into ashen haze

The soldiers above had seen it before

On Iwo Jima back in '44

The man on sticks studied everything closely

Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly

"I see pain, I see tears,

I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear."

"You left behind husbands and wives

Daughters and sons and so many lives

are suffering now because of this wrong

But look very closely. You're not really gone.

All of those people, even those who've never met you

All of their lives, they'll never forget you

Don't you see what has happened?

Don't you see what you've done?

You've brought them together, together as one.

With that the man in the stovepipe hat said

"Take my hand," and from there he led

three thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven

On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven

Author UNKNOWN

--Emerald_Edge

And Our Flag Was Still There

by ZigZag2002

When I woke up that morning...

The day was already black.

Terror struck by way of madmen...

In a cowardly sneak attack.

The TV held us captive...

As we watched events unfurl

It became clear as the day went on...

Nothing would be the same in this world.

We saw the fire and we saw the smoke

We saw it fill the air

And through the night and into the day

You know, our flag was still there.

They have woke up the Sleeping Giant...

Who was awaken once before

And showed the world, we play no games...

And what it meant to wage a war.

A call to arms goes round the land...

Young people want to serve

To show these madmen, across the sea...

That America has steeled its nerve

We saw the fire and we saw the smoke

We saw it fill the air

And through the night and into the day

You know, our flag was still there.

With the death toll reaching thousands...

And still climbing everyday

America is gonna make its stand...

May God have mercy on those who stand in our way

We saw the fire and we saw the smoke

We saw it fill the air

And through the night and into the day

You know, our flag was still there.

ZigZag2002

I was working that morning, listening to the radio (and of course, playing in the channel). Along with everyone else that day, I heard in disbelief what was happening, unable to fathom the meaning. There was a loss of innocence that day, a day that forever changed the world, and us along with it. Even now, it seems surreal. And I'm sitting here, crying, tears literally streaming down my cheek, as I'm typing this. Do something for someone. No matter how small, it matters, and will make a difference.

--JazzGypsy_

Like many people, I was at work when everything began, and no idea of what was going on. The biggest problem of my day was finding a part for my project. When I went to ask a coworker for help, he said, "You don't have a clue, do you? You'd better go in the conference room." I was thinking, what, layoffs? Bankruptcy? Did somebody die?

The conference room has one of those large carts with a TV and VCR for presentations, that also gets cable. One of the big news stations was on, and the reporters were talking about a plane that had crashed into the world trade center. I didn't even know what that was... though I could guess from the name. I continued to watch and listen to the reporters speculate as to the reason for this crash for some time. Then I saw the second plane drive deep into the building's side, literally disappearing into the sky scraper.

Every ounce of my body wrenched. My mind, my soul, my body. Nearly 10 years of active duty in the Air Force, working to defend the country and training against all sorts of attacks, countless exercises and drills and anti-terrorist training, and now I see something happen that I had always expected to happen but hoped it never would. I expected a nuclear bomb, I expected a poison gas cloud in a major city, I expected a biological weapon. I expected the unexpected, as I had been trained to do, and this was its manifistation.

For not having been there, for not having any family members in the WTC, for just being a regular citizen going about my life, this even debilitated me that day, and changed me for life. I am very happy to have my family and friends in tact, and I am furious with those who made the attack.

--Channelguy

God Bless America!