Remembering 911

Remembering 911... While not a "fun fact" by any means, September 11, 2001 was such an important date in American history that we had to publish a page about it on American History Fun Facts. We would like to have our visitors share their 911 memories and stories, or tell us about your 911 heroes - be they victims or survivors of 911.

Firemen Raising The Flag at Ground Zero

Thomas E. Franklin

On September 11, 2001, America suffered a tragedy that brought many of us to our knees. It doesn't matter where you lived, you most likely remember exactly what you were doing on that fateful morning. I first heard about the terrorist attacks while driving to work in Kansas City. I could hardly believe my ears - surely it had to be a mistake. Unfortunately, the radio reports were true, and as soon as I walked into my office, I knew that America and Americans everywhere had changed.

Nobody got any work done that day, needless to say. We spent the day listening and watching the reports of the attacks - the horrific videos that started playing and re-playing - the shock and disbelief as we saw people jumping from buildings. The horror of seeing the Twin Towers collapsing, and the shock and numbness knowing that so many people had been killed that day. Remembering 911 today, in 2011, it still seems as though it was just yesterday, not the 10th anniversary of September 11th.

I remember hearing about the 911 heroes, and listening to the 911 survivors tell about their experiences. On that day, and for months afterwards, Americans came together like I had never seen before. I'm not old enough to remember Pearl Harbor, but I imagine it was similar to that. The stories that we heard brought tears, but they also gave us pride in knowing that we truly live in the greatest country ever. The heroes - every day ones and the professional ones - fire fighters, police officers, office workers, employees who worked in the twin towers - there were so many heartfelt stories.

This page will serve as a place for you to post your 911 memories and stories. We all have our own stories - even though we may not have been in New York City that tragic day. Remembering 911 will always be a part of our life - not a year goes by that we don't think back on that day and remember those images and stories. We would love for you to share yours with the visitors of American History Fun Facts. You can use the form below to share your memories.