Today is September 11th.
It’s a day of remembrance—a day that forever changed the world.
For many of us, it’s another “Where were you when?” moment.
In 2001, I was working as the librarian and technology coordinator at Nemaha Valley High School. It’s hard to imagine now, but back then, we didn’t have the constant connection to the Internet like we do today. News didn’t arrive in our pockets instantly.
I can’t recall exactly how I first heard about the plane hitting the World Trade Center, but it was likely through someone in the office who had been listening to the radio. My first instinct was to bring the TV cart to the west side of the library, connect it to the cable, and turn on CNN. Within minutes, students and teachers gathered, glued to the screen, as the news unfolded.
When the bell rang for the next class, I had to remind both students and a few teachers to head to their 2nd-period classes. Yet, as soon as the halls cleared, the library quickly filled up again. It was eerily silent, save for the sound of the broadcast.
The principal and I briefly discussed moving the TVs to the gym to accommodate more people, but we decided against it. Throughout the morning, people came and went, but the solemn quiet remained, and tears fell as we all tried to comprehend what was happening.
I was working downtown Denver at a finance company. Someone said a plane hit the WTC. Eventually, we all went to the Marriott to watch at the bar. It was horrifying and scary. Eventually, masses of people streamed from the skyscrapers and onto buses to get out of town, including me. I got in trouble for going home but I didn’t care. I was scared and heartsick.
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