Lest we forget
- Thread starter skeets
- Start date
Bmyers
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
Grand L3560 with LA805 loader, EA 55" Wicked Grapple, SBX72 BB, LP 1272 mower
I was at home, had worked the night before and got of my shift from the ambulance and laid down around 7AM. My phone started ringing around 8AM, it was my mom calling me to tell me a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Towers.
I was like okay, I'm in southern Illinois and can watch more about it later, yet now I was awake and talking to hear and turned on the TV just in time to watch the second plane hit. At that point I told mom I needed to hang up.
I called our Mayor and made sure he was aware and we had talked with our airport. They told me that they were stopping all take offs and there were more alerts coming (I was our city ESDA director at the time).
Over the next couple of hours phone kept ringing as more information came in, flights being grounded. If I remember correctly we landed three or four passenger jets at the airport that had been heading to St. louis Lambert and then the people had to be bused over to Lampert airport.
Needless to say, I didn't go back to bed that day.
I was like okay, I'm in southern Illinois and can watch more about it later, yet now I was awake and talking to hear and turned on the TV just in time to watch the second plane hit. At that point I told mom I needed to hang up.
I called our Mayor and made sure he was aware and we had talked with our airport. They told me that they were stopping all take offs and there were more alerts coming (I was our city ESDA director at the time).
Over the next couple of hours phone kept ringing as more information came in, flights being grounded. If I remember correctly we landed three or four passenger jets at the airport that had been heading to St. louis Lambert and then the people had to be bused over to Lampert airport.
Needless to say, I didn't go back to bed that day.
David Page
Active member
Equipment
1974 L260, 6" bush hog, subsoiler, spring tooth harrow, boom pole, 2 bottom plow
I was at my Sisters insurance office in Maine, concerned for our country but also a little later when the Borders were closed we were concerned about our daughter at a Bible School in Canada. We couldn't get to her. A little over a week before that when we took her up there was the first time we say the border agents on the Canadian side wearing vests. I think both countries knew something was up.
Lil Foot
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
I was in a research lab at work when a guy who worked down the hall stuck his head in and said that a plane had hit the WTC. He was kind of a loud mouth jokester whose jokes were seldom funny, so I wasn't quite sure I should believe him. Walked down to the plant cafeteria where there was always a TV on, saw the gathering crowd, and knew it was for real. Watched for awhile, then asked for the day off, called the wife and told her to take the day off, (she worked for a quasi-govermental agency) went back to the cafeteria and saw the second plane hit, and then went home. On the way home, we each picked up a couple flats of water, (in case things escalated) and got home in time to see the Pentagon get hit.
Later we heard about passengers on FLT 93 heroically stopping the terrorists's plans for the fourth plane.
I will never forget.
I was too old to sign up. I tried.
I still want to gear up and hit back when I think about it. I'm a big one for overkill payback.
Later we heard about passengers on FLT 93 heroically stopping the terrorists's plans for the fourth plane.
I will never forget.
I was too old to sign up. I tried.
I still want to gear up and hit back when I think about it. I'm a big one for overkill payback.
I was driving from one office to another. My HQ at the time was in Rosslyn VA and I was headed to Reston, VA after a meeting. A friend called my cell phone (not everyone had one those days) and simply said "WTF? You see what's going on in NY?". I flipped on the radio and continued my drive. My boss called and asked if I had any family in NYC. That's when I heard on the radio about the 2nd plane. I told my boss and he said "Just go home".
Continuing on, my girlfriend called. I went to pick her up as we were just going to hunker down at my place. I called my parents to let them know I was ok and then turned off my phone. I knew all communication systems were going to be overwhelmed.
When I got to the GF, the radio station I was listening to had a caller that said the Pentagon was also hit. The DJ cut him off and said it's not funny. That's not something to joke about. A minute later he said he was sorry.....it was true.
The GF and I went back up to her office. It was in Tysons Corner. She was going to tell everyone what just happened. When we got up there people were already looking out the windows of the 14th floor. We could see the smoke from the Pentagon. Everyone evacuated and we left for my place.
Traffic was ridiculous. It took 3 hours for what should have been 45 minutes. The thing was, it was controlled chaos. There was traffic, creeping along, but no horns or yelling. People letting others merge. We all had the 1000 yard stare. Glued to whatever local station we chose.
The next few days were weird. Living near IAD and National Airport we were used to the hum of interstate traffic and jets all day long. It was silent. Very strange.
Younger folks may not understand. We did not have instant communication 21 years ago. There were some cells, mostly pagers. There was not a constant news reel with instant information 24/7. The scrolling banner at the bottom of the news channel was born from that day in history.
I still have the flag that was flying at my home. It goes up this day every this year unless it's raining. Like it is today.
Continuing on, my girlfriend called. I went to pick her up as we were just going to hunker down at my place. I called my parents to let them know I was ok and then turned off my phone. I knew all communication systems were going to be overwhelmed.
When I got to the GF, the radio station I was listening to had a caller that said the Pentagon was also hit. The DJ cut him off and said it's not funny. That's not something to joke about. A minute later he said he was sorry.....it was true.
The GF and I went back up to her office. It was in Tysons Corner. She was going to tell everyone what just happened. When we got up there people were already looking out the windows of the 14th floor. We could see the smoke from the Pentagon. Everyone evacuated and we left for my place.
Traffic was ridiculous. It took 3 hours for what should have been 45 minutes. The thing was, it was controlled chaos. There was traffic, creeping along, but no horns or yelling. People letting others merge. We all had the 1000 yard stare. Glued to whatever local station we chose.
The next few days were weird. Living near IAD and National Airport we were used to the hum of interstate traffic and jets all day long. It was silent. Very strange.
Younger folks may not understand. We did not have instant communication 21 years ago. There were some cells, mostly pagers. There was not a constant news reel with instant information 24/7. The scrolling banner at the bottom of the news channel was born from that day in history.
I still have the flag that was flying at my home. It goes up this day every this year unless it's raining. Like it is today.
At work.
It was a beautiful day in the Northeast.
We thought it was a small plane at first.
I left the office to drive 45 minutes away to see a client, listening to Howard Stern of all people, he had good coverage that day. I recall the exact spot on the road when I heard the first tower fell. Shocking.
It was a beautiful day in the Northeast.
We thought it was a small plane at first.
I left the office to drive 45 minutes away to see a client, listening to Howard Stern of all people, he had good coverage that day. I recall the exact spot on the road when I heard the first tower fell. Shocking.
I was in my shop office doing something on the computer when it popped up. I immediately turned on the TV and saw this attack unfolding as fast as it was reported.
In the weeks following I was so glad to see our nations flag displayed everywhere
, now it seems we turned about 180 degrees. 
In the weeks following I was so glad to see our nations flag displayed everywhere
, now it seems we turned about 180 degrees. jkrubi12
Well-known member
Equipment
B2601/LA435/QA54"/BH70/B8160box/BB1254/PFL1242/SGC0554/WC-68 Chipper
I had just gotten home from work (11P-7A) and was watching Matt Lauer on TV when he interrupted his interview with a new book author and broke away for the first WTC crash.
Watched it on every TV Chanel I could for the rest of the day.
Still remember it like it was yesterday, won't ever forget it.
Watched it on every TV Chanel I could for the rest of the day.
Still remember it like it was yesterday, won't ever forget it.
I was at work in Morris Plains, NJ 25 miles from the WTC. Being on the Haz-mat team we were told to get ready to go if called. The call never came.
On the way home I stopped at the Morris County Fire and Police academy on Mount Freedom and lokked to the east at the column of smoke rising into a clear blue sky and cried.
I knew two were lost didn't find out about them for a week or so.
On the way home I stopped at the Morris County Fire and Police academy on Mount Freedom and lokked to the east at the column of smoke rising into a clear blue sky and cried.
I knew two were lost didn't find out about them for a week or so.
I was just fixin to move to NYC post divorce, to get a job in the financial district. My plans changed a week before it happened.
RCW
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
At work. I rigged up a TV in my offices to keep tabs on developments. Was a central spot, and many employees would sit in to watch a while.
Very scary day, to say the least. Daughters were about 9, and son was 2. Honestly concerned for them, even in very rural upstate New York.
A buddy worked at WTC. Called him later in the day to find he had moved to another location a couple months prior. Such relief, but no consolation for those still there.
Strangely, I’m having similar anxiety about the future of my children lately…..don’t like where we’re heading…
Very scary day, to say the least. Daughters were about 9, and son was 2. Honestly concerned for them, even in very rural upstate New York.
A buddy worked at WTC. Called him later in the day to find he had moved to another location a couple months prior. Such relief, but no consolation for those still there.
Strangely, I’m having similar anxiety about the future of my children lately…..don’t like where we’re heading…
Not strange at all, this society has degenerated considerably. Teach your children well and direct them away from the irresponsible that have taken over so much from top to bottom.Strangely, I’m having similar anxiety about the future of my children lately…..don’t like where we’re heading…
Working on a construction site near Lambert air port , the silence was deafening. On another note don’t forget Benghazi, 13 hours of hell
I was sleeping. Might have worked night turn don't remember.
Phone rang, it was the wife calling from Japan where she was visiting. "Turn the TV on" was the message...
Phone rang, it was the wife calling from Japan where she was visiting. "Turn the TV on" was the message...
I was in my Freshman year at SCSU in New Haven CT about to go to class and saw the first plan hit while it was being reported on the news. Being a dumb kid I thought it couldnt have been real and started walking to class to a deserted campus. Classes were canceled and people were freaking. Once knowing campus was shutdown for the day I went back to my dorm and watched everything else unfold with my friends. Our eyes were glued to the news and couldn't believe what was occurring.
xrocketengineer
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX1880, FEL, Grapple, 36 in. Forks, 48in. MMM, Quick Spade, Ripper
I was in my office at the Kennedy Space Center when one of the guys got word that a plane had crashed into one of the towers. We all rushed to the boss's office and turned on the TV. While we were watching the second plane hit and we realize that it was an attack. We went into lockdown at the center. Eventually they allowed people to go but nobody to get back in. It was a very unsettling feeling that we were at war.
In the next few days barricades went up, there were additional guards everywhere and no cars were just waved in anymore at the gates. The guards at the gates had to physically see and touch every ID badge in the car before allowing cars in. Trucks would be searched and some cars too. There were several scares about airplanes approaching the base and fighters were being scrambled from Patrick Air Force Base (now Space Force) to chase and force the unidentified planes to land. Many new security systems and procedures were established until slowly it all became the new normal at the center.
In the next few days barricades went up, there were additional guards everywhere and no cars were just waved in anymore at the gates. The guards at the gates had to physically see and touch every ID badge in the car before allowing cars in. Trucks would be searched and some cars too. There were several scares about airplanes approaching the base and fighters were being scrambled from Patrick Air Force Base (now Space Force) to chase and force the unidentified planes to land. Many new security systems and procedures were established until slowly it all became the new normal at the center.