A former newspaper reporter who has lived in Franklin for nearly 40 years, Marjorie is active in several Franklin and Hales Corners organizations.
Yesterday my students and I all did a freewriting, “Reflections on September 11th.” I thought about my daughter, Ericka, and son-in-law, Robert, who would be celebrating their 8th wedding anniversary and remembering her phone call to me six years ago: “Don’t worry, Mom, we weren’t on that plane.”
At the time I was at my computer, typing, as I am right now, and I hadn’t heard the news yet. “What plane?” I asked, and then she told me. Like the rest of the nation, I spent the remaider of that day in front of the television, mesmerized by the devastating images and listening to the newsmen and women trying to help us make some sense out of the tragic sequence of events. Ericka and Robert had planned to fly out of Boston that day to celebrate their 2nd anniversary but, as she made clear, they hadn’t been on the ill-fated plane, and they would not be taking any celebratory trip that day.
Most of my students at Concordia University Wisconsin were 12 years old on September 11, 2001. They weren’t required to turn their freewriting in, but most of them did, and I find the tears welling up within me as I read some of their reflections today. The names I’ve given them are not the students’ real names.
Mitzi: “This morning I woke up tired and complaining that I had class at 8 in the morning. I did not even realize what today was. While I am complaining about today, millions around are wishing that they could have seen or heard from their loved ones just once more. In society today, we take things so for granted. I should not complain about any day, but be glad that I am here for another day.”
Samantha: “That morning I was in science with Mrs. Snyder. People came in and told us to turn on the news. I will never forget what I saw as I looked upon that television. It almost seemed unreal to me. Why would someone do this? Looking at the people who were running frantically from the scene to those rushing to help, a wave of immense grief came over me. To this day those feelings come back whenever I recall this horrific event. This will be one of the most memorable moments in my life. I don’t know why tragedy makes me remember, but just thinking about all the people who died makes me thankful that my family and friends were safe. To see the people in the streets looking for their loved ones was difficult to watch. At times I had to look away. I can’t imagine what those people felt if I, as a 12-year-old girl, was so greatly impacted.
Rhonda: “I was in 7th grade science class when my teacher got a message she was supposed to check her e-mail. She did, and all of a sudden my 7th grade science class and I watched as our teacher’s eyes filled with tears. She told us all calmly that the world trade center in New York had been crashed into by a plane. She then turned T.V. on and we all sat watching, confused and in shock as flames shot out of the buildings. Not a sound was made, I remember it being so quiet. No one (at this young age) knew what was going on or what to do about it. It was so weird to see our teachers crying and staring at the T.V. in shock.
“Looking out the window, I saw a plane flying overhead and feared it would crash into our school. I remember being so confused as to what was happening. My mind raced as I thought about those poor people in those buildings, and the fear their families must have been in. We saw the firemen standing and watching, not knowing what to do. Looking at the T.V., we heard and saw people running and screaming as the first tower collapsed. It was then that our teacher decided to turn off the T.V., leaving us all to sit there in shock. No one said a word. Everyone was silent, except for tears shed by a few who were scared.”
Allison: “On the sixth anniversary of the attacks made in America, I have many thoughts and questions. Sadness fills my mind as well. I remember the day so clearly. It’s one of those days that nobody in America will forget. It’s a topic that will be written in new history textbooks.
“Today marks the sixth anniversary and as I reflect back I can only be sad. I was in my seventh grade math class around 8:45 when teachers were told about the crisis. Once the students were informed, every television was turn on. After seeing the trade centers collapse and realizing how many people had died, my emotions couldn’t be controlled. The school nurse sent me home, and for the entire day and night I was glued to the news on television.
“To understand how much of an impact [this has made on] our society and now today, looking back and trying to realize how society has changed – has America changed for the better or worse? Have Americans become more united or have we just fallen farther apart? Many questions are in my head, and many can’t be answered. For all the families who lost a loved one, may the Lord be with them.”
