Time Capsule: September 12, 2001

Ten years ago my computer teacher wanted a way for her class of eighth graders to cope with the images they were seeing on the news at home. Although I knew that the attacks on September 11 were horrible, I didn't really know how I was supposed to respond for the assignment of "just write." I mostly stuck with the facts since I hadn't really developed an emotional connection to the terrorist acts. Thought it'd be appropriate to share since it's already been ten years since that clear Tuesday morning that turned dark so quickly... (Pardon any spelling or grammatical errors. I was 13.)

9-12-01

12:45 p.m.

Dear Diary,

I haven't written you since around the beginning of the school year. Things have been going great until yesterday...

Today's 911! Mrs. Deadwyler told us this morning. (September 11. (9-11-01) Paul goes today's going to be an emergency! We all thought nothing of it until lunch...

"The Pentagon's been bombed! We're all going to die." Kenny stated at lunchtime. None of us believed him, because Kenny talks about this kind of stuff all the time. Near the end of lunch Mr. Ingraham tells us not to be scared, and he read Psalm 46:1-7. Scared of what? Was the Pentagon really bombed?

Well, Kenny was right. The Pentagon had been bombed. So, had the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Around eight o'clock a.m. three planes were hi-jacked from the Boston airport. Two of the planes flew toward Manhattan, New York. The other, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.

The two planes reached New York around nine. The first plane flew straight through the Northern tower. Nearly five minutes later the second plane dove through the Southern tower.

People at the Pentagon were gathered  in one of the conference rooms. Watching the horrible pictures on the television. What in the world was going on in New York? About nine ten. The third plane dove and intentionally hit the Pentagon. The plane just desinigrated as it went through three of the Pentagon's building.

Another plane was hi-jacked yesterday morning from a New Jersey airport. The hi-jackers steered the plane towards Camp David. A vacation for the President, not far from the White House. Later, they found that plane on the ground in Pennsylvania. There were no found survivors.

The southern tower in New York stood for about two hours after it was hit, then it collapsed. Shortly after, so did the Northern. Around 5:30 yesterday evening, one of the smaller buildings of the World Trade, number 7, collapsed, even though it was not hit. The number 5 building is now so weak, that they said they might have to take it down.

Andy's sister and cousin works in the Twin Towers. His cousin left to get breakfast, shortly after she left the first plane hit the towers. She wanted to get in to find his sister, but guards wouldn't let her in an unstable building. Andy's sister is still unaccounted for as of now.

The Apsey's are right now vacationing in Manhattan. We haven't heard from them yet. I'm kind of worried. Dad's leaving the 24th on a business trip to D.C.

They still don't know who's behind it. They think it might be Osama bin Laden. An extreme Muslim. They have found a car at Daytona Beach. They think it might be related to the terrorism. People are scared. Bases are on High Alert. Even Kennedy Space Center is on High Alert. They found a car across the street from Boston Airport that is linked to one of the terrorists. It had a picture of Osama bin Laden (spelling?) in it, United Airline times, and it was loaned out to a student of a local college that taught how to fly one of the jets that was used.

People have been calling from under the rubble of the Twin Towers on their cell phones, pleading for people to come and rescue them. People all over the United States are donating blood. Nobody's been recovered yet, except for one man who had one of his legs amputated.

Last night, at 8:30, President Bush addressed the nation. He gave a phenomenal speech referring to the terrorists, and he also said that we need to look to a being greater than all of us (God) and then quoted Psalm 23.

Right now I don't know a whole bunch more, but I will keep a close watch. Now is the time to really pray. I just pray that God will use this to turn our nation back to him. We have turned away from Him, and he really wants our attention. I think this is one of the ways he is trying to grasp it. We also really need to pray for those under the debris, and they will be rescued quickly, and that they will look to God for protection. We also need to pray for the terrorists, that we will find them, and punish them, but not before giving them a chance to hear the Gospel of God. We need to pray for President Bush, that he will make the wise decisions discerning the terrorists, and clean up. I will close now. Hoping that justice will be done, and the terrorists will find You, Father.

Sincerely,
AGW