Next Monday, we will commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in American history. Many adults remember where they were when they first heard about this traumatizing event and have vivid memories of watching the events unfold. But since you were born after the attacks, you’ve only heard about it in stories and learned about it through videos. However, one of the ways historians learn about recent events that they haven’t lived through is through oral interviews of people who lived through the events either directly or indirectly.
Link to digital exhibitions for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum found here: https://www.911memorial.org/learn/resources/digital-exhibitions
Subject: The 9/11/01 terrorist attacks and the days afterwards.
Interviewee: A person preferably aged 30 or above.
Suggested equipment: paper and pen or pencil for notes; suggest that you use a phone to record the interview.
Procedure:
- Get permission to take notes / record interview.
- You can use the questions below or add more / different questions – try to make questions that elicit more than a “yes” or “no” answer. You can always ask follow-up questions for clarification, explanation.
- Keep eye contact, nod and smile at appropriate times.
- Thank them for their time after you’re done. Also, ask them if they’d like a written transcript of the interview. Provide them w/ one if they say yes. (For this assignment, you can direct them to the blog website: grovesapush.edublogs.org).
Potential questions
- What is your name? How old were you on 9/11?
- What is your first memory of when you first heard about the attacks? What kind of conclusions did you come to about the planes crashing into the buildings (did you at first think it was an accident or was it something worse)? Why?
- Where were you when the attacks happened? What were other peoples’ reactions to the attacks?
- Have you ever been to New York City or Washington D.C.? If so, how did that affect your reactions to the attacks? If not, how did the attacks alter / change your views of the cities and their inhabitants?
- Did you know anyone in the cities? If so, did you try to contact them to see if they were o.k.? What was the conversation like?
- If you were stranded in another city after 9/11, how did you cope with being away from family?
- What were other peoples’ reactions like in the days after the attacks?
- Could you describe your most vivid memory of that day, 9/11?
- How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
- What do you remember of the media coverage of the attacks?
- What did you think of President Bush’s address later that night? (Show them the transcript here or video below.)
- How did life change for you and your family in the weeks and months immediately after 9/11?
- What are your opinions about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? Explain.
- Now that it’s been over 20 years since the attack, how do you think America has changed since that day? Why? Has America stayed the same since then? In what ways?
Your job:
Share a minimum of five questions and answers on Blog #47 (300 words minimum) and include your personal reaction to the interview and the shared memories of 9/11/01 (100 minimum). If you interview more than one person for this blog, please indicate the persons’ names.
Blog due by Tuesday, Sept. 12 by class.
Link to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum interactive timeline of events – https://timeline.911memorial.org/#FrontPage
Learn more about the 9/11 attacks, what came before, survivors' stories, the clean-up, and the debate over how to commemorate the attacks and honor the victims - - https://www.911memorial.org/learn/resources/911-primer
18 comments:
What is your name?
Todd Weishaus
How old were you during the 9/11?
26 years old
What was your first memory of when you heard about the attacks?
I was at work, and we all gathered around the TV to watch the news.
Did you think it was an accident or on purpose when you first heard the news? I thought that it was an accident.
What were other peoples’ reactions to the attacks?
Everyone was very shocked and in disbelief.
Did you know anyone in the cities that the attacks were happening in?
Yes. I was very scared for my friends living in New York. I wanted to make sure they were safe.
What was your reaction to figuring out what actually happened?
I felt anger towards the people who did the action, and saddened by all of the people whose lives were lost.
How did your life change after 9/11?
My life didn't personally change very much, however the world changed, and felt like a scarier place to be in.
What do you remember about the media coverage of the attacks?
I remember it being nonstop coverage everywhere you looked.
How do you think America has changed since 9/11?
I think America as well as the world has opened their eyes to terrorism and violence. Also, airport security has become significantly more strict than it was.
I had a range of reactions while doing this interview with my dad. I never thought about how 9/11 literally affected everyone in a different way. I was very intrigued listening to my father’s stories about what he was doing during the event, and the aftermath of it all. It is scary to think about how my loved ones could’ve been affected way more than we were. I am very grateful that everyone in my family was safe.
Interviewer: What is your name and how old were you when 9/11 happened?
Subject: My name is Rosemary and I was 33 years of age
Interviewer: What is your first memory of when you first heard about the attacks?
Subject: I was standing in the living room of a house me and my husband were renting. We were watching TV and we started seeing footage of what was happening.
Interviewer: What kind of conclusions did you come to about the planes crashing into the buildings, did you think it was an accident or was it something worse?
Subject: I was thinking it was something worse because there were multiple attacks.
Interviewer: Have you ever been to New York City or Washington D.C.?
Subject: I’ve been to both.
Interviewer: How did that affect your reaction to the attacks?
Subject: Umm..I think I was mostly worried because my sister Maryll lived there (New York). And, you know, making sure she was ok. I didn’t have any emotional attachment to the city. I was mainly concerned about Maryll.
Interviewer: How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
Subject: I just remember there was a lot of watching TV and a lot of everything. A lot of anger toward the Muslim population, a lot of anxiety about if something else was going to happen.
Interviewer: How did life change for you and your family in the weeks and months immediately after 9/11?
Subject: Not a lot changed in the day-to-day for me. It made people go to the extreme. Extreme islamophobia. Extreme anger. People tried to out-patriot each other.
Interviewer: Now that it’s been over 20 years since the attack, how do you think America has changed?
Subject: I think it was used to justify a lot of things. Everything that happened in Iraq. There has been so much hatred ever since that day.
This Interviewer's Final Reaction: When I was young I thought that every year watching documentaries and reading books was excessive. I mean, it had been almost 20 years. But now, I think that hearing about these events from someone you know (for me, my mom), is so much more impactful than just watching YouTube videos about it. None of my family was injured or killed during the attacks, but knowing that my aunt Maryll was living just miles from where a plane crashed into two major city buildings. It’s horrifying. And it’s obvious from what you hear when people talk about the events of 9/11, that the events of 9/11 fundamentally altered how Americans view their own safety, and their fellow citizens.
Maddy L.
The person I interviewed was Jesscia Jones and I interviewed Jessica Jones about the 9/11 attack, and these are the following questions that where asked What age where you when the attacks begin in 2001 9/11 Jessica Jones respond with stated that she was 18 years old at the time. The next question that was asked was where were when 9/11 occurred Jesscia Jones said that she was in her college dorm room at the time of the 9/11 attack watching the news. The third question the was asked was ‘’What was your very first memory of the 9/11 attack she replied with saying that she was sleeping and her mom called her telling her that her dad was okay cause he was on a flight after the called at that time she didn’t know what was going on and she didn’t have any knowledge of the 9/11 attacks that was going on. The fourth question that was asked was have you been to “New York” she replied with a yes, she has been to New York, but that was before 9/11 she said she even has pictures of the Twin Towers before they were struck. The fifth and the last question that was asked was how the attack changed your life she replied with that the 9/11 attacked changed her and er family life by how the airport changed over time she said that they used to be able to keep their shoes on where they went through security and how you didn’t need a ticket to get in a fight you could just walk in the airplane and how you could say goodbye to your family when they were about to go on meaning she was allowed to walk through everything with her dad when he had a trip and say goodbye. Now that has changed, and the airlines have upper their policy's rules and laws that must be followed and more advanced security.
Personally view on 9/11
How I feel about 9/11 and its, after affects aftermath, is that I notice after interviewing Jesscia Jones is how bad the airport security was and how they just let things chill because it was so easy for people to commit crimes in the airlines and to bring dangerous things onboard and this made me think that is should be happy that today the airline policies have changed overtime to create new laws and rules when you go there, I may not like they fact that I have to take my jacket and shoes off when I get through security, but it keeps us safe so that there won't be another attack like 9/11 even though bad things still happen today. I really enjoyed doing this project.
What is your name and how old were you on September 11th 2001?
I’m Lashawndra Brooks and I was 23
What is your first memory of when you first heard about the attacks? What kind of conclusions did you come to about the planes crashing into the buildings (did you at first think it was an accident or was it something worse)? Why?
- When I initially learned of the attack, I saw the image of one building being hit by a plane and crashing on a TV screen with no sound and thought it had to be a movie. Then I heard it was live and I thought that it had to be some kind of horrible accident that caused a pilot to crash into the tower(s).
Where were you when the attacks happened? What were other peoples’ reactions to the attacks?
- I was in Detroit taking my students to the circus. Adults were starting to shake their heads in disbelief, people were calling their loved ones to check in on them. People were crying, moving frantically trying to get home.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
- It just makes me appreciate life that much more. It's not that I live in fear, but I try to make every moment count, be the best me I can be, and help someone else along the way each day. Kindness and love is what gets you through life.
What were other peoples’ reactions like in the days after the attacks?
- There was a combination of reactions after 9-11 Some seemed frozen in fear, almost paranoid that something horrible would happen again, some were overtaken by grief and sadness. Most of all, I saw people come together as a whole (no matter what race, color, background) and support each other, especially if they knew of someone directly affected by this tragedy. That was the beautiful thing that happened as a result of the attack.
The Interviewers Final Reaction:
I was kind of shocked to really have to think about the small details of the day. Whenever I hear of 9/11 I just automatically think of tragedy and chaos, but not really how the people must have felt in that moment. I didn't think about how terrified and scared the people must have been feeling in that moment, even the people that were in other states or even countries. And to think about how the world had become such a terrible and unsafe place, it had to be scary for everyone. And I feel very deeply for those whose family’s have/ had been affected by the terrorist attack of 9/11. Im grateful that I got to hear someone else’s opinions and perspectives on the topic.
-Brianna Brooks
What is your name and how old were you on September 11th 2001?
I’m Lashawndra Brooks and I was 23
What is your first memory of when you first heard about the attacks? What kind of conclusions did you come to about the planes crashing into the buildings (did you at first think it was an accident or was it something worse)? Why?
- When I initially learned of the attack, I saw the image of one building being hit by a plane and crashing on a TV screen with no sound and thought it had to be a movie. Then I heard it was live and I thought that it had to be some kind of horrible accident that caused a pilot to crash into the tower(s).
Where were you when the attacks happened? What were other peoples’ reactions to the attacks?
- I was in Detroit taking my students to the circus. Adults were starting to shake their heads in disbelief, people were calling their loved ones to check in on them. People were crying, moving frantically trying to get home.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
- It just makes me appreciate life that much more. It's not that I live in fear, but I try to make every moment count, be the best me I can be, and help someone else along the way each day. Kindness and love is what gets you through life.
What were other peoples’ reactions like in the days after the attacks?
- There was a combination of reactions after 9-11. Some seemed frozen in fear, almost paranoid that something horrible would happen again, some were overtaken by grief and sadness. Most of all, I saw people come together as a whole (no matter what race, color, background) and support each other, especially if they knew of someone directly affected by this tragedy. That was the beautiful thing that happened as a result of the attack.
I was kind of shocked to really have to think about the small details of the day. Whenever I hear of 9/11 I just automatically think of tragedy and chaos, but not really how the people must have felt in that moment. I didn't think about how terrified and scared the people must have been feeling in that moment, even the people that were in other states or even countries. And to think about how the world had become such a terrible and unsafe place, it had to be scary for everyone. And I feel very deeply for those whose families have/ had been affected by the terrorist attack of 9/11. I'm grateful that I got to hear someone else's opinions and perspectives on the topic.
Brianna Brooks
What is your name?
Rana Stovall
How old were you during 9/11?
I was 23 years old
What was your first memory of when you heard about the attacks, did you think it was an accident or something worse?
I was at work and the tv was on then I heard everyone kind of freaking out, then I saw the second plane crash, and I figured it was a terrorist attack.
Did you call your family and talk about it with them, if so what were their reactions?
Yes, my mom, dad, and two sisters called me to talk about it. Me and my siblings had mutual feelings, but were really in shocked
Did you know anyone in the cities?
Yes my god sister
Did you try to contact her once you saw what was happening?
Yes, I called her almost immediately because she worked in the building but thankfully she was late that day so she was okay, When I called she didn't answer but she called me back later that day.
What were other people's reactions like days after the attack?
Everyone was still in shock, people were also scared and uneasy. I also noticed people were starting to be kinder to each other.
How did life change for you after 9/11?
I was still nervous, scared and I was on edge a lot
What did you think about President Bush’s address later that night?
I thought he addressed America as best he could for the devastation that had happened at that time, especially with being unsure of what could happen next.
Now that it's been over 20 years since the attack, how do you feel America has changed since that day?
I think America has changed as far as our security measures with traveling in and out of the United States.
While doing this interview, to be honest, I was mostly in shock. I knew 9/11 was a big deal and changed a lot of people's lives but this interview made me more aware. Hearing my mom talk about how that day affected her and other people, and how it affected people after 9/11 even for years it kind of put me in her shoes and gave me a somewhat exact idea of what exactly happened. Also, me hearing my mom telling me the details of everything made me have even more empathy for everyone who lost someone and some of the things she told me I was really sad to hear
Kurrin G.
Interviewer: “What is your name and how old were you when 9/11 happened?”
Subject: “My name is Jill O’Connor. I was 23 years old when 9/11 happened.”
Interviewer: “Where were you when the attacks happened? What were other people’s reactions to the attacks?”
Subject: “When the attacks happened, I was at home as I had called into work sick that day. My mother called me frantically and told me to turn on the television. A few moments later, I saw the south tower get hit on live television.”
Interviewer: “Have you ever been to New York City or Washington D.C.? If so, how did that affect your reactions to the attacks? If not, how did the attacks alter / change your views of the cities and their inhabitants?”
Subject: “I lived in New York City one year prior to the attacks. I was interning as a journalist for The Villager and The Downtown Express newspapers during my senior year of college. The attacks were very upsetting to me. I covered a story on the Windows on the World restaurant (which was located at the top of the North Tower) one year before the attacks. I had lunch, met the staff, and interviewed the manager of the restaurant. At the time, it was a very cool experience, but when 9/11 happened, all I could think about was all of those people who had passed away. I also used that subway stop often to get down to Battery Park and hang out with friends in lower Manhattan. I had several friends accept jobs in NYC right after college and on 9/11 the phone lines were down so I could not get in touch with any of them. My friends were ok, but I remember how worried I was for their safety. It was terrifying.”
Interviewer: “What do you remember of the media coverage of the attacks?”
Subject: “I remember that the media coverage was nonstop and around the clock. No one could take their eyes off of the television. The saturation at that time was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was very emotional and depressing.”
Interviewer: “How did life change for you and your family in the weeks and months immediately after 9/11?”
Subject: “I would say that 9/11 just made me really appreciate that we never know when something truly terrible can happen. That is why I appreciate each day and continue to tell my loved ones just how much they mean to me. I always want my family to know how much I love them.”
I was very interested in the interview that I had with my mom. My initial response was to think about how if she had still been working up there, I would not be here today. It was a very surreal thought to have in mind. The most engaging parts of the interview included the talk about having friends living in New York at the time, but not being able to contact them, the shock of the situation being spelled out to me. I found that every person has a different story of what happened from their point of view, and that everyone remembers exactly where they were. I am very grateful that people I know and love were not directly affected, and it is still a somber day to think about those that were lost.
Zach O’Connor
What is your name?
Matt Finnerty
How old were you when the 9/11 attacks happened?
21
Where were you when the attacks happened?
I was in culinary school in the morning class in Chicago.
Were you stranded in another city after the attacks?
In a weird way, yes. Because we were downtown in Chicago, and people didn’t know if there were more planes or what was happening. So, everyone was trying to leave the city, so traffic was horrible and I ended up taking back roads all the way through to get back to my apartment.
Could you describe your most vivid memory of that day, 9/11?
My roommate and I ended up going out to Giradanos for pizza that night, and people were just walking around stunned because obviously school was canceled, work was canceled, and everything kind of shut down. I just remember sitting there and watching the TV and it had gotten dark in New York and it was this huge, smoldering mass of the buildings and that’s when it sunk in that they’ve taken out blocks of New York City and it’s going to be years before this is cleaned up.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
I was working for a company called Levy Restaurants when I worked at the White Socks stadium and part-time at the Cubs stadium. I had a job lined up to do some catering gigs, and they canceled. So in some sense, I lost the job I had at the time because of it, but I continued to go to school and find another one once people got over that initial shock.
What are your opinions on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?
That’s the hard thing when you're not fighting against a specific geographic country, you're fighting an ideology. And they had to go do something and I think a lot of the people who served there were doing it for the right reasons. And I think it dragged on for way too long and I don’t know that they got the exact results they wanted, but I don’t know that would be possible to go in and infiltrate an ideology. It’s not like you’re fighting the Germans, you’re fighting these people who believe certain things and it’s not everyone in these countries feels this way.
After listening to what my dad had to say, I have a different outlook on what happened. Obviously, we all know that it was a traumatic experience, but I didn’t realize how much things changed afterward. We always talked about what happened, but not what happened later. And hearing that the fact that something had happened didn’t really hit him until days later, made me realize that everyone felt so safe living in the United States, and they didn’t think that anything bad would happen to the country.
What is your name? How old were you on 9/11?
Suzanne Collins, 26 years old.
Where were you when the attacks happened? What were other peoples reactions?
Quarton Elementary school student teaching 5th grade, I didn't find out until going to the teachers longue when the kids went to art.
Did you know anyone in the cities?
Yes, uncles and cousins were in New York City but they were ok. One of my father in-law's friends was on one of the planes that flew into the World Trade Center.
What do you remember of the media coverage?
I remember seeing the planes hit the buildings and a man jumping from one of the buildings.
How did life change for you and your family weeks after?
Everything was very somber, very quiet and reflective. Everyone was kinder to each other, flying totally changed. Everybody was in complete shock and nobody knew how to resume normal life.
How has America changed since that day?
Although it was devastating, it united people in an unfortunate way. There was a fear of terrorism.
What did you think of President Bush's address that night?
He was a strong leader in the face of mass destruction, great loss of lives from each city, the first responders and the families that were affected.
What is your name, how old were you on 9/11?
Nicki Martin Walgren, I was 31 years old.
What was your first memory when you first heard about the attacks? What kind of conclusions did you come to about the planes crashing into the buildings?
Did you think it was an accident or something worse? Why?
I remember standing in the middle of Macy’s in Lakeside mall in shock, feeling like I didn’t know what to do. I thought it had to be an accident, but I think the disbelief that it had actually happened slowed down my thinking process about what was going on.
Did you know anyone in the cities? If so, did you try to contact them to see if they were okay? What was the conversation like?
Yes, I knew people in New York City. The company I worked for at the time had a work office not far from the towers. I tried calling their numbers, but none of the phones were working, and I was frightened.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
I think one thing that came out of it was the development of my desire to help people. That was always a part of me, but after those events, it started becoming much more of a priority. And I was struck by the responses of people that were directly affected, and it reminded me that our world is so much bigger than our little microcosm here in Michigan. For example, a co-worker of mine was supposed to get married that month, and she did still get married, but she asked for donations for rescue efforts instead of wedding gifts.
What are your opinions about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?Explain?
I guess I see both sides of the equation. I understand that there is a need to help the people in these countries, but I also don’t know if years of war is the answer.
My reaction during this interview was kinda surprising. I wasn’t aware that my mom was actually somewhat affected by the events of 9/11, but I also knew that she wasn’t completely changed by the situation. I found it interesting that even though she didn’t have any part of directly helping people during the 9/11 attacks, that incident ended up inspiring her to help people more. That being the case, then the attacks did kind of change her life, because she has changed careers since then. At the time she was a fashion merchandiser and then she lost her job after 9/11 and now she is a para pro which relates to her wanting to help people more after the attacks.
Hi, what is your name and how old were you when 911 happened?
My name is Greg Mordukhovich and I was 36 years old.
What was your first memory of the attacks? What kind of conclusion did you come to about the planes crashing into the buildings? Did you think it was an accident or something worse?
I was in a meeting with my director. At the time I was working at General Motors, and we just heard some noise during our meeting which was unusual in the business environment. So both of us walked outside of the office to find all the employees huddled around the TVs that normally played announcements for the company. Everyone was standing there quietly and I came closer to see the screen and saw the replay of the first plane crashing into the first building. I was sure it was an accident and that's what people around me were discussing
Have you ever been to New York City or Washington D.C.? If so, how did that affect your reactions to the attacks? If not, how did the attacks alter / change your views of the cities and their inhabitants?
Yes, I have been to Washington and New York City, but at the time it was regardless of what city it was it was a part of America so I felt vulnerable that America was attacked for the first time ever while I was here, so even if they attacked a very small village I’d react the same way.
If you were stranded in another city after 9/11, how did you cope with being away from family?
No, I wasn’t but my mom was stuck in London and couldn’t get on the plane back home because they canceled it and it took her over 48 hours to get another flight.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
I was supposed to go on a business trip in Boston on September 12th but all the flights got canceled so I had to drive there. I remember very well as I was driving I’ve never felt the sense of our country being so united, on the roads all the road signs had written United we stand. People were really united at that time and I was really proud to be a part of it.
Now that it’s been over 20 years since the attack, how do you think America has changed since that day? Why? Has America stayed the same since then? In what ways?
I believe that America has changed a lot over the past 20 years, we now focus more on our military and trying soldiers and we spend more money on it. Also, airport security was never a thing until after 9/11. I feel like a big thing is that people feel more worried and less safe now because of the violence that is growing. Unfortanly like school shootings and attacks people are constantly worried.
After hearing my dad's response to the questions I started thinking about what was it like to actually be alive the day it happened. A lot of people at my dad's work thought it was an accident at first but then when the second plane crashed everyone realized they were under attack and started to freak out. From what my dad told me after the attack the whole nation became united and really worked hard on trying to be together as one nation so they could support one another. I found that beautiful people were there for one another. But when my dad told me the worst part he ever experienced while watching the news was when people started to jump out of the building, everyone was already freaked out about how many people were in the Twin Towers at the time. So many people lost their loved ones in that attack.
Interviewer: What is your name and how old were you on 9/11?
Interviewee: My name is Kristin Moore and I was 26 years old.
Interviewer: Where were you when the attacks happened? What were other peoples reactions to the attacks?
Interviewee: I was at work in the office. I heard about them on a desk radio that ironically I was listening to it. When the first tower was hit they reported it and it wasn't until the second tower was hit that anyone even thought it was an attack. Everyone just thought it was a terrible accident. But by the time the second tower was hit everyone was thinking there is no way this could be a coincident.
Interviewer: Did you know anyone in the city, if so, did you try to contact them to see if they were ok? What was the conversation like?
Interviewee: At the time, I didn't know anybody in the city so I didn't try to contact anybody. After, when you start to reach out and talk to different people you start to realize different people were there but it was not until later in life.
Interviewer: Now that it has been over 20 years since the attack, how do you think America has changed since that day? Why?
Interviewee: Airport security is completely different than it was prior to 9/11. It used to be that I could go to a gate without having a ticket and you could go through an airport with more freedom. Now you have to have a ticket to even get through security and they check everything it was not like that before.
Interviewer: What do you remember of the media coverage of the attacks?
Interviewee: Oh it was all they talked about. It was almost like it was nothing else on T.V. All anybody talked about was 9/11. As information was coming in, when the first tower was hit, the first few hours was all they talked about. They also didn't sensor a lot so as your listening to the news you're listening to someone standing in front of the towers talking about what's happening and you start to hear thumps and they realized it was people jumping out of windows to avoid the fire and that was on T.V. I feel like as soon as they announced or clearly defined who did the attacks all the attention was turned onto Alcaide such as who they were. We really didn't talk about them much before.
Interviewer: How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
Interviewee: Well we were getting married within a year so all of our family that had to travel had to go through much more complicated security. Meme and Gramps(my Grandma and Grandpa) were overseas in Copenhagen on a vacation and we were really worried about how they were going to get home and if they were going to get back because they had to fly home. Obviously anybody who had to travel by air now had to go through a bunch of new security.
Sam Moore
9/11 Interview
what is your name?
My name is Lody Asad
How old were you when 9/11 happened?
I was 24 years old.
What is your first memory of when you first heard about the attacks? Where were you when the attacks happened? What were other peoples’ reactions to the attacks?
When it happened I wasn’t in America at that time, I was still living in Syria. I remember being at home with my brothers, sisters, and cousins when we heard the news. The time difference is different from here but we heard about it the next day after it happened.
What kind of conclusions did you come to about the planes crashing into the buildings?
When we saw the video of it happening we were all shocked and felt really bad for the people who lost their lives that day. When we found out we immediately went to my parents and my uncle and aunt to tell them about it.
What were other peoples’ reactions like in the days after the attacks?
My parents uncles and Aunts talked about it for hours but the only thing I thought to myself was that America is a scary place.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks?
The war in Syria just started and I was planning on moving to America but I ended up moving to Canada
Now that it’s been over 20 years since the attack, how do you think America has changed since that day?
I ended up moving to America after a couple of years. but it was new to me when they got all the machines and scanners for the airport. After 9/11 I realized no matter where I go death is near. Something new I learned was that we were close to not moving to America and living the life I have now.
Amanda Krogol(Mom)=response
Interviewer: What is your name and how old were you when the attacks happened?
Response: My name is Amanda Krogol and I was 25 when everything happened
Interviewer:What is your first memory of when you first heard about the attacks? What kind of conclusions did you come to about the planes crashing into the buildings (did you at first think it was an accident or was it something worse)? Why?
I was at work, and my co-worke came in and saidr-” A plane crashed into the twin towers.'' Everyone who heard him was shocked and weall ran into the conference room to watch on television. We watched the second plane crash “live” thinking it was a replay of the first one. We thought it was an accident but once the second plane was confirmed to not be a replay, me
along with my other co-workers whole attitude changed, we instantly knew it was on purpose
Interviewer: Did you know anyone in the cities? If so, did you try to contact them to see if they were o.k.? What was the conversation like?
Response: My Brother was working in Manhattan, living in brooklyn. I tried to call him many
times, but the calls didn’t go through. When I finally spoke with him he said he had to walk all
the way home on the brooklyn bridge with thousands of other people. My brother said he was
ok, the whole situation was chaotic, and he remembered that it was raining ash.
Interviewer: How did life change for you and your family in the weeks and months
immediately after 9/11?
Just a few months later the shoe bomber happened and everything we knew about travel changed, as people started to become more cautious and scared. All the changes when it comes to safety protocol when traveling was from this time it made people fearful for people to fly.
Interviewer: What do you remember of the media coverage of the attacks?
Response:I remember there were nonstop media conspiracy theories and replayed footage of
the attacks being circled around. And to this day it is still talked about and not just once a year it
is something that has stuck with this country for over 20 years and will continue to be talked
about.
Interviewer: Now that it’s been over 20 years since the attack, how do you think America has changed since that day? Why? Has America stayed the same since then? In what ways?
Response: It’s something that has significantly impacted people who were not even alive at that time. There was nationwide unity for some time after the attacks and there were recruiting
centers overflowing with people wanting to join the fight in the middle east.
Personal response: I’ve heard about the 9/11 attacks for as long as I can remember, but I have never talked about it to someone this thoroughly and in depth before. I heard alot of new things I haven't heard before and it is still just as shocking as the first time I heard about the attacks. It’s
hard to Imagine something of this magnitude happening, and can make you understand why alot of people make very wild claims to what actually happened. I can imagine how scary those times might have been and it makes you fearful that It could happen again
What is your name? and how old were you when 9/11 happened?
My name is Mashuk Meah, and I was 49 years old at the time.
What is your first memory of when you heard about the attacks?
I was driving in Detroit, a city water department truck, going to a location called shane and maple while a crew was working on a water main.
What kind of conclusions did you come to about the plane crashes?
I thought it was unbelievable and a hoax.
What were other peoples' reactions around you to the news?
Everyone was in disbelief and shock that something like that could happen in the U.S.
Have you ever been to Washington D.C. or New York?
No.
How did the attacks change your views on New York and D.C.?
I was shocked that the aviation association was not prepared nor saw it coming.
Did you know anyone in those cities?
No.
Were you in another state from your home?
No.
What were other people's reaction days after the attacks?
People were still shocked.
Could you explain your most vivid memory of that day?
I was driving in the city of Detroit, a waterboard department truck, going to a site on a street called shane and maple, with a crew about 10 people working on a water main, and when I got there every one had came above the ground, and every one was in a sort of serious state. They couldn't believe what had happened. Not in America.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attack?
I was just more conscious that anything and everything is possible.
What do you remember of the media coverage of the attacks?
I found it horrendous looking at the dust and debris that clouded New York city. It was like a bomb went off, a nuclear bomb and people were panicking running up and down the streets, in a cloud of smoke, come to find out a lot of that stuff was toxic, cancerous, a lot of people got vaporized inside the buildings, and I was glad the mayor took complete charge or tried, I believe it was Rudy Giuliani. he helped distill some of the panic and brought some order to the city, on the news and radio's.
What do you think of President Bush's address later that night?
I think it was a very, very, elegant and accurate description of the American people.
How did life change for you and your family in the weeks and months immediately after 9/11?
It didn't.
What are your opinions on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?
Horrible, we shouldn't have been there. and our president took us to a war, seeking oil reserves, I feel. They had no nuclear weapons, none were ever found.
Now that it's been over 20 years since the attack, How do you think America has changed since that day and why?
I believe we have better prepared ourselves for anything like 9/11
Has America changed since then? and if so what ways?
Just more terrorist ready.
Amari
What is your name? How old were you on 9/11? My name is Rodrigo Soffner and I was 22 when 9/11 happened.
Where were you when the attacks happened? What were other peoples’ reactions to the attacks?
I was in Brazil when it happened. I really made everyone is shock, and my dad said that he was scared to go on planes, but after a bit of time he stopped being scared.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks? That attack really changed our lives here in Brazil t00, with like security and things.
Now that it’s been over 20 years since the attack, how do you think America has changed since that day? Why? Has America stayed the same since then? In what ways?
It really changed most of the countries mostly America, they have made their security way better. America has not stayed the same, they made a lot of memorials and when it comes to its anniversary, we take a minute to honor it with silence.
How did life change for you in the immediate aftermath of the attacks? when we heard the news everyone was in shock and started to be scared, my dad said that all of his friends were saying that they would never go into a plane again.
Pedro
Carter Hladki:
1) Interviewer: What is your name? And how old were you on 9/11?
Response: January Hladki, I was 21 years old.
2) Interviewer: What was your first memory of when you first heard about the attacks? And what did you think happened? Did you think it was an accident or worse?
Response: I was at an exercise class called “jazzercise” with two of my roommates. The first time I heard about it was on the news on the radio on the way home. When I got home everyone was in front of the TV talking about the towers falling. I assumed positive intent and thought it was an accident, maybe miscommunication.
3) Interviewer: Where were you when the attacks happened? And what were other people's reactions to the attacks?
Response: I was at the University of Michigan during my senior year. Other people's reactions were scared they had no idea how to react to the news. My mother and father-in-law called because your dad was with me at the time. They wanted us to go to your aunt who was a freshman at the time. They wanted to make sure she had people to support her. It was like a weird tornado drill. Everyone wanted the people they knew close.
4) Interviewer: Did the attack alter your view on New York City or Washington D.C.?
Response: It did for sure. The memorial there is breathtaking and striking and very massive. The idea that a building that big felt on people and people were working in the building is terrifying. I've never been to the Pentagon after so I have no say on that.
5) Interviewer: What were other peoples’ reactions like in the days after the attacks?
Response: University of Michigan is a massive campus with a huge population of people from the east coast. So there were people all around me who were personally affected by the attack. So the school was in a state of shock. People were all over the place trying to contact their loved ones to see if they were still alive. They shut down classes for two days, and they had people in the middle of campus to talk to. The campus was dead quiet.
6) Interviewer: What do you remember of the media coverage of the attacks?
Response: The media coverage was the constant replaying of the planes running into the towers. They kept going back and forth between the crash and Washington. It was like the media was trying to have people have an extreme reaction, so they showed the towers and things falling constantly. On top of showing the response teams. People at the time wanted to know what they were doing. It was constant coverage for days and days. You couldn't get away from it.
Interviewer response: My reaction to what she said is im shocked. Like I have heard about 9/11 stories before but never from a first-person view, Especially a view of someone I love. The way she described the area around her, the people around her reactions, and how she felt was a lot. It really let me see the full picture of how this terrorist attack not just affected New York City, but all over the country. And how it had such a reach. The saddest part was when she told me about the people at the school who lived in the city. She had to watch as they broke down right in front of her. It's a hard thing to comprehend. Then when she brought up how we have all the safety measures in place it made me remember that's how it's always been for me, but there are people who have to live with the fact that their family members died because they didn't have it before. If I was that person I would be torn apart. Her interview was interesting. It showed me a lot about how wide the effect this terrorist attack had. And how even though her experience is bad. There are way, way, way, worse stories.
What is your name?
Elon Hughes
How old were You the day of the attacks?
I was 26 years old
What is your first memory of the attacks?
At first I thought it was a joke. And then I realized every channel had breaking news. Then I thought I was having a bad dream, We just got back from our honeymoon in Las Vegas and I kept thinking what will happen next.
Where were you?
At home in the bed and my husband just got back from taking his son to school. He said he heard it on the radio.
Have you ever been to New York City or Washington D.C.? If so, how did that affect your reactions to the attacks? If not, how did the attacks alter / change your views of the cities and their inhabitants?
Yes I have been to both places. I was in fear not just for the people who lived there but also for myself.
Did you know anyone in the cities? If so, did you try to contact them to see if they were o.k.? What was the conversation like?
Yes I had relatives in New York. Yes but there was no phone service.
Can you describe your most vivid memory?
Watching video footage of people screaming and crying in the streets covered in ash.
Final thoughts?
The rest of the week I was fearful of going anywhere thinking it wasn't over. It was hard to process how people could be so evil and commit such an act. My heart breaks for the people that were trapped and had to suffer until their last breath. Flying on an airplane has been so uncomfortable since that day. I wasn't affected directly and no one I knew died from it but I will never forget how many lives were lost to this senseless act of terrorism.
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