It started off as an ordinary September day but quickly turned to smoke-filled skies and streets full of terrified people. As the people of New York City started their daily routines, they were interrupted by a horrific terrorist attack. This attack would devastate the nation and change it forever. Below is a timeline of the events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.

Smoke rises from the site of the World Trade Center Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Paul Morse, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library (Photo by National Archives)

Mr. Shane Skinner, Teacher 

“I was in my third year of teaching as a sixth-grade, self-contained teacher.  I remember being in such disbelief when I first heard about it. A co-worker, Mike Martin, came into my classroom and told me ‘Hey you have to come down and turn on the news. A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center.’ I remember thinking that was so crazy, I didn’t even believe it. Once everything was revealed about what was going on, we didn’t really know what to think. We all had the same thought process of, ‘Are we panicking?’ ‘ Are we under attack?’ ‘Are we going to war?’ ‘Was it an accident?’ But after the second plane hit, we all knew it wasn’t an accident. It almost felt like we were watching a movie. Seeing those towers fall was crazy. It still affects me to this day because of just how crazy it made airport security. Now people are just so against one another, compared to when 9/11 first happened, and people came together for their country. The world went from being loving to bad attitudes and negativity. It’s crazy to look back and think of how long ago that was and how we are no longer healing together.”

Ms. Michelle Morris, Coach 

“I was in shock. Complete shock. It was like watching a movie, and I was at a loss for words when I heard about the plane hitting the World Trade Center. So I was 27 and on maternity leave when the events of 9/11 happened. One of the things that stuck out the most to me that day was the devastation and the impact such an act made on the United States. When I heard that the towers fell, I was in disbelief, and I was sad. After the events, I went to New York to see the memorial where the towers were. My father was a firefighter, so to see the brotherhood of all first responders after the 9/11 attacks was very touching.” 

Ms. Abbigayle Marion, Teacher 

“In 2001, I was only five months old. I feel like I can relate with students more because I don’t remember anything other than what I’ve been told about that day in history class and by my parents, along with having those awkward moments when we talk about 9/11 like we were there. Over summer, I had the opportunity to go to New York and see the 9/11 memorial. I was very fascinated with it. I loved being able to see how detailed the museum was, and I learned so much about the firefighters and first responders. Along with the terrorists, and how they were able to accomplish stealing commercial airplanes to hit the Twin Towers. After seeing the memorial, I have a new sense of appreciation for the entire situation, and now during history class I have more information about 9/11 to give my students.” 

Mr. Dedric Williams, Teacher

“I initially was told by a coworker that the first tower had been hit. It didn’t really bother me because he said they bombed the World Trade Center. I said, ‘Yeah, they did that before. It wasn’t a big deal.’ He then said, ‘No. They flew a plane into it.’ Instantly my facial expression changed, and I knew it was much more serious and horrible. I turned on the TV in my room, and they showed the video of the first plane hitting and then the collapse that began. It was one of the saddest days I have endured. My response was one of sadness for all of the lives lost and the families impacted by it. I was in my classroom at Duncanville Ninth Grade School, teaching my first class of the morning and my coworker, who floated into my room to teach during my planning period, came in and told me. I was 24 years old when it happened. I did not know anyone personally, but because there was a World Trade Center in Dallas, many of the businesses around it began to shut down and offices were sending people home. Because several of our students had family members who worked downtown, they were leaving work and coming to pick up their students. It started a wave of parents coming to pick up their kids and just wanted to have them home with them to make sure they were safe. The panic that was personally felt in New York had ripple effects across the country. The image that stuck out the most to me was a video that was shown of a man and woman who were on one of the top floors of the second tower. As the floors below them were engulfed in flames and the floor beneath their feet began to shake and crumble, they were stuck with the decision of do they jump and attempt to survive the fall or do they stay there and potentially burn to death. It was chilling to think about what had to be going through their minds at that moment. It was an awful feeling to think about those people who were in there, many of whom were stuck for days or weeks only to eventually be found dead beneath the rubble.”

Mr. Gerad Jackson, Teacher

“In regards to what stuck out most to me at the time of 9/11, other than the tragedies of that day, was how it brought everyone together. I remember there being U.S. flags everywhere I looked. People genuinely caring about one another. I was 12 years old when the attacks happened on 9/11. I remember I was sitting in my seventh-grade math class with Mrs. Alenik. 9/11 still affects me to this day in the sense that it makes me more empathetic to those who have endured loss and makes me treasure the moments I am blessed to endure. When I visited the 9/11 memorial in New York, it was emotionally moving and deeply impactful. I still remember some of the stories of those who lost their lives. It was a normal day, until it wasn’t. So many lives cut short unexpectedly, so it reminds me to treasure the time that I have. I hope people who were not alive during 9/11 understand how this tragedy was able to shine a light on the beautiful potential of human nature. So many people risked their lives, sacrificed their time, donated what they could or helped others in any way that they could. Although it was an unforgettable tragedy, it was followed by inspiring and selfless human acts of kindness. My teacher turned on the TV that was in our class after news broke of the first plane hitting the first tower. I was stunned. Unable to speak or move. Even at 12 years old, a silence fell over the class as a few students started to cry and ask if they could go call their family members. There were no immature jokes or silly antics that day. After the towers fell, my reaction was still rather muted. Still stunned by the violent and chaotic nature of what I was seeing, I do remember feeling very bad for those that were crying and being escorted out of class to call their families. Sympathy was my first response, even though I did not fully understand what they were going through.”