Where were you during 9/11? What has changed in 20 years?

I was in my dorm room for first day of class and only got one channel. I did not have the tv on, but on my way to class the common area I saw about 50 guys watching a small tv and I was wondering what movie was so captivating. I went downstairs and in the common area there I saw over 150 people so I asked what was going on. I stayed a little bit then went to class where we had my first class of college before the college shut down all classes for the day. After talking to my loved ones I jumped into the little bus that the college had with a few of my buddies and went to the local blood bank and we donated blood.

I was on a jobsite. I first heard it happening on a radio station (KLBJ Austin, TX) who played a lot of pranks. At first, that's what I thought it was. As it developed, and I figured out it was the real deal, I left work and went home early to get in front of a TV. I became a serious news junkie after that.

It was my first day of High school, and I was sitting in the main office, trying to get the combination to my locker, when floods of parents starting coming into to sign their children out of school. Then the Assistant principal rolled out a tv into the main office and turned it on, just as the second tower was hit, and the whole room went silent. I remember crying, and wondering what happened. We lived 50 miles east of NYC, and my room faced due east, and every day when I was in there I could see the smoke from the towers, and just remember feeling trapped, because we couldn't leave Long Island for the first few days, and then after that, We had military air patrols over our heads all the time. The sights and sounds that I'm used to now, it just felt like we would never know peace again.

I was at work, what was NSGA(Naval Security Group Activity) Norfolk, VA. I was a CTT2 at the time, due to deploy as a direct support team member on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. We were scheduled to deploy on the 18th. When everything happened we were told to go home, pack our sea bags and stand by. It was a very sad time for everyone, but at the same time, a little bit exciting. For the first time in my then 8 year career, I felt like I was finally going to make a difference! I was now headed off on my deployment with a purpose! To seek justice for those that suffered on that tragic morning. To do my duty to my country and to defend those who needed it. To be a real sailor (besides all the tattoos and drinking, I had already done plenty of both). So what that my deployment that was supposed to be routine and have some pretty sweet port calls along the way was now completely changed. I would not trade my 159 days straight at sea and 3 beer days for anything!! The feeling of worth that deployment gave me, was priceless.

I was in "A" school in Monterey, CA. Had no idea anything was going on until I went to morning muster, none of us had out TVs on that morning. I was about a month shy of my first anniversary in service.

I was at my first duty station "Ft Hood, Texas". It was a day that I will never forget.

I was a SGT in the Marines at that time, I distinctly remember that day, I was on the flight deck of the USS Cleveland, just off the coast of San Diego, returning from a six month deployment. Having a cup of coffee and a cigarette, watching the cars roll up and down I-5, being thankful that I was finally going to be back on Camp Pendleton that day. When I went inside to the mess deck for a refill, I saw the events unfolding on CNN. Needless to say, the morning became very hectic, and the events that would happen later that day were unknown to all of us aboard.

I was newly MOSQ 92Y in the WAARNG on my way to my civilian job as a teacher. I stopped at the local Shell station for some coffee and spotted something about a plane crash on the TV. It wasn't until I got to school that I realize the full import.

School was cancelled, most kids went home, some stayed at school to process. Most of them were worried I was going to have to "go somewhere" because of it.

I was on board the U.S.S. Carl Vinson rounding the tip of India deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch. The ship went suddenly quiet when word got around what was happening. Needless to say, we all became more focused on the mission ahead and our air wing flew every sortie we were assigned. The crew came together like I have never seen before, or after, and set the bar high for all other carriers.

I was sleep after working all night, and my GF ran in the bedroom all crazy like half the house just blew up, jumped on me and told me to get up immediately. I was like girl this better be worth it!