On September 11, 2001, four coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States of America. Hijackers crashed two airplanes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A third plane struck the Pentagon, while a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania, due to a passenger revolt.
The 9/11 attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in history.
Nearly everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news of the attacks, 23 years ago.
Branson Globe readers shared their thoughts on that tragic day.
Said Renate, "I was at work, so my experience happened after arriving home and turning on the TV. I was in shock at what we saw. It was like my world just stopped being safe. My mind just couldn't believe that something so horrific could be happening within my country. I couldn't wrap my head around the why? But, seeing our country truly unite as one was awe-inspiring. Later in my life, I had the opportunity to go to New York with a visit to Ground Zero. I spent several hours reading and experiencing how truly devastating 9/11 was. But it gave me hope. Hope that this never happens again, but if it should, we are a nation united as one and our fortitude will take us through and make us stronger."
Doug, who works with an international ministry, recalled, "I was pulling out of my driveway, headed to the St. Louis airport, getting ready for an event in Detroit. Halfway to the airport, the office called and said, 'The airport is closed. Turn around and head home.' I got home in time to see the second plane hit the other World Trade Center Building. The next several hours were just disbelief. We had to cancel our event—only the third time ever!"
Valerie noted, "I was sitting in class at nursing school and the director kept coming in and whispering to our instructor. Finally, after about an hour of this in and out conversation, they told us what was going on, instructed us to fill our gas tanks on the way home and to pray for our country. I drove home and then was glued to the television, as I think all America was."
Pam recalled, "I was working in a high-rise glass building in Houston, Texas, scared to death as I sat at my desk, watching out the window and hoping that I wouldn't see an airplane headed my way. A lot of my co-workers left immediately to get their kids from school, but I stayed at work."
Kelly was on temporary duty in Honolulu, Hawaii, and said, "I didn't find out until I woke up at my usual time, which was several hours after the attacks. I lost an acquaintance in the Pentagon. We wound up staying in Hawaii an extra day or two until commercial flights resumed."
Said Cally, "I was trying to get my son off to preschool, but he was focused on Blue's Clues and wasn't hearing me. I asked my husband to change the channel and he turned it to GMA, showing the smoke from the first plane that struck the tower. We stood there, trying to figure out what was going on. Just then, the second plane struck. I'm sure our mouths were hanging open. I took my son to preschool, and came back home and spent the rest of the morning glued to the TV, trying to understand what in the world was going on."
Alicia remembered, "I was working at my elementary school. I was getting ready for my first class as a special reading teacher. The door opened to my office and our librarian said come look at what is happening on TV. We both stood there in horror as we watched the towers explode. hen, we both went back to work, trying to get through the day the best we could for our students."
Vickie shared, "I was at work on Leighton Barracks in Wurzburg, Germany. My heart fell out of my chest. Being in another country, I was horrified. My first thought was 'I need to get my children—in middle school, elementary and daycare. My husband was in the Army and was on Harvey Barracks in Kitzingen. Due to the nature of 9/11, all installations were shut down. I could not go get my children. I don't remember how much time lapsed before we were allowed to leave. I was able to get my daughter and my husband was able to get the other two children. It was hours before we did all get home. It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life."
Said Lynda, "Our son was in the hospital. I'd just come in the house after visiting him and praying for him. My friend called to tell us to turn on the TV ASAP. What we witnessed was beyond belief. An overwhelming darkness permeated our hearts. The loss was so very huge."
Anna noted, "I had gone to visit my 96-year-old mother in Cherokee Village, Arkansas, and was packing to come back home for work at the Acrobats. Mother called me to come fix her TV because every channel was showing the same movie. I watched it for a minute and told her this wasn't a move and explained what had happened when the plane hit the second tower. I got packed up and left as quickly as I could. I needed to get gas but found that all the way home, the stations were jacking up the prices as I was driving up. I listened to the radio to keep up with what was happening. When I got to Harrison, I finally had to get gas, and paid more than $4 per gallon for it. I went straight to the theater instead of going home. Mr. Zhao and several of the performers who had been in Branson the year before were very upset because Tony, Mr. Zhao's assistant from the last few years, was working for a Chinese company who had offices in the Towers. Tony was killed in the attack."
Said Norma, "I was working and watching TV when the first tower was attacked. My initial thought was 'This is a movie', until my son's frantic call saying, 'Mom, I think the world is ending.'"
For Ambur, it was a close call. She recalled, "We had just flown back home to Branson the night before, on September 10 from Virginia, where we had attended the marriage of my husband's brother. My husband's mom and her friend drove through New York that night, 11 hours before the towers went down the next morning, as they were on their way home to Canada. That morning, we were jetlagged, and I turned the TV on to just watch the news and see what was going on. I was absolutely paralyzed instantly as it was all over the news. The first tower had just been hit and gone down. I knew immediately this was not normal and it had to be any attack. We called his mother quickly to see if they were safe and hopefully, they did not stop in New York. They were safe and they said they saw the towers that night, and drove right by them, saying how beautiful they looked. They, too, were in shock and disbelief."
Heather was on her way to work when she heard the news. "I was in my dad's truck. We heard there was confusion and chaos in New York, but didn't know the actual devastation," Heather recalled. "I worked that day, trying to call home and be sure everyone was OK. The phones had too many trying to make calls at the same time, but finally I was able to find out everyone at home was safe. The days that followed were so sad and all we could do was pray. The thing I seem to remember most is the way all Americans stood up together and did everything they could for their fellow citizens."
Former Branson Mayor Karen Best was an elementary principal when the 9/11 attacks occurred. "A parent came in and said a plane hit the Twin Towers and to turn on the TV," Best noted. "I watched in horror as the second plane hit. My first thought was to take care of the kids at school to make sure they were feeling safe, as some had family members in New York. When the superintendent called and asked us to turn off all TVs in the classrooms, as America was under attack, I stood in disbelief of an attack. Several years earlier, I remembered taking the subway to the World Trade Center during the summer to work every day in New York City. I knew how massive the towers were and how much force it would take for them to come down. I wept for those who were trapped and for those lives that were changed forever. I tried frantically to account for my friends. As the days passed, I was proud of how our country came together as one, Americans. I wish we were still a country united, instead of so divided. I will never forget 9/11."
State Representative Brian Seitz noted, "On 9/11 I had taken the kids to school and was at home with the TV on, as I worked on my monthly newspaper. I saw the program I was watching was interrupted with the early news about the horrific events. As the day continued, I knew that I'd have to get my kids from school, fill both cars with gas, and buy extra food and supplies for the possibility of a full-scale war. Thank God it didn't come to that."
Some Branson entertainers were performing on the morning of the attacks. Allen Edwards was in the midst of an early-morning breakfast show at the Golden Corral Dining Showroom. "I had heard about the first plane just before our morning show started, but no details at all. At that time, I thought it might have been an accident or a small plane. Throughout the show, Steve Weyher kept coming in and feeding me bits of information. When he said the Pentagon had been hit, I knew that we were under attack. Towards the end of the show, we explained to our audience what was happening, the best we could. We had a motorcoach group there from New York that morning. We said a prayer for our group and our country, and ended our show with everyone singing God Bless America together. What a day!"
Headliner Doug Gabriel recalled, "I was having my morning coffee when the first plane hit the tower. At first I thought it was some kind of an accident but then, as just a little time passed, the second plane hit the other tower, and I knew we were under attack. It was such a hard day, as Roy Clark and I had a morning show, and we didn't know what to do other than give the audience the best show we were capable of doing, under the circumstances. At the time, I had Dale Grubaugh open the show with a prayer, and he did a great job. Dale is a pastor, and God used him that day to help comfort the people. Our country was united after this tragedy, and I pray all of us will never forget 9/11 and that we can come together as Americans once again."
Entertainer Sue Ann O'Neal shared her thoughts. Sue Ann's husband, Richard Daniel Clark, was the artist that created the famed American Highrise Print that for years hung on the back of Branson's Grand Palace, boldly featuring the Twin Towers. Said O'Neal, "When I walked into the house, Richard told me, 'We are under attack.' I looked at the live news report and watched the second plane hit the second tower. It was unbelievable but I was not surprised. I had been traveling out of Newark regularly every month for a few years performing, when towards the end of my contract I felt uneasy flying. I even changed my flight plan to fly out of Pennsylvania instead. I walked into Richard's office to look at the American Highrise print over his desk, thinking 'Which Building is next?' Feeling helpless and reaching out to our friends, we started praying for the families and our nation and for the military and President Bush. As that week unfolded, phone calls came in with people we knew and people we barely knew, each one wanting to connect and talk to Richard because of his artwork. American Highrise is not a 9/11 piece of art; it began in 1977, but it became a very important reminder that we stand together, We are One Nation Under God!"
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