Iconic Image

I think that the image of the second plane about to hit is the most iconic image of 9/11. It seems to be the most reproduced, and I think I remember that it was published on the front page of the Richmond Times the next day. I saw this image as it happened live on TV - it was the moment of realization that what this was an attack and not just an accident. It was a moment of pure dread and disbelief and I know that terror is a totally overused "buzz" word but honestly it best describes my feeling at this instant. 

I was in 3rd period English class and we were about to watch a video. The TV was on channel 12 when the teacher turned it on to put in the VHS so we all caught a glimpse of the news alert. At this point only one tower had been hit, so some kids started making jokes about how the pilot must have been like 70 or blind or something - really irreverent comments. And then the second plane comes in from the corner of the screen and the classroom went dead silent. We watched the second plane hit and then the live coverage as the other plane crashed into the pentagon. The only thing anyone said was "this is really happening" which was important for me at the time because I think I was just watching the TV like it was a movie. I had to keep reminding myself that these were real people dying because I was just so shocked nothing had really sunk in yet.

At the same time our principal was in the process of distributing letters to all of the teachers explaining what had happened and not to tell any of the students yet. When she came into our room she quickly shut the door behind her and watched the news with us. Then she and our teacher talked about what they were going to do with our class, because we were obviously like completely mortified and they assumed we would go out and tell the rest of the school that America was under attack and everything would erupt into chaos. A few more teachers came in to watch the news, then they made all of us students go to our next period, and soon the word got out. Not a lot of people seemed to even care - I think it was impossible to impress upon any child or teen the seriousness of the occurrence without showing them the actual footage of the attacks. 

I didn't know that the buildings had fallen down until I got home from school and turned on the news in my living room. My family lives in New Jersey and New York, and it was impossible to reach anyone by phone. I started sending e-mails to my loved ones. I even sent one to this boy that I had met in Jersey City that summer to see if his family was OK and if he got to see any of this happen. From there were started corresponding first over e-mail, then IM, then by phone by the end of that day. The one good thing that came of all the chaos is that it gave me a reason to contact this person whom I would have never otherwise tried to speak to again. To this day he is one of my dearest friends. 

One time he showed me where he stood on the street in downtown Jersey City and watched the towers fall. Now whenever 9/11 is mentioned the first thing that comes to mind is an image of the towers falling down from across the bay.