Where were you on 9/11?

“My 9/11 keepsake is a first-class U.S. Air boarding pass: Flight 5306 departing 9:30 a.m. from Charlotte to Philadelphia, seat 1C. As a frequent flyer, I had just upgraded my ticket, which originated that morning in Chattanooga. I looked forward to a comfortable flight and quickly getting off upon our arrival. Instead, because my seat was near the door, I was the first person asked to deplane in Charlotte.

“They told me the flight was canceled due to extreme weather in Philadelphia. I questioned the veracity of their statement because the skies that morning couldn’t have been more beautiful. Then again, how else were they going to get us off the plane? Once back inside the terminal, we began learning the sad truth via TV news coverage.

“Several hours later I was headed back to Chattanooga in a rented van along with nine other people. I was extremely thankful knowing I would be sleeping with my wife in our own bed that night.

Paul Cunningham, 77

Hixson

“I was in class at Lee University when a student ran onto the stage to warn everyone of the first attack, at the time not knowing it was an attack. We then dismissed and went next door to the regularly scheduled chapel service where we watched the coverage of the second plane hitting the towers. Many students had loved ones in the towers or surrounding areas. Afterward, a local radio station was reporting the Capitol Building had also been hit.

“I remember calling my parents and my dad said to go get gas, and sure enough there were lines at the pumps. Three weeks later I was in NYC for a previously scheduled trip, and I will never forget the sight and smoke smell of the still burning rubble near Battery Park.”

Meagan Jolley, 39

Cleveland, Tennessee

“I had moved from Chattanooga to New York City. I walked my husband to the subway station in the basement of the World Trade Center. I had our sons, 1.5 years old and 3 months old, in the stroller on the sidewalk when the first plane hit. I made it back to our apartment a couple of blocks away and sheltered there.

“When the buildings fell, it was so dark inside my apartment that I couldn’t make out the outline of my baby in my arms. There were pieces of paper floating in the air around our building. It was so disorienting that I thought the F18s flying above were dropping them.

“We were ultimately able to get out of Manhattan by scrambling over a railing onto a tugboat that dropped us off at some random office building in New Jersey. It was super terrifying, and it took me a long time to feel safe. But so many people around me lost loved ones. I felt so lucky I left the tower when I did.”

Marian Hoffman, 53

Irvington, New York

“I had just started my first year of teaching high school English to ninth graders at Meigs County High School. The whole event happened during my planning period, and several teachers were watching the events happen live on the principal’s (Don Roberts) small TV set. Days later, after the initial shock, the community came together with several patriotic events. Students circled the school holding hands in a symbol of solidarity and strength.”

Greg Cantrell, 47 Chattanooga

“I was at work at the time. We had TVs in our offices and got a call about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. We all turned on the TV and watched it unfold, watching the second plane hit. All I could think of was going home to my 1-year-old daughter and making sure she was OK. After that day, I no longer wanted to go into a multistory building or the mall for a while. I still remember everything about that day and think about those people that died and their families and the ones that managed to get out of the building.”

Cheri Carver, 62

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia