I was a sophomore in College. About to head to the student union to make copies of my story for my fiction writing class group project.

I’ve always been a Good Morning America watcher, and that morning I saw the aftermath of the first plane hit the towers. I didn’t know. I didn’t understand what was happening. But I knew I still had to get to class.

I went to the union, and saw the second plane hit the towers, live on the air. I stayed there, watching the coverage as long as I could. Then headed to class.

It was the only class I ever had with my older brother and future sister in law. I was so glad to see him. Our teacher dismissed us after talking a bit about what happened. We all headed back to the union to watch the news.

Later that day, after finding out that all flights had been grounded, it was absolutely terrifying to see Air Force One go overhead. President Bush was inside, heading to Offutt Airforce Base near Omaha. There’s an underground bunker there that he used to conduct strategy meetings from that day. It can withstand a nuclear attack. Those of us on campus saw the plane, and were scared. We didn’t know it was Air Force One.

12 years later. May we never forget.