[Carol *]

Seeing the World Trade Center being hit by airplanes on TV.

 

[Lee]

I was in sixth grade and my teacher got the phone call that President Kennedy had been assassinated.

 

[JoanieBen]

My son's birth. He was 3 months premature and MADE IT

 

[JoanieBen]

I will never forget 9/11/2001. I was sweeping off my front porch when my neighbor's son yelled to his mother to go watch TV because there had been a bombing in New York at the World Trade Center. I ran to my TV and watched the bombing that happened to be 2 planes that hit.

 

[Marie19]

When JFK was killed & when Elvis Presley died!

 

[AuntGranny]

I can still see the coverage of JFK the day he was asassinated in my mind just as clear as if it just happened I was in the third grade then

 

[Gibb]

I remember in 8th grade I was in a home ec class. The principal came on the pa.system and said " the president of the United States has been shot. Later he got on again and said President Kennedy is dead. Still gives me the chills.

 

[Tara]

I was in elementary school, living on a navy based. A boy in my class had been sent to the principal's office, and he came back at the end of the day and whispered to us that the President (Kennedy) had been shot. I teacher overheard and told him to be quiet. My BFF and I got on the navy buss that would take us to home, on the base. We were the only 2 that lived on the based itself, the other children, lived in navy housing off the base. We had asked the driver if it was true, when we first got on the bus, he told us to sit down and did not answer. But my BFF and I, knew that if the flag was at half mast, it was true and the President and died. All the other children were off the bus and as we passed through security, the flag pole was straight ahead, and the flag was at half mast The next thing I remember is watching the funeral on TV and the black horse with the boots in the stirrups facing backwards

I remember this too. My mom finally got me to understand what was on TV was not real. We are watching the parade, the president was shot everyone was crying.. I keep telling them it was not real because on TV nothing is real.

 

[Tara]

I remember this too. My mom finally got me to understand what was on TV was not real. We are watching the parade, the president was shot everyone was crying.. I keep telling them it was not real because on TV nothing is real.

 

[TriciaR]

I'll never forget on Tuesday, 911 I had just woke up and turned on the news and watched that plane slam into the Twin Towers. I saw the man jump out the window. It was horrifying.

My sister was a flight attendant for American Airlines and I immediately tried calling her and it kept going to voicemail. I called my Mom and screamed at her to turn on the news and asked where Raegan was. Mom said she was still in Phoenix. I told her that all flights had been canceled. I was crying so hard it hurt.

Thank you for sharing such a raw and emotional memory. It’s stories like yours that remind us how these moments in history touched us all in very real, very human ways.

 

[James Matthew Najera]

I was in Miami and watching TV. On it was pictures of Castro entering Havana Cuba.

Wow @ghandi44—that must’ve been an incredible moment to witness in real time. The images of Castro entering Havana marked such a turning point in history, not just for Cuba but for the world. Thank you so much for sharing this memory!

 

[James Matthew Najera]

May 4th, 1970 I was sitting in health class at Kent Roosevelt High School when an announcement came over the PA system. " All students that road buses were to immediately go outside and find their bus. After the buses were off school grounds the remaining students would be released to walk home." As it turns out, we were told there had been further unrest on the KSU campus and all citizens were to remain at their homes. There would be no travel in or out of the city. The rumors were flowing faster than the Cuyahoga river that ran through town. Some said that LSD had been dumped in the water at the water treatment plant not far from my house. Others said people were being shot. If so, who and where? The rumors continued to increase as did the anxiety of this 15 year old girl.

Leslie Konkle Youngs

Thank you so much for sharing that, @lesliey627. What a powerful and vivid memory. You captured not just the moment itself but the confusion and fear that rippled through your community in real time. I can only imagine how surreal and unsettling that must have felt as a teenager.

 

[TriciaR]

I was in elementary school, living on a navy based. A boy in my class had been sent to the principal's office, and he came back at the end of the day and whispered to us that the President (Kennedy) had been shot. I teacher overheard and told him to be quiet. My BFF and I got on the navy buss that would take us to home, on the base. We were the only 2 that lived on the based itself, the other children, lived in navy housing off the base. We had asked the driver if it was true, when we first got on the bus, he told us to sit down and did not answer. But my BFF and I, knew that if the flag was at half mast, it was true and the President and died. All the other children were off the bus and as we passed through security, the flag pole was straight ahead, and the flag was at half mast The next thing I remember is watching the funeral on TV and the black horse with the boots in the stirrups facing backwards

Thank you for sharing such a vivid and powerful memory @MZM . That moment clearly left a deep impression, and your recollection brings it to life so poignantly. We're grateful you took the time to share it with us.

 

[TriciaR]

I’ll never forget when John Kennedy was killed. I was in 7th grade

Thank you for sharing that @Pattij50 . So many people remember exactly where they were when they heard the news — it was truly a moment that stopped the world.

 

[TriciaR]

I'll never forget on Tuesday, 911 I had just woke up and turned on the news and watched that plane slam into the Twin Towers. I saw the man jump out the window. It was horrifying.

My sister was a flight attendant for American Airlines and I immediately tried calling her and it kept going to voicemail. I called my Mom and screamed at her to turn on the news and asked where Raegan was. Mom said she was still in Phoenix. I told her that all flights had been canceled. I was crying so hard it hurt.

Thank you for sharing this deeply personal memory @NIBOR0 . That must have been such a terrifying and emotional experience — especially with your sister in the air industry. We're so glad she was safe, and we appreciate you opening up about such a difficult moment.

 

[TriciaR]

In October 1960 I was in the 5th grade. In those days, our entire elementary school had ONE television - and my class was scheduled to watch Nikita Khrushchev speak to the UN . At the time, Khrushchev was the leader of the Soviet Union, and architect of the Cuban Missile Crisis (ultimately leading to the assassination of JFK?). It was during this session that Khrushchev pounded his shoe on his delegate desk -

Thank you for sharing that remarkable memory @lindadominguez . Witnessing such a dramatic moment in history, especially as a student, must have left quite an impression. It's incredible how vividly these moments stay with us.

 

[TriciaR]

I was in the school library when the announcement of President Kennedy’s assignation was made. There was a loud but muffled groan of disbelief followed by the sound of quiet sobbing. Will never forget.

Thank you for sharing that memory @Francie . The way you describe that moment captures the shock and sorrow so many felt. It’s one of those days the world stood still — truly unforgettable.

 

[TriciaR]

I remember when JFK was killed. I was laying on the family room couch because I just got home from getting my 4 wisdom teeth pulled with a mouth full of cotton to catch the blood. Try telling your mom that JFK was shit and killed. Well I got her attention and asked her to follow me. She did. Now imagine trying to tell her when you can't say a word clear. I will always remember that day.

Thank you for sharing that memory @ccolpitts05 — what a vivid and personal snapshot of such a historic day. Even through the pain and confusion, it’s clear how deeply that moment impacted you. It’s one of those days that stays with us forever.

 

[TriciaR]

My son's birth. He was 3 months premature and MADE IT

What an incredible moment to remember — thank you for sharing it @PSTORRS . Your son’s strength and resilience must have been nothing short of miraculous. So glad to hear he made it!

 

[TriciaR]

I remember watching JFK's funeral on our B&W TV. My Mom used our movie camera to film it for my Dad to watch since he was at work. I was only 4 and didn't really know what was happening or the effect that would happen to the world and our country.
I also remember a day in 2011, I was 42 and an elementary school library media teacher. I didn't have a class the first period of the day so I was working in my library. A classroom teacher came running into the library and told me to turn on the TV. We stood there and were mesmerized watching the reporting about the planes hitting the towers and what was happening in NY. More and more people started joining us. Most of the people who was not assigned a group of students at that time ended up in the library watching what was happening. Very soon the principal joined us and told us what the district wanted schools to do in to deal with this emergency. Parents started arriving to pick up students. We were to go to the classroom the child was in and have them get their items to go home and walk them to the front of the school where the parent signed them out. I don't know how long this continued, but it felt like forever. I had a husband working at a local Army base, 2 children is school - 1 HS and 1 MS. I also had one at college. It was very hard because I had a job to do, but wanted to make sure they were alright too. When I got a cell phone call from my daughter in HS she told me they had all been evacuated and were sitting in the stadium until parents arrived or could release them via phone. I got her released and sent her to the MS to get her brother. They were directed to go home and call me when they get there. I also asked them to call me when they heard from their father and sister. We were soon released from the school, people with young children were released first and since I had a 30 minute drive home I was one of those. I prayed the whole way home. My ending was a positive one with my entire family, even extended family, was safe. It was hard going back to school later and hearing the stories of other faculty members and students families who were effected in different ways. I still remember my feeling I had during that time and remember it every year.

Thank you for sharing such a powerful and personal account @techgrandma . Your memory captures not only the shock of that day, but also the strength it took to support your students while worrying about your own family. We’re so glad your loved ones were safe — and so grateful you took the time to share this moving story with us.