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<< Return to previous page Contributed by: Eric Pelt Contributor's location on 9/11: Manhattan & Staten Island Contributed on: 5 August 2002 How did you witness history on September 11th? I live on Staten Island, and don't go to the city that much, but on this day I had to go to the VA Hospital in Manhattan for a check up. I took the Staten Island Ferry at 8:00 in the morning. So around 8:25am I'm on the other side, that means Manhattan, and because I'm early I don't ruch into the subway station. So I smo0ke a cigarette and walk up towards the subway station at City Hall. I remember drinking my cup off coffee, looking up and telling myself, man this plane is fluing low. The next thing I saw was the plane hitting the first tower. And if this wasn't bad enough, the other plane hid. I made my way out of this area, running for the clouds of dust and debris. I made my way up town, towards 9th Ave and 45th Street, I use to live in this area, and I thought it will be save, for watever is going on. Till today, what is almost 11 monthts after 9-11, I still don't know how I got there, it is a complete blackout for me. I lost good friends ofmine in this attack, and there is not one day in my life that I don't think about them, or all the other people that diede in this attack. Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? Yes, How is it possible that this don't change your life. I live on Staten Island, when I have to go to the city, Manhattan, I will look away, I can not look at this big hole in the skyline of New York City. Because when I do, I start to cry, you live here, and you will feel the same. For us it is a daily remember, not just something we see on television. What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The people, and I mean all the people, not only the people that got killed that day, but their families, the workers that dindn't stop till there was nothing to do any more. Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Yes I fly the flag, all the time, also before September 11. Do I have different feelings about the flag? No, I'm a Dutch immigrant, who made a choice top live here, and this is my country now. I always have the American flag on my pole. Cite as: Eric Pelt, Smithsonian Story #113, The September 11 Digital Archive, 5 August 2002, <http://911digitalarchive.org/smithsonian/details/113>. Archival Information: 222 words, 1099 characters << Return to previous page