From Tara in Louisburg

Where were you? Children's Discovery Center 5 World Trade Center

I was a teacher at the Children's Discovery Center. On the morning of Sept 11th my co workers and I greated our early arrivals. Some of the children in my class had started eating breakfast and other's were being dropped off. Suddenly there was a loud sound overhead but I thought theair unit had malfunctioned. Our building was glass and I noticed people running outside and thought maybe the loud sound was a car accident. I never even realized the debri that was falling, the fear on everyone's face or the fact that people were running down the stairs as well as the up and down escalators until one of my parents screamed "It's not an accident it's. Bomb!" Suddenly everything became clear I could see it all and I knew we had to get out. All of the teachers were alerted quickly and reacted quickly because we had drills often the children even fell into place. The parents frm my room left me but a couple quickly came back screaming we can't get out. I remember standing in the hall saying to myself "we can't get out? What do you mean we can't get out!" suddenly I remembered the way the maintenace worker took out the trash and I just started running that way with the children. Other teachers and parents were right behind me. We saw a man covered in blood coming in to the police department (which was located in the same building) When we finally made it outside we walked into total chaos. I remember looking up and seeing the hole in the building and saying "I'm not standing here. It looks like the top of the building might fall" a man started to fuss at me saying, "what are you worried about? Don't you know these buildings are made to withstand somthing like this? It won't fall." Nevertheless we decided to walk across the street to the cemetery. We tried to regroup and prayed parents would find us and by th grace of God some did. Some of our other coworkers were on their way into work and instead of turning back the searched for us and found us. I remember one of my coworkers walking to the cornr saying, "Oh my God! People are jumping out of the building!" I covered my ears I didn't want to know. I didn't want to hear but I knew everytime someone jumped because a crowd of thousands would scream and I would cringe inside. The next thing I knew the roar of the 2nd engine was heard and then and explosion. I then saw everything in slow motion. The fear tha came across everyone's face andthen suddenly I seemed to be back in real time and running for my life. Our group was split at that moment. I ran towards City Hall with a few teachers and the childre in our classes while the other teachers ran towards the seaport. We made to city hall and rested. We sang songs and did fingerplays with the children wo seemed to think we were on a field trip. We asked a vendor for water an snacks for the children and he refused. He wanted us to pay and we had no money because everyone left their pocketbooks behind. A businessman threw money at him and told him to give us whatever we needed. I still find it hard to believe he would give even one child a bottleof water at a time like that. We sat on the grass at City Hall until theground began to rumble and we heard a very scary sound and looked back in the direction we'd come from and saw something rolling down the street. We were a big distance from it but we took off anyway and ran until we reached China Town. Somehow our director found us and told usto go into a restaurant and wait for her to return. But we ran into some police officers and one of the started screaming at us that more planes were coming and we needed to get out of Manhattan. We asked a female officer and she told us tht more planes could be cming but she just didn't know and suggested we leave just to be safe. Then I heard a plane in the air and thought ok God, I guess this is the way I die. Little did I know it was the US Air Force. The female officer proceeded to top vehicles on thestreet and tell them to get us out of there. We ended up at St Claire's Hospital on 51st street. Once there they gave us a room food and blankets for the children. We were able to contact the media to let parents know where we were and we stayed there until the last child as picked up.

I have developed a stronger relationship with God. I forgive easier love more and try not to sweat the small stuff. I have some health issues but I'm dealing with. I. also relocated to NC and have no desire to ever live in NY again. I am grateful for the life I have and for everyone who made it out alive and my heart still aches for the families of those who did not.