STANDARDS

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, RH.6-8.9, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, RI.6-8.9, W.6-8.4, SL.6-8.1

NCSS: Time, Continuity, and Change • Individual Development and Identity • Individuals, Groups, and Institutions • Power, Authority, and Governance • Global Connections • Civic Ideals and Practices

U.S. HISTORY

Eyewitness to History Contest Winner

A Day Like No Other

Kira Shim won our Eyewitness to History Contest with her gripping account of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. First, learn about the attacks. Then read Kira’s interview.

May 2024

Question: How can an eyewitness account help us understand major events in history?

Courtesy of Shim Family

Kira Shim

For millions of New Yorkers, September 11, 2001, began like any other day. Kids headed to school. Adults hurried to work. Then, in a flash, the world changed forever. At 8:46 a.m., a passenger jet crashed into one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, a huge office complex.

At first, witnesses thought the crash must have been a terrible accident. But 17 minutes later, a second plane crashed into the other tower. Suddenly, it was clear: The nation was under attack. Terrorists had hijacked the planes, turning them into devastating weapons.

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Thousands of people rushed to evacuate the burning towers. At the same time, firefighters, police officers, and other first responders raced into the buildings to help. Then, at 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed. Less than half an hour later, the North Tower did too. More than 2,400 people were killed, including about 400 first responders.

Two other planes were hijacked on 9/11. One plowed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. military, near Washington, D.C. The other plunged into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Passengers on that plane had fought back against their hijackers after hearing what had happened in New York and at the Pentagon. Experts say those hijackers may have been aiming for the White House or the U.S. Capitol.

In all, nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks. Al Qaeda, a terrorist group based in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility. Within days, President George W. Bush declared a “war on terror.” As part of it, U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. That war would last 20 years—the longest in American history.

As a result of the attacks, the U.S. increased security measures at airports and other public buildings. It also passed laws expanding federal power over Americans’ privacy rights. Many of those procedures and laws are still in place today.

What was it like to be in New York on 9/11? For one survivor’s story, keep reading.

Kira’s Eyewitness to History Interview

NOTE: This is an edited, condensed version of Kira’s interview.

Courtesy of Shim Family

Kira Shim and Sung Yim. Kira, 13, is from Tenafly, New Jersey.

The roar of a jet engine filled the streets of Lower Manhattan. People looked up to spot a plane flying straight into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. In the blink of an eye, the bright-blue sky was filled with black smoke and fire. People stood in terror, watching the world come apart around them.

At the time, barely anyone could comprehend what was happening or predict its lasting impact. My uncle, Sung Yim, was only a few blocks away from the Twin Towers. I interviewed him to learn his story.

Lower Manhattan on 9/11

This shows where Sung Yim was in relation to the World Trade Center.

How did your day begin?
Around 8:30 a.m., I arrived at my workplace at 17 State Street, not far from the World Trade Center (see map, above). I took the elevator to my office on the 37th floor.

How did you find out about the first plane crash?
I was eating breakfast in my office when a secretary told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I looked out the window to see smoke coming from one of the buildings. I immediately called my fiancée, who worked two blocks from the World Trade Center, to ask if everything was OK. She didn’t even realize what had happened, so I assumed she was fine and went back to my breakfast.

What happened when the second tower got hit?
The impact was so strong, my whole building shook. I called my fiancée again to say I’d go and get her.

What was it like when you stepped outside?
I saw hordes of people hurrying out of buildings while hundreds of pieces of white office paper fell from the sky like confetti. I wove through the sea of people to reach my fiancée’s office at 120 Broadway. I took the elevator to the 20th floor, only to be met by a locked glass door. Thinking my fiancée was waiting for me on the other side, I tried to kick the door down. A security guard told me everyone in the building had already evacuated. I ran back outside. Hoping my voice could be heard over the commotion, I started desperately screaming my fiancée’s name. Miraculously, she was standing right in front of me.

What did you do next?
Not knowing what might happen, we went to an ATM to withdraw $1,000, then bought five bottles of water and went to Battery Park. Suddenly, a stampede of people came rushing toward us. Confused, I asked someone what everyone was running from. He said one of the Twin Towers had collapsed. Looking over his shoulder, I saw a huge cloud begin to fill the streets. It seemed to devour everything in its path. Terrified, my fiancée and I ran straight to the Staten Island Ferry station.

What happened there?
The ferry station was completely dark and filled with people covered in soot. Everything was coated in dust and debris, making it difficult to breathe. I used the water I had bought to wet pieces of cloth. I handed them out to people so we could cover our noses and mouths to protect our lungs from the dust.

Did the ferry come?
We were trapped there for three to four hours. After what seemed an eternity, a ferry took us to Staten Island. Seven or eight hours later, my parents were able to pick us up.

How were you feeling, knowing the U.S. had been attacked?
It was difficult for me to grasp that the U.S., considered a very stable and powerful nation, could be attacked. I didn’t know how to express that sensation until today. I would label it as helplessness, frustration, and pure terror.

What did you learn from experiencing 9/11?
How proud I was to be American. There were thousands of people at the ferry station, but everyone managed to stay calm despite what was going on around us. Another thing that stood out to me was the heroes, such as the first responders who showed courage and selflessness that day. I became a U.S. citizen after the 9/11 attacks. Seeing the bravery and resolve of Americans is what made me decide to be a part of this country.

Kira’s note: From interviewing Sung Yim, I learned that 9/11 is a part of U.S. history that highlights Americans’ strong sense of unity and resilience. It brought different communities together and showed their determination to overcome great despair.

It also showed Americans’ support for one another when faced with unimaginable hardships. Overall, 9/11 is a reminder of the importance of compassion, understanding, and the American spirit.