[Ruhskins]

On 9/11/01 I worked in the Admissions Office at the University of Maryland, my first job out of college. My office was down the hall from our lobby area that had a TV. I remember walking to the bathroom, and seeing a large gathering in front of the TV; thinking it was a campus tour, I ignored it...but when I realized the time (too early for a tour) I went to see what was happening and the realized what was going on. Immediately I ran to my office to call my sister and her husband, who worked in Manhattan, and my NY family. After a while, I was able to find out that they were fine. Being close to DC and after hearing the attack on the Pentagon, and the possibility of another plane being out there (the one that eventually crashed in PA), the campus was in a state of nervousness to say the least.

I also remember visiting NYC that following month (work related), I remember getting as close as possible to the area, and seeing a street narrow down to a grayish background and seeing construction cranes surrounding ground zero, it was quite a sad sight. Also, the city just felt so different from its old self. Also later that month, I remember the sight of a National Guardsman with an M-16 at a security check point at BWI, and just getting the feeling that things were different now.

May God bless those that were affected and their family. Also, let's not forget the brave policemen, firemen, and all involved in the rescue operations that day.