At 7:30 a.m. Sept. 11, Lane Community College student Isaac Walker-Stern awoke to a telephone call from a friend telling him to turn on the television. As Isaac watched the live news report of the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, all he could think was: “Am I watching my uncle die?”
“My uncle works at the World Trade Center,” he said. “It took a long time to finally get through to my aunt who told me the news.”
Walker-Stern’s aunt told him that his uncle was late for work so he missed the first plane crash, but did see the second hijacked jet crash into the second of the twin towers. Following the crash, Walker-Stern’s uncle was safely evacuated.
Millions across the country shared Walker-Stern’s shock at the terrorist attacks against the United States.
Two hijacked jetliners crashed into the World Trade Center towers within a half hour of each other, and later, both 110-story buildings collapsed. Later that morning, another hijacked passenger jet crashed into the Pentagon, and a fourth hijacked jet crashed in rural Pennsylvania.
All passengers and crew members on the planes were believed to have been killed in the crashes, but the total death toll is unclear.
A third building in the World Trade Center was destroyed later that day as a result of damage sustained from the two plane crashes.
Several days later rescue crews were still hard at work trying to dig survivors out of the wreckage of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. While there were a few sporadic reports of a successful rescue, most news reports contained only ever grimmer expectations that the death toll would rise into the thousands.

In the midst of all the chaos following the attack, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide shutdown of airports.
United Airline flights already en route from Seattle to Los Angeles and from San Francisco to Seattle were redirected to the Eugene Airport.
Diana Bell, office manager of Eugene Airport Administration, said one flight had taken off prior to the FAA’s announcement, but was grounded immediately.
She added the terminal will reopen at 6 a.m. Wednesday and flights will begin leaving Eugene at 9 a.m.
The federal building in downtown Eugene and the state capitol building in Salem closed Tuesday, but should also reopen Wednesday.
Gov. John Kitzhaber released a statement assuring Oregonians there is no indication from either federal or state sources suggesting any threat to Oregonians.
“We have instituted a heightened level of security,” Kitzhaber said. “There is no need for panic. From everything we know, Oregon is not at risk.”
Eugene Police Department spokeswoman Pam Alejandre said Lane Transit District buses have been re-routed to various lodging areas, and EPD officers are limiting access to the main parking lot of City Hall.
“We assure the community that we have stepped up security measures,” Alejandre said.

Melinda Kletzok, a Lane County spokeswoman, said county officials have activated the county’s Emergency Operation Center and have been monitoring the situation.
“One of our concerns is for the family members of the victims,” Kletzok said. “The Lane County Mental Health is providing emotional and logistical support to families as needed.”
Other services offering aid include PeaceHealth, Sacred Medical Center and University Counseling and Testing Center.
“People react to emergencies like this in two common ways,” said Nancy Taylor Kemp, a senior counselor at the University center. “Some people feel vulnerable while others experience emotional blunting. Both are completely normal and need to be respected.”
University employees and their family members can also receive emotional support from Directions for Employee Assistance, an off-campus counseling service provided by the University.
Eugene residents and students expressed their opinions of this morning’s tragedy.
“I am shocked, angry and in a state of disbelief,” said Maureen Beringer, a registered nurse at Sacred Heart. “My heart bleeds for the victims and their families.”
LCC student Crispin Young, a barista at The Duck Stop, said it was a cowardly attack.
“I’m so angry,” she said.
William Baugh, a political science professor who specializes in U.S. foreign policy and national security issues, said the attacks had “pretty sophisticated coordination.”
In the wake of the terrorist attacks, telephone lines have been set up to help Eugene residents receive counseling and donate blood for relief efforts. Counseling lines include the University Counseling Center at 346-3227, and the PeaceHealth mental health therapy line at 744-0828.
To donate blood contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, or the Lane Memorial Blood Bank at 484-9111.