World Trade Center

The story of America’s response to the events of September 11 is told best by her people. From the survivors and the families who lost loved ones. From the children and teenagers. From the folks in cities and in the heartland. How did they react to these shattering events?

The Library of Congress, just as it did after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, asked the American people to respond with their stories, their art and their thoughts about what had happened. Today, the Library has acquired many original works, created by a broad spectrum of people - children and adults, amateurs and professional artists. All have generously given their productions to the national archives. The following are just a few examples:

• "We Can’t Cry Hard Enough" - a powerful musical tribute
  
  
• The Twin Towers - "I Can’t Take It!" - by Hannah Beach, third-grade student from Knoxville, Tennessee
  
  
• The Twin Towers - "No, No" - by Meagan Yoakley, third-grade student from Knoxville, Tennessee
  
  
• "It’s OK" - Eddie Hamilton, third-grade student from Knoxville, Tennessee
  
  
• "New Vocabulary as of September 12, 2001" - Liz Johnson
  
  
• "Flower Towers" - Jen Kim
  
  
• "We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Programming to Bring You Reality" - Ann Telnaes
  
  
• "How My Life Has Changed" - Hilary North
  
  
• "Nothing Feels Safe Anymore" - Daniel DiGia
  
  
• "Stop Hate" Alex Steinweiss
  
  
• "Can’t Stop Watching TV." - Marie Blanchard
  
  
• "WTC 010911 9:15 AM" - S. Torre
  
  
• "Engine Company 54 Lost 15 Men" - Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt
  
  
• "Memorial to Matthew Diaz"
  
  
• "After the Screaming" - Marc Yankus
  
  
• "Fear, Fate and Faith" - Scip Barnhart
  
  
• "In Memory" - Brian Niemann

One year after the attacks, the world remembered what happened on September 11, 2001. One of the stories, donated to the Library of Congress, helps to put all those memories in perspective.