Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Johnson, Stephens, Bischoff 9/11 Experiences


Kathy Johnson’s 9/11 Experience
On September 11, 2001 Mrs. Kathy Johnson was 49 years old and was being trained as a Treasurer in a new accounting program for the MHS ECA that was beginning to be used in the high school.
Johnson was frightened and stunned of the events that occurred during this historic day. "I saw all the news coverage that day of the planes flying into the towers, the collapse of the towers, and the horror on the faces of those people," Johnson said. "My initial thoughts were: "Is this a joke?", "This can't be happening to America.""
But it wasn't a joke. Johnson turned on the television when someone ran into the bookstore and told her and Mrs. Peggy Gormon to turn it on. "Needless to say," Johnson said. "Training ended when we switched that TV on. For the remainder of the day, I wondered what was going to happen in our world."

Cindy Stephens’ 9/11 Experience
On September 11, 2001 Mrs. Cindy Stephens was 38 years old working as a custodian at MHS.
"How could this happen in America?" Was the question many of the students kept asking Stephens. She had her own thoughts on mind. Her cousin worked in one of the towers at a law office. She was in complete shock. Her day went on as smoothly as possible given the situation.
It was a silent day besides the sounds of people crying, including Stephens. "We went to what is now room A108 and watched it on the TV," Stephens said. "The teacher and students were all silent as we watched in disbelief. Other support staff members were rushing into classrooms to watch. I just started crying."
Stephens later found out that her cousin wasn't there that day and that she was safe.

Becky Bischoff’s 9/11 Experience
On September 11, 2001 Mrs. Becky Bischoff was working at the Attendance office at MHS. She received a call from both Ms. Beth Henry, the Dean of Girls at the time, to tell Mr. Muston about the attacks. "We were having career day at MHS and several students were on field trips," Bischoff said. "We had to call all field trips to return to the school and we were put on lockdown. This lasted several days."
The day was long for Bischoff. It was a quiet and busy day. Parents kept coming in constantly to pick up their students. The staff was, "anxious and somewhat apprehensive," Bischoff said. "We all just wanted to go home and be with our families."
This day changed all of America. "At first it was positive because people returned to churches and began to worship God," Bischoff said. "People helped one another more." But as time went on, "we have gone back to our old ways," Bischoff said. "I will always remember the tears and the fear of September 11, 2001."