It has been 17 years and I can still remember where I was and what I was doing when the planes hit the World Trade Center in New York City.

My 22 year old self, was home. I was getting an early start on a long list of chores that started with hand washing my car - when all of a sudden my next door neighbor ran out of their home and said, “Turn your TV on now and watch the news!”

Not knowing what was going on I ran into my home and turned on the TV to any news channel, ABC, NBC, CBS it did not matter as they are were playing the same thing - A passenger jet had crashed into the World Trade Center.

I was home alone watching in horror. The fire, the smoke, the devastation, it all felt unreal. I thought to myself, could this really be happening? Is this a movie? Unfortunately no, it was very real.

Then, it happened. Live on the news. A second plane hit the World Trade Center.

The world watched in dismay as a second plane hit, just as if it were perfectly planned to have the most people watching on television as possible.

More fire, more smoke, more devastation.

I, along with the rest of the nation, watched stunned as the chaos unfolded. This just cannot be real I kept telling myself.

Then the unthinkable happened - in just 15 minutes after being struck the second tower struck falls. My heart sinks, I felt sick, and full of questions. Who would do this? Why would they do it? Is anyone alive?

Continuing to watch the terror unfold, in 30 minutes we watch the North Tower collapse. And my mind goes to all those who did not get out. The first responders, firefighters, police, and others.

Soon I also learn of crashes in Pennsylvania and on at the Pentagon. In all four planes were hijacked and turned against Americans on our own soil.

After that, I do not remember much, as the remainder of the day is a blur for me.

Do you remember were you were when you found out about the attacks? Head over to our Facebook Page and comment on the post of this story and let us know.

~ Brian Gailey, Publisher, Klamath Falls News.