Sept. 11, 2001, was a day that changed the world.
Many who were old enough remember exactly where they were when they heard a plane had hit a World Trade Center tower.
We distinctly remember getting around for the day when we heard the first plane had hit and we, like many others, wondered what may have happened that led to a plane flying that low in that area. Did the pilot experience a medical emergency? Was there another emergency that the pilot needed to tend to? Did someone do this on purpose?
We felt our question was answered when we watched, live on TV, as the second plane hit the second World Trade Center tower. It was no accident. It couldn’t be.
We watched news coverage of the events throughout much of the day, seeing as more planes crashed into the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania and wondering what might come next.
A total of 2,977 victims died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Thousands more were forced to deal with injuries, losing loved ones, and long-term illnesses and other health impacts.
The worst terrorist attack in U.S. history was because of hatred.
In the coming years, multiple generations saw our own on the front lines of a war. We saw them try to come back to civilian life. We heard their horrific stories. We still hear their stories and learn more about that time in our history.
But we also distinctly remember seeing a country that came together and was there for each other in that difficult time — something we hope this country can remember now and in the future.
We shared disbelief at the events as they unfolded and came together as a nation to mourn and begin to move forward once again. We shared our fears and our pride in being Americans.
Part of moving forward is continuing to remember and learn from the past to help ensure we don’t find ourselves in the same situation again.
This morning at 11 a.m., a 9/11 memorial service will take place at Veterans Memorial Park of Archuleta County, and other memorial services will occur across the country.
Whether you’re able to attend a service remembering the events of that day that changed the world or not, we encourage everyone to take the time to look back on both what it felt like as the terrorist attack unfolded that day and what it felt like for much of the nation to be united as we worked through feelings and events many of us had never before encountered.
Let’s continue to remember and learn from that day.
As Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl, is quoted as saying, “If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.”
Randi Pierce
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