Sunday, September 11, 2011 marks the tenth anniversary to the terrorist attacks on our nation. It is the anniversary of the most tragic terrorist event to ever hit the United States of America and ‘we will never forget.’ We will always remember the planes crashing, the people lost, our feelings of vulnerability, and our utter disbelief in the story unfolding before our eyes on that most tragic day.

As we pay our respects to this day in our nation’s history, it is impossible to forget what we were doing or where we were at the exact time of the attack. The Advertizer-Herald staff shares their stories…

“The memory of 9/11/2001 will always be instilled in my mind,” said Publisher Joyce Searson. “I was working on my ads when my boss, Cindy Kilgus, came running through the building around 9:15 a.m. saying that a plane hit the World Trade Center. I really thought she was kidding until I made a few phone calls and realized that she was telling the truth. I was so upset that I actually had to leave work and go home to watch the event for myself on television. As I was sitting in my den, watching the events unfold, I saw the second plane hit the second tower. I felt at that very moment that we were now vulnerable as a nation. Then I watched the first tower fall and crumble to the ground. I felt so much sorrow for the people lost and their families. Needless to say when the second tower fell, I was devastated. Since that day my life has forever changed because I know now that we, the United States of America-the greatest nation in the world, can be attacked. We should never put our guard down or take national security for granted.”

“I was sitting at my desk at BE Middle School working on my computer when Mr. Goler Collins came in and said the World Trade Center had been struck by airplanes,” said Jerry Halmon. “I found it hard to believe until I looked it up on the internet and listened to it on the radio. I just felt disbelief.”

“I was in the back inserting papers at The Advertizer-Herald,” said Faye Stacey. “Cindy Kilgus came back and told us of the events unfolding and I was shocked and in disbelief.”

“I was at work at The Advertizer-Herald when I learned of the events,” said Sally Padgett. “My boss told me about the first attack. I felt anger at first but I mostly felt awful for the people stuck in the building and those jumping from the towers. I just couldn’t imagine how they must have felt.”

“I was driving to work in Charleston,” said Kyle Jones. “I turned the radio on right at the moment when a news reporter said that the twin towers were no more. I was totally confused and started calling my friend to find out what was really going on. When I got to work we closed the sub shop down for customers and made free sandwiches all day for people who were grounded in the airport. It was the first I heard of the attack on the radio and I just couldn’t believe it really happened.”

“I was working in the Bamberg County Courthouse when I found out,” said Bonnie Edgington. ‘I thought’ a plane accidentally hit one of the buildings. We had a television in the room. My boss and I watched the events unfold on television. My boss was very upset because his daughter was supposed to visit NYC, but had canceled her trip at the last minute. The thought of her possibly being there in the midst of the tragedy was an emotional event. At a college class that night we had prayer for our country. We were just stunned.”

Most can clearly remember where they were and what they were doing on that tragic morning. I was a senior at BEHS and was sitting in Mrs. Deibel’s class. I was surrounded by my friends and yet it was one of the quietest days I can remember as we watched the second plane crash into the second tower on television. People jumped from buildings and there was a lot of crying, not only on television, but in the room around me, including me. We were happy, starting our senior year, planning our senior trip, gearing up for football season and then we literally watched the worst attack on US soil form a new spot in our nation’s history. I felt scared, unsure of my future, and I was full of horrifying emotions as I wondered how so many people would go home that night never to see their loved ones’ again.

As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11/01, may we always remember the lives lost on that day, may we always pray for our troops and our nation, and may we never forget.