The tragic attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City is no new story. What is truly noted is how for one day, the people come together. Not as Democrats or Republicans, without religious or social prejudice, but as one American populace. 

Even though the attacks took place 11 years ago, the memories they left behind are burnt into the mind of the witnesses and are not soon to be forgotten. The Head of Science Department and Chemistry teacher Leslie Pitman is a prime example.

“I was in class at Springdale High, and there was a college fair at school,” she said. “We had gotten word, so I turned on the TV. The first tower had just been hit. The seniors in my class were completely silent as we watched. We grouped together, supporting each other, without noticing we had done so.”

Mrs. Pitman’s chilling testimony exemplifies an early example of the togetherness that the American people would display every year thereafter. AP US History teacher John Stewart had a similar experience to Mrs. Pitman’s.

“I was in a meeting with about three other teachers, and someone came in and said ‘You might want to turn on the TV.’ At first I thought it was an accident, because planes don’t fly over the World Trade Center. I mean, I’ve been to New York City before. We were watching in 2nd block, and both of the towers were standing; by 3rd both were down. I told my students that they will always remember where they were at this moment.”

Although most remember the day very clearly, some wonder why there is reason to hold on to the event. It has been more than a decade.

“It was 3,000 people who died,” said Mr. Stewart. “Those people were as innocent as someone could be. We never saw this coming, and it is important to remember that this kind of attack could happen at any time.”

“Never forget anything in history that is so significant; you have to know where you come from to understand such things,” Mrs. Pitman added.

As negatively as the event affected the US, it has done the same positively, in equal. Every year citizens gather together to volunteer their services and to reminisce the events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001; and the brave women and men who gave their lives on that day are forever in the hearts of the American people.