By Wren Culp
Staff Writer
The American flag contains 50 stars on it. It proudly holds 13 stripes, seven being red and six being white. But each year on Sept. 11, those stripes and stars stand for the 2,976 lives lost.
Every year before the attacks, that date was a normal day to U.S. citizens. Kids going to school, parents going to work and everyone minding their own business. But eight years ago, that day changed America.
In 2001, Tuesday Sept. 11 began as a normal day. Then out of nowhere at 8:46 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 disappeared once it collided into the World Trade Center’s
north tower. America was stricken with fear and was trying to figure out what happened. Then out of nowhere at 9:03 a.m. United Flight 175 obliterated once it met with the side of the south tower.
People fled the streets as smoke raged out into the early morning sky. Both towers crumbled and smashed to the streets of New York. Terror was stricken in the hearts of the American people. And the only thing that remaining at the site of the incident was unanswered questions.
Fast forward eight years. America is still a functioning powerhouse country. But every year on Sept. 11, we stop and remember.
“It was truly a tragic day when the towers fell,” freshman Ryan Livingston said. “If we forget then we become a disgrace to the people who were lost.”
Last Friday was the eight year mark since that dreadful day, and once again CHS commemorated the attacks. Student council showed up early in the morning to place small American flags in the front of the school so people that drove by would remember.
“Principal Hunt asked us to start doing that three years ago,” Student Council sponsor Sunny Richardson said. “What we are doing is showing respect for the citizens, firefighters, and everyone who lost their lives respect.”
There was an extended moment of silence along with an announcement about the event. The school had a pep rally on that same Friday, but the event was not recognized.
An assembly based on the attacks has been tossed around, but it looks doubtful.
“I think an assembly would be great,” Hunt said. But since we are so big it would be hard so for now we are going to stick with the intercom.”
A new building is under construction at the site of the attacks. Information about what it is or what will be inside it has been released yet. The only information that has been released is the height and its name. “1 World Trade Center”
is under construction and expected to debut in 2011. The enormous tower stands 1,776 feet in the air and will be one of the largest in North America. Also three more towers are expected to be built between 2007 and 2012.
America has been changed forever by the Sept. 11 attacks. But we have re-amped, re-focused, and are ready to surge into the future.
