Today is a day to remember. It is a day to honor. It is a day to listen. And it is a day to look at the world around us.

20 years ago, on this day, the United States was attacked by four hijacked planes, having two strike the twin towers of the World Trade Center that were located in New York, New York. Along with the third plane crashing into the Pentagon, right outside of our nation’s capital, the fourth collided with a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. These suicide attacks caused just a reach away of 3,000 casualties and another 25,000 injuries.

The heart tearing event is being remembered in all parts of the country. As a country, we should share this sense of unity in order to honor and respect victims and first responders present that day. Here are some of the events happening in the Las Vegas community that are welcome and encouraged for anyone to participate:

• “LVMPD Invites the Public to 9-11 Memorial. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department invites all area residents to join us as we present this year’s 9-11 Memorial Service on Thursday, September 11 and 10 a.m in Police Memorial Park, 3250 Metro Academy Way.”
• Las Vegas Fire Station Five, at 1020 Hinson Street, will hold an event starting at 6:45 a.m, “the approximate time the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed during the attack 20 years ago.”
• There is a firefighter tribute march on Fremont Street at 7:00 pm. They start at Fremont and Main Streets then head to the 3rd Street stage, where there will be a moment of silence, singing of the national anthem, and a reading of firefighters and police officers lost in the attack.

As well as, “a seedling from the Survivor Tree will be planted at Police Memorial Park, at 3250 Metro Academy Way, in another ceremony set to begin at 11 a.m.

Most–if not all–current high school students were not even alive on 9/11, but have only experienced the aftereffects. However, teachers and parents remember the day. It is said that “everyone knows where they were on 9/11” and this rings true. 

“I was a freshman at SUNY Oswego, a college in upstate New York,” English teacher Tiffany Hemberger said, “I was in my world history class when the towers were struck. This was before everyone had cell phones and social media, so students were ordered to ‘shelter in place,’ before that term was even commonplace, in our dorm rooms. Hours later, my roommates and I removed ourselves from watching the news on TV to donate blood to survivors and frontline workers. That weekend, I traveled to NYC as a volunteer to help clean up the city. I reflect back on that week and I’m so proud of the actions I took as a 19 year old who had never faced or feared terrorism. I learned so much about myself, heroism, unity, and patriotism.”

“I was in high school at Palo Verde when 9/11 occurred,” world history teacher Harold Nichols said, ”There was much uncertainty surrounding what was happening. The entire school day was literally quiet, trying to process what was happening. After a few days, our school principal announced to the school about available social-emotional services for students and staff. It was one of the most difficult announcements to listen to because we were informed of the tragic passing of one of our teachers, Barbara Edwards, who was on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. Our soccer program got together to plan, fundraise, and construct a memorial for Ms. Edwards, located at the southeast corner of the soccer pitch. My takeaway from tragic moments like this is to be grateful. Being grateful for seeing the sunrise, the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, and to live life is something that we can take for granted. Tragic events like 9/11 or 1 October really puts focus on what truly is important in life.”

Many Nevadans, specifically people who live in Vegas, can compare 9/11 to 1 October. Though the scales are different, Las Vegas students can empathize by remembering the effect that 1 October had on their community. It is encouraged to take a moment of time today to honor the fallen heroes, the firefighters who ran towards the damage, the medics who gave their days to recover the victims, all first responders. We honor all victims, ones who have lost their lives, ones who have survived the day, ones still being troubled by long term effects. Thank the volunteers and people who pitched in and helped recover the country in any shape or form. Thank the people around you, stand as a community, and fight for unity and peace.

“If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.”

— Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in 2002