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September 11, 2008

Ceremonies commemorate 9/11 terrorist attacks

By Fred Pace The Register-Herald Thu Sep 11, 2008, 10:50 PM EDT

Jessica Sharp, senior academic officer for graduate nursing at Mountain State University, says she remembers very well what she was doing in the early morning hours of Sept. 11, 2001.

“I was teaching that day,” she said. “Then I began to hear people saying that one of the twin towers was hit by an airplane in New York.”

As the morning progressed, Sharp and her students learned the country was being attacked by terrorists using hijacked jets.

Seven years ago, four airliners were hijacked. Two were flown into the World Trade Center in New York, one crashed into the Pentagon and the fourth plowed into a Pennsylvania field after the hijackers were overtaken by passengers.

Sharp said the news stopped classes.

“We had students with family in New York and they were all scared,” she recalled.

Thursday morning, MSU faculty and students paused to remember the victims who lost their lives with a moment of silence and bell ringing at 8:46 a.m., the exact time the first plane struck the north tower.

A brief ceremony and prayer was conducted by Dr. Phil Smith, MSU ethics adviser and First Baptist Church pastor.

“Sept. 11, 2001, changed the face of America,” Smith said. “Nearly 3,000 people died that day.”

At 9:03 a.m., the bells in the Lewin Family Bell Tower at MSU rang out again, signifying the exact moment a second hijacked jet slammed into the south tower of the trade center buildings.

Smith says the pain and memories of that horrible day will never be forgotten by the country.

“Today, I’m not here to be mad, but rather to remember those who lost their lives to this horrible tragedy,” he said. “If we love only those who love us, we really don’t have a lot to offer.”

Smith told young students the day reminded him of the preciousness of freedom in America and that life can change in an instant.

“I hope today whatever age you are you are thankful for your freedom as Americans,” he said. “Many firemen, policemen and rescue personnel lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, trying to help others. I am thankful for our military. It reminds me of how quickly things can change and how thankful we should be that God has given us freedom.”

Ceremonies like the one at MSU were held Thursday across the county, state and nation.

The sixth annual Parade of Lights, silent memorial parade of fire engines, police cruisers and ambulances, traveled from Sophia to Crossroads Mall. The parade was a tribute to all emergency responders who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks.

After the parade, speakers read special prayers written for police officers, firefighters, emergency medical service workers and emergency dispatchers.

In Charleston, West Virginia state flags were flown at half staff and special services were held. Gov. Joe Manchin hosted and spoke at a special ceremony at the Capitol Complex that featured musical performances.

Nationally, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush marked the anniversary during a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House. They then went to the Pentagon where the president spoke at a service.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com

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