Ashton Nash
Staff Writer
September 11, 2001 is a date that many will never forget. Today, 13 years later, the nation is still honoring and mourning those fallen servicemen and women and civilians that were killed from terrorist attacks.
On the morning of September 11, 2001 at approximately 8:46 a.m. terrorists from an Islamic group, al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes and crashed two of the planes into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center in New York. A third plane hit the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C. and the fourth plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Penn. after passengers tried to fight back terrorists on the flight.
More than 3,000 people including more than 400 police officers and firefighters were killed and as a result more than thousands of armed forces personnel were deployed to the Middle East. The United States changed after 9/11 by having stricter security at airports and the formation of a national Homeland Security agency.
Most students at Jackson State University were still in grade school when the world learned about this horrific act. Some can remember being asked to write letters to some of the families about the loss of their loved ones and also commending them on their heroism and bravery.
Tyinnia Jenkins, a junior elementary education major from Chicago, Ill., said: “I think 9/11 is important because we had people innocent to die as well as the people who serve our country on the daily basis such s fire fighters, police officers and soldiers. We need to be aware that if something like this happens 13 years ago who’s to say it couldn’t happen today.”
Timothy Abram, director of the JSU Veterans and Military Center, said students should not just look at the date as a day of sadness but rather a day of honor for the country through difficulty. “Students need to remember 9/11 for many reasons such as: it brings awareness of terrorist attacks in United States; it brings awareness to the United States with all of the rights and amendments that protect the citizens; and becoming aware of international relations of other countries.”
Deja Allen, a freshman psychology major from, Jackson, Miss., said: “The effect that 9/11 had on this country and the people is enough to remember and honor because it affected so many people.”
“Most students remember (9/11) being that they were born in the 90’s, so it’s easier for them to think back on that day and share what they were doing and how important it was for them then and even more so now being that it’s 13 years later,” said Abram.
A lot of younger adults are joining the military to help serve the country and pay for school as well. At Jackson State University there are 325 student veterans and according to Abram, many join the armed forces to not only further an education but to get jobs in government agencies.
To coincide with the 13th anniversary and Patriot Day, the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Jackson State University Division of Academic and Student Affairs will host a mental health summit in the JSU Student Center 3rd floor from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014. For information, call 601-979-1365.
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