The Battalion: September 12, 2011

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thebattalion ● monday,

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Music Moday Some people would sell all of their possessions for music, especially music at Austin City Limits. Steve Wells, blogger thebatt.com, admits he would.

september 12, 2011

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media

Remembering 9/11

sports | 3 Mark Dodge

sports | 5 Lady Aggies

Many Aggies were affetced by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, directy or indirectly. Watch students share their 9/11 memories in a video at thebatt.com.

Former Aggie linebacker Mark Dodge was in the Pentagon when the plane struck on 9/11. He looks back on the last 10 years, from the Army to A&M and into the work force.

The soccer team upset No. 1 North Carolina in the Duke Nike Classic this weekend, while the volleyball team contiuned their winnning streak with a victory against Stephen F. Austin’s Ladyjacks.

GUESTCOLUMN

GUESTCOLUMN

9/11: the day it all changed

A call to fight the good fight

David Alexander:

Philip Frank: Enlisting in the aftermath

Service becomes a life calling

I

t may seem strange, but the thing that I remember most vividly about that day was how beautiful the sky was. That perfect clear blue sky that we all remember as the backdrop to the New York skyline was the same perfect sky that I saw that morning at Ft. Benning, Ga. On September 11, 2001, I was two weeks into basic training at Ft. Benning, and in my mind, well on my way to becoming an Army infantryman. On that morning we were preparing to move to the bayonet assault course to train when the company commander came out and told us to gather around him. Even as a private, I knew that if the commanding officer was stopping training to give us news it couldn’t be good. That’s how I heard the towers were attacked; no TV, no CNN, just a brief announcement from our company commander. The soldiers who had family in New York were allowed to make phone calls. The rest of us continued with the training. But something had changed in those brief moments. Our country had been attacked and more than likely we would be at war in a very short time. There was an intensity in the eyes of my buddies that had not been there before because suddenly See David on page 4

Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION

Taha Jangda, junior psychology major, watches as cadets conclude a wreath laying ceremony early Sunday morning at the Freedom from Terrorism memorial.

A decade later Students and community members honor those lost on Sept. 11, 2001 Madeline Burns The Battalion The Bryan-College Station area was alive this Sunday with memorials commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Early Sunday morning, the Corps of Cadets held a wreath laying ceremony at the Freedom from Terrorism Memorial, a monument dedicated to Aggies who have given their lives fighting terrorism and those still serving overseas.

“The ceremony holds in our mind the notion that Americans will never forget the vulnerability and resolve that gripped the nation 10 years ago,” said Andrew Howerton, a senior international studies major. Taha Jangda, junior psychology major, was one of five members of the Muslim Student Association who joined the Corps to observe the anniversary. “As Americans, we were all attacked on 9/11,” Jangda said. “I was honored to be a part See Anniversary on page 2

W

hen the first plane struck the World Trade Center, I thought there must have been a terrible accident. When the first plane struck the World Trade Center, I thought there must have been a terrible accident. On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I was a junior in high school, waiting for AP world history to begin. My teacher, Mrs. Gomez, entered the room and announced that an airplane had hit the World Trade Center, but no other details were available at the time. She turned on the small television that she kept in the classroom and found a news station. As soon as the footage appeared on the screen, we watched in horror as the second plane hit. Reports started surfacing on the news that these incidents were terrorist attacks. Our school day continued and we discussed terrorism, appropriately beginning with Mrs. Gomez in world history. As soon as I got a chance, I called my brother who was already a Marine, and asked if he was going to war. “Yes,” he said, “but I don’t know when.” As the day progressed, we learned about the attack on the Pentagon and the plane courageously taken down in the Pennsylvania field. That day, filled with rage at this injustice upon our country, I started thinking about how I could serve my country. See Philip on page 4

Morguefile.com

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