Twenty Years, Never Forgotten

By Brooklyn Brown, Art Director

This year marks two decades since the Sept. 11 attacks that sent the U.S. into a period of national mourning, instigated wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and caused many Americans to question their own safety and security. After Sept. 11, it was clear that the country would never again be the same. That is why every year local communities and organizations honor the memory of the lives lost and commemorate citizens’ perseverance through the tragic event. “Twenty years is long enough that those who are becoming adults have only lived in a post 9/11 world,” Tony Smith, Operations Chief at Brownsburg Fire Territory said. Although Zionsville students did not experience the day themselves, they can attend several regional events and memorials to gain a better understanding of the significance of the 20th anniversary. The Brownsburg Sept. 11 memorial, located at Arbuckle Commons, is open to the public 24 hours a day and centers around a beam that was recovered from the World Trade Center. A similar memorial is located at the Lebanon Public Safety office and also features a piece of debris. Along with paying a visit to these monuments, students can attend various ceremonies happening this Sept. 11. According to Zionsville Lions Club Board Director Tim Reinheart, local police, fire, and sheriff Honor Guards are hosting a

The dedication memorial in Lebanon. photo by Lauren Wagner

Fire and Police Tribute in Lions Park at 12:15 p.m., north of the gazebo. The Brownsburg Fire territory is also holding a public event, but there is not yet a scheduled time due to Coronavirus concerns. “We will have services in Brownsburg to commemorate the sacrifice made by so many and to reflect on the hope we should have in the resilient character of our nature,” Smith said. 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers lost their lives Sept. 11, so police and fire departments globally remember the anniversary with a special somberness. Although remembering tragedies can take an emotional toll, U.S. History teacher Henry Nolan said it’s an important part of honoring history. “First, it allows people to remember loved ones that were lost and to memorialize them,” Nolan said, “It is important as a nation to remember these events because these tragic events usually lead to making our country stronger and safer.” Nolan plans to take a moment to discuss Sept. 11 with his students and recount his own experience of that day. “The attacks on 9/11 I feel will be remembered because of the generations that were affected by all the changes made by our government in response to these attacks,” he said. Extreme changes to airport security, international travel, and building security were made after the attacks. Despite being too young to have observed the attacks, students’ lives are affected daily by Sept. 11. “I see reminders everywhere that are a result of that day,” Nolan said. Students can take the time to memorialize the event that changed Americans’ lives forever on more days than just its anniversary. “I would suggest that students and adults alike take the time to thank first responders and military when they see them as they run towards the scene of their next call without hesitation,” Reinheart said.

art by Brooklyn Brown