sept._11

22 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011L ‘Observateur

Years do little to erase the memory of 9/11Tomorrow the nation will

stop to remember the 10thanniversary of the horrificevents of Sept. 11, 2001. But itis nearly impossible to re-member the event withoutreliving the emotions thataccompanied those imagesthat played over and over onnearly every channel. Evenhere in the River Parishes,more than 1,000 miles awayfrom the attack on the WorldTrade Center, most walkedaround in a stupor of disbe-lief for days if not weeks.

L’Observateur printed thiseditorial the following day:

As we write this, hundreds,perhaps thousands of Ameri-can citizens are dead or dying. . . buried under the millionsof tons of concrete and steel

rubble which is all thatremains of the twin towers ofthe World Trade Center inNew York City.

Our hearts cry out in agonyfor the victims, their families,their friends . . . and for thenation as a whole.

A tremendous sense of help-lessness, of futility, of over-whelming loss seems to haveturned my thoughts to wan-dering fragments of coher-ence. Outrage keeps jumpingto the forefront. An instinctiveneed for revenge . . . to lashout at those who have inflict-ed this horrible pain on ourcountry, and on us, is pushingfor control of my thoughts.

But we know that instead ofoutrage, what we as a nationmust do is to remain calm, toseek the solace that only God’s

grace can bring, to bondtogether in this time of un-speakable tragedy and to riseabove the urge for massiveretaliation against our ene-mies.

The very fiber of Americanlife, the openness of our socie-ty, the availability of opportu-nity for anyone is also thesource of our own vulnerabil-ity. We must recognize the factthat no one could have pre-vented what is taking placeon this dark day. We must rec-ognize that other cultures inthis world don’t recognize orvalue the character that hasmade us the strongest nationin the history of the world.

We must, in spite of ourpain, use this as an opportu-nity to once again prove to theworld why we are the greatest

nation in history. We cannotresort to blind retaliation. Wecannot allow ourselves theluxury of hatred against thepeople or countries responsi-ble for the attacks. We havealways led by example. Wemust do so now.

One nation, under God . . .so we must be, if we are to riseabove this tragedy.

This newspaper issues aplea to our readership to jointogether and do what we canto ease the suffering of thosein New York. Let’s turn ouranger and outrage to gooduse.

Let’s join forces and makedifference in the days ahead.

Although much time haspassed since those wordswere written, the emotion

contained within them re-mains. What’s more, thetruth behind them remains.America has gone throughmany changes in the past 10years, but the principles thatmake up the very foundationof the nation are steadfastand cannot be quashed.

Memories have a way offading over time, but formost Americans the memo-ries of 9/11 are indeliblereminders of not only heart-ache but also strength.

May we as a nation, regard-less of whatever setbacks weface, never forget that thetrue strength of the UnitedStates of America lies not inman-made edifices but rath-er in the heart of every citi-zen.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 33L ‘Observateur











THE RIVER PARISHES REMEMBERNatalie RobottomSt. John the Baptist Parish president

Sept. 11 will forever be remembered for the senseless attackon our country by terrorists and the loss of innocent lives. Itserved to remind us of our vulnerabilities but made usstronger as a country. We are more aware and better pre-pared to defend our freedoms.

Dale Hymel Jr.St. James Parish president

The morning of Sept. 11 started out as a normal work day. Iwas on my way to an early morning meeting when I heard thenews of a plane crashing into a building. It wasn’t until Iarrived at my business meeting that I learned of the detailsabout that plane crash. In that moment everything stopped aseveryone became glued to the TV. It was unbelievable thatsuch a dreadful event was unfolding before our eyes. My heartgoes out to those families who, even after 10 years, are stilllearning how to cope from this horrible event.

V.J. St. PierreSt. Charles Parish president

Sept. 11 proved how vulnerable the United States could be,but it also proved just how strong the American people are inresponding to such an unthinkable tragedy. The commonthread running throughout was a reliance on faith. I contin-ue to be proud of the way people jumped in to help and dowhatever needed to be done to recover. I think our militaryresponded in an appropriate manner in going after bin Ladenand al Qaeda. Our military and intelligence community con-tinues to do an admirable job in keeping us safe. I would liketo ask everyone to join with me by displaying the flag at half-staff and decorating with red, white and blue in remem-brance of the lives lost 10 years ago.

What 9/11 means to meBrittany FleetSt. John Parish Young Marines, pri-

vate first class

Sept. 11 can meanmany things to differ-ent people, but whatdoes it mean to me?

To me, 9/11 was adevastating day. Itwas the day that thetwin towers no longerstood strong. I willnever forget that day.Where was I whenthis happened? Whatwas I doing?

On this day, I was atschool, and was inkindergarten. I heardabout it when myprincipal announced it over the loud speaker.Everyone in my class was shocked. Once my principalwas finished speaking, everyone throughout theschool turned their televisions on, to see what wasgoing on.

We saw what happened, and we were all shocked. Iremember my friend next to me, saying "Who woulddo such a thing?"

That afternoon, when I got home, my parents werewatching the news too. I sat down next to my parents,and asked what happened. I asked my mom if shecould explain it to me. She told me all about thismoment and what happened. After she was doneexplaining it to me, I finally understood what wasreally going on.

This is the day that I think changed so many lives.Most Americans, including myself, will never forgetthis day. This is a day, which we will remember for therest of our lives. 9/11 is the day that shaped myselfand the country. That day, it felt like time stopped. Ihope nothing ever happens like that again. Everyonethat died during this tragedy is in my heart andalways will be. I will never forget them! This is what9/11 means to me. Now it's your turn, what does 9/11mean to you?


THE RIVER PARISHES REMEMBERBrandon DumasSorrento

It was my first year teaching in thisparish. I remember a student running tome in the hallway and asking, “Did yousee that airplane fly into the building inNew York City?” That’s what broughtmy attention to the computer — and justthe realization of what had just hap-pened, I was just in shock. To me, itmeans we still have to fight for our free-dom. After 9/11, everyone was united, nomatter your race, color or size. Everyonewas an American.

George MartinLutcher

It definitely hurt to watch those build-ings fall that day. I think it did a lot toopen our eyes to the dangers we face inthis world. To know that we too are vul-nerable.

Renee JonesWallace

I had family in New York. Being atwork, not being able to contact them, Iwas a nervous wreck. My heart hurts forthose who lost family members. It sentchills to see what was actually happen-ing on television. To see how they’verecovered, you can’t recover life, buthow they’ve rebuilt, it gives people asense of closure, I think.

Nancy GuidryConvent

I Remember the chaos of that day andwatching it all unfold live on television.I went home that evening and huggedmy children really tight. It changed howwe think and how we operate in thiscountry. It’s not all good, but that’s lifenow.

Stacy BradfordBaton Rouge

I was at home, and the TV went black,and an emergency broadcast messagecame on. After the first plane, I justthought it had crashed. Then the secondplane, and you see someone jump out ofthe building, and you just say, “This isridiculous.” I just thought, “This can’thappen to America.” It took somethinglike that to happen for me to see howmuch I loved America.

Betty AndrewsConvent

It united us as a country. I rememberfeeling as one nation standing togetherin the face of the awful images and sen-timents. I wish that feeling had lastedlonger because it doesn’t feel like we areunited as we were then.


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