The day that changed America

Twenty-five years later, the effects of Sept. 11 are still part of everyday life

Stacey Dauzat

Moncla

“Never thought anyone would ever ask me that question. It gave me chills and brought me right back to that day.

I was working at a Bio-Services facility in Alexandria when someone walked in and told us. Soon afterward, officials arrived, evacuated the building and told workers they had 15 minutes to leave.”

Allison Ravare-Augustine

Marksville

“I was in an accounting class at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette when I learned that America was under attack.

I still remember the shock and uncertainty of that moment and realizing that something was happening that would forever change our country.”

Jacob Coco

Simmesport

“I was only in second grade when the 9/11 attacks happened, so at first I didn’t fully understand what was happening. I remember seeing the images on television and knowing that something terrible had happened, but I was too young to understand the full impact of the attacks.

I remember the fear and confusion that surrounded that day. I also remember attending vigils in the days and weeks following the attacks. Even as a young child, I could see how deeply it affected people and how much our country was hurting.

What stands out to me most when I look back is how Americans came together. People put aside their differences, stood together, displayed American flags, prayed together, and supported one another. There was a tremendous sense of unity and patriotism that I had never experienced before.

I may not have understood everything that was happening as a second grader, but I understood that our country had been attacked and that something important had changed. The images, the vigils, the flags, and most importantly, the way Americans came together are memories I will never forget.

Now, as an adult, I understand the significance of September 11 much more clearly. It reminds me of the importance of unity, remembering those we lost, and never forgetting how Americans stood together during one of the darkest moments in our nation’s history.”

Megan Laborde

Cottonport

“When I learned America was under attack I was at school in Mrs. Marcotte’s class I believe. She walked out to go to the office and came running back in the room turning on the TV. We stopped doing our work and were all glued to the TV being scared, nervous, in shock and just instantly started praying. It’s a day I’ll never forget for sure. ”

Travis Armand

Bunkie

“On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I was teaching at Bunkie High School. The day had started normally, and one of the strangest memories I have is finding a 1941 Lady Liberty dime while trying to buy a Coke before school. I remember thinking about Pearl Harbor because of the date on the coin.

A short time later, I was in Principal Tom Roy’s office watching a small television after the first plane hit the World Trade Center. At first, we thought it was a terrible accident. When the second plane struck, we knew immediately that America was under attack.

We did what we could to keep everyone informed. Coach Frankie Palermo and I spliced cables together and set up a television in the school library so students and faculty could watch the news. I remember looking around my classroom and seeing blank faces, tears and students putting their arms around one another. Parents began arriving to check on or take their children home. There was a feeling that nowhere was completely safe, and even the sound of an airplane overhead made people uneasy.

What I remember most was the mix of shock, sadness, fear and eventually anger. Students kept asking one simple question: “Why?” As a teacher, I tried to give them answers even though I was struggling to understand it myself. 25 years later, the images and emotions of that day are still vivid. For those of us who lived through it, Sept. 11 is more than history. It is a day we will never forget.”

By: A. Guillot

On a clear September morning in 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, carrying out a coordinated attack that killed 2,977 people. The attacks lasted less than two hours, but their effects reached into nearly every part of American life.

In the years since, the nation has made major changes to improve security, including new airport screening procedures and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. The attacks also led to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, shaping a generation of service members and their families.

First responders who rushed to help on that day became symbols of courage, and many later developed serious health problems from exposure to toxic dust and debris.

A day of tragedy. A nation united. A legacy that endures.

For communities like Avoyelles Parish, Sept. 11 is remembered not only as a national tragedy, but as a moment that touched local families in very personal ways. Men and women from the parish served in the military in the years that followed, while local firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency personnel continued the everyday work of protecting their communities with a renewed sense of purpose.

Schools, churches and civic groups across Avoyelles Parish have also helped keep the memory of Sept. 11 alive through moments of silence, flag ceremonies, classroom lessons and recognition of first responders and veterans.

For older residents, the memories remain vivid. Many can still recall exactly where they were when they first heard that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. For younger generations, Sept. 11 is history learned from parents, teachers, photographs and recordings.

That makes the 25th anniversary especially meaningful. Remembering Sept. 11 is about honoring those who died, those who tried to save them and the families whose lives were changed forever. It is also about remembering how Americans responded in the days that followed, when neighbors checked on one another, churches opened their doors and people across the country looked for ways to help.

Twenty-five years later, the memory of Sept. 11 remains a reminder of the lives lost, the heroes who responded and the strength that emerged in a time of fear and uncertainty.

In Avoyelles Parish, that remembrance continues through the stories people still carry with them and the simple question so many can answer without hesitation:

Where were you when the world stopped turning?