Where were you? 17 years later – Remembering 9/11

On Sept. 11 every year the country stops to take of where we are and how far we’ve come since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. We also use it as a time to remember the sacrifice of that day made by the hundreds of first responders who gave their lives to save as many people as they can. Here in the local area, we also use it as a day to thank our own first responders for being prepared to put themselves out there every day to ensure our safety.

There was a luncheon at Southern Plantation in Loganville on Friday, an annual event that offers thanks to our local first responders and public safety members. At 8:30 a.m. today in Gwinnett County, at the Fallen Heroes Memorial at GJAC in Lawrenceville, Commissioners and County Administrator will attend and provide comments to reflect on the importance of remembering the events of 9/11 and honoring the men and women of public safety.

It was 8:45 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, when Flight 11, the American Airlines Boeing 767 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Hundreds of people aboard the plane and inside the 110-story building. It was 18 minutes later when people watch in horror on television as a second Boeing 767, United Airlines Flight 175, flew into the second tower. It was about 30 minutes later when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. and the fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93 crash-landed in a field in Pennsylvania. People again watch in horror on television screens across the world as the twin towers collapsed.

Seventeen years have passed, but we still remember where we were on that day at those times. We also remember the unity in a country in the days that followed as we all joined in sorrow. Today is a day to remember – those who were lost that day, those who sacrificed to save thousands that day – and that we are still the United States of America.

Emily Goldstein of Loganville was in New York that day. She shared her story with us a couple of years ago and we share it again here. Loganville Police Officer and School Resource Officer Sgt. Dustin Peterson was a rookie cop in the New York City Police Department in September 2001. The brotherhood as a result of the events that day is so strong that he traveled back to New York in 2015 to represent Loganville at the funeral of two New York City police officers who were assassinated.