Honoring 9/11: A Day of Remembrance

At Ivy Academy, we pause to honor and remember the lives lost, the heroes who emerged, and the countless others forever impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.

We invited our staff to reflect on their personal experiences and share their thoughts in remembrance of 9/11. Below are responses from those who felt comfortable participating in this tribute.

They were asked to respond to the following questions:

Where were you when you first heard about the attacks on 9/11? (What were you doing, who were you with, how did you find out?)
How did 9/11 change things for you personally, professionally, or emotionally in the days and years that followed?
Is there anyone you'd like to honor or remember as part of this tribute?
What does the anniversary of 9/11 mean to you today?
Do you have a message you’d like to share with students or the community about the importance of remembering 9/11?
Anything else you’d like to add?

We are grateful to those who shared their stories. Their reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the impact that day had and continues to have on our nation, our communities, and each of us as individuals.

Ashley Holtzhower
I was a senior in high school when we heard about the first tower being hit. I distinctly remember we all moved to the library to watch news coverage and that's when we watched the second tower be attacked as well.
It was the first moment I felt truly unsafe as an American. What a blessing to go 18 years feeling that way considering there are people across the globe that have rarely felt safety a day in their lives.
I'd like to remember a classmate of mine from high school, Robbie Light. He enlisted in the military immediately after graduation and was unfortunately killed in the line of duty fighting against those that perpetrated the attacks on 9/11.
It means a time to reflect on how events in our country, even negative ones, can unite us if we support one another and look for the helpers.

Kirsten Marrs
I was in German class at RCHS. We were all silenced at the news. We went to our lockers and we were all asking each other if it could be real. It felt so unreal. There were so many unanswered questions.
I have become more patriotic as a result of the 9/11 attacks.
It reminds me that you never know what any day will bring; always say I love you.
9/11, though a painful part of our history, is still our history and we need to remember those who were lost and those who helped. Mr. Rogers' mom said that even when bad things happen, always look for the helpers.

Aaron Hale
Senior in high school in ROTC class. Had a sub that day and were chilling on a couch in the room when another teacher came in and told us to turn our tv on. At that point just the first plane had hit the towers. We were all shocked that such an accident could happen. As we were watching, a second plane hit and even though we were in high school, the whole room fell silent as we realized that this was something much bigger than an accident. I remember students running down the hall talking about how we are going to war... Many of them did.
It really opened my eyes to how the world worked beyond our national borders. It was a major event that led to me being a history teacher eventually.
The Falling People... The ones when faced with 2 horrible outcomes had to make a conscious choice to choose one of them.
A day where we came together as a nation regardless of beliefs. For a short amount of time, we were truly e pluribus unum.
Safety and tomorrow are never guaranteed. Even for the nation as a whole.

Kimberly Gray
I was a student at Troy University. I had not turned on the TV nor heard the news so I went to class as usual. Upon arriving students and teachers were gathered around the TV in a professor's office. I asked what happened, they filled me in and said classes were cancelled. I went back to my apartment and immediately tried to reach friends in NY (to no avail) and my sister in Atlanta. Phone lines were completely jammed! I remembered being very scared and wanting to be home with family. After turning on the news I actually watched the second plane hit the towers. I will never forget the feeling like my breath left my body as I watched that happen. 09/11/01 is forever embedded in my heart and mind. We were forever changed as a country.
Being a Political Science major at the time it brought a lot of what I was studying into reality. It taught me that love for country means different things to different people and that the United States of America was just as vulnerable as other war torn nations and blessed that this was not a regular occurrence on our soil.
Every single victim and their family members whose lives forever changed that day in a matter of minutes.
It means unity, service, and love for fellow countryman. We all came together in love, something I'd like to see us do during these current divisive times.

Will LaRaia
I was 8 miles away from the World Trade Center on 9/11. I was in school and I remember thinking the teachers started acting strangely. We were all too young to really understand what was happening but in that ignorance grows an even greater fear. When the adults who you trust are visibly shook you immediately know something is wrong. The school had parents pick up their kids and take them home. On the drive home I remember my Mom saying something very bad was happening and seeing a tower of smoke in the distance from the collision. I finally found out when we got home. My mother was on the phone, hung up, and got us back in the car to drive west. My father told her to take my sibling and I to our uncle’s house out in Lancaster, PA. Nobody knew the severity of the attack or when the attacks would stop. We got in the car and my mother explained to us what was happening. She explained the attack the best she could and that my father was going to meet us at my uncle’s home. My father was in NYC at the time. My father was okay and we all returned home when it was safe, but I often think that the night before could have been the last time I ever saw him.
It was a lived experience for us. Those that lived in close proximity to NYC were forever changed. For me, it made me appreciate my parents and all that they do for my sibling and I. I was thankfully young enough that the event did not affect me in any significant emotional way but many people were deeply changed by the event. Neighbors, teachers, friends, and many more seemingly changed overnight. It is difficult to explain the change but the best way I can describe it was that the illusion of safety—the status quo—was yanked away, and in place settled a paranoia and understanding that you are never truly safe.
I have been to the World Trade Center Memorial and toured the memorial center. It is sobering to know that these were my neighbors and friendly community faces. I had multiple classmates that had a parent killed in the attack. I will remember these people for the rest of my life.
It's the day everything changed. It is cliché but it was a turning point that changed the course of American history and big or small affected everyone's lives in some way. 9/11 means seeing my mother scared, it means potentially never seeing my father again, it means that that day will be my first concrete memory.
The message I would say is “Regardless of what you do, things out of your control will happen and it is how we react to them that make us who we are.” “Tell your loved ones that you love them. You never know when it will be the last time you will get to.”
As you can likely tell, I have a deep connection to the day. I don't expect others that have not lived it to understand, but it is an emotional subject for me. It was my earliest memory and probably the scariest day I have ever lived through.

Nicholas Green
In my wife's rental house... checking on a crew doing a big plumbing job.
I understand that we are all connected. We are never really safe. Life is fleeting... love it and live it like you mean it. It is sad that it takes tragedy to unite us.
My brother-in-law's brother got out of one of the towers 15 minutes before it fell. There was a naturalist/photographer that my dad and I visited occasionally in Las Cruces, New Mexico. His wife's niece died in the collapse of one of the buildings. Her body was one of the very few that was found that was not dismembered.
A day to remember and honor heroes and to remember to be ready to defend against evil while loving peace.
There are people filled with hate. They are prisoners of hate. Don't give them cause to hate you or us. Live lives of love and service to others.
Freedom is not free. It can be lost by the neglect of one generation.

Phillip Mansueto
On my College Campus at Cleveland State University, Ohio
The impacts of 9/11 changed me personally as my perspective on life was quite narrow. Not fully understanding, or even worse, not wanting to understand the world around me. I was consumed by "my life, my day, my circle." 9/11 helped me realize the multiple layers that shape our perspectives, our experiences, and our actions. It helped me realize that my neighbors didn’t just have to live next to me, for me to better understand and value them. Lastly, I grew up only an hour north of 9/11’s attack. Many of my neighbors and community members directly served those impacted by 9/11. It hit home, because it was home.
I’d like to honor all who serve our community through civil service. Cops, Fire Fighters, EMTs, Teachers, etc.
The anniversary of 9/11 means to be of use, EVERYDAY. Whether at my job, coaching, at home, or simply with a stranger, I am to serve. 9/11 helped me realize that our purpose in life is to simply help those around us live a more meaningful life. Be of Use, like those who served on 9/11.
A life worth living is worth more when living for others. We all have battles—some seen and many unseen. Help those around you fight their battles, and you will soon overcome yours.

Shannon Rominger
I was a junior in HS sitting in Social Studies.
I remember sitting in class and someone walked in and told us. We stopped taking the test we were doing and immediately turned on the TV to the news. We sat there watching when the 2nd plane hit. As a junior I wasn’t worried about much but that day changed everything. It was insane sitting there watching it all unfold and not knowing what would happen next.
All first responders. I think they are underappreciated sometimes. They go towards danger every day when others run away from it.
The anniversary of 9/11 reminds me of how quickly life can change in a moment. It also reminds me that our country can come together when we need each other the most.
Tell your loved ones you love them as often as you can.

Zack Hubbard
A classmate came in tardy to our 1st period 10th Grade US History class and said “a big airplane flew into a building in New York.” This obviously got everyone’s attention and our teacher, Coach Shaw, immediately went to get more info about the situation.
A ton of confusion is the best way to describe it as a 15-year-old. I had no idea that people despised our country and wanted to hurt Americans.
Jamie Lindsey, my classmate and 2nd baseman on my high school baseball team. Jamie enlisted into the US Army and gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country in Iraq.
It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life in the 21st century. We just need to slow down and connect with everyone in our community, wherever that may be. Building relationships are as important as ever and smiling at a stranger can go a long way.
Let’s all stand up for what is right and all love one another :)