Eight years ago, thousands of people lost their lives in one of the most catastrophic events due to terrorism in America’s history. Two airplanes filled with unsuspecting passengers and several terrorists were set off course and flown to New York City, where they were piloted directly into the twin towers. American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93  crashed into a Pennsylvania field, instead of the terrorist’s desired destination, after the passengers fought back. The events that took place on September 11, 2001 spread quickly throughout the United States, and the citizens went into a panic that would last for years to come. 

    The majority of the students at Teague High school were too young to remember the appalling events of 9-11. However, many of the current teachers remember exactly what they were doing and how they reacted. “I was working in Waco at the time, and I was driving to work when I found out about the first airplane. I assumed it was an accident, but when I arrived at work I learned that the events that had taken place were not accidents. Then I heard about the second airplane.  For the rest of the day I watched the news, in disbelief that something like this had really happened,” Coach Satterwhite said.   

    It sometimes takes a tragedy to make people open their eyes, and the September 11 attacks were America’s wake up call. It took the deaths of thousands of people to make this country realize that catastrophic events are possible and can happen when least expected. Although security, especially dealing with airlines, has been strengthend, is it enough to insure something so catastrophic will not happen again? Teachers like Coach Marvin Childs still think that the security needs to be improved. “The security is better than it was [eight years ago], but there is still great improvement needed,” Coach Childs said.      

    September 11 will always be remembered as the day that four airplanes were highjacked by terrorist and thousands of people died. However, for the families that lost their loved ones it will also be a day of mourning and sadness for years to come.