Everyone has the memory etched in their mind as those horrificevents rocked the world on September 11, 2001. For me, I wassitting in my office conducting a meeting with a department headwhen someone rushed in to turn on my TV set.

We watched in amazement for a few minutes as stunned TVcommentators struggled to find answers to describe the burningWorld Trade Center building. In what I guess was a denial of thesituation, I turned off the TV set and sent everyone back to thenewsroom and continued the meeting.

Once the meeting was completed, I turned on the TV at theprecise moment the second plane ripped in to the south tower of theWorld Trade Center. It remained on for the rest of the day and forthe next few days.

I was in Miss Ruth Jones third grade class at BrookhavenElementary School when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I wassitting on the third row in the second seat. I also remember thedark dreary day the president was laid to rest — we were sittingin Primos Restaurant on North State Street in Jackson watching onthe black and white TV. When Lee Harvey Oswald was shot, my fatherand I were walking in the front door of Thomas Perkins’ house – wewatched the events unfold on his TV.

I remember the worried look in my mother’s eyes on the morningafter Robert F. Kennedy was killed and the concern in both of myparents’ eyes when Martin Luther King was gunned down inMemphis.

Those were dark fearful days.

Like my parents did so many years before with my two brothersand myself, I sat down with my two girls on the night of September11th and tried to explain the events of the day. I tried to explainto them why this had happened and to reassure them that they weresafe. I tried to explain how cruel the world was and how fortunateand blessed we were to live where we do.

It has been a long 12 months since that terrifying morning. Inthe coming days, we will be reminded of those tragic hours ofSeptember 11th and the months of cleanup that followed. The TVnetworks are planning special programming. Here at the DAILYLEADER, we are producing a commemorative editorial edition aboutthe day. We asked readers to write down their thoughts and memorieson the events of that day and the time since. We will share thosewith you along with other stories about that day.

Wednesday morning at 11:30, there will be silent parade to honorthose who died that day. The parade will begin at the GovernmentComplex and proceed to Lampton Auditorium. The public is invited tojoin in on the parade as it passes and then follow along. Otherspecial events are planned at First United Methodist Church andBrookway Church of Christ.

It should be a somber but special day.

We have learned a lot about patriotism and unity over the past12 months. Hopefully as a community, as a state, and as a nation,we can continue to remember the importance of our need to stand”One Nation under God”.