Twenty years ago today, most of us were going about our lives, preparing for work or school, heading out for the first meeting of the day, already sweating at the gym or keeping an eye on the television news while we poured that second cup of coffee.
And then, in an instant, our world, our country, our lives changed when an airliner, hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists, flew into one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, NY. And then, 17 minutes later, another airliner flew into the second tower. Then, in half an hour, another plane flies into the wing of the Pentagon that houses naval offices. And in another half hour, a fourth and final plane crashes in a field in rural Somerset County, Pa.
Media coverage of this 20th anniversary, coming on the heels of a messy withdrawal from Afghanistan that is still not complete, has been and will be wide-spread. Readers may wonder why a small brand new newspaper like The Augusta Press decided to throw its hat in the ring and offer a special section about that day and its aftermath.
The answer is, we wanted to know how Augustans remember that day and what they think about the aftermath and the consequences. And we thought our readers might, too. In a couple of cases, we had to reach beyond people who live in Augusta to people Augustans know.
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Features editor Charmain Z. Brackett interviewed retired Col. Jack Hook who was at a meeting at the Pentagon that morning. The plane that hit the government building stopped only about 50 yards from the meeting room. Also, hear from James Hudgins, who worked as the public affairs officer at Fort Gordon about his perspective.
The consequences of Sept. 11, 2001 are the topic of several stories in this special edition of The Augusta Press. Historian Hubert van Tuyll, political scientist Craig Albert and chief reporter Scott Hudson each have contributed pieces that examine the effects of 9/11 on America, American politics and Muslims who live here.
Other pieces look at recollections of Augustans such as staff reporter Dana Lynn McIntyre, a native of Somerset County, Pa., who was working for television station WJBF on 9/11, and Business Editor Tyler Strong, who was in elementary school at Hillcrest Baptist. Or Sylvia Cooper and her husband Ernie Rogers, both of whom contributed their memories of the day.
We also have a submitted story from a Fort Gordon civilian employee who was serving in the Navy near the Pentagon, and stories of two pilots who were flying that day, one of whom may have had several “people of interest” on his plane that day.
Skyler Andrews wrote stories about how people’s faith was impacted and how they sought comfort in spiritual things. He also wrote a story about the many changes in airport security since 9/11.
For those who would like to be part of a commemoration, read the events story.
Together this package of stories offers a comprehensive look back and examination of the present and future, all grounded in what happened that day 20 years ago when the clocks stopped.
This special edition was conceptualized and edited by features editor Charmain Brackett and executive editor Debbie Reddin van Tuyll with support from the entire Augusta Press staff, Publisher Joe Edge in particular.
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