A day of reflection. A day never to forget

By Taylor Montford
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

The greater Towson University community came together yesterday to remember and reflect on the nearly 3,000 Americans who died 18 years ago in the worst terrorist attack ever to take place on U.S. soil.

Students, faculty, and Baltimore County first responders mourned under somber skies as the Loyola TU Army ROTC Color Guard performed a memorial drill exercise to commemorate the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington.

Speaking to about 25 people at the 9/11 Memorial Garden near Newell Hall on campus, Towson President Kim Schatzel reflected on the 69 Marylanders who died that day, including class of 1995 Towson alumna Elizabeth Wanio, a passenger on the United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in a rural field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

“It is very hard to imagine what the passengers endured, but that day the passengers on that plane selflessly acted and saved hundreds if not thousands of lives,” Schatzel said. “That day many people of different backgrounds were strangers until fate brought them together. They acted heroically to save and comfort others.”

Following the speech, Tracy Miller, a staff member of the university and a Maryland Gold Star Mother, read the names of all 69 Marylanders who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks while the memorial bell was rung.  The clock struck 8:46 a.m. and stillness filled the space. Attendees paid respects to the time the assault began with a guided moment of silence.

Charles Watson, a former Bowie State football player and now Baltimore County Fire Department representative, spoke on what 9/11 meant to him in 2001.

Watson was a freshman in college who was getting ready for football practice when the news broke.

“I didn’t process what was going on,” Watson said. “I was an 18-year-old kid waking up to the news and saying, ‘Dang, that happened.’”

Robert Siegel, another Baltimore County Fire representative, recalled the moments when Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.

“I didn’t think anything at all,” he said. “Planes have hit buildings before. We just knew that the plane hit the building and that was it. Nobody thought it was terrorism, until the second plane hit.”

Following the moment of silence after the president’s speech, students and faculty members gathered at Freedom Square to share their thoughts on the chalkboards there that symbolize free speech on campus.

Tigist Tadesse, a staff member of the university who is also with AmeriCorps VISTA, said she is afraid that 9/11 may not be getting the attention it deserves any more.

“This day needs to be emphasized more than just on social media,” she said. “People need to really reflect, do more services, spread more knowledge and have that conversation more often than looking at the day as a tragedy and moving on.”

Allie Weston, also of AmeriCorps VISTA, agreed.

“Most people in high school or in college were babies, or not alive yet. There’s a disconnect,” Weston said.

It is important that 9/11 be remembered so that younger generations understand its importance, some said.

“I was talking to several people here this morning, and we realized the fact that our first-year students that came to Towson a few weeks ago weren’t born on this day,” Schatzel said. “This makes it even more important that we stop and take the time to remember what happened that day, how lives were affected, and how we came together as a country.”

Students who had memories of the day shared their grief, experiences and thoughts.  

Steph Ferguson, an electronic media and film student, said she was with her mom and little sister at their apartment during the attack. She recalled the experience only through her parents’ stories since she was only 3 years old when it happened.

She said her dad who worked in marketing and traveled extensively for his job was on a flight when the attacks came.

“I only remember tiny bits and pieces of that day,” Ferguson said. “My mom’s friend from college was killed. We went to see the memorial in New York City, the museum, and took pictures next to her name. But that’s all I can remember.”  

Sophomore and New York native Jessie Terracciano said her Uncle Jeff died in the 9/11 terrorist attack.

“He was very important to our family,” said Terracciano.

“I know this day is hard for everybody, but especially for my family,” she said. “Obviously, it’s a day for the world to remember, but we’ll never forget it because my Uncle Jeff was so special to us.”

“They tell me I was his favorite, but I only knew him only short of a year,” Terracciano continued. “I’m only 18. Still, I miss him, my family misses him every day. I send my family my love and think of him all the time. ‘See you Tuesday.’ That was the last message my Uncle Jeff sent to his brother that day, and that’s how we remember him.” He was 43 years old.

“I was only 3 but for some reason I can remember my mom picking me up from daycare, sobbing and us coming home,” recalled another student, Sara Durphy. “She kept crying and she wouldn’t speak.”

Adam Karlson was one of the few students who said he remembers that day. He was 5 years old in South Bend, Indiana, for his mother and step-father’s wedding at the time of the attack.

“My mother told me that I watched the news for three hours as a kid,” Karlson said. “I didn’t know at the time that psychologists were going on television telling people to not let children watch the news for hours since it would affect them psychologically.”

His mother tried to explain to him what was happening but did not have the words. His dad was a defense contractor for the Pentagon, and when the plane hit the building his dad was across the street.

“He told me you could see the smoke for miles and miles,” he said. “My father saw the defense secretary run inside and help bring people out.”

Student Benjamin Guevara shared his experience while paying his respects at the ceremony.

“I believe I was in first grade when 9/11 happened. I was in class and then suddenly, the intercom rang. My sister came to pick me up right when school started. As I was leaving, I noticed the parking lot was piled with cars coming to pick up children,” Guevara said. “It haunted me to see the bodies fall, but I still never understood why this happened. Fast forward to 2013, I could still feel the effects of all the conflicts that came after when I joined the Marines. This is far from the only tragedy that has shaken the U.S. to this degree, but I hope that we can learn more empathy as a people in the wake of events like these. “

To close out the day long ceremony, a movie screening showing Flight 93 was held at the Military and Veterans Center.