The passing of September 11^th is a somber occurrence; it is rather spectacular to see an entire nation-wide community come to a halt and light a metaphorical candle in their minds for our nation’s most impactful tragedy. The 15^th anniversary was no different. Memorial ceremonies were held in New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the entire American Nation stood silently in remembrance of the lives lost and affected by the attacks.

Despite the passage of 15 years, an eternity in the world of politics, the pain still very much resonates with the average American, and more specifically the average Township resident.

“Of course it still hurts, I felt hurt, my pride as an American felt hurt, I still feel like that,” says Debra L.

To the majority of adults, the memory festers vividly in their minds, but to students and younger children without the memory, the event is simply a reference to a time before they could remember. This year’s freshman class is the first high school class born after the tragedy occurred, leaving them no possibility of having even the slightest memory of it.

“You can compare it to Pearl Harbor, where my parents would talk about it, but I don’t have any memories of it- my generation has 9/11, a tragedy that is just a history lesson to kids. I think the most important lesson to take away from the event is to never forget it, so history doesn’t repeat itself,” said Chris H.

Most Americans can agree to be content as having 9/11 be a history lesson, but the pain and other feelings they felt on September 11^th, 2001 is more than just history to them- it’s truly a memory indicative of the day the world changed.