As part of its Patriot Day observance of 9/11, Jackson State University on Friday remembered fallen heroes and saluted local uniformed personnel and their retired comrades for dedicating their lives every day to protecting citizens.
Police officers, firefighters, service members and American Medical Response crew gathered during a breakfast ceremony in the Student Center on the main campus. The event was sponsored by JSU’s Veterans and Military Center from the Division of Student Life.
Dr. Timothy L. Abram, director of the veterans center, said, “When we encounter a tragic situation, these are among the first individuals we rely on.”
Furthermore, he explained the significance of the annual observance: “Our purpose is to honor and commemorate those who provided assistance in New York, at the Pentagon and in the field in Pennsylvania, where lives were either lost or harmed,” said Abram, who was in the National Guard in 2001 when 9/11 occurred.
For those too young to remember all the details, Abram briefly recapped that fateful day when terrorists hijacked four planes. Two commercial aircraft plowed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center; another crashed into the Pentagon. Then, a plane that was believed to be headed to the White House or the U.S. Capitol building was sacrificially forced down by passengers in Pennsylvania. The combined death toll resulted in nearly 3,000 casualties.
“To keep our community and country safe, we must remember how history changed our lives and, as citizens, we must work together to remain vigilant about foreign and domestic violence,” Abram said.
Also, Jackson Police Department Chief Lee Vance offered remembrances.
“History will reflect that there has not been an event such as 9/11, in that we were attacked in this manner by terrorists. In my recollection, the only thing similar is the attack by the Japanese navy that started our involvement in World War II. Just as we commemorate D-Day, we must remember this day because of the level of tragedy, the loss of life and the damage it did to the American psyche. Sept. 11 was the launching point for us getting involved in wars across the seas.”
In addition, Vance said the horror of that day will live with him forever. “I saw the plane flying into the second tower. Shock was my first reaction. At the time, the thought of terrorism never entered my mind. Flying a plane into two skyscrapers was absolutely unprecedented. I was puzzled as to what was happening. I was dismayed and fearful.”
The tragedy also had a devastating impact on those much younger than Vance at that time.
Jatarrious Jenkins, an Army ROTC junior at JSU, said, “I was in the third or fourth grade. My stepfather was in the military. He was supposed to come home, but after that event, he had to stay where he was. It was very devastating for my family. I missed my stepfather; my mother missed her husband. We didn’t really know what was going on. TV was saturated with newscasts of the events. It was very terrifying,” the criminal justice major said.
Meanwhile, Mississippi National Guard Sgt. Gerald Branson saw the horror from a different perspective.
“I view it from a Biblical standpoint. As tragic as it may have been, I believe that God allows some things to happen to get our attention – to bring us together as a people, regardless of race. It’s important for us to remember that God is still in control. Some things happen, and we don’t have a full understanding,” said Branson.
Another reminder of the emotional magnitude of 9/11 came from JSU’s Deputy Chief Calvin Matthews, who remembers the day that he saw people on television leaping from blazing skyscrapers with thick, billowing smoke ominously covering parts of the skies. “I thought it was a movie. It was shocking. It could have been you or your loved one. It was a tearful thing. It still affects me today because this can happen again. A lot or terrorism, such as with ISIS militants, is going on right now that affects our everyday life. And, closer to home, we have citizens who are against police. It’s total chaos.”
Jackson police spokeswoman Colendula Green said, “People need to know we’re always facing danger. We want them to know and understand that we’re there 24 hours a day to protect them and that they should be more appreciative of first responders.”
Abram agrees that despite the current strife between community and police, respect still should be given to emergency personnel who put their lives on the line daily.
“We must remember that if there were no peaceful order in Jackson or anywhere in the United States, it would be even more chaotic and cost many more lives. Without these key individuals protecting us, we would face a barbaric situation. In most cases, emergency personnel aim to serve. We should honor, not demonize, these brave men and women,” Abram said.