By J1 Reporter Nora Klein

Kimberly Morgan remembers the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 like it was yesterday. She was a senior in college at Midland University in Fremont. Morgan was already awake getting ready for her first class when she watched the second plane crash live on the GMA show. “Is this a joke?” said Morgan. She walked down the hall to her friend and told her to turn on the news immediately. After slowly processing the crash, she walked to her class and was sent back to her dorm because all classes were cancelled for the day.

Morgan said she was in a daze all day, no one knew what to think and everyone was just existing. News of all flights being grounded allowed a moment for her to breathe until she heard a plane flying and noticed it flying very low. Later she found out the plane was Air Force 1 transporting the president to Offutt Air Force Base.

“It felt like the best of America was in the weeks that followed,” Morgan said.  The events to follow were a symbol of who we are as a nation. “The events of 9/11 are ingrained into your person until you die.” 

After 9/11, Morgan claims we are more guarded as human beings and that we jump to the worst case scenario right away. She feels that young people should care about the events because that is why we are how we are in the world today. None of the security measures practiced today existed. As human beings, we gain and learn a lot from understanding tragic events like this. 

As years have passed, Morgan noticed “we were very united as a people and understood what our founding fathers stood for.” Now 25 years later, she still gets choked up by the pledge of allegiance on Sept. 11 because she knows what happened and knows what the words mean. She also has a greater appreciation for those who lived the words that we all pledge. 

Morgan looks at 9/11 as an important day of honor and remembrance. “It’s not just a day, it’s a memorial to the thousands that lost their lives. It’s an honor to the best of who we are,” Morgan said. 

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