By J1 Reporter Mekhronakhon Sultanova

On Sept.11, 2001, Mr. Kory Delkamiller was at Marian High School in the campus minister’s office on the third floor when he first heard about the attacks.

At first, someone told him that what had happened was an accident. Soon, however, he began watching the events unfold live on television. He saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center and later watched as the first tower collapsed.

The events quickly affected the school. Delkamiller remembers having classes while students were scared and arguing about what was happening. He tried to calm them down and explain the situation as best as he could.

Although Delkamiller did not personally know anyone who died in the attacks, Sept.11 still had a significant impact on him. He described it as an attack on his country and said that he became especially worried about his daughters.

The attacks also led people across the country to look for ways to help. Delkamiller contributed to a nationwide donation effort. His wife later traveled to New York for a conference and visited Ground Zero. Even more than a year after the attacks, she said the area was still deeply affected by what had happened.

Delkamiller eventually visited the Sept.11 Memorial Museum with his daughters. He remembers seeing the names of the people who died and the memorial pools where the towers once stood. He described the memorial as beautiful. At the time, his daughters were six months old and two years old.

For Delkamiller, remembering Sept.11 is also about understanding what can happen when fear, injustice and hatred lead to violence.

He believes young people should learn about the attacks because they can see what injustice and hate can do, as well as how people can respond to that hatred. He described this as a “cycle of violence.” He also disagreed with the United States’ decision to go to war with Iraq, saying that there should be a way to justify how a country responds after an attack.

Sept.11 also changed everyday life in the United States. According to Delkamiller, traveling was much easier before the attacks. Afterward, he noticed increased surveillance, more cameras and a loss of privacy.

He also remembers the difficulties faced by Muslim Americans after the attacks. He said Muslims supported and defended one another, including by surrounding mosques to show solidarity. Delkamiller said he would have liked to join them.

When discussing the motivations behind the attacks, Delkamiller said he believed they were both political and religious. From a religious perspective, he explained that certain interpretations of the Quran were used by the attackers to support their political views.

More than two decades later, Delkamiller’s memories of Sept.11 remain connected not only to the tragedy itself, but also to the changes it brought to American life. For him, remembering the event means understanding the consequences of fear and hatred and considering how future cycles of violence might be prevented.

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