In light of recent events, the 24-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks was turned into an uproar, not related to the terrorism from two decades ago. Never before had any American event overshadowed an anniversary of the day. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on September 10th of 2025, just one day before the anniversary. Many communities were outraged, and political wars began all over social media. However, the many people who remembered where they were and what they were doing on September 11 held strong to their usual memorial traditions. One of those people was history teacher Zach Wood.
When Wood was a child, he remembers how the morning of the attacks, he was eating breakfast with his father in the tiny town of Wilkesboro, North Carolina. This routine was nothing short of a normal treat, and he anticipated any day that began with breakfast with his dad to be a good one. The fear and terror that followed forever changed the way he viewed many things in life, and he knew that despite what had happened the day before the 24th anniversary, he had to continue to memorialize the day.
Flex time is a period most students use to make up work, attend workshops or club meetings. Zach Wood turned his flex time on September 11 into a learning experience, where he vocalized the stories of victims of the tragedy who cannot speak for themselves. Throughout his teaching career, Wood has interviewed several emergency responders who were present during the attacks of September 11. Before the bell rang, students were in their seats chattering away about unrelated events. As soon as Flex began, the room went so quiet, that the only sound was Wood’s voice and his fingers tapping the keyboard. Then came the memorials of several 9/11 victims. Children as young as 2 years old, younger than any student in the classroom. Many tears were shed as Wood told his history, and the history of others’ experiences from this day.
September 11, 2001, at 8:46 in the morning, a flight headed for Los Angeles, California hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. A second plane crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 with more tragedy to follow at the Pentagon and through the crashing of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. As Americans, we now use September 11th to grieve the many lives lost in this tragedy. This year marks the 24th anniversary of the attacks and despite it being two decades ago, some remember the day like it was yesterday. This tragedy reached so many people beyond New York City and remains as one of the most memorable days in American history.
People all over the world woke up to the news of the attack and started their days with panic and terror instead of a morning coffee. This is how Zach Wood remembers September 11th. Around 8:55 in the morning, in Wood’s second grade classroom, his teacher received a phone call and stepped out of the room. Wood remembers seeing his teacher return to the classroom, but now she was crying. A sight for a child, as it was rare to see adults, especially teachers, cry. Soon after, his principal came over the intercom instructing teachers to turn on their TVs for their classrooms to see. Staring back at Wood and his classmates was the World Trade Center on fire.
“Keep this in mind that my teacher, nor us as seven-year-olds, had no idea this was the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.” Wood and his class continued to watch the news of the twin towers burning. “As the cameras zoomed in however it became evident that it was not just debris (falling from the towers) but people jumping and falling. At the time, I could not comprehend why, but those video clips have stayed with me ever since.”
His second grade class watched as the second plane hit the south tower. They were then dismissed from school at around 9:30 in the morning, the earliest release ever. Wood’s mom came to pick him up and take him to his grandma’s. He claims that even at seven years old, he knew of war and feared that the entire country was under attack.
These kinds of experiences change an individual, especially a child, forever. Wood believes that this experience alone changed how he viewed life and its “briefness.” He thinks about how regular people went to work that day not expecting it to be their last day of work, and how he now lives every day like it may be his last. It showed him to be more patient about the smaller things, because time and life is so precious.
“I always tell my close friends and family that I love them, because due to an event like 9/11, I never know when is the last time I will get that chance.”
Wood teaches his students about 9/11 every year when it comes around, he dedicates an entire class period to learn about the day and its effects. He starts with telling them about his own memories of that day, even including the breakfast with his father. He then moves on to the stories of those who are unable to tell them. From NYC to Washington, D.C., to Pennsylvania. He has even incorporated interviews with some of the surviving first responders to the attacks at the World Trade Center.
September 11, 2001, was one of the most tragic attacks on United States grounds. The event led to widespread fear in almost every public building in America, including Wood’s elementary school. Politically, it spurred the US to launch wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and shaped foreign policy for years to come. In a way, September 11 made many Americans come together in unity with the goal of rebuilding together. People like Zach Wood are using their stories to help younger generations understand just how terrifying it was to watch their country be attacked. How terrifying it was to be completely and utterly helpless as the country fell into grief. There is a necessity to learn from historical events and listen to the stories of those who are still here, and those who speak for the ones that cannot.
