This year marks the 20-year anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11. As the country pays tribute to those fallen, Americans reflect on what happened and the emotions that many associate with the event. Americans who witnessed this devastating day have seen how it has caused the government’s foreign policy to develop over the years, especially how this tragedy shifted the nation’s attitude and actions toward the Middle East.
At the time of the attacks, many were in a state of shock, not knowing that the nation would change forever. Several people recall that they realized the truth behind this incomprehensible disaster once the second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
Americans take this month to pay tribute to those who worked on the frontlines, went missing, remain unidentified, and lost their lives on this heartbreaking day, and a wave of shock still lingers in the nation today. The 20-year anniversary gives the nation an opportunity to remember what happened and honor those who were lost.
Several faculty members at NDB remember watching the story unfold on their televisions twenty years ago. The Catalyst interviewed AP U.S. History and AP Human Geography teacher Wendy Connolly about her memories of September 11, 2001.

“[I remember the day] very vividly. It’s one of those memories like in a different place in history that you just remember everything,” said Connolly. “I was at my house in Half Moon Bay, getting ready for work. I wake up to the news every morning, so the news was on, and I remember going into the bedroom, and seeing the first plane go into the World Trade Center. And, to me, it was a movie. I thought it was a preview to a movie.”
Connolly hopes that the 20-year anniversary will help people acknowledge this tragedy, so that it will never become a forgotten day in history.
“California does not mandate that teachers must teach about 9/11. So, it’s up to individual teachers. I’ve always addressed it, and we’ve talked about it, but I’ve always treated it like more of a current event, and my own personal experience this year, I feel like we need to do a little bit deeper dive.”
Connolly hopes that no one will forget this monumental day in American history, and that her generation will teach of this date so that this generation of students will never forget this day in history.