MCHS Student Remembers 9/11

Brown
Brown

Taylor Brown usually makes the morning announcements on Fridays at McDonald County High School, mixing in his impressions of characters from movies and TV shows to add a little bit of humor to the daily schedule.

But last week, he changed days and themes.

On Thursday, Sept. 11, Instead of going for a laugh, Brown went serious, reading a statement he wrote on his thoughts of Sept. 11, 2001.

Brown, a senior from Anderson, said he wanted to mark the event of 13 years because it is something all Americans should never forget.

"It's vital our nation doesn't forget the things that define us," Brown said."A lot of people never think about something like that. Life goes on for some people, but it is something we should never forget."

Brown said he plans to join the military after graduation. He said he comes from a family where the military is very important. He has an uncle who joined after the 9/11 attacks.

"He has always been a role model in my life," Brown said. "I wanted his influence to be known."

Brown, though he was only four years old on that day, does have some remembrances of the events.

"It may seem like a cliché but I actually do," Brown said. "I remember waking up when my Dad called the house and got hold of my Mom. He said, 'are you guys watching the news' and she said, 'no, why?' He said, 'two planes just hit the World Trade Center' and all we did was watch TV all day. I remember asking my Mom how were they going to put the fires out."

He said his Mom tried to get him to go play so that he wouldn't be scared.

"I remember as soon as the towers fell, my Mom just balled," Brown said. "That is something I will never forget."

The following is the speech Brown wrote and read to the student body on Sept. 11, 2014:

"Fellow friends, classmates, teachers, faculty and all staff. Today you may be wondering why we have decided to take a different approach to the daily announcements. Normally, this broadcast would begin with the announcements and end with a silly voice impression that leaves us all smiling and enjoying our time. But today is different. I regret to say that this is different from normal procedures, as today I have nothing but a heavy heart, one of grief, sorrow, but also a nearly unmatched sense of patriotism and love for our great country. As you all may know, this day, 13 years ago, our nation, our citizens, our freedom, our very way of life came under attack. Our citizens watched in horror as the sight of jetliners crashed into the tallest and most formidable structures of America. These images filled many hearts with shock, sadness, fear and a quiet, yet unyielding anger. These evil, despicable acts of terror may have bent and broken steel, but they could never break the steel of American resolve. Our nation has always been a beacon for freedom and freedom endures to this very day. Though our towers remained in rubble, out of the ashes came a stronger, more unified and greater America. The heroic actions of firefighters risking their lives to rescue those from the burning buildings, those who stood in line to give blood, those who stayed up late at night with the victims families for comfort and those who were courageous to fight back on United 93 to prevent a strike to the White House, will never be forgotten. America has stood down evil before and we will always be ready to do it again. In the aftermath of the attacks, President Bush addressed a weary nation and said, "Grief, hatred and tragedy are only for a time. But goodness, remembrance and love have no end." I would like to end this broadcast today with a fitting verse that some of us may know. Psalm 23:4 tells us, "Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me." My challenge to you today friends, would be to remember what it means to be an American. Many of us take our freedom for granted and we should always remember the impact of Sept. 11 on our great nation. May God Bless and continue to bless the United States of America and may God also bless those who willingly stand in harms way so that our freedom may never know such a harrowing assault ever again. Thank you for listening and God Bless our Great Nation.

General News on 09/18/2014