Standing on Ground Zero, President Barack Obama and the first family, in addition to President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, honored those lost on that day. As the World Trade Center fell on Sept. 11, the nation was in a state of shock. Today, as students and teachers recall the importance of understanding and honoring the day, its significance is exemplified even more.

The national commemoration began at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the exact time the first plane hit the North Tower 10 years ago. At each significant time of an attack, a moment of silence occurred in honor of the lives lost.

Replays occured throughout the day, and often they are all the students have to remember the attacks due to their age. However, sophomore Joe Gunter said he experienced the impacts of Sept. 11 because he travels often and from his parents’ reactions.

“My parents and family travel a lot and run into security increases [because of 9/11],” Gunter said. “Also, I saw the impact it had on my parents then, but I was little so I didn’t understand.”

Fearing that those who were too young to remember the attacks would forget, 10 years ago 7th grade Museum Connections students created a time capsule themed around remembering not only the day, but also the patriotism that occurred. Honors Archeology teacher Keil Hileman said the purpose of the time capsule was to pass on the meaning to those too young to understand.

“Students were worried that those who were not born yet would not remember,” Hileman said. “They wanted to pass what happened on. I guess you could say it is one generation reaching out to another.”

 So on Thursday, Aug. 25, the two time capsules were opened. Senior Paige Hillebert said it showed her the impact it had locally on the students who created the capsules.

“Before the time capsule, my opinion had always been that it didn’t have a local effect on me,” Hillebert said. “But the letters left by [the students] brought it home for me. You could tell that it affected [everyone] here too.”

Hileman said that, on a local level, most have some connection to the day.

“[An individual] worked in our building and I knew her, it made it personal for me,” Hileman said. “That hasn’t changed for me, except now everyone has a face and a name to go with [the attack].”