Two years ago today, America changed forever.It was complete terror.

As the second of two jets crashed into the south tower of the World Trade
Center on Sept. 11, viewers and listeners across the nation asked
themselves: “Is this real? Am I watching a movie?”

It only got worse. Within a couple hours another plane rammed into the
Pentagon; another crashed in a field in Pennsylvania and the burning WTC
Twin Towers collapsed, taking the lives of thousands and the hearts of
millions.

“I was completely numb as I saw the towers collapse,” Joseph
Barrow, freshman from Lafayette, said. “It was horror and I couldn’t move. It’s a feeling I had never felt before and one I hope to never feel again. I will never be the same after that.”

Barrow’s emotions are similar to most Americans’. It would become an event
that could never be forgotten.

To honor those affected by the terrorist attacks, Nicholls will host a
remembrance service today in the Quadrangle from noon to 12:30, marking the
two-year anniversary of the tragedy. A campus-wide moment of silence will
also be observed at 8:35 a.m. — the time of the first plane crash into the
north tower.

“Many people feel like the whole Sept. 11 thing has been blown out of proportion and commercialized,” Jarrett Hubbell, Student Government Association president, said. “Hopefully with this program, we can still honor what happened that day for what it was.”

The program will be highlighted by a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony of
Nicholls, Sept. 11 Memorial Garden at 12:25 p.m. Student leaders from various organizations will share memories and impact of the fateful day a couple years ago.

“It was such a tragic event,” Melissa Dyson, director of Peer Education
Program, said. “There was a sense of unity our nation felt after it
happened. By showing unity among our student organizations, we are showing
that same type of unity, and we don’t want it to die.”

Before the ceremony, memorial ribbons will be handed out to spectators while
Hubbell will open the program with a welcome address. Student Programming Association president Courtney Ponson will then lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

After a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, student
organization volunteers will light candles, which will lead to the garden
ceremony. Following the ceremony, Hubbell will give a closing address and
student organization leaders will slowly ring four bells at 12:30 p.m. Each
bell symbolizes an attack area and the victims lost in those areas.

“We want to make this a tradition,” Brittany Lipscomb, psychology sophomore
from Thibodaux, said. “Now that we will have the garden, it can help us
remember that day and it’s something Nicholls can be proud of. It will be a
special spot to hold yearly ceremonies.”

The garden, which will be located in the grass field adjacent to the
Ellender Memorial Library, will have a memorial plaque near the entrance,
and a park bench for those wishing to meditate on the events of Setember 11.

When completed, four trees will be planted in the garden to symbolize the
attack areas. Two other trees will be planted close together representing
the Twin Towers, while the rest of the garden will be filled with daffodils
symbolizing new beginnings. Dyson said she hopes the garden is finished by
the spring.

Approved by the University, the garden site was chosen after five potential
areas were considered.

“The area next to the library was just there with empty space,” SGA
business senator Michael Cobb, who initially recommended the spot, said. “We
wanted to beautify that area, so we chose that spot. It’s a good spot for
it.”

Dyson said any student wishing to make suggestions regarding the garden can
contact the Student Programming Association, SGA or Peer Education Program, which are sponsoring the event along with the Greeks and Residence Hall Assistance.

“I would encourage all students to attend, if they can, the memorial and the
groundbreaking if they can,” Dyson said. “It’s important for us to come
together because it affected us all. We can make it though together as a
University.”