Where were you on September 11, 2001? For some faculty and staff at Chowan University, time stood still and the exact moment of realization that the United States of America was under a terrorist attack returns with a switch of memory. For students, many were just a thought in the hearts of their parents. They live history through stories shared by parents and grandparents, and events such as Chowan University’s Remembrance Ceremony.

Alex Chappell, Director of Facilities and Grounds, was in his 11th grade shop class. Mr. Sawyer, his teacher, directed his students to stop “making sawdust” and get in and watch the television, which at the time, in schools, sat on rolling carts so they could be moved from room to room.

Brandon Zoch, Associate Vice President for Campus Life, was at Dover Campus Center at Gardner Webb walking from the bookstore to the cafeteria and saw the plane hitting the North Tower in a lounge along the way.

The Remembrance Ceremony, sponsored by Human Resources, was narrated by Elizabeth Hedrick, Associate VP of Human Resources. She was in 9th grade when she heard the Twin Towers had been hit by a plane. She thought at first they were talking about somewhere in France. 

At 8:46 am, Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center

Richard Todd, Registrar, lowered the flag at the Hawks Athletic Center to half mast while those in attendance were silent; not a sound could be heard as people prayed, or meditated in remembrance of those whose lives were lost. 

On September 11, 2001, Richard Todd was stationed at Camp Lejeune serving with the 2^nd Tank Battalion. “We had just completed our weekly meeting to review upcoming training and plan for the next week. I returned from our Headquarters building to my office. The phone rang and asked that we return to our original meeting to review. Once I returned, we got briefed and began to make preparations on deployment, but we had no idea where. We all felt somewhat helpless as we could not see an enemy in front of us, but we knew that a day of reckoning would be forthcoming.” 

During the time before the second tower went down, Trevon Abrahams spoke, a senior actively involved in campus life, serving in multiple leadership positions, including President of the International Student Club. He is preparing to join the military, with aspirations of becoming a Marine officer, following in the footsteps of his father, who served in the Army for 20 years. “My passion for service drives everything I do, whether it’s on campus, in the community, or beyond.”

He reminded us that “nearly 3,000 lives were tragically taken from us—moms and dads, friends and neighbors, and brave first responders who charged into danger, not for glory, but out of duty and love for their fellow citizens. Their courage in the face of such darkness reminds us of what it truly means to be an American.”

He continued by saying, “As a first responder, I feel deeply connected to the legacy of service and sacrifice that was displayed on that day. It reminds me that America is strongest when we come together in the face of adversity—when we lift each other up, stand side by side, and remain steadfast in our commitment to freedom, justice, and unity.”

Dr. Rosemary Thomas thanked students, staff and faculty for attending the Remembrance Ceremony this morning. This ceremery is dear to her heart as Valerie Silver Ellis, her father’s wife, died on September 11, 2001. She worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, an American Financial Firm, that was located on floors 101-105 in the World Trade Center and lost all 658 employees to the terrorist attack. Dr. Thomas was in a meeting when she received a phone call from her father sharing this news. She reminded all attending that September 11, 2001 was a horrific day, filled with terror as our country was terrorized. September 12, 2001 was a day the country came together, stronger and more unified than ever before. As athletic teams, faculty and staff were gathered by the flagpole at the Hawks Athletic Center, Dr. Thomas’s words of unification touched the hearts of all. “We are a tower of strength, built of individualism and diversity coming together as one – beautiful and unbreakable.”

At 9:03 am Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

“Today, as we remember the fallen, let us also renew our commitment to the principles that make this nation exceptional—liberty, equality, and the unwavering belief that even in our darkest moments, hope will prevail. We will never forget the sacrifices made, and we will always honor the spirit of unity that continues to light our way forward. May God bless the families of those we lost, and may God bless the United States of America. May we never forget”(Trevon Abraham).