Mississippians are showing their patriotism by remembering those who died in the September 11th terrorists attacks.
Members of the 158th Infantry Brigade at Camp Shelby paused yesterday to remember the nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11. Colonel Paul Kreis, reflects on how the tragic events impacted him and what he has learned from it.
"I've learned honestly, patience, the importance of family, love and respect for others, strangers, perfect strangers stepped forward and did things that day, and if we don't look to each other for help, then we're really missing out on opportunities," said Kreis.
On the morning of the 9/11 attacks Sergeant 1st Class, Tambouzi Green says he was one of about 60 soldiers waiting in a New York City recruitment office to sign their final enlistment papers. But after viewing the images on television he says most of the others bailed out making him one of only three people to complete the process.
"It made me sad though, here, your country needs you, your country's calling you asking for your help, and now the time they need you, you're walking away, and I told myself, 'That's not going to be me,' so many times in my life I had walked away from things, walked away from challanges, walked away from people that needed me and I said this was not going to be another one of those times it was time for me to step up and time for me to grow up," said Green.
The events of 9/11 were life altering for many including Staff Seargent Christopher Burns. Two months before the attacks Burns had just finished college and enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard.
"I was stunned, they said that it might have been an act of terrorism so it was all new to me about act of terrorism, because in years before, I didn't really pay attention to too much history until that day," said Burns.
Two Mississippians were killed in the September 11th attacks.
