Never forget

Sirens echoed, a towering American flag fluttered high above West Van Dorn Avenue, and students lined the entrance of Holly Springs Intermediate School Friday morning, Sept. 11, as Marshall County paused to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The solemn milestone brought city and county leaders together with emergency personnel to honor the actions and sacrifices of first responders during the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers and crew fought back, preventing a targeted strike believed aimed at the U.S. Capitol or the White House.

Friday’s events began with an appreciation breakfast at the Eddie L. Smith Multi-Purpose Building, where officials served and thanked area firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, and dispatchers for their dedication to public safety.

Following the breakfast, emergency vehicles formed a procession through the streets of Holly Springs. A fire department ladder truck took up a commanding position on West Van Dorn Avenue near the South Craft Street intersection, hoisting a massive American flag high above the roadway as a public tribute. Beside the apparatus, organizers placed a memorial bell, inviting passersby to pause and ring it in honor of the fallen.

The motorcade concluded at Holly Springs Intermediate School, where students greeted the arriving first responders with applause and handmade “Thank You for Your Service” goodie bags. For the students who were not alive on the fateful day in 2001, the event provided a tangible connection to history.

“It was bad, bad,” one student said about 9/11. “I don’t want the same thing to happen.” Holly Springs Intermediate School Principal Vikki Marion emphasized the role educators play in keeping the memory and lessons of the tragedy alive for young people.

“Our kids are real tech-savvy, so a lot of our things are shown through their computers, through their Chromebooks, and on our boards,” Marion said. “Our teachers pull up the 9/11 videos that were in the past, and they talk to them about it--the things that happened, and, you know, all of that, because they were not here.”

Marion noted that the students remain deeply curious and engaged.

“They ask a lot of questions about it, so yes, that’s a good thing,” she said.

Beyond historical remembrance, Marion said the morning strengthened the bond between students and local emergency personnel.

“It means a lot to them because, first of all, it’s showing them that the community has their back just like we have their back,” Marion said. “And then it’s also giving them something to look forward to in the future. Those are things that they can become when they get older.”