We will never forget

SEELEY LAKE - Wednesday morning, Sept. 11 Seeley Lake Rural Fire Department personnel stood in front of the Post Office in Seeley Lake to remember those who served and lost their lives during the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. Casualties of the deadliest terrorist act in world history included 2,977 people and 19 hijackers. Most of those who perished were civilians except for 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel that were killed in and around the World Trade Center in New York City, in a field near Shanksville, Pa. and at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Va.

The Department stood for 102 minutes, the amount of time it took for the first of the two Twin Towers to fall. This was the 11th year the Department has done the stand-in on Highway 83.

At the 18th year anniversary of the attacks, none of the area students remember the attacks. However for everyone else, they will never forget where they were that day. Many of our readers posted their stories on the Seeley Swan pathfinder Facebook page.

Basche Wahlberg wrote, "I was at the Newspaper Agency in SLC. We heard it on the radio. It was a whole day of sadness and trying to get the papers out."

Lonnie Warner was at a funeral home in North Dakota honoring her mother and laying her to rest, "A day I will never forget for so many reasons."

Kim Van De Riet was getting ready to travel across the state when a friend called her and told her to turn on the TV. "I drove to Miles City alone... listening to the radio. It was surreal. Watching it brings tears to my eyes and hurt to my heart. Never Forget."

Linda Niles was working at Glen's Automotive when she first head the news. She watched the events unfold at St. Patrick's Hospital after having to take her Dad in.

Lynn Mitchell was working the coffee booth outside of Wold's Valley Market listening to KYSS and trying to understand what was happening. "My stomach was in knots and my heart hurt while tears flowed at the images on the TV after work. Couldn't even contemplate that such evil was in our world."

Linda Watson was wondering where her husband's meeting was at in New York City. "It was all so unreal that the Twin Towers would fall."

Carleen Gonder was gearing up for work at the Hanford Reach National Monument in Washington State when a fellow officer called her on her cell phone from Florida.

Michael Triplett wrote he will never forget, "I remind myself and many others by posting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning on Facebook."

Anita Boddington agreed, "It's sad that we even have to be reminded not to forget. It should always be at the forefront of our minds"