JENKS, Okla. — Monday is a somber reminder as Americans observe the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Locally, ceremonies to commemorate the tragedy took place all across the metro.
Jenks High School students and community members gathered in the front lawn of the high school to honor the lives lost in the 9/11 attacks.
“It’s a very key memory I think in Americas history because that was horrible,” said Freshman Zoee McNabb.
Those in attendance placed 2,977 flags in the grass to represent each life that was lost.
Jenks High School's Young Americans for Freedom club put the ceremony together.
Joshua Taylor and Isabella Suttee are the two students who founded the club. They're happy to have hosted the "Never Forget" ceremony for the third year in a row.
"I think it's super important for all of us in high school to remember this tragic event that happened," Suttee said. "None of us were born then, but it's still something that's really important in shaping America and how we function today. It's an event that brought Americans together. Even when we were all sad."
The club had speakers including Jenks Mayor Cory Box and a former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, who both were emotional sharing their stories of that day and messages for the young students.
“For those of you that can that are able bodied consider a career in the military consider a career in politics, whatever you do make a difference and do it because you love this place,” Box said.
Most of all those in attendance heard from a Tulsa survivor of the tragedy.
"Being students in high school that weren't alive during 9/11, it helps us gain more knowledge and helps us gain more experience with 9/11 so that we can keep raising awareness for it for the future," Organizer Joshua Taylor said.
Tulsa survivor Tim Veldstra was on the 61st floor of tower two at a training for a new job on September 11 2001.
He was getting coffee during a short break in sessions and staring out at what he said was the perfect blue sky when everything changed.
“Just looking at the Statue of Liberty and I hear a boom,” he described.
From there, the day that started out simply as day two in his journey to a new career, led to horrible memories.
“So many events happened before the end of the day,” he said.
Veldstra explained how he heard speakers telling people to evacuate and the mass crowds of people funneling down the stairs. Then once outside seeing people jumping from the building.
In that moment, he said his gut told him 'let’s go, don’t turn back.'
That’s one of his messages today.
“Listen to the voice on the inside,” he expressed.
With as many times as he’s shared his story over the last 22 years, he said it’s awesome to know those who weren’t around then care.
Which is exactly what Jenks freshman Zoee McNabb was hoping people understood from this event.
“We’re not just trying to put things on calendars. This actually means something to people that were doing this and I hope it touches people’s heart,” she said.
Veldstra a survivor of the attacks hopes future generations continue to honor this tragedy in three ways.
“Be apart of this country, celebrate this country, love this country,” he said.
Two of the organizers of the event are now Seniors at the high school, but they hope students carry on this traditional ceremony to honor those taken to soon and the first responders who put their lives on the line that day.
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