LAKEVILLE - For some it's hard to believe that Friday, September 11, 2026 was the 25th anniversary of 9.11. But nearly everyone, however, remembers where they were and what they were doing as that morning started. We had the chance to catch up with three LaVille Jr-Sr High School teachers. Where were they and what were they doing? We start with Mrs. Jennifer Higley, who teaches Biology, Biology Honors, Anatomy & Physiology, and Introduction to Health Science Careers. Mrs. Higley says, "I was a sophomore in college at Taylor University. I was walking to my 9am Chemistry lecture when a friend walking past said that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. I was still using a flip phone so we didn’t have quick connections to the world. When I got into the science building several students were milling around and I asked if they had heard. It was a question of disbelief at that point. We sat down ready for our lecture and asked the professor if he’d heard anything and he hadn’t so went about business as usual. We got out at 9:50 and it took me 5 minutes to get back to my dorm. My roommate had already had the tv on and at 9:59, I watched in real time the first tower fall. We sat glued to our tv until the second tower fell and heard news of the Pentagon and the plane in Pennsylvania. "Shortly after we received an email from the university that classes were cancelled for the rest of the day and that we were all meeting in the chapel. University staff explained what we already knew from the news and then we spent the rest of the day in a whole group and small group prayer there at the chapel. I had friends on my floor from New York, we had classmates with parents as pilots who were terrified because they were unreachable. Being in college at the time we had students from all over the world. Everyone was scared. There was so much uncertainty on 9.11 and the days after. There were so many that pulled together as Americans after that but we also saw students living in fear because of their skin color and nationality." Higley, who also played collegiate volleyball for Taylor, also pointed out that, "We were in the middle of our volleyball season so travel was challenging. That year we went to Nationals in West Palm and flew. We arrived at the airport 4 hours early to get through security. There were armed men walking the halls of the airport checking in planters and trash cans. We were probably more safe at that time than we are now on a daily basis but it felt odd and unsafe to see so many people constantly armed around us." We also chatted with Mr. Clint Watts, who teaches Agriculture and serves as the faculty advisor for the school's Future Farmers of America chapter. He indicated that, "I was in Mrs. Seago’s 8th grade English class here at LaVille, which is now Mrs. Burnham’s classroom. We were told what happened, but obviously without phones or computers, it was hard to really get much information other than what we were seeing on TV. The TVs hung from the ceiling, and the pole from the TV that was in our rooms is actually still in my room today." According to Watts, "Honestly, I was pretty confused. I really didn't understand what was happening or why it was such a big deal. I remember not even really knowing what the Twin Towers were. We eventually went over to Mr. Urednick’s classroom (corner science room upstairs, idk who is there now) because Mrs. Seago didn't have a TV, and we watched everything unfold for quite a while." We asked Watts if he had to explain what was happening to others or have the news explained to him? "I was definitely having it explained to me. Being in 8th grade, I didn't really understand the significance of what was happening at the time. I knew something was really wrong, but I didn't understand the bigger picture. And how did your school or community react in the days and weeks immediately following the attacks? "I remember a huge sense of pride and patriotism," said Mr. Watts. "It seemed like everyone was pulling together, both in our community and across the country. That feeling didn't last forever, but for a while it was pretty incredible to see how united people were." Do you have a specific memory of unity or community support that stands out to you from that time? I don't know if there is one specific moment. It's more the overall feeling I remember. The flags, the support for one another, and just the sense that everyone was on the same team. You don't see that kind of thing very often." We closed with why he feels it is important for our students today. "I think it's important because they need to understand not just what happened, but how people responded. A lot of the heroes from that day weren't people who were looking to be heroes. They were just everyday people who stepped up and did what they could. There's a quote, “A hero is a man who does what he can,” and I think that really sums it up. The sacrifice and courage of those people is something students should understand, especially since 9/11 is now something they only know from a history book." Mrs. Laura Watts was our final stop. She teaches 8th grade social studies, World History, and Government, and indicated that she was teaching 9/11 all day Friday. "It still gets me emotional every year," Mrs. Watts noted. "I’ll never forget seeing the second plane hit the tower. I looked over at my science teacher because I couldn’t understand how two planes had done such a thing. The look on her face told me all I needed to know. They shut off all the TV feeds in my school and told us to carry on as normal but not a single teacher seemed normal. Rumors flew, some kids were picked up by their parents. It was confusing and terrifying. But the weeks that followed held more hope and more resolve than anything I had ever experienced. I look back on it as solemn pride for how the people came together as we all recovered." As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 fell on a Friday, local high school football games, among other areas held special "Friday Night Lights" tributes to honor local military personnel, EMS, firefighters, and police forces. It remains a defining day of reflection, unity, and a renewed promise to Never Forget. Out thanks to Mrs. Higley, Mrs. Watts, and Mr. Watts for their contributions.