Gov. Scott McCallum will commemorate today’s anniversary with “Moving Forward in Remembrance,” an event aiming to bring the community together to remember the events of a year ago.
The event will take place at noon outside the Capitol steps on State Street. The event is open to the public and will also be televised throughout Wisconsin.
McCallum said that on this date last year he drove from his residence to the Capitol, where he entered the office to see the first plane crash into the twin towers. At that point, remembered McCallum, no one was sure if it was an accident or an attack. When the second tower was hit, and it was confirmed it was an act of terrorism, McCallum immediately took action to prepare Wisconsin.
For State Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, a phone call from her husband informed her of the first event of Sept. 11.
“I was shocked, and then I turned the TV on and saw the second plane crash into the tower,” Lazich said. “It was the saddest day for our country.”
Growing up in New York and attending the high school closest to the World Trade Center, Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said when he heard the news over the radio it affected him personally.
“Everyone has some connection of some sort,” Black said. “It was an event that truly shocked our nation, and a great many people lost their lives.”
“Although it has been a year since the terrible attacks on our country, it is clear that the prayers of our nation continue to be with those whose lives were lost and their families,” McCallum said in a press release. “I am encouraging the people of Wisconsin to join us at midday Sept. 11 to remember the victims and honor those who have responded on behalf of our country.”
Other commemorative events will be happening throughout Wisconsin, including in Lazich’s district in Greendale and New Berlin.
“Personally, it is such an astounding realization,” Lazich said. “As a state senator, you get the strong sense of community. A strong community is what we need to win the war on terrorism.”
Black said he plans to attend multiple religious services throughout the day and observe a moment of silence at 7:46 a.m.
McCallum has requested that Wisconsin and American flags be flown at half-staff today.
“We will lower our flags to honor all the victims of last September’s terrorist acts, along with their family members,” McCallum said. “But we do so with the knowledge that the people of our nation, with unending courage, compassion and conviction, have triumphed over the evils we confronted a year ago. We’ve realized and reaffirmed that the strength and spirit of our great nation is rooted deep within our souls, not within the foundations of our buildings. Sept. 11 should be thought of as a day of remembrance for the victims as well as a reminder to look forward with hope and confidence.”
