Sisters recalls September 11

Americans will forever remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the terrible news of the terrorist attacks of September 11.

None of us can forget the horrific sight of a Boeing jet smashing into the World Trade Towers. And as the bad news unfolded and compounded -- four airliners hijacked, symbols of our military and economy attacked, the collapse of the Towers and the death of countless heroic rescue workers -- our feelings ran the gamut from disbelief and shock to fear, grief, depression and anger.

One year later, as the nation looks back to remember the anniversary of September 11, the tragic event reverberates in the community of Sisters, Oregon.

Phil Arends, owner of Desert Wings Travel, is one whose business was directly influenced by the events of last fall.

"It impacted me both directly and indirectly," he said. "We had clients who were stuck. We lost a month's worth of business, and we've lost our commission from the airlines, which we've had to pass on to the consumer.

"We have an affluent clientele that travels regardless of what happens, but it has affected them," Arends said. "For a long time, people were fearful of flying, but they've gotten back to more of a routine. They realize, 'Hey, I've got to get to that meeting in Atlanta.' The heightened security has put some people off. And some places people may never feel comfortable visiting -- like the Holy Land, for example."

Mike Boswell, the Pastor of Three Sisters Fellowship, sees the impact of September 11 from an altogether different perspective.

He sees the impact from a spiritual point of view.

"I saw some changes short term which I think were common everywhere else in the United States," he said. "There was a spiritual awakening and people were interested in spiritual things. They were asking if this was a judgment from God, or if this was the beginning of the end times. People were also examining their own lives and priorities. All this was good, but it was short-lived."

Boswell acknowledged the resilience of the American character -- which can be a double-edged sword.

"Americans have a good capacity to get back to living life as normal," he said. "But then we get so busy that we lose sight of the bigger picture. The call of God on our lives can get lost after the intensity of the moment wanes."

Jeff Barton is a social studies teacher at Sisters High. His job is to look at events from a larger, historical perspective.

"The things I see are the things that most of us see. Primarily, it has drawn us together," he said.

"The down side is the economic side. Most companies look at September 11 as the beginning of the economic downturn.

"Another negative is the prejudice and hatred toward people of Muslim faith and Arab-speaking people. In Global Studies, we delve into the historical roots of Islam and the beliefs of the faith, and these extreme fundamentalists do not represent the teaching of the Koran," Barton said.

"September 11 has pulled people together and served as a wake up call for all sorts of things. It's made people realize that the democratic form of government, while not perfect, is the best in the world."

Several people from Central Oregon have visited New York in the past year, and they bring back with them their own perspectives to our provincial locale.

Dr. Bonnie Malone visited Ground Zero in December.

"All I can say about the site itself is that it really wasn't any more dramatic than what I saw on TV and the newspapers. I mean, how can it be more devastating than that?" Malone said.

"We spent a lot of time in Manhattan, and it was as if nothing had happened. It was business as usual. The thing that was different was the empty space where the buildings used to stand -- that was amazing to me. From the Hudson River, it was obvious that there was a gaping hole in the skyline."

Pattie Little went with her son, Richard Nichols, to New York. Theirs was a high-profile visit, as Nichols had garnered 45,000 signatures on 14 banners (each 25 feet long) to deliver to the city, along with $30,000 they had spontaneously collected.

They appeared on "Good Morning, America" as well as "The David Letterman Show," and met with Mayor Rudy Guliani.

Despite the national media attention, Little's assessment is personal.

"I think our community is more aware of the quality of our lives rather than the quantity," she said. "We were made aware of people who were ripped from their families -- the grief was overwhelming.

"As far as our high school kids are concerned, I think they became more aware of safety issues. I also noticed that a lot of kids wanted to reach out and help any way that they could."

Sally Taylor-Pillar is the Activities Director at Summit High School in Bend. She was commissioned by several businessmen to visit New York and do a presentation on her trip.

She took two students with her, along with two students from Mountain View and Bend High Schools, and the Activities Directors of both schools. They arrived at Ground Zero on March 11, exactly six months after September 11.

"We interviewed and videotaped people," Pillar said. "One of the people we interviewed was a survivor from the 58th floor. We visited a high school in Scarsdale, and a fire station that had lost 10 firemen in the tragedy.

"It was emotionally draining. It was so sad to see 'Missing' posters all over the city, even six months after the fact. The students couldn't take their eyes off those posters. You could imagine being in the position of those families -- it was very moving.

"All over the city, there were American flags and messages of hope. It gave the impression of what a great country this is; there was a feeling of unity. Everybody had flags and patriotic patches. The city was hopeful; it seemed like it was stronger.

"I vividly remember that I came away feeling a real sense of hope and pride. It's going to take more than this to break the spirit of our country.

"We came back and told our story. We produced a video entitled 'Project Never Forget,' and in the high school assemblies that we have shown this, you can hear a pin drop. The students are moved."

"Project Never Forget" is scheduled to be shown at an assembly at Sisters High School on Wednesday, September 11 at 8 a.m.

The public may attend. (See page 34 for a list of September 11 observances).