Sept. 11, 2001.

It was a day unlike any other on U.S. soil.

A day that will forever be etched in the minds of a nation.

Three years removed from the worst terrorist attack to ever occur in U.S. borders, individuals touched by Sept. 11 take time to assess the impact of the attacks, opinions on the ongoing war on terrorism and what the future may hold.

"People are on so many different pages," said Bamberg County Emergency Services Director Sharon Hammond, whose sister, Vonnie Barker, is still receiving counseling and therapy from witnessing and living through the events of Sept. 11.

Barker was working on the 86th floor of Tower One as a graphics designer for the Port Authority of New York at the time the hijacked airliner struck the 110-story building.

"The national message has not trickled down. People are still thinking that nothing ever will happen to us because we are not a major city and that we don't have a large influx of different people."

While agreeing on the need to fight terrorism, Hammond expressed her disagreement on the path the fight has traversed.

"I think there is a way of fighting terrorism, but not fighting in the traditional way of war," Hammond said. "I think we have got to learn compromise as a country and realize that we can't continuously go and strong arm other nations and change the way people live. We have to go there with a helping hand."

Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller reflected on Sept. 11 as a day that will be "remembered around the world."

"America is certainly in a critical time as we continue to step forward and try to combat terrorism that is lurking from all areas around the world and in our country," Miller said. "All we can hope for is that we will continue to unite and be proud to be Americans and stand up for what this country is all about: freedom."

The city and county had held a Spirit of Unity gathering at the Department of Public Utilities Centennial Park in remembrance of the Sept. 11 attacks the past two years, but the 300th anniversary celebration of the Orangeburgh District coinciding with the Sept. 11 anniversary made the program logistically difficult, Miller said.

"Although we are not holding an official event on Sept. 11 as in the past, the memory of it will never go away," Miller said. "To the families that have had to deal with the pains of war, particularly in our Orangeburg County, our hearts go out to each and every one of them. They will not be forgotten in the hearts of our citizens."

Orangeburg native and New York English teacher Jack Shuler had just finished preparing a cup of coffee and was ready to discuss the essence of rebellion and injustice with his first-year English students at Brooklyn College when the events of Sept. 11 unfolded.

Three years later, Shuler said he remains "troubled" about what has transpired and what continues to transpire both nationally and globally.

He cited personally observing friends and neighbors detained for being of Arabic descent and the recent Republican National Convention held in New York, which he said he considered in poor taste.

"If there was an attack on Texas, people would have been offended to go there to hold a party," he said. "I am personally offended by that.

"Even things that affect places like Orangeburg," Shuler continued. "Bush's education policy ... is underfunded, so where is the money going but to support a war that still continues but supposedly ended. A lot of people are dying and don't know why they are dying."

The recently released 9-11 Commission report and the ongoing "war on terror," he says, have been handled "poorly."

"I don't think anything will change until our approach to the war changes," he said. "We have broken off ties to a lot of people that might help us. I don't think we consider the effects of foreign policy on the local level."

In particular, Shuler cited U.S. support of the dictatorship Pakistan government in weeding out terrorists as creating "another generation of pissed off" individuals at the Pakistan government and, in turn, the U.S.

Orangeburg resident Elise Aiken, whose son Terry perished during the terrorist attack, declined comment on the third year anniversary, citing a desire to put the day's tragic events behind her.

Her son worked on the 97th floor of the World Trade Center Tower as a computer analyst.

Ron Millkie of New York, son of the late T&D columnist Joyce Milkie, viewed the World Trade Center attacks from his 22nd floor apartment on 43rd Street. His apartment window had a clear view of the events of 9-11.

Three years later, Millkie described New York residents as keeping with the typical New York spirit.

"People have pretty much gone on with their lives," Millkie said. "They still go to the theater, take the subways, go to Yankee Stadium. People have forgotten a lot of it."

Millkie said that, while many have seemed to put the past behind them, he is one that has strong opinions on the path the country and nation have taken since 9-11.

"I have never seen such a passionate time and there being such hatred for the opponents," Millkie said, referring to the ongoing debate on the Iraq War between Democrat Sen. John Kerry and President George W. Bush. "My opinion is that we are spending too much money in this stupid war in Iraq. The money could have gone to so many ways than on the war on terrorism."

When asked if he thinks the country is safer today than three years ago, Millkie agreed that the country is safer, but he noted that terrorists are extremely patient and will strike when least expected.

"It is going to happen," Millkie said, referring to another terrorist attack. "It will be in this country, and they say it will be much worse than 9-11."

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