This Week: The 9/11 Generation Comes of Age

Summary

This PBS NewsHour special commemorates the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, focusing on the young people shaped by the event. Known as the '9/11 generation,' many have grown up in the shadow of the War on Terror. The report features Clovis, California, where residents recall their personal experiences, from fear and confusion to military service. The town, with its strong military presence, saw many young people join the armed forces. The piece explores how 9/11 deeply affected their lives, shaping careers, perspectives, and a generation’s identity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 9/11 generation refers to young adults who have lived through the war on terror, shaping their lives and perspectives.
• 😀 People who were children during the September 11th attacks are now adults, many with their futures influenced by the event.
• 😀 Clovis, California, a small city near Fresno, is a focal point for the personal impact of 9/11, despite its distance from Ground Zero.
• 😀 Reed Hul, a 13-year-old in 2001, recalls seeing the horrific images of the 9/11 attacks on the morning they happened.
• 😀 Nani Okal Lagu, a freshman at Princeton in 2011, vividly remembers the fear and confusion felt on that day as a 7-year-old.
• 😀 The community of Clovis dedicated a permanent memorial in 2001 to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
• 😀 Several young people from Clovis and Fresno recall their personal experiences of the attacks and how it shaped their outlook on life.
• 😀 Many young people from Clovis joined the military after 9/11, driven by a sense of duty following the attacks.
• 😀 Clovis has a notably high number of military enlistments, with a significant percentage of its youth joining the armed forces.
• 😀 The 9/11 attacks have directly influenced many young people's career choices, with some joining the military or law enforcement in response to the tragedy.

Q & A

What is the significance of the term '911 generation' mentioned in the script?

The term '911 generation' refers to individuals who were children during the September 11th attacks, and have grown up in a world shaped by the War on Terror. They are now young adults, and their lives have been significantly impacted by the events of that day and the subsequent military actions.

How did Reed Hul, a resident of Clovis, react to the news of the September 11th attacks?

Reed Hul was 13 years old when the attacks occurred. He remembers waking up, going downstairs, and seeing the news of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. He vividly recalls watching the second plane hit and running upstairs to tell his mother.

What was Nani Okal Lagu's memory of the events on 9/11?

Nani Okal Lagu was just 7 years old at the time of the attacks. She remembers waking up in the morning and realizing something was wrong when she saw her mother on the phone, sounding frightened. This moment marked her early understanding of the seriousness of the situation.

How did the events of 9/11 impact the community of Clovis?

Clovis, though far from the attack sites, felt the impact of 9/11 deeply. The community responded by dedicating a permanent memorial to the fallen heroes in December 2001. Additionally, many young people from Clovis were inspired to join the military, and several high school alumni lost their lives in the wars that followed.

How did Kristen Torres, a resident of Clovis, react to the news of the attacks at the age of 12?

Kristen Torres was in seventh grade when the attacks occurred. She recalls sitting in her father’s truck before school, listening to the radio, and feeling confused and worried. She feared that the attacks might not be isolated and that more could follow, particularly in California.

What emotional impact did the 9/11 attacks have on Alyssa Stemler's family?

Alyssa Stemler, who was 9 years old at the time, remembers the emotional toll on her family, especially her father, a firefighter. The attacks made their family more aware of the risks associated with her father's profession, and they lived with the fear that he could be harmed, much like the first responders in New York.

How did 9/11 influence the career choices of Alyssa Stemler and her peers?

Although Alyssa Stemler, now 19, was not personally impacted in terms of her career choice, many of her peers felt a strong sense of duty after 9/11. A large number of them joined the military, particularly in Clovis, where the number of young people enlisting was higher than the national average.

What is notable about Buchanan High School in Clovis in relation to 9/11?

Buchanan High School in Clovis has the unfortunate distinction of having lost eight of its former students in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, more than any other school in California. This reflects the area's high rate of military enlistment after the 9/11 attacks.

How did Brandon Robl's decision to join the military relate to the 9/11 attacks?

Brandon Robl, a police officer now, was 16 years old on 9/11. He came from a military family but did not decide to join the military until after the attacks. 9/11 gave him a sense of purpose, and by the time he was in high school, he was eager to enlist. He eventually joined the Marines and served in Iraq in 2005.

What does Brandon Robl mean when he says that 9/11 'shaped our generation'?

Brandon Robl suggests that 9/11 had a profound influence on his generation, particularly in terms of military enlistment. The attacks sparked a sense of duty and a desire to serve, and many young people who joined the military were changed by their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Robl believes that the impact of 9/11 is something that defines his generation, with its members remembering life before the attacks as different from life after.