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Dust and debris, along with a plethora of emotions, filled the streets and skies during one of the more tragic attacks that happened on Sept. 11, 2001.

Just 21 years ago, many lives were changed, nationwide to worldwide, and many were filled with uncertainty when the news of this tragedy hit on this solemn day.

Several lives were affected on Sept. 11, from those in Lower Manhattan in New York City, to those at the Pentagon, to those in the airplanes, including the plane that crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as well as many others who sat by their television or read their newspaper that day.

With each day that passed, community members continued to reflect on the tragedy from museum visits, to journaling, to community work in their hometown, such as firefighters, teachers and local community members. 

Capt. Justin Evans with the Duncan Fire Department said on Sept. 11, 2001, he was in his first year as a firefighter, after coming on board in 2000.

Evans said he was on duty the morning of Sept. 11 when the attacks happened.

“We had just finished up radio checks and we watched it all in there, in our radio room,” he said. 

Evans said feelings of complete shock and disbelief came over the department that day.

“For one, to see it burn and fall, then to realize it was a terrorist attack and planes actually flew in there on purpose,” he said. “(We) just went through a whole range of emotions, shock, disbelief, anger — the fact that we were on duty, we kind of went into action, talked about what we would have to do here.”

According to Evans, during this time, they didn’t know what to expect over the days or even weeks.

“I know there was a gas shortage and crisis — everybody panicked about that,” he said. “Our chief at the time made us go fill everything up, make sure we were fully full and prepared, to go for days without fuel and things like that — in case it got bad, because we just didn’t know what to expect.”

Evans said his motivation to continue to work as a firefighter brings his passion to light, to continue to help his community in times of need.

“This is the place I’ve grown up in,” he said. “There’s lots of people here I love, care about — anything that I can do to serve them, help them.”

Evans has been with Duncan Fire for 22 years. 

Evans said he’s thankful they can still continue to remember what happened on Sept. 11 and he’s grateful that the community still continues to show the fire department support today.

“Everything that happened that day and all the people that went through it — it still brings people together and that’s really neat to watch,” he said. 

DeDe Lee, Will Rogers pre-k center teacher assistant, said on Sept. 11, 2001, she was teaching pre-first at Lee Elementary when the news hit and everyone was just trying to figure out what was going on.

Lee said seeing the tragedy play out that day was unbelievable.

“It was just very, very sad,” she said.

Lee said she could remember for weeks, even after Sept. 11, how it was a very traumatic experience and how she would watch and read people’s stories of those who were affected by that day.

Cathy Barker, now at Duncan Middle School, said she was teaching fourth grade at Woodrow Wilson when tragedy of Sept. 11 hit news stands.

In recalling the day, Barker said it was a beautiful fall morning, they had their door open to the outside when the principal came in with a news update on the World Trade Center in New York. When they turned the news on, she tried to help her students understand what was happening.

Barker said this event made her think about what World War II would have been like for her dad, when he heard about Pearl Harbor.

“We turned the tv on, not knowing a lot about it,” she said. “My kiddos and I watched as the second plane went into the tower.”

Barker said they were then asked to turn their televisions off, which prompted a lot of questions from the kids.

“It was so hard to answer their questions,” she said. “I was the grown-up, I was the teacher, I was supposed have the answers — we didn’t know what the answers were.”

According to Barker, throughout the day they only had bits and pieces of answers.

“It was surreal,” she said. “I always tell my kids that today is tomorrow’s history.”

Barker said it was a really sad time, but at the same time our country came together as one.

Barker’s been with Duncan Public School for 36 years.

Faye Trostle, of Duncan, said on Sept. 11, she was at work, while her husband, Bill Trostle, was on location in Wyoming. 

Trostle said her husband called her just after the first plane hit the World Trade Center tower and while on the phone, they watched the second plane hit the tower within minutes. 

“I will never forget when he said ‘I think we are under attack,’” she said. 

Trostle said the news in the office break room continued to run with images of all that occurred that day. 

“Story and images of people jumping, the buildings falling, the pentagon and the last plane the crashed,” she said. “I was horrified and sad … scared for what this meant. Then I had to try to explain to my four-year-old, why ‘the bad men flew planes into buildings.’”

Trostle said, over the years, she has learned that as a nation we are not exempt from these tragedies.

“Between 9/11 and the OKC bombing, I've learned these can strike anywhere,” she said. 

While being younger when the OKC bombing took place and then to hear about 9/11 a few years later, Trostle said she feels the best way to help others is to “live our lives, not fearful, but not in a bubble either,” she said.

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