9/11 Remembrance: ‘Etched into the history books of the world’ – easternnewmexiconews.com

PORTALES - A crowd of around 70 gathered in Portales on the day before the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, and were reminded of the Septembers 10, 11 and 12 of 20 years ago.

In a ceremony lasting less than 20 minutes at the parking lot of James Polk Stone Community Bank, Matt Rush took the audience through his memories of 20 years gone by since the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The Friday event, usually held on Sept. 11 but held on the day before with many people already near the Portales downtown square for work, has been an annual tradition at the bank, with owner David Stone noting the importance of honoring local first responders and never forgetting the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Rush, a longtime farmer in Roosevelt County, told the crowd that 20 years ago on that day, he was working with his dad on the wheat crop and it was just a normal day.

"You probably don't remember what you were doing on Sept. 10, 2001," Rush said, "but you were probably doing something similar the day before that, and the day before that, and probably the day before that."

He imagined the same scenario existed for everybody who perished in the attacks, whether they were showing up for work or getting on a morning flight. Their names are now on the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, and posted in countless other locations.

"What would you do," Rush said, "if you knew your history would be sacredly etched into the history books of the world?"

The last 20 years haven't been the same since the planes hit, Rush said, but he remembered the hope that he felt on Sept. 12, 2001. Stores couldn't keep American flags in stock, Rush said, and it didn't matter if you were conservative, liberal or libertarian.

"We saw one thing and one thing only, and that was America," Rush said. "I challenge you to remember that, to cling to that, to fight for that."

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9/11 Remembrance: 'Etched into the history books of the world' - easternnewmexiconews.com