25 Years Later, Western NC Remembers 9/11

Twenty-five years after terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, communities across western North Carolina are again pausing to remember the nearly 3,000 people who were killed, the first responders who rushed toward danger and a day that changed the country.

But for some, the anniversary is about more than history.

Images of the World Trade Center burning, people fleeing lower Manhattan, firefighters climbing stairwells and the Pentagon in flames remain deeply familiar a quarter-century later. For people who lived through the attacks, served in the military afterward, worked as first responders or simply watched events unfold in real time, repeated television footage and social media coverage can bring back powerful emotions.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says anniversaries of disasters and traumatic events can renew feelings of fear, anxiety and sadness. Sounds, smells, news coverage and other reminders can also trigger emotional distress. 

That makes Sept. 11 a day to remember — but also one to recognize personal limits.

Across the country, observances are being held, including at the three locations directly attacked on Sept. 11 — New York City's World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Pennsylvania site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed after passengers and crew members fought back against the hijackers.

The National Park Service is holding morning and afternoon ceremonies Friday at Flight 93 National Memorial, including the reading of the passengers' and crew members' names and the ringing of Bells of Remembrance. 

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks. Twenty-five years later, Americans also continue to confront their long-term consequences, including illnesses among rescue and recovery workers, changes in airport and national security, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and wars fought during the decades that followed. 

For western North Carolina residents, however, the anniversary arrives in a region that has also experienced another profound trauma more recently.

Hurricane Helene devastated mountain communities in September 2024, killing residents, destroying homes and businesses, and leaving some families displaced. The overlap matters because reminders of one traumatic event can sometimes awaken memories and reactions associated with another.

SAMHSA describes those experiences as "anniversary reactions." They can include recurring memories, sadness, fear, anxiety, anger, restlessness or a desire to avoid reminders entirely. Not everyone experiences them, and reactions can vary considerably from person to person. 

The NC Department of Health and Human Services similarly advises that emotional reactions following disasters may appear immediately or much later. Its disaster behavioral health resources are intended to help North Carolinians recognize stress and find support before, during and after traumatic events. 

Remembering without becoming overwhelmed

Mental health professionals do not suggest that people need to ignore anniversaries such as Sept. 11.

Remembering can itself be meaningful. People may attend a ceremony, visit a memorial, pray, talk with family members, volunteer or spend quiet time reflecting.

But constant exposure to traumatic images is not necessary to honor the people who died.

ComPsych's GuidanceResources program recommends being deliberate about news and social media consumption during anniversaries of traumatic events. Instead of repeatedly checking television coverage or scrolling social media throughout the day, people can set aside a defined amount of time to follow news or commemorations and then disconnect.

That can be especially important before bedtime, when extended phone use and emotionally intense material may interfere with sleep.

People can also consider whether commentary and political arguments are adding useful information or simply increasing anger and anxiety.

ComPsych recommends paying attention to physical and emotional responses. If news or political content repeatedly leaves someone anxious, angry or agitated, limiting exposure may help.

Basic habits can matter as well: getting enough sleep, exercising, eating regularly, spending time outdoors and staying connected with family and friends.

SAMHSA likewise advises people approaching the anniversary of a traumatic event to recognize that difficult feelings may occur, participate in activities they enjoy and spend time with supportive people if that helps.

Politics are part of the conversation

The 25th anniversary also comes during another intense political year, with national and state campaigns competing for attention alongside remembrance ceremonies.

That combination can turn social media feeds into a mixture of memorial photographs, graphic archival footage, political commentary and arguments.

ComPsych recommends avoiding unnecessary confrontations over politics and other controversial subjects if those discussions are creating stress.

That does not require withdrawing from public affairs.

People can still read the news, participate in civic life and discuss disagreements. But choosing when, where and with whom to have those conversations can keep a day intended for remembrance from becoming another source of conflict.

Another simple rule health researchers suggest: pause before posting. 

Graphic footage and emotionally charged claims can spread rapidly on anniversaries such as Sept. 11. People should verify information before sharing it and consider whether posting disturbing photographs or video actually adds to the public's understanding of the day.

For those who need help, North Carolina offers several options.

The state's 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available around the clock by calling or texting 988. NCDHHS says the service can assist people dealing with anxiety, depression, panic, emotional distress or simply a need to talk with someone. The state also operates the NC Peer Warmline at 855-PEERS-NC for non-clinical peer support.

Twenty-five years after Sept. 11, Americans still repeat two words associated with the attacks: Never forget.

Remembering, however, does not require reliving every horrifying image.

For some western North Carolinians, marking the anniversary may mean attending a ceremony and hearing a bell toll. For others, it may mean lowering a flag, calling someone who remembers that morning, spending time away from a screen or simply taking a quiet moment to think about the people who never came home.

A quarter-century later, all of those can be ways of remembering.

I framed the mental-health material as practical guidance rather than making it the dominant theme, while connecting it to the region’s more recent experience with Helene.